The atlas of reds and blues : a novel

This Washington Post "Best Book of the Year" grapples with the complexities of the second–generation American experience, what it means to be a woman of color in the workplace, and a sister, a wife, and a mother to daughters in today's America. When a woman—known only as Mother—moves her family from Atlanta to its wealthy suburbs, she discovers that neither the times nor the people have changed since her childhood in a small Southern town. Despite the intervening decades, Mother is met with the same questions: Where are you from? No, where are you really from? The American–born daughter of Bengali immigrants, she finds that her answer―Here―is never enough. Mother's simmering anger breaks through one morning, when, during a violent and unfounded police raid on her home, she finally refuses to be complacent. As she lies bleeding from a gunshot wound, her thoughts race from childhood games with her sister and visits to cousins in India, to her time in the newsroom before having her three daughters, to the early days of her relationship with a husband who now spends more time flying business class than at home. Drawing inspiration from the author's own terrifying experience of a raid on her home, Devi S. Laskar's debut novel explores, in exquisite, lyrical prose, an alternate reality that might have been. "The entire novel takes place over the course of a single morning. . . and the effect is devastatingly potent." — Marie Claire "Devi S. Laskar's The Atlas of Reds and Blues is as narratively beautiful as it is brutal . . . I've never read a novel that does nearly as much in so few pages." —Kiese Laymon, author of Heavy An arresting debut novel which bears witness to American racism and abuse of power, tracing one woman's shift from acquiescence to resistance. When an unnamed narrator moves her family from the city of Atlanta to its wealthy suburbs, she discovers that neither the times nor the people have changed since her childhood in a small southern town. Despite the intervening decades, the woman, known only as The Mother, is met with the same questions: Where are you from? No, where are you really from? The American-born daughter of Bengali immigrant parents, her truthful answer, here, is never enough. She finds herself navigating a climate of lingering racism with three daughters in tow and a husband who spends more time in business class than at home. The Mother's simmering anger breaks through one morning, when, during a baseless and prejudice-driven police raid on her house, she finally refuses to be calm, complacent, politeand is ultimately shot. As she lies bleeding on her driveway, The Mother struggles to make sense of her past and decipher her presenthow did she end up here? Devi S. Laskar has written a brilliant debut novel novel that grapples with the complexities of the second-generation American experience, what it means to be a woman of color in the workplace, a sister, a wife, a mother to daughters in today's America. Drawing inspiration from the author's own terrifying experience of a raid on her home, The Atlas of Reds and Blues explores, in exquisite, lyrical prose, an alternate reality that might have been. "When a woman--known only as Mother--moves her family from Atlanta to its wealthy suburbs, she discovers that neither the times nor the people have changed since her childhood in a small Southern town. Despite the intervening decades, Mother is met with the same questions: Where are you from? No, where are you really from? The American-born daughter of Bengali immigrants, she finds that her answer-- Here --is never enough. Mother's simmering anger breaks through one morning, when, during a violent and unfounded police raid on her home, she finally refuses to be complacent. As she lies bleeding from a gunshot wound, her thoughts race from childhood games with her sister and visits to cousins in India, to her time in the newsroom before having her three daughters, to the early days of her relationship with a husband who now spends more time flying business class than at home. The Atlas of Reds and Blues grapples with the complexities of the second-generation American experience, what it means to be a woman of color in the workplace, and a sister, a wife, and a mother to daughters in today's America"--Dust jacket flap When A Woman--known Only As Mother--moves Her Family From Atlanta To Its Wealthy Suburbs, She Discovers That Neither The Times Nor The People Have Changed Since Her Childhood In A Small Southern Town. Despite The Intervening Decades, Mother Is Met With The Same Questions: Where Are You From? No, Where Are You Really From? The American-born Daughter Of Bengali Immigrants, She Finds That Her Answer-- Here --is Never Enough. Mother's Simmering Anger Breaks Through One Morning, When, During A Violent And Unfounded Police Raid On Her Home, She Finally Refuses To Be Complacent. As She Lies Bleeding From A Gunshot Wound, Her Thoughts Race From Childhood Games With Her Sister And Visits To Cousins In India, To Her Time In The Newsroom Before Having Her Three Daughters, To The Early Days Of Her Relationship With A Husband Who Now Spends More Time Flying Business Class Than At Home. The Atlas Of Reds And Blues Grapples With The Complexities Of The Second-generation American Experience, What It Means To Be A Woman Of Color In The Workplace, And A Sister, A Wife, And A Mother To Daughters In Today's America. Devi S. Laskar. When a woman who is an American-born daughter of Bengali immigrants moves her family from Atlanta to its wealthy suburbs, she discovers that neither the times nor the people have changed since her childhood in a small Southern town. Despite the intervening decades, Mother is met with the same questions: Where are you from? No, where are you really from? The American-born daughter of Bengali immigrants, she finds that her answer-Here-is never enough. Mother's simmering anger breaks through one morning, when, during a violent and unfounded police raid on her home, she finally refuses to be complacent. As she lies bleeding from a gunshot wound, her thoughts race from childhood games with her sister and visits to cousins in India, to her time in the newsroom before having her three daughters, to the early days of her relationship with a husband who now spends more time flying business class than at home. This novel grapples with the complexities of the second-generation American experience, what it means to be a woman of color in the workplace, and a sister, a wife, and a mother to daughters in today's America "Devi S. Laskar's The Atlas of Reds and Blues is as narratively beautiful as it is brutal. In prose that moves between cushioning characters' falls and ushering our understandings of characters' utopias, Laskar creates a world where the consequences of American terror never stop reverberating. I've never read a novel that does nearly as much in so few pages. Laskar has changed how we will all write about state-sanctioned terror in this nation." —Kiese Laymon, author of Heavy When a woman—known only as Mother—moves her family from Atlanta to its wealthy suburbs, she discovers that neither the times nor the people have changed since her childhood in a small Southern town. Despite the intervening decades, Mother is met with the same questions: Where are you from? No, where are you really from? The American-born daughter of Bengali immigrants, she finds that her answer— Here —is never enough. Mother's simmering... When a woman known only as Mother moves her family from Atlanta to its wealthy suburbs, she discovers that neither the times nor the people have changed since her childhood in a small Southern town. She is met with the same questions: Where are you from? No, where are you really from? The American-born daughter of Bengali immigrants, she finds that her answer is never enough. One morning, during a violent and unfounded police raid on her home, Mother finally refuses to be complacent. As she lies bleeding from a gunshot wound, her thoughts race through her life, and what it means to be a woman of color in today's America. -- adapted from jacket