A debut novel recounts the struggles and triumphs of immigrants in California's Imperial Valley a century ago. Reddi's novel opens in 1974 with the death of a cantankerous old man named Karak Singh Gill, attended by a longtime friend, the equally cantankerous Ram Singh. But most of the book is set between 1913 and 1924, after Karak and Ram, both natives of Punjab, have arrived in the Imperial Valley. Its rapid agricultural growth is powered by immigrants like the two friends, who first work for Karak's well-established patron, Jivan Singh, and later become sharecroppers themselves--it's illegal for immigrants to own land. Ram was sent to the United States by the uncle who raised him, assigned to earn money to send home. He left behind a bride whose pregnancy he doesn't even hear about until he's in America, and he longs to return, but the uncle keeps telling him to stay a while longer--stays that add up to years. Karak, a veteran of the British Army, has no desire to go back to India. A man of immense pride, he aims to establish himself in California. Reddi details the obstacles in his way, especially the pervasive bigotry not only against immigrants in general, but between members of each immigrant group: Indians, Mexicans, Japanese, and more. Another barrier that has a huge impact on Ram and Karak: laws that make it nearly impossible for immigrants to bring their wives into the country at the same time that miscegenation laws forbid them to marry women of another race here. The pressures on Ram, Karak, and other immigrants will lead to an explosive act of violence. The sweeping narrative is deeply researched and offers a fascinating look at a historic era from a fresh perspective. Dense with incident and a large cast of characters, the plot bogs down from time to time, and the book's female characters remain mostly long-suffering and one-dimensional. But the complex relationship between Ram and Karak powers the book and reflects issues still with us. The lives of two Indian immigrants are scarred by forces still alive a century later. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Reddi's engrossing first novel (after the collection Karma) explores the immigrant experience of Indian-Americans in early 20th-century California. In 1914, 21-year-old Ram Singh arrives in California's Imperial Valley to help farmer and fellow Indian Karak Singh Gill work the land. While Ram dutifully sends money home and reports all the ups and down of his efforts to his wife, Padma, and his family back in India, Karak sets out to court a young Mexican woman, Rosa Maria. Five years later, Padma and her young son are denied entry to the U.S., and Ram drifts into a relationship with Rosa's cousin, Adela. While Karak's cousin Amarjeet joins the Army to help fight in WWI, hoping to prove that his people are loyal to the U.S., Karak remains hemmed in by racist policies and practices: a new law prevents foreigners from owning land, a fruit company exploits immigrant workers, and xenophobia rises among the white population of the Imperial Valley. In response, Karak lashes out with an act of violence that tests his relationship with Ram. Reddi vividly evokes the landscape and the characters' place in it, making the conclusion all the more wrenching. Reddi's Steinbeck-ian tale adds a valuable contribution to the stories of immigrants in California. (Apr.)

Reddi's (Karma and Other Stories, 2007) debut novel is a detailed historical account of Indian sharecroppers in California. In 1913, Europe is on the brink of war and Ram Singh has just arrived in southern California to help his friend Karak with his cantaloupe farm. Back home, Ram has a wife and newborn son that he hasn't yet met, and he has every intention to return to India after he earns enough money to buy them land and placate his uncle. But the money is good and Ram has found a makeshift family in Karak and his partner Jivan (even if he doesn't fully trust them) and Jivan's wife and nephew. WWI brings prosperity beyond their dreams, but after the war, as everyone begins to struggle, the immigrant sharecroppers become the target of white residents and farm owners. Reddi's richly imagined, character-driven novel sheds light on a little-known history of Indians in the U.S. and surprisingly echoes current events. A wonderful historical saga for fans of Jane Smiley's Some Luck (2014).