The Magnificent Ruins

Decency is the first casualty of large inheritances. from The Magnificent Ruins by Nayantara Roy

Inheritances large or small can break family bonds. I have seen it happen, siblings that never again talk to each other because one got something the other wanted, because they could not agree, because of jealousy.

Lila had left India and her mother when she was sixteen to live in America with her father and his second family. Her mother lived in the five story mansion belonging to her family for generations, housing siblings and their families, all living off inherited money.

So, when Lila learned that her grandfather had left her control of the house and money, she was at first shocked, then knew he had a reason to bypass his sons and show more daughter–Lila’s mother.

Lila was an editor in a company under new management, given a new management position, but she took ten weeks of leave to return to India. She could sell the house for a great deal of money. But her family would be homeless. Lila said goodbye to her best friend and the writer she edited and sometimes slept with.

At first, her homecoming was joyful. A cousin was getting married, another takes her clubbing with his boyfriend. But soon cracks and decay appear, tension between Lila and her mother, competition between her mother and grandmother. Her old flame shows up, their chemistry still strong, picking up where they left off although he is married. The family plans to contest the will. And Lila’s New York City boyfriend/writer shows up proclaiming his love.

Over the weeks, Lila improves the mansion with new paint and updated heat and plumbing and installing an elevator. But as the house is being restored, the family is falling into ruin.

Our unending cycles of hatred looped around us, a circular, rhythmic beat clanging on the prison walls of our violence, as we passed them on, calling them our mansions, generation after generation. from The Magnificent Ruins by Nayantara Roy

The shocking climax reveals the rot at the heart of the family that has destroyed relationships for generations.

I enjoyed this big family drama for the writing, the story, the characters, and the Kolkata setting.

Now available in paperback.

Thanks to the publisher for a free book. show less

3.5 stars rounded up.

This is a typical generational/family book filled with lies and secrets. The author's analogies are quite descriptive and lyrical, even poetic at times. However, sometimes, they are just a tad too much.

The main character, Lila, seems to have split personality disorder. One minute, I feel I should be totally on her side, and I love her. The next, she seems to have a personality turnaround, and I dislike her immensely. She also cannot seem to get over her feelings of dislike/hatred for her mother. However, her mother seems to have the same sort of disorder that Lila has. The author does a great job dealing with all the different types of hate throughout this novel. But it does get a bit depressing at times.

Several show more storylines were unnecessary to advance the plot, in my opinion. We didn't really need romantic interests when this was a novel about family. We also didn't need the death of a family member, and I thought it was a little too much, but because of who it was, I can see why it was necessary. I would have liked to see a little more of Lila deciding what to do about the house and why she chose the path that she did.

I did find it interesting to learn about India, its different factions, and political parties. However, I had a difficult time with the language. Kindle can't seem to translate this form of Indian into English, so I feel like I missed out on a lot.

It was a very good read, and I would recommend it to those who want something different, educational, historical, and, at times, fiendish.

This ARC was supplied to me by the publisher Algonquin Books/Hachette Book Group, the author, and NetGalley. show less

A book set in India. Lily lived in both US and India but spent most of her adult life in US. She inherits a house in India which is inhabited by her miter, grandmother and other members of her family. She returns home and attempts to come to terms with her inheritance, her childhood, her crazy family and an old and new love. It is a fabulous complicated read. Loved her job as an editor.

Young Indiana American woman inherits her family home, a communal edifice, which she updates. Family wedding brings out all conflicts. She returns to Brooklyn to start own publishing house.