Sweetmeats

Sweetmeats is a gay coming-out romance set in a country filled with gender and racial discrimination. It is the story of a young Indian boy, Raj, who finds himself in love with a White boy in a society that discourages such behavior. The novel is filled with humor, pathos and unconditional love seen through Raj's eyes and guided by his favourite aunt who advises him that, "So long as you have love in your life, you'll be happy, and if you don't, then you must at least have hope, because without hope, you are dead." Just as sweetmeats, the title of this novel, are small, colourful cakes, each with a different flavour and texture, so the characters in the novel make up the colourful and richly textured people of Raj's community. For anyone who has ever been discriminated against, this is a must read book.