A review by mcomer
Belonging by Umi Sinha

5.0

This family saga is a heartbreaking and horrifying look at the consequences of British colonialism in India. It focuses on one Anglo-Indian family, but I learned a lot about different events in Indian history from reading it. Focusing on the colonizers in this book makes sense because it shows how systems of domination and repression harm everyone, and how these harms are compounded over generations of secrecy, violence, and prejudice. The three different characters use three different 'modes' of narration - letters, a diary, first-person narration - but it doesn't seem gimmicky. Highly recommend for a unique look at a crucial dynamic in world history.