The Taste of Ginger

Preeti Desai and her family emigrated from India to the United States when she was seven years old. The move put her in a no-man’s land between her native and adoptive cultures, and she strives to assimilate. She succeeds in her law career but feels she is about to hit a glass ceiling. She falls for a white screenwriter but cannot commit to following him to New York City. Then a tragic accident in India sends her back to her native city for an extended period. Major contrasts between social norms in the United States and India cause Preeti to consider who she is and what she wants from life. Shah’s debut considers big issues—marriage, sexuality, caste, race, and one’s sense of belonging (or not). She underlines the difficulty in defining one’s place in the world, especially for those with multiple allegiances. Narrator Soneela Nankani adeptly delivers the emotion-charged story, drawing on her skill with accents.