The Taste of Ginger(94)

Preeti’s relationship with Neel suffers after he releases his long-harbored resentment for the things that she was sheltered from when the family immigrated to America. Do you think Neel’s resentment is fair to Preeti? Do you think Preeti could have discovered these things earlier but chose not to notice them?

The story does not say what happens to Biren after the police raid, and he never tells Preeti. What do you think happened to Biren? How do you think it changed him?

Biren does not believe his family will accept his sexuality, so he feels compelled to choose between romantic love and familial love. Do you think he made the right decision? Do you think there are circumstances in which a person cannot have both and does have to choose one? Why or why not?

Preeti and Carrie have a heartfelt conversation about assimilation and white privilege. Carrie realizes she did not fully see Preeti as she was and made assumptions that she and Preeti were the same. What do you think of Preeti’s comments to Carrie, and what do you think of the way Carrie received those comments? Do you think their friendship will grow closer or further apart now that they’ve shared these thoughts? How do you think they will treat each other differently as their friendship continues?

The novel ends with Preeti and her mother speaking openly for the first time in their lives. How do you think their relationship will change as a result of how they understand each other now? If Preeti had known earlier in life about her mother’s broken engagement, how do you think that would have impacted their relationship?