Eleven-year-old Gopi’s mother died a few months ago, and her father is finding it hard to cope with his grief and his daughters. On a visit to their aunt and uncle in Edinburgh, Aunt Ranjan remarks that the girls are running wild. Then she and Uncle Pavan suggest that he leave one of his daughters with them, since they cannot have children. Their father decides instead that they need something to occupy them, and he begins teaching them to play squash.
A lot of information about squash ensues. Gopi turns out to be good at the game, and she begins training at times with a boy named Ged.
The book deals with the girls’ grief over their mother’s death and with their father’s depression, as he begins missing work and spending most of his time at Western Lane, the exercise center. None of the girls are happy to see Papa getting closer with Ged’s mother.
This novel is full of inarticulate characters, so at times I wasn’t quite sure what was going on. But it is a touching, powerful story with floundering but sympathetic characters. The writing is fluid and vivid. I read this for my Booker Prize project.
What? Me Read? 
I also really loved this book. I really enjoyed the way the author weaves in the cultural differences and challenges of being Indian in England. To hold your culture, to accept English culture…
“A lot of information about squash ensues.” Hahaha, that’s an effective trigger warning as far as I’m concerned… ;)
Well, I thought I should add it, because someone else told me there wasn’t much in there about squash.
I read this as part of Novellas in November and remember loving it (if only for the crash course in squash!)
Ha ha, well, we all have our different tastes!