It’s really hard to not compare The Windfall to other ‘keeping up with the Joneses’ (or the Kardashians, for that matter).
So yes. That is the premise of this book, but it is so much more than that.
The Windfall document the move of the Jha family, from their comfortable flat in Delhi to a beautiful home in one of the wealthiest neighborhoods. The adjustment is a challenge – for both parents, Anil and Bindu, and for their adult son living in the United States.
It’s a winding story that touches on all stages of relationships, the effect of wealth, race, and deep traditions in a rapidly changing culture. There were moments where I fully empathized with The Windfall (as I did when I read The Namesake for the first time), and moments that I couldn’t relate to at all.
But I enjoyed it – every word, chapter, twist, and resolution.
It’s a light read, but a significant one. If you love beautiful prose and a complex story, I think you’ll love The Windfall.Â
