Ellen Sherling

I felt immersed in the complex, rich culture of Kerala—from the food to the class divisions to the religion to the politics to the marriage customs to the housing and the educational system. It is a long book, but teeming with memorable, often flawed characters in difficult and amusing situations dealt with largely through cooperative effort. The author reads the audio book, which enriched the stories. His affection and respect for the subject matter is palpable. His medical philosophy was reflected in the dedication of the doctors and nurses at the heart of this family saga. Professionals standing up to unethical and dangerous practitioners was very satisfying.