My Review of Exquisite Cadavers by Meena Kandasamy

In Exquisite Cadavers, Meena Kandasamy sets out to write in an experimental and unique way and succeeds. 

Kandasamy depicts an intimate portrayal of the marriage of Maya and Karim, a young couple living in London. All marriages have their challenges and there's is no exception as each of them is dealing with their own angst internally, both individually and within their relationship. Exquisite Cadavers 

highlights the familial baggage of the past that externally puts pressure on us but also draws attention to the part of us that always remains a child when dealing, or not dealing, with the emotional umbilical cord that indelibly connects us to our parents no matter how old we are or how far we travel. 

On one level, Exquisite Cadavers is also a polemic about the casual racism that exists even in a city as multicultural as London and amongst the middle class and educated who really should know better, and indeed act as if they do until there is someone 'other' in their midst. 

Not content with just producing an impeccable tale, fascinatingly Kandasamy also allows the reader into her thought processes as she writes. It's mind-blowing to 'witness' the creative process and allows the reader to read Exquisite Cadavers on several levels. I chose to read each scene, chapter feels incorrect, and then reread with Kandasamy's accompanying notes which are full of nuggets of gold. 

Exquisite Cadavers defies classification as a novel, it both challenges and rewards the reader immeasurably.

Thanks to Martina at Midas Public Relations for the gifted copy.