Summary

The protagonist and narrator of the novel is Kailash. He is from India and has immigrated to the New York City to study literature in graduate school. He aspires to be a writer. He also feels a lack of personal self-knowledge and of knowledge of his past. He cites a story in his family about a monkey who supposedly stole the family’s pistol and shot itself in the head. Kailash feels that this story is probably untrue. After coming to America, Kailash hears renowned sex therapist Dr. Ruth on the radio, and he is struck by the frankness and openness with which she discusses sex. He thinks of the comparative sexual repression he experienced in Indian culture. Kailash compares Dr. Ruth to Mahinder Watsa, who was among the first to promote more frank and direct sex education in India. Kailash feels a sense...