'The Museum of Failures' explores identity, immigration and keeping family secrets

Editor's note: This segment was rebroadcasted on Sept. 4, 2024. Find that audio here. 

The beautiful new novel “The Museum of Failures” introduces readers to Remy Wadia, a successful Indian-American advertising executive who’s returning to India to adopt a child.

Remy left decades earlier to attend college in the United States and built a life in Ohio with his wife, Kathy. His beloved father died, and he’s always had a difficult relationship with his mother. But his return to India will force him to uncover truths about his family that his parents have kept from him for decades.

Author Thrity Umrigar says the central theme of the novel is family secrets.

“Remy is an adult by the time he stumbles upon this rather explosive, life-changing family secret,” she says, “and one would hope that as an adult, he now has the tools to deal with this.”

By Thrity Umrigar

Adapted with permission of the publisher from the book "The Museum of Failures," written by Thrity Umrigar and published by Algonquin Books.