America for Beginners: A Novel

The Indian widow Rival Sengupta is rich and sheltered. She has never been adventurous. During her arranged marriage, she was ruled by her husband and his family. Although her husband has died, she is still ruled even by her servants. She will now leave her home and everything she has known in order to travel to the United States for an holiday and a search. Her only son moved to America many years ago, and she has been kept from learning about his truth, his life, and potentially his death.

She secures a tour from an improbable tourism entrepreneur and immigrant. She will have a makeshift tour guide and a chaperone. The tour guide has learned from his boss to improvise since clients know nothing about America. The chaperone is an unemployed actress who drinks a little too much and has sex on a whim.

This book takes us to the usual tourist destinations across the country until we come to California, the home of Rival’s expatriate son. It is truly a voyage of discovery and growth. The characters are endearing and interesting.