The Weight of Heaven: A Novel [Paperback]

“Powerful. . . . Twisty, brimming with dark humor and keen moral insight,The Weight of Heavenpacks a wallop on both a literary and emotional level. . . . Umrigar . . . is a descriptive master.” —Christian Science Monitor

From Thrity Umrigar, bestselling author ofThe Space Between Us, comesThe Weight of Heaven. In the rich tradition of the acclaimed works of Indian writers such as Rohinton Mistry, Akhil Sharma, Indra Sinha, and Jhumpa Lahiri,The Weight of Heavenis an emotionally charged story about unexpected death, unhealed wounds, and the price one father will pay to protect himself from pain and loss. Additionally, it offers unique perspectives, both Indian and American, on the fragmented nature of globalized India.

When Frank and Ellie Benton lose their only child, seven-year-old Benny, to a sudden illness, the perfect life they had built is shattered. Filled with wrenching memories, their Ann Arbor home becomes unbearable, and their marriage founders. Then an unexpected job half a world away in Girbaug, India, offers them an opportunity to start again. But Frank's befriending of Ramesh—a bright, curious boy who quickly becomes the focus of his attentions—will lead the grieving man down an ever-darkening path with stark repercussions.

A devastating look at cultural clashes and divides, Thrity Umrigar'sThe Weight of Heavenis a rare glimpse of a family and a country struggling under pressures beyond their control.