"Em and the big Hoom" by Jerry Pinto. This book is published by Aleph book company in 2013 and has 240 pages. It has won 2013 Crossword book award and Hindu literary award.
Author and his sister call their mother 'Em' (Probably for Imelda) and their father 'The Big Hoom'. Em is special. She is mentally ill. Em's mental illness is not a continuous state. She suffers bouts of depression. Em says that a black drip starts inside her. She hears voices that ask her to do certain things, things including killing herself.
Mental illness makes the person suffer, makes the spouse suffer and also makes the family suffer. The family becomes devoid of relationships with outside world. They become a closed unit. They have to be continuously ready for the depression attack. Children live in constant fear that these genes may be there in them too.
It's tiresome & excruciatingly painful and wears you down emotionally. There is a constant fear of attempted or, even worse, successful suicide. The family suffers and they can't explain the suffering. The person suffers much more and can not even explain what is happening.
The story is narrated through discussions, letters and memories. Em understand that her mental illness is a curse but can't help it. She is brutally frank with her kids and husband. Big Hoom is a character that loves his wife, cares for her and is rock solid. He is the anchor of the family and prevents the family from flowing away in the flood of Em's illness. Authors sister has to step in as matriarch every now and then and author is the free floating element of the house.
What would be the response of family when such a person dies a natural death? Joy? Sorrow? Relief? Emptiness? All of above? Or a combination of above?
Author has delivered a noir nonchalantly. Writing style is fluid. Though not much happens, readers are glued to the book.
A good book. Recommend reading if you don't mind the genre.
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