DNF - This has more to do with me & perhaps the time in which I attempted to read this book than the story itself. I will probably try & seek this story out again in the future to try again.

A multi-layered novel about family, identity, culture and nationality. It begins with Sunil and Hima who defy taboos in pre-partition India to have a mixed marriage. They emigrate to Canada to forge a new life, which they do successfully up to a point, but eventually Sunil’s mental health begins to disintegrate. Their daughter has her own adjustments to make in Canadian society but issues of cultural heritage and family loyalty always impinge. There are so many themes and issues explored in this book – the Partition of India, independence for Quebec, international adoption, the legacy of Vietnam – but all are expertly and tightly woven together into a completely satisfactory whole. It’s a complex narrative but one told with insight and empathy. The feeling of being an outsider, of never quite finding one’s place in the prevailing culture is extremely well portrayed and I found this a moving and compelling read.

This was such a beautiful read that really delves into the complexities of one's relationship to culture, and altogether is a beautifully told character-driven story about family and love

I love books that bring multiple viewpoints, periods of time and historical references together, and A Convergence of Solitudes did just that!

A Convergence of Solitudes follows three families - Sunil & Hima, two teenagers growing up in Partition India; Rani (Sunil & Hima's daughter) who struggles with her Canadian identity as a dedicated Quebecer; and Mel, a Vietnamese girl adopted during Operation Babylift, by a famous musician father and British mother. A current of connectivity runs through each of their stories - the thread of belonging, what truly defines family, and what cultural freedom truly means. I found Sunil and Hima's story the most compelling, but when viewing them through Rani's eyes, felt a new layer about what immigrant parents must do for their children. Similarly, Rani felt like a headstrong, brave feminist, but when viewed by Mel, we could see some of the troubling realities of her family life.

This is DEFINITELY a character driven novel, and with the exception of two brief plot focused moments, it really is a glimpse at the lives of various states of these human beings. Despite the transcendent them of belonging, I found Mel's storyline the most disconnected from the other two, and found myself struggling to get through to the end of this one. I loved the glimpse at Quebec culture and the unflinching reality of the mental health of Sunil, but I would have liked if there was a little more plot to round this out.

A really enjoyable read that focuses on two young people who defy their familes in a divided society to be with each other. I couldn't put this book down and I have taken it to my heart.

My first book to read by this author but definitely not my last! Such a beautifully written novel that made it hard for me to put his book down once I started it. Highly recommend!!

I couldn't review this title because the ARC file was corrupt or otherwise impossible to read. Which is a shame.

A Convergence of Solitudes is described as "A story of identity, connection and forgiveness,"

It's an engaging spiraling tale starting with two teens who fall in love. Sunil and Hima defy their family expectations in their love as the partition of India and Pakistan looms. They move to Montreal and raise a family and much of the story surrounds their daughter Rani with a rapidly changing Montreal as a background character. As a teen, Rani is obsessed with music and a chance encounter brings her close to a famous band and the adopted daughter of the famous singer.

Years later, Rani is a college counselor and she encounters the adopted daughter and must help her make sense of herself and her choices. #bookhugpress #netgalley #netgalleyreads