The Startup Wife by Tahmina Anam
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I set myself a personal reading challenge to read and review all eight novels on the shortlist for the Comedy Women in Print Prize 2023.
The Start Up Wife is narrated by Asha, a young Asian-American who devises an ingenious algorithm called the Empathy Module. Her dream is to enable people to connect with others on the basis of whatever gives their lives meaning, and allow them to integrate their belief systems with everything else they care about. She wins backing for her project from a mysterious ‘tech incubator’ known as Utopia, and decides to drop out of grad school. Modest Asha lacks the confidence to promote her startup, so she persuades her charismatic blond husband Cyrus to front it. Initially Cyrus is reluctant, but eventually he throws himself into developing individual rituals which fulfil the spiritual needs of those who are not attracted by organised religion.
Tahmina Anam’s latest novel is set in New York, and the atmosphere of the city that never sleeps pervades the plot. Asha, Cyrus and their friend Jules work around the clock to build a platform and launch the empathy app. The couple stay with Asha’s parents at first, then move to a stylish apartment where they exist on fast food. Asha lives and breathes WAI (which is pronounced why as in ‘Why am I here?’) but it is Cyrus’ magnetic personality which WAI reflects. When Asha’s business begins to make money she knows it is because of his relationship with the subscribers.
Once the friends have committed to WAI there is no backing out. As Jules says, ‘We’ve had a taste – even the smallest taste changes you.’ The heady excitement of starting a business is set against a background of everyday family problems. Anam’s pacy writing style is packed with witty lines and entertaining dialogue which held my attention throughout. Also, she has created well-drawn secondary characters who add to the humour of the story. The conclusion of the novel is ingenious and believable.
The winner of the Comedy Women in Print Prize will be announced on 17th April. Follow the link below for more details.