A STATE OF FREEDOM

Modern India is a place full of people teeming with ambitions, and narrator Sartaj Garewal brings them to life in Mukherjee's linked short stories. Garewal's narration depicts a range of people and places: fathers and sons, drivers and riders. Garewal maintains his enthusiasm across the wide range of characters who struggle to achieve their private dreams. At times, his delivery choices can overwhelm the listener; for example, when he's portraying young children or pushy beggars, their high-pitched tones come across as overdone. But a feeling of being overwhelmed can be part of visiting one of the world's most populous nations, so perhaps this is a fitting approach to Mukherjee's slice-of-life exploration of India. M.R. © AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2018]