Another book in my TBR pile: Family Planning by Karan Mahajan. From Amazon:
The patriarch of a chaotic family living in a hectic land must come to terms with himself and what he's wrought at home and at work in this excellent debut. Rakesh Ahuja battles the twin bedlams of his sprawling family and overcrowded home city of New Delhi while simultaneously trying to save his career as the minister of urban development. Rakesh attempts to manipulate and cajole his way through the corrupt and sometimes illogical Indian civil service, often finding himself embroiled in absurd intrigues. Home is no less fraught, where his 13 children battle each other for their often-absent father's love. The lone exception is Arjun, the eldest, whose adolescent rebellion and nascent romantic inclinations prompt him to form a rock band and pull away from his frenetic family. As Rakesh clumsily reaches out to his first-born son, the twists of fate that shaped both their lives are revealed, providing a portrait of a family that is both comical and heartbreaking. Mahajan's effortless blending of comedy and tragedy is irresistible and should help his book stand out.
She is Too Fond of Books says "Family Planning blends satire with truth, following the antics of young Arjun inside the backdrop of Rakesh Ahuja’s Minister position in a corrupt political climate that reeks of nepotism and favoritism. It’s a fun combination that leaves the reader both fully entertained and hungry for more."
Stephanie from The Seminary Co-Op Bookstore blog reviewed Family Planning as well, and said "Mahajan brilliantly blends elements of traditional Indian culture like aloo gobi and Ring Road with modern Western artifacts like Radiohead and Harry Potter. Overall, Karan Mahajan’s novel is a deeply satisfying piece of writing, and I look forward to reading future works by this highly talented and imaginative author."
MediaBistro posted a video interview with the 25-year old author today – you can see it here.
Really looking forward to this one too. Has anyone out there read it yet?