A review by bluepigeon
After Disasters by Viet Dinh

5.0

Fantastic novel about some of the toughest stuff of the human condition. Viet Dinh's After Disasters dissects the human condition within the particular bubble of the disaster relief efforts. Told from the point of view of two foreigners (Ted, a naive American who is new to disaster relief work, and Andy, a young British fireman, who is on his first ever disaster rescue) and an Indian doctor, Dev, the story takes place during the 2001 Bhuj earthquake in Gujarat. Dinh expertly weaves in the stories of the three men along with the logistics of how rescue work happens, from the political games all the way to the people who come to define themselves by the aid they are reputed to be able to conjure. Not too far into the story, it becomes clear that the three men have something in common.

Recommended for those who like rivers, mystery meat and museums.