Manjushree Thapa

All of Us in Our Own Lives Manjushree Thapa

All of Us in Our Own Lives is the story of an encounter between strangers who shape each others' lives in fateful ways. Ava Berriden, a Canadian lawyer, quits her corporate law firm in Toronto, leaves her passionless marriage and moves to Nepal, from where she was adopted as a baby. In Kathmandu, she struggles to launch a new career in international aid and to forge a connection with the country of her birth. Ava's work brings her into contact with Indira Sharma, a leading gender expert in Kathmandu. It also takes her to a small village where bright young Sapana Karki dreams of progress for herself, her community and her country. Sapana's world-weary half-brother Gyanu, who works in Dubai, is back to settle his sister's future after their father's death. Each person is on a journey of his or her own. These journeys intersect with a chance meeting between Ava and Gyanu. In the aftermath, her decisions alter the lives of the others. The novel delves into the cynical, monied world of international aid, and reflects on recent events in Nepal, including the devastating earthquake of 2015 and the subsequent drafting of a new constitution. It is ultimately a story about human interconnectedness and the unexpected ways in which strangers come to relate to one another.