Serving Crazy with Curry

Reader's Guide

1. Why does Malladi choose to open the book by discussing the “day
it would happen,” specifically delineating Devi’s plans for suicide?
What tone does this choice lend to the narrative? Why do you
think the author presents Devi’s decision-making process, instead
of opening the book with the suicide attempt itself?

2. What does Devi’s list of reasons to live and die indicate about her
values and the problems she faces? Why do you think she commits
suicide?

3. Saroj admits that she often “thinks of leaving her family without
warning” (p. 15). What holds Saroj back, but propels Devi forward?
How are the two women more similar than either of them
would like to admit?

4. How is Saroj traumatized by the discovery of Devi’s almostlifeless
body? How does she present her role in foiling the suicide
attempt as an accomplishment? Why does Saroj shift the focus to
be “all about her”?

5. What is Saroj’s attitude toward each of her daughters? How does
she project her own unhappiness upon them? How does each
woman deal with the prospect of failure?

6. The comparison between Shobha and Devi literally begins at
birth. How does this constant assessment influence each
woman’s conception of herself? How does it color their relationship
with one another? Why does Saroj value Shobha for being
“easier”?

7. “Instead [they] stood as adversaries,” Saroj says of her marriage
(p. 25). Why has her marriage with Avi crumbled? How are other
interfamilial relationships similarly adversarial?

8. How does the relationship between Saroj and her mother, Vasu,
compare with the rapport Saroj has with her own daughters? Why
does Saroj resent her mother? What is her attitude toward her father?

9. Why does Devi decide to stop talking? How does this decision
mirror the actions she took as a small child? In which ways does
her silence liberate her, and how does it hold her back?

10. Why doesn’t Malladi disclose what happened to Avi’s arm at the
beginning of the book? How does his disability inform his behavior
and influence his choices, particularly the decision to come to
America?

11. At first, what about Avi is so endearing to Saroj, and vice versa?
How have they both changed since the early years of their marriage?

12. “Life is so much fun,” writes Avi in an unsent letter to Devi
( p. 69). How has each character in Serving Crazy with Curry fallen
away from embracing the good things in life? Who comes closest
to reclaiming a sense of joy in the book?

13. Much to her mother’s dismay, Devi takes over cooking duties
from Saroj after she moves back in. What does the kitchen reprea
sent to both mother and daughter? Why does Devi start to cook?
Do you think that she’s always wanted to? How is it a collaborative
process for each of them, and how is each proprietary over the act?

14. How is adjusting to the United States difficult for Saroj? Does Avi
feel the same way? In which ways are their children traditionally
“Indian,” and how do they identify more with their American contemporaries?

15. Why does Saroj blame America for all her problems? How does
she idealize India? How does she embrace all things traditional,
from the relationship she wants with her son-in-law to the food
she cooks?

16. In which ways do Shobha’s feminist beliefs belie her feelings
about love? How is she a risk-taker, and in which ways would she
prefer to play it safe? How does Shobha’s firing jar her “perfect
world”? What about this event spurs her to break up her marriage?

17. How is Vasu a loving woman? In which ways is she selfish, especially
in regard to her family? What does she value the most in
life?

18. Vasu refers to Saroj’s photographs as depicting a “contrived family.”
What comprises Saroj’s vision of a perfect family unit, and
how does this dream differ from reality? How is Vasu’s conception
of family more unconventional, and how has this both
strengthened and weakened her family bonds?

19. How do the characters in the book identify themselves by what
they do, and by what they have accomplished or stand to accomplish?
How do each of them react when they are at loose ends occupationally?
Why doesn’t Saroj work? Do you think she regrets
the decision to not finish her education?

20. How does Saroj become a more sympathetic character as the
novel unfolds? What do you learn about her that makes her less of
a one-dimensional “nag,” as Devi classifies her? Why does Saroj
confront Avi about the problems in their marriage? What does
this accomplish?

21. Were you surprised to learn of Devi’s miscarriage? How does her
family react to the news? Do you think she could have told them
about it before she tried to commit suicide? Why or why not?

22. Were you surprised to learn that the father of Devi’s baby was
Girish? What do you think might have happened if she had carried
the baby to term?

23. Are you surprised by Shobha’s reaction to Devi’s affair with
Girish? Do you think Shobha’s attitude will change over time, or
have the sisters really breached a chasm in their relationship?

24. Do you think that Devi will ever tell the rest of her family about
her affair with Girish? In which ways are Shobha and Girish well
suited for one another? Devi and Girish?

25. How is writing cathartic for Avi and for Devi? Why does Devi
write down the ingredients of her recipes? Is this just a cookbook
journal or is it more?

26. What do you think will happen after the story ends, especially in
the unfolding of relationships? Do you think that there’s any
chance of a Devi-Girish pairing? Why or why not?