The Man Who Would Not See

by Rajorshi Chakraborti

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When family suddenly becomes your greatest challenge, mystery, rediscovery. As children in Calcutta, Ashim and Abhay made a small mistake that split their family forever. Thirty years later, Ashim has re-entered his brother's life, with blame and retribution on his mind. It seems nothing short of smashing Abhay's happy home will make good the damage from the past. At least, this is what Abhay and his wife Lena are certain is happening. A brother has travelled all the way from small-town India to New Zealand bearing ancient - and false - grudges, and with the implacable objective of blowing up every part of his younger brother's life. Reconciliation was just a Trojan horse. But is Ashim really the villain he appears to be, or is there a method to his havoc?… (more)

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This book is the first on The New Zealand Ockham Book Awards longlist for 2019.
It is an original premise for a New Zealand novel, I thought. A point in it's favour.
Abhay and Lena live a comfortable happy life with their daughter Mira in Wellington. Some months earlier they had travelled as a family to India for Abhay's cousins wedding where Abhay reconnected with his half-brother Ashim for the first time in 25 years.
An incident in their childhood reaped consequences and caused a major turning point in their lives and that of their sister.
Abhay decides it is time to repair the lack of communication and invites Ashim and his young daughter to New Zealand.
However, it soon becomes apparent that Ashim has an agenda of his own which causes a rupture in their contented lifestyle. Abhay then decides to surprise Ashim with a visit to India to settle matters. This is a major wrench for his young daughter, as he was a stay-at-home Dad and author. Lena, also doubts whether they will be able to repair their family unit.
The settings in both New Zealand and India are well-drawn, as are the characters. I did get a little tired though of the navel gazing and angst of Abhay. (

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HelenBaker | Feb 14, 2019 |

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Ockham New Zealand Book Award (Longlist – Fiction – 2019)

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Wellington, New Zealand

India

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When family suddenly becomes your greatest challenge, mystery, rediscovery. As children in Calcutta, Ashim and Abhay made a small mistake that split their family forever. Thirty years later, Ashim has re-entered his brother's life, with blame and retribution on his mind. It seems nothing short of smashing Abhay's happy home will make good the damage from the past. At least, this is what Abhay and his wife Lena are certain is happening. A brother has travelled all the way from small-town India to New Zealand bearing ancient - and false - grudges, and with the implacable objective of blowing up every part of his younger brother's life. Reconciliation was just a Trojan horse. But is Ashim really the villain he appears to be, or is there a method to his havoc?

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When family suddenly becomes your greatest challenge, mystery, rediscovery.

As children in Calcutta, Ashim and Abhay made a small mistake that split their family forever. Thirty years later, Ashim has re-entered his brother's life, with blame and retribution on his mind. It seems nothing short of smashing Abhay's happy home will make good the damage from the past.

At least, this is what Abhay and his wife Lena are certain is happening. A brother has travelled all the way from small-town India to New Zealand bearing ancient — and false — grudges, and with the implacable objective of blowing up every part of his younger brother's life. Reconciliation was just a Trojan horse.

But is Ashim really the villain he appears to be, or is there a method to his havoc?

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