Chetna Maroo was born in Kenya and grew up in the United Kingdom. Her first novel, Western Lane, translated into a dozen languages, was nominated for the Women's Prize and became a finalist for the Booker Prize in 2023.
This first short work by Maroo is quite appealing because, although it does not include much action, it describes, with charm and delicacy, the everyday life of a family when the mother dies. The publisher provides a good overview of the plot: "Gopi is only eleven years old when her mother dies. According to Aunt Ranjan, what she and her older sisters need is exercise and discipline, and, since three teenagers are too much for a widowed father, she offers to take one of the girls to Edinburgh, far from the family home. Gopi’s father, however, believes that his daughters should stay busy and become passionate about something they can share with him, and he decides that this something will be squash, to which they will dedicate two, three, and even four hours a day.
It is within the walls of the Western Lane sports center that, during the first year after her mother’s death, Gopi’s enormous talent is revealed. She herself tells us about this period of mourning and transformation: a year in which she must deal with pain and absence, but also one in which she will discover tenderness and determination, the existence of rules, and the need to fight to change them.
Written in a contained and evocative style, with a maturity uncommon in a first novel, Chetna Maroo presents us with a touching story of sisterhood, roots, and overcoming challenges (...) With a tender and serene voice, almost whispered, Gopi guides us through the squash court and the life of a family that, stripped of its most beloved member, desperately struggles to regain its essence."
Indeed, during this one-year period, no major events occur, only the typical daily incidents, such as lack of money, small joys, and setbacks, etc., but the desire to help and offer small services always prevails.
It is recommended to approach the novel with a calm and slow reading to better grasp what is said as well as the silences. In the end, it leaves a sense of peace and optimism. It poses no inconvenience and is recommended for everyone.