Where Earth Meets Water
Karom Seth lost his entire family in a tsunami. While going through his parents’ belongings, he discovers that he was adopted after surviving the Bhopal chemical disaster. Now his guilt is almost too much to bear, and he’s constantly tempting fate with risky behavior. He and his girlfriend, Gita, travel to India in the hope of Karom finding peace. They visit Gita’s grandmother, Kamini, who writes children’s fables, in which Karom finds meaningful lessons. Meanwhile, back in the U.S., Karom’s best friend, Lloyd, is getting married soon, but first he must deal with his complicated feelings about Karom. As college roommates, the two grew close after Karom’s family tragedy, and Lloyd’s affection has become an obsession. Debut novelist Padukone’s characters are unusual and intriguing, and though the story lines don’t quite merge seamlessly, the tale is compelling as she writes with grace and wit about grief, moving on, and accepting love. --Aleksandra Walker