The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai

In the shadow of Himalayan Mt. Kunchenjunga, lives an fascinating collection of folks. There are a few living out a crumbling post-colonial existence. It seems that trading their Indian selves for a British version did not provide the privileged life style they hoped for. A young man who left for America returns as a stranger to both places. Tragedy brings a little girl to this backward place where she must find a way to leave or a reason to stay. It is the kind of story that takes the reader to a place few know exits in our world - a tropical melting pot in view of the highest peaks in the world. Nepal or India? 20th century or 19th? It is a story of colonization and emigration and cultural clashes and political change and really and truly - loss.