Thrity Umrigar: The Museum of Failures

Thrity Umrigar joins Carol Fitzgerald to talk about her latest novel, THE MUSEUM OF FAILURES, which is set in India. It’s a Bookreporter Bets On selection, as was her previous book, HONOR. In it, Remy Wadia has come back to India from his home in Columbus, Ohio, to adopt a child; a young woman who his friends know is pregnant and wants to give up her child. Remy is conflicted about this trip as he has had a long, contentious relationship with his mother, and this is his first time back in India since the death of his father, who was his champion. He and his dad shared a warm loving relationship. His mom was colder and more guarded with him. Thrity talks about her plotting and the building of her characters, as well as the multiple references to “the museums of failures” in the book. Like Remy, Thrity is Parsi, part of a very small sect, and she delves into their history. There is also a discussion about how infrequently many Americans contemplate the nuances of the larger world, and how little is taught in school about much of it. Book discussed in this episode:  THE MUSEUM OF FAILURES by Thrity Umrigar https://www.bookreporter.com/reviews/the-museum-of-failures Latest “Bookreporter Talks To” Interviews: Ashley Audrain: https://youtu.be/39UpbAbc5no John Sargent: https://youtu.be/Wm93hbgRs-A Sarah Pekkanen: https://youtu.be/lb5EUOn-Rr4 Angie Kim: https://youtu.be/iOZJcg6i1iM Melanie Benjamin: https://youtu.be/Vl-uEWGAnn4 Shari Lapena: https://youtu.be/zCT_Z1nJPT0 Tracey Lange: https://youtu.be/NvMLQsooDvQ Naomi Hirahara: https://youtu.be/pwvkwqt2No Liz Nugent: https://youtu.be/pH2HEvvyiAo Alli Frank and Asha Youmans: https://youtu.be/d02mLanJV8g Carolyn Mackler: https://youtu.be/L4M-w9BeaTk Adrienne Brodeur: https://youtu.be/6U7kf2KVtco Check out our past “Bookaccino Live” Book Group events: Nita Prose: https://youtu.be/f_Ev0KN8z2M Chamaine Wilkerson: https://youtu.be/0DluxmfXGoI  Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray: https://youtu.be/rYelwWiTJbE Janet Skeslien Charles: https://youtu.be/47Sx9DtcAkA Miranda Cowley Heller: https://youtu.be/gVlKvApDO8M Sign up for newsletters from Bookreporter and Reading Group Guides here: https://tbrnetwork.com/newsletters/ FOLLOW US on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bookreporter Website: https://www.bookreporter.com Art Credit: Tom Fitzgerald Edited by Jordan Redd Productions