The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel by Deborah Moggach

"A Spielbergian radiance" emanates from start to finish. There is one certainty in life and that is we will all die at some point in time. Sorry to be so morbid but somethings we have to accept as inevitable. Hopefully you'll see my point soon.

Moggach's novel was published in 2004 as These Foolish Things. It is a cathartic experience for the readers as well as the retirees who seek a different life in their twilight years and their families who come to visit. The Marigold, Bangalore and India prove to be a turning point in their lives rather like Robert Frost's crossroads in The Road Not Taken where the retirees can reflect on their lives, past, present and future. The Marigold may not be the best or the most exotic of final destinations, it is a home for old people where the residents will contemplate their mortality and die peacefully.

"A little corner of Britain. An oasis of olde-worlde charm in the hustle and bustle of modern Bangalore." This is how it is marketed and even though ironically, the hotel is shabby and not at its best, certainly not the quality they were expecting, it becomes a home where friendships and love blossom.

Moggach's central idea was sociological considering the ever-growing ageing population in the U.K. The prospect of growing old and suffering poverty was not a thought to relish. What is going to happen to them and who is going to care for them?
Sonny and his cousin Dr Ravi masterminded the idea of opening up the Indian hotel:
"Why should they be mouldering away in rainy, dirty old Britain, when they could be sitting under a palm tree, tanning their wrinkles and getting their false teeth stuck into a nice juicy mango?"
It doesn't take much to persuade a mismatch of extremely interesting and diverse retirees to travel to India. The N.H.S. is severely criticised, hospitals and services are being cut and black doctors are overworked. Randy Norman is infatuated with the idea that Indian women don't have hangups over sex and as long as he can get viagra out there and plenty of sex he won't feel "incarcerated" into what he described as a "penal institution" aka a home for old people back in the U.K.

Muriel is bigoted and totally reliant on Keith, her son who disappears after a dodgy business deal. Surprisingly, she warms to India and turns to spiritualism finding solace there. Evelyn sees it as an adventure and she becomes confident and more independent, ultimately finding love for the second time in her life. Madge too finds love and security. She quips,"Life begins at seventy, seventy's the new forty, didn't you know?" I am sure some of you will be relieved to hear that like me.
"People think we're waiting to die. Well I'm starting to live." Moggach moves away from the maudling thoughts of mortality to show happiness in friendship and love. The central characters have "refused to resign themselves to ending their lives in quiet despair." Sadly two of the characters die peacefully and this inevitably has an adverse effect on the others. Douglas Ainslie was gripped with panic and asked:"Is this what it's like?" His epiphany was to end his marriage to Jean and marry a second time for love. A new beginning, a new start. Unrealistic but optimistic.


Christmas was a time for reunions with families who were more than happy to send their parents to India to end their days cut off from their nearest and dearests. Sounds heartless, doesn't it? Evelyn's son Christopher is grossly unhappy with his wife and their spoilt children. India gives him an opportunity to find love but he is bullied to return to America to play the family man and to keep up the pretence.

We are told of the charms of India:"The miracle of this reunion had affected them all...prodigal sons, daughters..drawn to India by its tranforming magic."
I found it very philosophical and refreshing. Yes there are many moments of sadness but there is warmth, humour and more importantly, HOPE.

PUBLISHERS: Vintage Books.   ISBN: 978-0-099-57202-2

COPYRIGHT 2013. Permission must be obtained from the author before reproducing any part of this review.

Comments

  1. Terry Tyler16 January 2013 at 13:13

    Thank you for drawing my attention to this via Twitter! It's a while since I read the book, but I found this most interesting.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Carol Naylor18 January 2013 at 12:41

    Thank you for responding positively.

    ReplyDelete

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