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Racists
Kunal Basu
Weidenfeld & Nicolson, $22.95
ALTHOUGH this is fiction, its theme is similar to a long-ago experiment involving racism.
The real-life project took a little black boy and a white girl of the same age and brought them up virtually isolated from outside influences. The aim was to discover if they developed any racist feelings as they grew older.
The result showed they reached their teens accepting the colour difference as of no consequence.
But once they lived in mainstream society their colour led to conflict.
In Racists, the Calcutta-born author's tale begins in a deserted Mediterranean island where a black boy and white girl are raised together. The children have no normal contact with humans except for their nurse, who is mute.
There are also twice-yearly visits by two scientists who monitor the experiment. The aim of this fictional project is to prove that the white race is superior to the black.
One scientist, a British craniologist, is convinced the white child will quickly display signs of a natural superiority. His French rival is sure the two are intellectually equal.
It would be a spoiler to relate what happens. Other characters become involved and there is a romance between the nurse and a ship's captain who delivers supplies.
Altogether, a very unusual novel about a controversial subject. The author's writing has been compared to that of Salman Rushdie, a well-deserved compliment.
Alexander McRobbie
Still Life with Husband
Lauren Fox
Random, $23.95
BEWARE, the best friend who gets pregnant. Suddenly your world -- that is, if you are a thirtysomething woman like Emily with a stale sex life and pedestrian family and a husband wanting to move to the suburbs -- you might very well look around.
And think, no, this isn't for me.
Perhaps, in the world of Lauren Fox, you might opt for a career change to take your mind off your swelling-ever-so-slightly, gloating once-best friend. A...