Lynnie 
contemporary fiction
In Leah Franqui's America for Beginners, Pival Sengupta has gone from her parents' home to her husband Ram's home in Kolkata, and has never been able to make a decision for herself. Her son, Rahi, having gone to America to study, was disowned by Ram (and therefore Pival) after coming out to his family as gay. Shortly afterward, Ram gets a phone call and tells Pival that Rahi has died, but Pival has questions, chief among them whether or not her son, Rahi, is actually dead. Thus, after Ram's death, Pival arranges to take a tour of America in the company of her guide Satya and her companion Rebecca. Pival seeks to understand the country that accepted her son and to find the truth, once and for all, about what happened.
This was a sweet story. I enjoyed all the characters and watching how each of them grew throughout the novel in both their own ways but also as a fellowship. There were some parts that made me roll my eyes and the story often repeated itself as if I hadn't understood the character dynamics the first time, but still it was an enjoyable trip to embark upon. It's a fast read that would be a great choice for a road trip of your own.
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