Thursday, August 4, 2011

Born Confused


Let me start out by saying, not my kind of book!  Born Confused by Tanuja Desai Hidier tells the story of a teenage (17-year-old) Indian American growing up in everyone’s favorite state…. New Jersey!  Dimple, our protagonist, is dying to be a true American, but everything about her (looks, family, etc.) is Indian and that’s the way her life is going to be!  Add on the fact that her best friend is the knock-down gorgeous Gwyn Sexton (no relation to President Sexton of NYU – but hey a TON of the character’s friends attend NYU, and she even goes to parties there --- but not in Founders!).  Add the insecure Dimple with her best friend's “photo-shoot looks” and you have a conflict in the making!  Dimple fights with her parents to stop the Indian culture pressure, especially when they arrange a date with Karsh Kapoor, the son of a long-lost best friend of Dimple’s parents.  The evening goes poorly and Dimple lets Gwyn know how she didn’t like the set-up.  What do you think happens?  Of course, Gwyn, a resident loose-woman, now wants to get Karsh in the sack!  This is one of those very predictable stories, annoying, really... Indians who come to the states would act like this? Mostly annoying, though loved the fact that the author makes NYU the HOTTEST school in the world to attend for every Indian and anyone else!  (Great free P.R.!!!)  Dimple now decides she actually likes Karsh and wants him for herself.  Major best friend “cat-fight ensues” and true to form, Gwyn loses this guy, after trying to transition herself as an Indian person (cooking the meals, dressing the part, etc.). Luckily Karsh sees through this (is this a copy of some ABC Family Channel weekly situational tv show?).  I could not wait to have this one over.  Probably good for some 12 or 13-year-old teens, on second thought, don’t do it!  Funniest part – Dimple’s mom teaches Gwyn how to cook authentic Indian food for the party and mixes the ingredients for the curry chicken and warns Dimple not to eat it.  Skip this one!

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