Everything Was Good-Bye (edition 2010)

Everything was Goodbye by Gurjinder Basran was a wonderful fiction novel about the immigrant experience. Young Meena is a teenage Punjabi-Canadian trying to find her everythingwasgoodbyeplace, in her traditional family and in modern Canadian society in the early ’80s. Loosely based on the author’s life, Meena is the youngest of six sisters raised by her traditional widowed Indian mother, whose job in life is to “successfully” marry off her daughters. Clearly, Meena has a tough road in front of her while she tries to appease her controlling mother and maneuvering her way through normal teenage angst while standing out as a misfit in Canadian culture. Thankfully she finds a partner in crime in fellow misfit and love interest Liam. Winner of the BC Book Prize, Basran has given us us another picture of the immigrant experience, which is always welcome. ( )

I haven't sat and read for long stretches at a time in a while, but I finished this one in under a week, almost the whole second half in one stretch. That speaks to my interest in the book more than my own words can.

I do admit to liking the first half of the book, particularly the first section when Meena is a teenager, the best. Those chapters highlight the struggle of second-generation immigrants, torn between two cultures, very well. Once Meena is married, the story is less "Indian immigrant" and more general life struggle (though of course still set in the Indian immigrant community which shapes the particulars).

As far as plot goes, there was some predictability in aspects. Where I think this author excels is her descriptions and diction. There is certainly a craft at work here. ( )

I had trouble falling asleep after finishing this book last night. I read most of it this weekend because I couldn't leave it. I immediately felt attached to young Meena and even Liam and Meena's mother in her sorrow and perseverance. I saw my own hopefulness in Meena, yet hopelessness. I rooted for her the whole book, rejoicing in her victories.

The narrative flows perfectly never saying too much and always just enough. It is heartbreaking - to experience, to finish, to not be reading anymore. I will be watching for Basran's name more.

It was lovely, and you don't have to be Indian or Canadian to love it. I am neither. I love Jhumpa Lahiri and Indian culture, so I just clicked to request it on Library Thing's Early Reviewers. I received an ARC, but noticed only one typo. I read through tears about half the time though, so I could be mistaken.

Without spoiling anything, a few gems:

"There is no life but the one at hand." (p.126)

"life [is] about depth. 'The greater your happiness, the deeper your sorrow.' I asked her if it worked the other way - if my sorrow was deep, would my happiness be great? As we stood in each other's reflection, looking forward and back, she narrowed her eyes to a squinted stare. For a moment I thought she saw me, and I knew she did when she answered 'Your disappointments dwell with your dreams.'" (p.134)

"Your disappointments dwell with your dreams." (p.134) ( )

This was a very tough book for me to read. Densely packed with such an intense plot and such a feeling narrator, I picked it up and put it down several times, despite the fact that I really enjoyed reading it. As a whole, I call this novel a success. I think that Basran is an enormously talented author. This novel was deeply emotional and compelling, and I am very eager to read more by this author. ( )

Meena is the daughter of immigrants from India.her mother's ambition is to see her daughter's in an arranges marriage. While meena is in high school she meets and eventually falls in love with liam.this is a good story with insight into how Indian culture is morphing into western culture in small ways.

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