Extremely relevant and powerful (but relatable) novel about race in America
Raj, an Indian man born in Bombay and living in the United States since he was 8, is an Anthropology professor at a local college in California. His wife Eva, a white woman born and raised on the West Coast, grew up going to a Tennis Club (TC) and when she and Raj move back to California, they decide to join so Raj can continue to play tennis and their kids can socialize with other children and use the pool and facilities.
Initially, Raj feels like joining the TC is a way for him to find his footing and feel accepted, something with which he's always struggled. The TC is overwhelmingly white, a fact Raj is all too aware of and is constantly reminded of by others unconsciously. Raj is asked to join the membership committee for the TC and he hopes to be the change he wishes to see at the club. When another couple sponsors the Browns, a black couple, Raj is thrilled. So thrilled in fact, that he gets in his own way and nervously blurts a phrase that is construed as a racist remark during the Browns' membership interview.
Raj is horrified and ashamed of his slip. His attempts at relating and being funny have completely backfired. But worse is the reaction of the other members of the TC. For years Raj has been the victim of ignorant and condescending remarks from his peers at the club and never has anyone defended him. Now, the committee members are outraged, with the Browns' sponsors going so far as to say that Raj and his family are no longer welcome as members of the club. Embarrassed but also demeaned, Raj's anger toward the injustice of his treatment grows.
Raj's luck goes from bad to worse back at school on Monday. During a routine anthropology lecture, a student films a piece of his lecture which includes a philosophy that criticizes Christianity and America. The video is posted to an online forum where Raj is accused of being racist against whites. Anonymously, the student also files a formal complaint against Raj with the dean of the college. Now, not only is his reputation at stake, but also his job.
Accused of being discriminatory against people of color and against white America, Raj is stuck between a rock and a hard place. His life is spiraling out of control. People start leaving nasty voice messages on his home phone, #FireDrRaj trends on Twitter, someone is potentially following him, and on aggressive on campus protests crop up. Raj fears for his and his family's safety, even more so than he usually does by being brown in America.
The novel primarily takes place over the span of one, horrible week. It's an ever present reminder of how quickly a situation can get out of hand, especially given the current social media climate.
My heart went out to Raj. He is a relatable character - someone we all see a bit of ourselves in. I could feel my anxiety building as Raj made one terrible decision after another. I often found myself wondering if I genuinely believed that I'd handle anything better if I were in such an awful position. Raj had a kind heart and his missteps seemed to come from places of insecurity rather than any malicious intent. I really lauded Raj's sense of self, ability to treat others kindly even when he was being mistreated, and propensity toward forgiveness.
The writing was excellent and the backstories Raj told provided authenticity and depth to his character. This was definitely 4.5 stars for me but I opted to round down because I wanted a little more from the story and it wrapped up a little too quickly for me. Race and race relations are such important topics and something we need to talk about more. The underlying messages and overall story were incredibly powerful. I especially loved that the story focused on an Indian, as I hadn't read a novel about racial tension and discrimination from that perspective previously. This is a must read!
Thank you to BookishFirst and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
Initially, Raj feels like joining the TC is a way for him to find his footing and feel accepted, something with which he's always struggled. The TC is overwhelmingly white, a fact Raj is all too aware of and is constantly reminded of by others unconsciously. Raj is asked to join the membership committee for the TC and he hopes to be the change he wishes to see at the club. When another couple sponsors the Browns, a black couple, Raj is thrilled. So thrilled in fact, that he gets in his own way and nervously blurts a phrase that is construed as a racist remark during the Browns' membership interview.
Raj is horrified and ashamed of his slip. His attempts at relating and being funny have completely backfired. But worse is the reaction of the other members of the TC. For years Raj has been the victim of ignorant and condescending remarks from his peers at the club and never has anyone defended him. Now, the committee members are outraged, with the Browns' sponsors going so far as to say that Raj and his family are no longer welcome as members of the club. Embarrassed but also demeaned, Raj's anger toward the injustice of his treatment grows.
Raj's luck goes from bad to worse back at school on Monday. During a routine anthropology lecture, a student films a piece of his lecture which includes a philosophy that criticizes Christianity and America. The video is posted to an online forum where Raj is accused of being racist against whites. Anonymously, the student also files a formal complaint against Raj with the dean of the college. Now, not only is his reputation at stake, but also his job.
Accused of being discriminatory against people of color and against white America, Raj is stuck between a rock and a hard place. His life is spiraling out of control. People start leaving nasty voice messages on his home phone, #FireDrRaj trends on Twitter, someone is potentially following him, and on aggressive on campus protests crop up. Raj fears for his and his family's safety, even more so than he usually does by being brown in America.
The novel primarily takes place over the span of one, horrible week. It's an ever present reminder of how quickly a situation can get out of hand, especially given the current social media climate.
My heart went out to Raj. He is a relatable character - someone we all see a bit of ourselves in. I could feel my anxiety building as Raj made one terrible decision after another. I often found myself wondering if I genuinely believed that I'd handle anything better if I were in such an awful position. Raj had a kind heart and his missteps seemed to come from places of insecurity rather than any malicious intent. I really lauded Raj's sense of self, ability to treat others kindly even when he was being mistreated, and propensity toward forgiveness.
The writing was excellent and the backstories Raj told provided authenticity and depth to his character. This was definitely 4.5 stars for me but I opted to round down because I wanted a little more from the story and it wrapped up a little too quickly for me. Race and race relations are such important topics and something we need to talk about more. The underlying messages and overall story were incredibly powerful. I especially loved that the story focused on an Indian, as I hadn't read a novel about racial tension and discrimination from that perspective previously. This is a must read!
Thank you to BookishFirst and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for a copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.