Sari of the Gods
G.S. SHARAT CHANDRA

Sari of the Gods presents the dual lives of immigrants, specifically Indian Americans. The stories, divided into three distinct sections, introduce us to the multifaceted challenges faced when people are divided between cultures. The first section, "Here," begins with the immigration experience. Chandra contrasts the adversity faced by individuals who have well-established lives with those who have just arrived. "There," the second section, is set in rural India, where technology and wealth clash with agriculture and poverty. The final section, "Neither Here nor There," portrays newcomers who don't feel they fit into mainstream America, but upon returning to their native lands they suddenly discover similar feeling of estrangement. Throughout the book, Chandra touches upon issues of feminism, cultural contexts, immigration, and expatriatism. In exploring the meaning of place, he brings to the forefront how "home" can be lost forever, vividly portraying the confusion, miscommunication, and misplaced ambitions of many new citizens. These universal feelings of alienation underlie the larger common desire for understanding and peace.

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