Family Matters

By: Rohinton Mistry

Narrated by: Martin Jarvis

Three generations of a family living in Bombay are depicted in this Booker-shortlisted novel.

In the city of Bombay, Nariman Vakeel—an ailing Parsi widower—lives with his middle-aged stepchildren Coomy and Jal. When Nariman breaks an ankle, he can no longer partake in his one pleasure, a daily walk through the neighborhood.

Anxious to unburden herself, the resentful Coomy moves her stepfather to the home of her sister, Roxana. But the crowded household of Roxana, her husband Yezad, and their two young boys triggers disastrous consequences. Selfish acts are compounded, leading to the unraveling of family secrets in this gripping novel set during the mid-1990s.

©2002 Rohinton Mistry (P)2002 New Millennium Audio, All Rights Reserved

Critic reviews

"As close to perfect as a novel can get." (Booklist)

Family Matters

This was a disappointing story especially after listening to A Fine Balance. However, the narration by Martin Jeeves was excellent.

Bombay as a character

Mistry has a wonderful talent for making family life in such an exotic and faraway place as Bombay seem like the family next door, or perhaps one's own family. However, when Bombay itself takes center stage, the reader is indeed transported to someplace faraway, a place sad yet wonderful.

The reader, Martin Jarvis, is superb. I will hunt out more books read by him. Beautiful diction and his ability to give all the characters their own voices without sounding ridiculous is amazing.

Family Matters

Rohinton Mistry is compassionate, deeply insightful, and funny. Martin Jarvis reads beautifully, making it easy to listen for hours on end. MIstry's novel has the power to alter our daily lives.

Family Matters.....Is absolutely matters

This was the first time I had heard the story written by Rohinton Mistry and WoW!!. I am impressed with his style of story telling. It is filled with rich prose and poetry. Though the story starts out slow, it slowly picks up pace and grips you as you get absorbed within the story. The family characters feel so real that they touch your heart and feel like your own family. I was touched everytime anything happy or sad events struck Jhahangir, Nariman, Yazad, Jaal, Roxana and the rest. At various points in the story it made me look back at my own family and think how interesting and meaningful all the relationships are. Family matters ....It absolutely matters.

The narration is equally done well with the absolutely marvelous voice of Martin Jarvis.

This is a story about Parsi families and tradition. It has also wonderful description of Bombay lifestyle and the people who dwell this city. Born and brought up in Bombay, the story feels close to heart. I love it!

The only thing I had wished was a happier ending to this wonderful story.

a story for all cultures and times

Mistry uses the themes of facing our mistakes as we age and the power of grace and compassion to redeem ourselves and others positioned against using ritual to somehow counter balance those mistakes. In the process he tells a story that is timeless, yet giving insight into a particular point in time in India and a particular culture; the Parsis. I you have listened to A Fine Balance you will find this narrator excellant, but not the master of Indian accents in that work. This story is ever so slightly less compelling and there are fewer characters to cheer for. Neverthe less, Mistry draws you in and makes you abide with the characters, you miss them when the book is done. He is not however one who leaves you feeling good. You are left on many levels with more questions than answers but somehow the better person for it.