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Recalling contemporary classics such as Americanah, Behold the Dreamers, and The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, a funny, poignant, and insightful debut novel that explores the complexities of family, immigration, prejudice, and the American Dream through meaningful and unlikely friendships forged in unusual circumstances.
Pival Sengupta has done something she never expected: she has booked a trip with the First Class India USA Destination Vacation Tour Company. But unlike other upper-class Indians on a foreign holiday, the recently widowed Pival is not interested in sightseeing. She is traveling thousands of miles from Kolkata to New York on a cross-country journey to California, where she hopes to uncover the truth about her beloved son, Rahi. A year ago Rahi devastated his very traditional parents when he told them he was gay. Then, Pival’s husband, Ram, told her that their son had died suddenly—heartbreaking news she still refuses to accept. Now, with Ram gone, she is going to America to find Rahi, alive and whole or dead and gone, and come to terms with her own life.
Arriving in New York, the tour proves to be more complicated than anticipated. Planned by the company’s indefatigable owner, Ronnie Munshi—a hard-working immigrant and entrepreneur hungry for his own taste of the American dream—it is a work of haphazard improvisation. Pival’s guide is the company’s new hire, the guileless and wonderfully resourceful Satya, who has been in America for one year—and has never actually left the five boroughs. For modesty’s sake Pival and Satya will be accompanied by Rebecca Elliot, an aspiring young actress. Eager for a paying gig, she’s along for the ride, because how hard can a two-week "working" vacation traveling across America be?
Slowly making her way from coast to coast with her unlikely companions, Pival finds that her understanding of her son—and her hopes of a reunion with him—are challenged by her growing knowledge of his adoptive country. As the bonds between this odd trio deepens, Pival, Satya, and Rebecca learn to see America—and themselves—in different and profound new ways.
A bittersweet and bighearted tale of forgiveness, hope, and acceptance, America for Beginners illuminates the unexpected enchantments life can hold, and reminds us that our most precious connections aren’t always the ones we seek.
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When the recently widowed Pival Sengupta of Kolkata books a trip with the First Class India USA Destination Vacation Tour Company, she’s not planning a sightseeing extravaganza typical of upper-class Indian tourists. Her mission is to find out the truth about her estranged son, Rahi, who had been living in California. Rahi had recently come out as gay when Pival’s husband received a call saying Rahi had died suddenly.
The tour itself, planned by the company owner Ronnie Munshi, is a work of haphazard improvisation. The guide Ronnie selects for Pival’s trip is an earnest rookie named Satya, who arrived in New York a year earlier and has never left the five boroughs. Ronnie is sure that Satya can just find a female chaperone to accompany them on the tour for modesty’s sake. Enter Rebecca Elliot, an aspiring actress whose career isn’t quite taking off.
As Pival’s relationships with Satya and Rebecca evolve, all three learn to see America in different, and more profound, ways than they anticipated.
Leah Franqui is a graduate of Yale University and received an MFA at NYU-Tisch. She is a playwright and the recipient of the 2013 Goldberg Playwriting Award, and also wrote a web series for which she received the Alfred Sloan Foundation Screenwriting award (aftereverafterwebseries.com). A Puerto Rican-Jewish Philadelphia native, Franqui lives with her Kolkata-born husband in Mumbai. AMERICA FOR BEGINNERS is her first novel.
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- PublisherHarper Large Print
- Publication date2018
- ISBN 10 006284573X
- ISBN 13 9780062845733
- BindingPaperback
- Number of pages464
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Book Description Hardcover. Condition: new. Hardcover. Recalling contemporary classics such as Americanah, Behold the Dreamers, and The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, a funny, poignant, and insightful debut novel that explores the complexities of family, immigration, prejudice, and the American Dream through meaningful and unlikely friendships forged in unusual circumstances.Pival Sengupta has done something she never expected: she has booked a trip with the First Class India USA Destination Vacation Tour Company. But unlike other upper-class Indians on a foreign holiday, the recently widowed Pival is not interested in sightseeing. She is traveling thousands of miles from Kolkata to New York on a cross-country journey to California, where she hopes to uncover the truth about her beloved son, Rahi. A year ago Rahi devastated his very traditional parents when he told them he was gay. Then, Pivals husband, Ram, told her that their son had died suddenlyheartbreaking news she still refuses to accept. Now, with Ram gone, she is going to America to find Rahi, alive and whole or dead and gone, and come to terms with her own life.Arriving in New York, the tour proves to be more complicated than anticipated. Planned by the companys indefatigable owner, Ronnie Munshia hard-working immigrant and entrepreneur hungry for his own taste of the American dreamit is a work of haphazard improvisation. Pivals guide is the companys new hire, the guileless and wonderfully resourceful Satya, who has been in America for one yearand has never actually left the five boroughs. For modestys sake Pival and Satya will be accompanied by Rebecca Elliot, an aspiring young actress. Eager for a paying gig, shes along for the ride, because how hard can a two-week "working" vacation traveling across America beSlowly making her way from coast to coast with her unlikely companions, Pival finds that her understanding of her sonand her hopes of a reunion with himare challenged by her growing knowledge of his adoptive country. As the bonds between this odd trio deepens, Pival, Satya, and Rebecca learn to see Americaand themselvesin different and profound new ways.A bittersweet and bighearted tale of forgiveness, hope, and acceptance, America for Beginners illuminates the unexpected enchantments life can hold, and reminds us that our most precious connections arent always the ones we seek. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability. Seller Inventory # 9780062845733
