I should have known that the latest gimmicky memoir would disappoint; nevertheless, I got sucked into the hype surrounding "On The Outside Looking Indian" and wanted to give it a chance.
Rupinder Gill grew up in suburban Ontario, the daughter of traditional Indian parents who never allowed her to attend sleepovers, take classes or go to summer camp. At the age of 30, she vows to embark on a relived childhood in which she will learn to swim, hang out with her girlfriends and visit Disney World, all the while gaining enlightenment. In short: a veritable eye-rolling journey of self-discovery.
Gill laments her lack of a "normal" upbringing (whatever that might look like) with whiny, shallow anecdotes about her stern but obviously loving parents. Her analysis of Indian culture consists of repeated cliches and often astonishing disrespect as she labels Punjabi "gibberish," insults her mother's cooking and pokes fun at her relatives' "deathly fear of sexuality."
The prose contains engaging moments and elicits a few laughs but mostly meanders through tired tropes and unsuccessful, self-deprecating humour. Unfortunately, Gill's topic, which has the potential for insight and reflection, only serves as a vehicle to expose her own narrow-mindedness.
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