The Christians of Malabar

Carol Laing is a Toronto-based freelance writer.

This enjoyable collection of eight short stories illustrates the
spiritual and cultural differences encountered by Westerners in India,
and their interaction with the locals. The stories, though varied,
complement one another and, taken together, present an interesting
portrait of West versus East.

Conway manages to produce distinct feelings of enigma and displacement,
and at the same time to convey concrete details, sights and sounds,
noise and heat. Particularly enjoyable are “Pia in Genoa,”
“Charity,” and “Souvenir of Dhal Lake.”

Though effective, this portrayal of cultural and religious differences
and the interaction between East and West is never heavy-handed or
judgmental. Highly recommended.