Everything Here Belongs to You by Saborna Roychowdhury
TITLE INFORMATION
Everything Here Belongs to You
Saborna Roychowdhury
Black Rose Writing, 383 pages
9781684339594, 06.09.2022
Overall Rating = 4.25
Storyline & Concept = 3.75
Writing & Delivery = 4
Editorial = 5
Everything Here Belongs to You is a well-written, literary fiction novel told through the perspectives of two young girls, Parul and Mohini, who live in the same house but live two different lives. Parul, a young child at the time, was brought to Mohini and her parents by her poor father to work for them as their maid in Kolkata. She was forced to not only hand over most of her earnings to her father and sisters back home, but to conceal her Muslim roots and only practice the Hindu traditions of the Sen family instead. As the girls grew older, their differences became more apparent as Mohini’s privilege provided her with opportunities while Parul continuously struggled to find her place of belonging. The relationships that they each explore challenge their identities and values. The novel deals with concepts of loyalty, family, and sacrifice.
Saborna Roychowdhury creates a beautifully written novel that explores themes of injustice and prejudice. The story reaches its peak in the context of the political turmoil after the 9/11 terrorist attack in New York. Thus, the second half of the novel is darker as each character is forced to work through their struggles, including finding a place of understanding and trust in the face of their cultural and religious differences. I think the novel could have benefitted from more conflict resolution at the end and to have experienced more of Parul’s character evolution after having to make difficult choices. However, Roychowdhury writes with purpose and meaning, and uses descriptions to entice and entertain. The dialect is true to the time, place, and culture of the novel, which completely immerses the reader. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a thoughtful piece of literary fiction that dives into difficult themes, while also providing heartwarming moments.
Sublime Line: “A moving and highly detailed coming-of-age novel that delves into cultural and political differences that threaten to destroy relationships”
Sublime Book Review
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