Thank you to the amazingly talented writer Julie Buxbaum, who led me to the UCLA Extension Writers’ Program all those years ago, and whose advice on everything from writing to agents to publishing has been invaluable. Thank you for showing me what was possible.
A special thank-you to author, generous spirit, and all-around badass human Jennifer Pastiloff. Your words and positive energy found me at exactly the right time and helped propel me to this finish line. Publishing this book was the goal on my sticky note in Ojai, so thank you for helping to send some magic my way.
A huge thank-you to April Spurlock, my first writer friend, for her early and repeated reads of this story over the past decade, and for the many hours of discussion about my writing. Your belief in me and this story helped make this book possible. I’d also like to thank Sonam Makker and Srivitta Kengskool, whose insights helped shape this story during various stages.
Finally, there are no words to express my gratitude for the love and support of my family as I pursued this writing dream, even if they didn’t understand it! Tejas, no matter what happens in life, I know my older brother is in my corner, and I am lucky to have that. Mom and Dad, the older I get, the more I appreciate the sacrifices you have made and continue to make for me. You taught me to be resilient, compassionate, and empathetic regardless of the circumstances, and those lessons have enabled me to become who I am today.
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
The title of this novel is based on the Indian proverb that translates as “a monkey does not know the taste of ginger.” What do you think this proverb means? What related themes did you notice in the novel?
Throughout the story, we learn that Preeti felt the only way to assimilate into American culture was to adopt as many white traits as she could. Do you think she had other options? Do you think she made the right decision? Do you think it’s possible for someone like Preeti to be accepted into white American culture while still retaining her Indian culture?
Preeti felt the burden of being an immigrant child and thought it was her duty to ensure her parents didn’t have to struggle financially. That is part of what drove her to pursue law rather than photography. Do you think she made the right decision? Or do you think she gave up on photography too easily after it not working out for a year after college?
When it comes to careers, Preeti’s dad says that “meaning is something reserved for the rich,” and that is a “luxury” that they, as working-class immigrants, don’t have. Do you agree?
Preeti is reintroduced to the caste system as an adult in this story and draws parallels between her family being upper caste in India’s system and middle caste in America’s. She wonders why her parents would willingly stay in America after they made that realization. Why do you think her parents remained in a country in which, in many ways, they had a harder life than they would have had if they had stayed in India? Do you think it would ever be possible for Preeti to reach the highest caste in America through hard work or assimilation, or do you think societal caste systems are determined by immutable factors?
Preeti struggles with maintaining social customs in India when she starts to have feelings for Tushar. In the end, she does not want him to give up his culture to explore something with her when she is uncertain. Do you think she made the right decision? Should she have followed her heart even if things with Tushar might not have worked out?
Preeti’s relationship with Neel suffers after he releases his long-harbored resentment for the things that she was sheltered from when the family immigrated to America. Do you think Neel’s resentment is fair to Preeti? Do you think Preeti could have discovered these things earlier but chose not to notice them?
The story does not say what happens to Biren after the police raid, and he never tells Preeti. What do you think happened to Biren? How do you think it changed him?
Biren does not believe his family will accept his sexuality, so he feels compelled to choose between romantic love and familial love. Do you think he made the right decision? Do you think there are circumstances in which a person cannot have both and does have to choose one? Why or why not?
Preeti and Carrie have a heartfelt conversation about assimilation and white privilege. Carrie realizes she did not fully see Preeti as she was and made assumptions that she and Preeti were the same. What do you think of Preeti’s comments to Carrie, and what do you think of the way Carrie received those comments? Do you think their friendship will grow closer or further apart now that they’ve shared these thoughts? How do you think they will treat each other differently as their friendship continues?