Transplanted Man

This book presents five intertwining stories taking place in a New York hospital. All characters are of Indian origin--except for the hero's nymphomaniac girlfriend. The author moves us from plot to plot in a seamless manner, but the pace of the novel is slow, hypokinetic. The description of the Indian psyche and customs is superb. This reviewer had several Indian roommates. One of them, a brilliant and eccentric physics student, even tried to stab him in the kitchen and succeeded in throwing him over a pot of curried chicken; all this over a girl, Satya, aka Karen. Numerous close academic friends dot his existence and he can relate to the intricacies of their minds. The characters are well developed and diverse. The dialog is well crafted, although excessive in places. Good use is made in several places, of one-sentence paragraphs to emphasize the dramatic effect. Book has a humorous overtone that is pleasant, but lacks a great, over arching denouement. It peters out at the end, rather than going out in a bang. The hero never meets his father. The transplanted man does not make it back to India to cleanse the country from its many vices. The dog returns to the street. The girl moves on.

If you liked "Confederacy of Dunces", "Son of the Circus" (or any John Irving), or "Alice in Wonderland", run out and get this book. "Transplanted Man" has an incredible number of richly defined characters that dance in an out of each other's lives in a tightly choreographed ballet that mimics real life. I say "mimics", because many of these characters are so outrageous and wacky. Yet, somehow, they are also so believable. I found bits of myself in all of them. Philosophy aside, this is just a fun read. I think it can be read simply for the great twists and turns of the plots and the colorful characters, as well as a metaphor for the search for the meaning of life. I probably missed a lot of nuances of American Indian life, due to my very Caucasian upbringing, but this only whetted my appetite for more spice Indian food and, since I heard the phrase "Bollywood" for the first time, perhaps even take in an Indian movie. Especially rewarding is the ending, which inexplicably ties up all the lose ends and lets the reader know the fate of each character.

this novel vibrates with human interactions. there is a strong sense of human inter-relation and co-existence--from the hypo-kinetic man to a bollywood superstar trying desperately to hang on to his youth--everyone is tied together. the characters are lively and enjoyable. like the particles of an atom, energy is created as the chacters revolve around one another. each one polerizing and then bouncing off of the other. this is a wonderful book & i would highly recommend it to anyone.

Following his debut novel, "The Snake Charmer," which was a finalist for a number of important awards, novelist/physician Sanjay Nigam presents a story both touching and humorous. The title character, known only as the Transplanted Man, is "not only a medical curiosity but one of India's most powerful, popular and some said, wiliest politicians.......His body now harbored seven organs that had once belonged to different people." He has entered a New York City hospital where he is under the care of Dr. Sunit "Sonny" Seth, a young medic prone to sleepwalking and haunted by thoughts of his homeland. The Transplanted Man hovers on the brink of death yet retains a wryly wise outlook. Sonny valiantly attempts to solve his patient's increasing medical problems, and come to terms with Gwen, and English nurse, whose actions are propelled by impulse rather than reason. Nigam's gift for creating unforgettable characters is again showcased with Dr. Ranjan, an insomniac scientist who searches for the cause of insomnia, a psychotherapist who passes himself off as a New Age guru in order to make ends meet, and an egomaniacal actor with political aspirations. With the Indian area of Queens as his backdrop Sanjay Nigam luminously paints a culture little known to most. In the hands of this author Little India becomes a place all will want to visit. - Gail Cooke .

This book was quite amazing. It gets the reader totally involved in the characters and plot. Another fantastic book by Dr. Nigam. I thoroughly enjoyed the Snake Charmer but this 2nd novel by Nigam has proven that he is one of the premier writers.