The title of Farzana Doctor’s latest novel refers to vacation packages at a resort in the small, sultry Mexican town of Huatulco, but it could just as easily refer to the novel itself. All Inclusive lives up to its name: it encompasses erotic exploration, an anonymous workplace saboteur, complicated family dynamics, the mystery of a lost love, international terrorism and facets of the supernatural. Despite mixing different elements that sometimes feel out of tune with each other, it is a compelling read, taking the reader on a fast-paced journey through Mexico, Canada, India, up in the air and into the afterlife.
The book consists of two parallel storylines that intersect at certain points. One storyline takes us back to the time of the Air India bombing 30 years ago. We are guided by two narrators, who, we soon suspect, have more to do with each other than is initially apparent.
We first meet Ameera, a hard-working tour guide at the Atlantis resort...
Rashi Khilnani is a journalist, consultant and tireless advocate of Canadian literature. She is the founder of Welcoming Words, an organization connecting newcomers with books by Canadian authors.
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