The Valley of Masks

Published in India in 2011 and a finalist for the Man Asian Prize, Tejpal's (Alchemy of Desire) latest is a tale of society in decline. At the center of the story is Karna, a man who has recently fled hometown, a slum located in a closed off valley, where strict rules govern everyday life and everyone at a certain age is required to wear a masks. Originally these laws were put in place to create equality among all people allowing everyone to work together towards the greater good. But as Karna recounts his life story, it becomes clear that what's right in theory is not always so in practice%E2%80%94and corruption and dissolution muddle the valley and its people. Tejpal writes with luminous prose and mythical detail%E2%80%94even incorporating an imagined vocabulary, he manages to transform Karna's story into a haunting parable of the dangers of religion and power. Readers will be entranced until the very end. (Feb.)