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Family Matters (novel)

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Novel by Rohinton Mistry
Family Matters
First edition
AuthorRohinton Mistry
LanguageEnglish
GenreLiterary Fiction
PublisherMcClelland and Stewart
Publication date31 December 2001
Publication placeCanada, India
Media typePrint (Paperback and Hardback)
Pages500 pp (paperback first edition)
ISBN978-0375703423 (first edition, paperback)
OCLC52069921
Preceded byA Fine Balance 
Followed byThe Scream 

Family Matters is the third novel published by Indian-born author Rohinton Mistry. It was first published by McClelland and Stewart in 2002. Subsequent editions were published by Faber in UK, Knopf in US and Vintage Books in India. The book is set in Shiv Sena-ruled Bombay.

Plot

Nariman Vakeel is a 79-year-old Parsi widower beset by Parkinson's disease and haunted by memories of the past. He lives with his two middle-aged step-children. When Nariman's illness is compounded by a broken ankle, he is forced to take up residence with his daughter Roxana and her husband Yezad, along with their two sons. This new responsibility for Yezad, who is already besieged by financial worries, proves too much and pushes him into a scheme of deception with devastating consequences.

Parallel to this narrative is the story of Mr. Kapur who envisages peace and freedom from political terror in the city.

Reception

On Bookmarks January/February 2003 issue, a magazine that aggregates critic reviews of books, the book received a (3.5 out of 5) based on critic reviews with a critical summary saying, "If you are willing to overlook Mistry's melodramatic flourishes and his penchant for coincidences, Family Matters is a compelling and tender domestic drama". The Daily Telegraph reported on reviews from several publications with a rating scale for the novel out of "Love It", "Pretty Good", "Ok", and "Rubbish": Times, Independent, Independent On Sunday, New Statesman, and TLS reviews under "Love It" and Daily Telegraph, Guardian, Sunday Telegraph, Spectator, and Literary Review reviews under "Pretty Good" and Observer and Sunday Times reviews under "Ok".

References

  1. Mars-Jones, Adam (21 April 2002). "It's all a bit of a mystery". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 June 2022.
  2. Birne, Eleanor (13 April 2002). "Family Matters, by Rohinton Mistry". Independent. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
  3. "King Lear in Bombay". New York Times. 13 October 2002.
  4. "Book review: Rohinton Mistry's Family Matters". India Today. 6 May 2002.
  5. "Family Matters" (PDF). Bookmarks. p. 38. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 July 2004. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  6. "Books of the moment: What the papers say". The Daily Telegraph. 5 October 2002. p. 60. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
  7. "Books of the moment: What the papers say". The Daily Telegraph. 4 May 2002. p. 60. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
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