Life through an immigrant lens
In her debut novel ‘When she Married Dr. Patekar and Other Stories,’ Nidhi Thakur masterfully pulls you into her stories with brilliantly vivid imagery and writing style. Through eleven unique stories set in post-9/11 America, Thakur offers us a look at immigrant life through a kaleidoscope: each frame showcasing a different point of view, and in many ways reflecting pieces of herself.
In the preface to the book, Thakur summarizes her own journey coming to the States as a young graduate student. Her own life spills onto the pages and forms the heart and soul of her narratives, making her world identifiable with our own.
Each chapter is a vignette into a richer world, offering a glimpse into the lives of people who may well exist beyond the page. An undeniable undercurrent of Thakur’s ruminations and relationship with her home country of India weaves through each tale.
Tales that come alive
Though fictitious, each character’s story is fleshed out and comes alive in a way that rouses a sense of nostalgia – even for things I have not yet experienced myself. Whether it’s the dissonance Chris feels in ‘Being Krishna,’ the musings of Alessio’s musings in ‘The Doorman’, or the generational violence that traps Atul in ‘Those Wars.’
These stories parse the immigrant experience and evoke the fundamental universal human desire to belong and to be loved. Each tale lingers for just the right amount of time, before drawing to a close with a thoughtfully paired couplet that serves as a final, lyrical, punch to the gut.
Where the novel falls short is I wish that we had a little more time to explore a few more characters and their lives with more nuance – some felt a bit one-dimensional,
The focus on family dynamics is a prevalent theme, and I would have liked to see a little more of those people outside those parameters. Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed my time with each of these characters. If Thakur decides to pick up the pen once more, I’ll look forward to it!
A book reading
The book released in December 2023, published by Hawakal Publishers (India) is available on Amazon. It is also a part of the BCCLS library catalog in NJ and can be borrowed through the library system. The Livingston Public Library, in NJ, is hosting a book-reading and author Q&A with Dr. Thakur, on Sunday, July 21, at 2 pm. The event is open to all.
WHEN SHE MARRIED DR. PATEKAR AND OTHER STORIES
Hawakal, November 30, 2023
