The Rummy Club by Anoop Ahuja Judge is fine example of Asian Indian writing. It is engrossing from the beginning to the end and leaves you with questions about Eastern versus Western culture. Also, you realize that women of both cultures suffer some of the same problems in their families. One of the tragedies in this book is one that my own family endured.

There are four women who meet at a privileged boarding school and become strong friends. One of them, Divya feels like she is an outcast because she is not one of the wealthy. She is amazed that she is immediately accepted into the small group of friends. They stay together during school and then later all meet in California. They make a weekly date to play rummy, their favorite game. They eat Indian food and gossip and sometimes confess their inner secrets. Not all the secrets emerge in the meeting but those that do are fodder for comments by the whole group.

The author tantalizes the reader with many different types of Indian food. I love Indian food but even for me there were many treats and comfort foods that I had not smelled or tasted. Food seems to be a great binder of their friendship. I can easily understand that. I often feel homesick for the food that I grew up with. Each of the four women have big changes in their lives that they are forced to deal with, each one has her own talents and unique personality. I felt very close to Priya who must come to an acceptance of her thickening waistline and recognize her talent for cooking

When the group is in California, there seems to be a different force than in India. Something that they would not think of doing in India became available as choices for the women I. I couldn’t feel a closeness with Alka but when her heart is broken by the worst thing that could happen to a mother, I sobbed, not cried but sobbed.

I recommend this book to all women whether they are Indian or not.

I received this book as a win from FirstReads but that in no way influenced my thoughts or feelings in my review. ( )