In the falling snow/ Caryl Phillips, Harvill Secker 2009

 Caryl Phillips is one of my favourite authors. As usual he writes beautifully and deeply .

The book is about an individual’s search for identity in a modern multi-cultural world. Keith is a black man married to a white woman and they have a son. His one act of infidelity damages his carefully nurtured relationship with his long time sweetheart, university mate and wife Annabelle. Keith starts living away from his family and gets involved with his office colleague who is a divorcee. When he tries to withdraw himself from this relationship he is charged with sexual harassment by his young colleague who feels she has been used by him. Meanwhile Annabelle finds it trying to handle her son who is at a difficult stage in life and seeks Keith’s help to sort out matters .Though Annabelle and Keith have great mental bonding the book does not talk about their reunification . On the other hand the characters all live as isolated individuals trying to chalk out their own existence in this world.

The book also deals with old age problems. Keith and Annabelle both have to deal with aging parents. Keith’s sick father stays all by himself .He refuses to go and live in institutions where his other friends stay. He talks about the betrayals, disappointments, sufferings that he and his other friends had to suffer as black men in a predominantly white society. Annabelle’s father on the other hand is ashamed of his black son in law and never really accepts him as one of their own.
Keith’s son Laurie is again a victim of various racial prejudices. His white mother feels his black father can understand him better and protect him from trouble. However what Keith experiences when he meets his estranged son goes beyond mere racial problems .It becomes more of a psychological problem which is universal in nature.
 “Of course he wants his son to talk to him, but he understands why his son feels a little distant. Sons can be unforgiving towards those who they believe have hurt their mothers. “

While racial and social issues form the overriding theme of this book the story also depicts the impatience of modern man. Keith has no real feelings for the women he beds casually, Annabelle is deeply concerned about her family’s well being and hates to find Keith in a sorry state ,yet the two cannot find the words which could have saved their love and lives .
A lovely book which leaves you thinking about possibilities.

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