Family Matters

Old age. Fragile dignity. A family unraveling in the heart of Bombay.

Family Matters by Rohinton Mistry is a masterfully written, emotionally rich novel that explores the tender, complex ties that bind—and strain—a family. Set against the backdrop of modern-day Bombay, this literary gem takes readers deep into the life of Nariman Vakeel, a once-independent man now at the mercy of his aging body and the reluctant care of his fractured family.

Nariman’s fall—both literal and symbolic—forces his daughter Roxana, her husband Yezad, and their two sons to reconfigure their already cramped lives. What unfolds is a profoundly human story about responsibility, resentment, sacrifice, and the quiet heroism of everyday endurance.

Mistry’s writing is layered with grace and subtle power. He weaves humor and heartbreak with elegance, examining class, religion, aging, and morality—not with judgment, but with honest compassion. Each character is drawn with such care that even their flaws feel deeply familiar. You’ll see your own family in theirs: the unspoken frustrations, the quiet acts of love, the small cruelties that fester in silence.

Family Matters isn’t loud—it’s powerful in its stillness. It reminds us that family isn’t just a matter of blood, but of choice, care, and how much of ourselves we’re willing to give… even when it hurts.

Now available as a Free pdf download on Bookdio. For readers seeking thoughtful, character-driven free books download that illuminate life’s quiet truths, this is a novel you won’t forget.