"Indian American novelist Manil Suri grew up in a large crumbling apartment in Bombay which his parents, who were Hindu, shared with three other Muslim families. The single room his family occupied provided a safe haven from the hostilities that raged outside - sometimes over religious differences, but more often over the shared kitchen and common toilets. This refuge, however, was also a prison that held them captive - his parents stuck in a long and loveless marriage, Suri unable to explore the dawningrealization he might be gay. At age 20, Suri managed to break free and come to the US, where he embarked on a journey of self-discovery, embraced his sexuality, and found a life partner. But the room, which still held his parents hostage, kept pulling him back to Bombay. By now real estate prices had risen so much that the neighbors had begun conspiring to occupy the room, which made Suri's parents dig in even more. Eventually, it was only his mother Prem left - someone who had staked all her happiness in her son, and yet was unable to escape the room's hold on her. Despite mysterious onslaughts seemingly orchestrated by the room against his mother and himself, Suri soldiered on, determined to prove to Prem that a happier life might await beyond the fourwalls that both enthralled and imprisoned her. A Room in Bombay is a page-turner that explores how physical attachments can shape our destiny, while delving into the difficult question of how much to prioritize our parents' welfare over our own. Based inpart on over 2700 letters the author wrote home over three decades, it is ultimately a testament to the abiding, unbreakable bond tying a son to his mother"-- Provided by publisher.
A best–selling novelist turns to memoir in this compelling story of a son’s love, a mother’s obsession, and the malevolent grip of the past.
Indian American author Manil Suri grew up in a large crumbling apartment in Bombay (now Mumbai) which his parents, who were Hindu, shared with three Muslim families. Their single room, at times a refuge from the religious and territorial tensions pervading the apartment, was also a prison that held them captive—his parents stuck in an unhappy marriage, the author unable to explore the dawning realization he might be gay. At age 20, Suri managed to break free and come to the US, where he finally found the freedom to embrace his sexuality and find a life partner. But the room, which still held his parents hostage, kept wrenching him back to Bombay.By now real estate prices had risen so much that neighbors had begun conspiring to take over the room, causing Suri’s parents to dig in even more. Eventually it was only his mother, Prem, left, who had staked all her happiness on her son but was unable to escape the room’s hold on her. When a rash of mysterious incidents seemed to beset the room, Suri realized how little time he had left to convince Prem that a happier life might await beyond the four walls that both enthralled and imprisoned her.This remarkable, gripping memoir explores how an abode can shape destiny, while delving into the difficult question of how much to prioritize our parents’ happiness over our own. Inspired by over 2,700 letters the author wrote home over three decades, it is ultimately a testament to the abiding, unbreakable bond tying a son to his mother.
