3.5.09

The Inheritance of Loss - Kiran Desai

Passed the piles of purple prose, over the mountains of metaphors and through the slough of adjectives you'll find this is a story of few words and little consequence. As a reader deciding to dedicate some free time to listening to a stranger's thoughts, it is expected that the author offer at least a small amount of respect in return. Most chapters of The Inheritance of Loss begin with reminder phrases, as if the reader is returning from a commercial break - and they may as will be with this stretched out and dulled tale. Ms. Desai chooses to tell and not show most of the story, again and again both insulting the intelligence of her readers and leaving no room for her towers of imagery to enter the confines of imagination or to grow even the least bit recognizable.
The plot follows the members of a family as their lives are affected by change, racism, classicism and related social agitation. A teenage orphan who lives with her wealthy, antisocial grandfather struggles with coming of age and a failed love affair; the cook's son fails to "make it" as an illegal alien in the land of opportunity; a beloved dog goes missing; some things are stolen and some are discovered. This book might be a good read for someone who wants to waste time without thinking but has no television. It was awarded the 2006 Man Booker, which raises questions as to both the legitimacy of that prize and the sanity of their selection committee.

BOOOOOOOO!
1.5 out of 5
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