"Em and the Big Hoom" by Jerry Pinto, book review

 Since I am doing a review here, do expect spoilers.

Em and the Big Hoom is an extraordinary novel written in a way that is usually not seen. The novel shows the life of the narrator(who is unnamed) and his family, seemingly in the 1980s and 90s era of Goa. 

The prose is fantastic with the narrator's inner thoughts and experiences described realistically. 

At the centre of the story are the narrator's mother-Imelda and father-Augustine.

The first person narrative explores the past of the two central characters through direct enquiry with them or scrutiny of letters and diary entries. Em, as Imelda is called by the two children(one being Susan, the narrator's sister), is an interesting person with her vivaciousness and manic episodes that perpetually perturb her family. The narrator finds himself repeatedly torn between accepting her and having enough of her, even to the point of wanting to move out(which was changed as the Big Hoom told him to only do so if he could afford it). He even describes thinking of killing her. 

The Big Hoom is an important figure for the narrator as he is his mentor, his idol and hero. The narrator fears of handling Em after his departure in demise. The Big Hoom is a stoic, wise and open-minded man. He never beat Em, even though society would not have criticized it, as told by Em. The Big Hoom, however does show signs of tiring seen as when he became critical of Em draining all of the money in her account for unknown purposes(it was supposed to support the two children). 

Susan is a side character to say the most. She is not explored too well, but is still around in almost every chapter.

The environment around the narrator is tough as he is teased for being the child of a "mad" woman. The traditionalistic environment shown both in the present and past of Em and the Big Hoom, adds depth to the story. There are indirect critiques of society's conditions, including the treatment of women and the mentally ill, inhumane treatments in hospitals and superficial friends like Gertrude-who only met Em when she was depressed and avoided her when she wanted to meet her(Gertrude) , to feel like a friend in need(the narrator dislikes talking to her for that reason). 

Em touches the concept of sex and sexuality often. She even describes how she thought of it as a sin, because of Catholic doctrines. She explicitly talks about sexual themes with her children(even morbidly discussing Freud's incestuous tendencies, with the narrator, when he was just nine).

 The novel has near-fantastical elements like the appearance of a cancer lesion and it's disappearance, almost like a prediction. It could be considered magical realism if only the characters didn't treat it as unusual. But I swear, living in this world is like magical realism

The narrator deeply fears that he would gain the same affliction as Em, and even analyzes it through her psychiatrist. 

When, by the end of the novel, Em dies, there is a lot you feel. The sorrow, wonder and normal moving on of life really makes you think. The narrator expresses his dark thought of how he could only get freedom if his father and mother die.

A great read, altogether. For a debut novel, it is great. Pinto published it at the age of fourth, which is a rare age for becoming a novelist(see Sidney Sheldon publishing his first novel at the age of 60).