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Book Description Hardcover. Condition: new. Hardcover. Recalling contemporary classics such as Americanah, Behold the Dreamers, and The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, a funny, poignant, and insightful debut novel that explores the complexities of family, immigration, prejudice, and the American Dream through meaningful and unlikely friendships forged in unusual circumstances.Pival Sengupta has done something she never expected: she has booked a trip with the First Class India USA Destination Vacation Tour Company. But unlike other upper-class Indians on a foreign holiday, the recently widowed Pival is not interested in sightseeing. She is traveling thousands of miles from Kolkata to New York on a cross-country journey to California, where she hopes to uncover the truth about her beloved son, Rahi. A year ago Rahi devastated his very traditional parents when he told them he was gay. Then, Pivals husband, Ram, told her that their son had died suddenlyheartbreaking news she still refuses to accept. Now, with Ram gone, she is going to America to find Rahi, alive and whole or dead and gone, and come to terms with her own life.Arriving in New York, the tour proves to be more complicated than anticipated. Planned by the companys indefatigable owner, Ronnie Munshia hard-working immigrant and entrepreneur hungry for his own taste of the American dreamit is a work of haphazard improvisation. Pivals guide is the companys new hire, the guileless and wonderfully resourceful Satya, who has been in America for one yearand has never actually left the five boroughs. For modestys sake Pival and Satya will be accompanied by Rebecca Elliot, an aspiring young actress. Eager for a paying gig, shes along for the ride, because how hard can a two-week "working" vacation traveling across America beSlowly making her way from coast to coast with her unlikely companions, Pival finds that her understanding of her sonand her hopes of a reunion with himare challenged by her growing knowledge of his adoptive country. As the bonds between this odd trio deepens, Pival, Satya, and Rebecca learn to see Americaand themselvesin different and profound new ways.A bittersweet and bighearted tale of forgiveness, hope, and acceptance, America for Beginners illuminates the unexpected enchantments life can hold, and reminds us that our most precious connections arent always the ones we seek. Shipping may be from our Sydney, NSW warehouse or from our UK or US warehouse, depending on stock availability. Seller Inventory # 9780062845733
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Book Description Hardcover. Condition: new. Hardcover. Recalling contemporary classics such as Americanah, Behold the Dreamers, and The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, a funny, poignant, and insightful debut novel that explores the complexities of family, immigration, prejudice, and the American Dream through meaningful and unlikely friendships forged in unusual circumstances.Pival Sengupta has done something she never expected: she has booked a trip with the First Class India USA Destination Vacation Tour Company. But unlike other upper-class Indians on a foreign holiday, the recently widowed Pival is not interested in sightseeing. She is traveling thousands of miles from Kolkata to New York on a cross-country journey to California, where she hopes to uncover the truth about her beloved son, Rahi. A year ago Rahi devastated his very traditional parents when he told them he was gay. Then, Pivals husband, Ram, told her that their son had died suddenlyheartbreaking news she still refuses to accept. Now, with Ram gone, she is going to America to find Rahi, alive and whole or dead and gone, and come to terms with her own life.Arriving in New York, the tour proves to be more complicated than anticipated. Planned by the companys indefatigable owner, Ronnie Munshia hard-working immigrant and entrepreneur hungry for his own taste of the American dreamit is a work of haphazard improvisation. Pivals guide is the companys new hire, the guileless and wonderfully resourceful Satya, who has been in America for one yearand has never actually left the five boroughs. For modestys sake Pival and Satya will be accompanied by Rebecca Elliot, an aspiring young actress. Eager for a paying gig, shes along for the ride, because how hard can a two-week "working" vacation traveling across America beSlowly making her way from coast to coast with her unlikely companions, Pival finds that her understanding of her sonand her hopes of a reunion with himare challenged by her growing knowledge of his adoptive country. As the bonds between this odd trio deepens, Pival, Satya, and Rebecca learn to see Americaand themselvesin different and profound new ways.A bittersweet and bighearted tale of forgiveness, hope, and acceptance, America for Beginners illuminates the unexpected enchantments life can hold, and reminds us that our most precious connections arent always the ones we seek. Shipping may be from our UK warehouse or from our Australian or US warehouses, depending on stock availability. Seller Inventory # 9780062845733
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