In Thrity Umrigrar’s new release, The Museum of Failures, advertising executive Remy Wadia travels to Mumbai, India, from the United States to adopt a baby. He and his wife, Kathy, are thrilled about the adoption. Remy has not told his mother, Shirin, that he is in India. Shirin can be difficult, and Remy is uncertain how she will feel about their decision.
Monaz is a pregnant college student whose boyfriend does not want to marry her because she is Parsi. Since Remy is also Parsi, this makes Monaz feel that the adoption is the right thing to do.
The morning when Remy meets Monaz, she announces that her boyfriend has agreed to marry her and that the adoption is off. After this crushing news, Remy learns that his mother, Shirin, is in the hospital and very ill. Remy starts caring for Shirin and begins to piece together the puzzle of her great unhappiness and the pain between them.
The Museum of Failures is Thrity Umrigar’s 11th novel. Her novels are intricate fictional explorations of the Parsi families of Mumbai.
Maureen Millea Smith is a retired librarian and a Minnesota Book Award winning-novelist.
