Thoughts on Tania James' Atlas of Unknows

It’s difficult to describe Tania James’ debut novel. Not because it’s a complex novel filled with eccentric characters and a poignant storyline but because it’s one of the most engaging literary reads of 2009.

Spread over the lush green terrains of Kerala and the multi-faceted soul of New York, Atlas of Unknows is the story of sisters Linno and Anju, who are raised in God's own country by their father Melvin after their mother commits suicide. Soon, Linno loses her right hand in an accident while lighting fireworks on Christmas Eve – one of the many imaginatively written scenes in the book. However, that doesn’t curb or deter Linno’s talent to create beautiful pictures. But, in an act of betrayal, Anju plagiarises Linno’s works as hers and wins a scholarship to a prestigious New York arts school.

In New York, Anju’s past catches up with her thanks to Bird, a friend of her late mother and from there begins the downfall of Anju, the liar and Linno, the crippled underdog – a robust, multi-layered prose which takes you on a roller coaster ride.

But the novel’s most striking feature is multi-culturalism, best reflected in Anju’s interactions with her host family in New York, the Solankis. Mrs Solanki, her host mother, anchors a TV show, Four Corners, debating possibly every issue under the sun – from feminism to Indian politics – highlighting a hilarious disconnect between India and its diaspora. James’ descriptive and vivid writing style is best exhibited through lines such as “Mrs Solanki’s face is like the flag of a European nation, vaguely familiar, obviously important in some way, but difficult to classify”. Bits such as these and Anju’s first interaction with Bird where she mispronounces his name liven up an otherwise poignant narrative – which is visible in the first few pages of the book.

As Linno returns to school after recuperating from the fireworks accident, she is surrounded by curious classmates in the school toilet, wanting to take a peek inside the knotted sleeve. Sidestepping their curiosity, Linno tries to get out of the loo – but is pinned to the wall. At first she struggles to fight her classmates but, ultimately, “wilts under their weight.” It is an incident which would leave a person shocked. But not Linno. She re-ties the knot, smoothens her hair, splashes water in her eyes “to separate the red from the white” and moves on with life as usual. It is as poignant and moving a scene as you would’ve read anywhere. It is also a situation which is very complex to describe

With Atlas of Unknowns, Tania has made a brilliant debut, one which will be remembered for a long time. Her writing is similar to that of Kamila Shamsie – balancing emotions in a delicate yet engaging narrative - although her canvas is not as overwhelming. Overall, Atlas of Unknowns is the kind of book you’d want to read sitting in your balcony, enjoying the pleasant weather and reflectiong on a journey called life

(A slightly different version of this review can be read here)