Abscond by Abraham Verghese

My Review

This was very different to what I’m used to reading. It was interesting in parts. It was also odd in parts, and to be honest I’m not sure I loved it.

Ravi is a thirteen year old Indian boy and the story is of his coming of age.

It begins with his view in the world. His love of tennis and for his best friend. Viewing life in the way teenagers do was charming and sweet to read.

Family traditions are part of all our stories and I loved hearing about the little joke between his parents. One that young Ravi didn’t truly understand, but I did.

The most endearing part of the story was the camaraderie and friendship with the blond haired Billy, who was a lot of what Ravi wasn’t. He swore, he teased, but when it came down to it, the lad was loyal and respectful and it touched me,

There was an unexpected twist which I won’t give away, but it’s the way Ravi became a man – that was enlightening. His friends and family gathered in the most touching of moments.

This is why I love short stories. There are straight to the point and a simpler plot. Mostly though, they allow you to read a story that you wouldn’t normally pick.

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Book Blurb and Link

It’s a New Jersey summer in 1967, and thirteen-year-old Ravi Ramanathan has the makings of a tennis prodigy. His surgeon father encourages his ambition, while his mother dreams of their only child following his father’s path. Surrounded by his parents’ love, Ravi chafes a bit at their daily routines and little traditions. Then one unexpected day, everything changes. Realizing how much he took for granted, Ravi must grow up overnight and find a new role in the life of his family.

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