Your Next Read: A State of Freedom by Neel Mukherjee

A State of Freedom

by Neel Mukherjee

Novels like A State of Freedom allow readers an intimate glance into cultures and class that they would otherwise be unlikely to experience. Set in India, Mukherjee explores the lives of five individuals who attempt to change their lives for the better. The challenges they face and their success or failure are on stark display as we journey with them throughout their lives.

This novel is set up as a collection of short stories. Each section centers on a different character and has a writing style tied to their personality. This can be jarring if you aren't expecting it since Part I and Part II, for example, not only have an entirely different set of characters, but are also written with different tones and narrative styles that seem very disconnected from each other. It is only when you start to compare the commonalities of the various tales in theme and message that you really feel the weight of the stories as a cohesive whole. If you are interested in more details about the individual stories and how they interconnect, NPR wrote an excellent review of the novel that provides an idea of what to expect as a reader.

A State of Freedom came my way from a giveaway from the publisher, W.W. Norton & Co., and I'm grateful for the opportunity to explore a novel I otherwise might not have picked up. It is a distinguished way to spice up your to read list this spring.

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