Writing and Reading from Diverse Positions

I enjoyed hearing the author talk about her writing experience and the story in person, as it helped give me more understanding of the work in general. I couldn't relate to the story very much. While I grew up in a city with a large South Asian community, I've never made any connections. The races were very much segregated on their own. I enjoyed the way Sindu chose to wrap up the novel. I think nowadays, especially shown through social media in the US, people are expecting happy endings and acceptance because it's seen as "right", and any family refusing your new sexuality or beliefs is shunned as immoral and a bigot, usually quickly suggesting them to cut the offending family members out of their life. Marriage of a Thousand Lies shows a more realistic and down-to-earth side of society and familial relationships. Someone's intolerance doesn't usually mean that they're terrible people. It's usually the result of the times, their environment growing up, and what they were conditioned to believe. Just as how Americans expect certain behaviours from foreigners (like smiling) or political ideals, not every culture is ready to jump the gun on abandoning their relationships. It's tragic and upsetting that Lucky has to compromise this way in order to have a peaceful life, but I feel it's also important to show this reality instead of continuing the idea that everyone will happily accept your life choices without resistance.