Family Life Review by Melissa Skinner

“Family Life” by Indian author Akhil Sharma.

 

  This international fiction novel is about an immigrant family from Delhi.  Told from the perspective of a pre-teen boy, it highlights the struggle of those from India, as far as trying to navigate the gap between their traditional way of life, thoughts, and life in America.  With headstrong parents, the boy struggles to assimilate with those around him, then a family tragedy strikes, leaving his teenage brother profoundly disabled for the majority of the book.

 

  The major theme is the younger boy’s turmoil within himself over how he feels about his brother’s condition, and the lack of attention from his parents, virtually leaving him an an orphan in a new world.  Quick read at just over 200 pages, it’s a good glimpse into the traditions and lives of those from India.