The Things That We Lost is an oh so wonderfully nuanced new literary fiction debut by Jyoti Patel, soon to be published by Merky Books.
Narrated from the dual perspectives of 18 year old Nikhil (Nik) and his mother Avani, the novel switches between the past and present. And we are with Nik every step of the way as following the loss of his beloved grandfather, he tries to piece together the events surrounding his father's death.
It is a captivating and beautifully written bildungsroman and ode to parental love. You really become invested in this family - Avani and Elliot's love story, the vital role that creativity plays in exploring the deepest emotion, and Nik's transition through a difficult phase of life whilst getting to know his family history.
Jyoti Patel has taken weighty themes and balanced them with lighter moments of humour, mystery and intrigue. The exploration of loss and grief is so painfully accurate it hits you in the pit of your stomach, but the overall effect is a novel full of heart and deeply moving.
Several events skillfully continue conversations about race, brilliantly illustrating throughout the novel, how this can factor into interracial relationships, movement across the UK, identity, the workplace and culture.
London is also written so well, if you know it you'll have a strong visual of that hill in Harrow and the school children with the straw hats, (if you don't then take a fellow Londoner's word for its accuracy!)
I loved it and cannot wait for more from this author.
Thank you to Jyoti Patel Merky Books and Netgally for my ARC.
The Things That We Lost is out now!
TW: abuse, depression,grief
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