The Museum of Failures is an emotional story of family secrets and redemption, with a painful mother-son relationship as its driving force.

Remy was raised in affluence in Bombay by a loving father and cold, unpredictable, cruel mother. After attending college in the US, he stayed, married a lovely woman, and built a life for himself. As the story opens, Remy returns to India for the first time since his father’s death three years earlier. His closest friends have arranged for him and his wife to adopt their unwed niece’s baby. Despite his mixed feelings and negative associations with Bombay, he and Kathy are eager to finally start a family of their own after years of fertility struggles.

Remy is initially repelled by the noise and crowds and intensity of Bombay. His trip appears to be headed for failure when the adoption seems doubtful. To make things worse, Remy’s obligatory visit to see his mother leads to a shocking discovery: She’s been neglected by the caretakers he hired, her living conditions are in disrepair, and she’s in the hospital in serious condition, no longer eating or speaking. Although he’s tried for years to keep as much distance as possible between himself and his mother, his sense of filial duty requires him to care for her during this health crisis and try to help her get better.

As Remy spends time with his mother, she seems to slowly find a new will to live. He discovers cracks in his memories — occasionally snippets of happy moments with a woman he remembers as consistently harsh and unloving. Ultimately, Remy stumbles upon a secret that upends his belief about his upbringing and parents — he discovers that what he remembers and what was actually true are two quite different stories. The family secret is explosive, and changes everything Remy once believed.

The Museum of Failures is a moving story of the damage done within families, the sacrifices parents make, and the lifelong impact of secrets. It’s also a portrait of Remy’s community within Indian society. For a reader previously unfamiliar with the Parsi community, it was a fascinating look at the culture and traditions of this small, tightly-knit segment of the Indian population. Additionally, The Museum of Failures presents a visceral portrait of life in Bombay, from the luxurious dwellings of the wealthy to the neglected and disreputable areas inhabited by the poor and lower castes.

The Museum of Failures is a much more personal story than the author’s previous book, Honor, which takes on oppressive societal structures and cultural differences and the horrible conditions of women’s lives in patriarchal villages. The focus here is on Remy and his family, who in many ways live a very privileged, comfortable life — and yet it’s clear that the pressures of the greater society in which they live have a strong influence on the trauma that pervades their experience.

Ultimately, The Museum of Failures conveys grace and forgiveness through Remy’s journey. The unraveling of secrets allows him to come to terms with his childhood and forge new connections as an adult. The reconciliation with his mother is only possible once the secrets between them are exposed and processed. It’s quite beautiful to see the emotional journey of mother and son, and while many parts of their story are painful, we end on a note of hope.

The Museum of Failures is an emotionally rich story that centers family dynamics within a great societal context. The storytelling feels personal, yet includes beautifully evocative descriptions of the sights, sounds, smells, and flavors of its setting. With well-drawn characters and a skillfully developed plot, this book conveys an intimate story that’s also a page-turner. Highly recommended.