‘A Washington, DC based Pakistani origin doctor’s periodic escapes to bucolic Virginia countryside are developed and deftly transformed by Maniza Naqvi into a vast, complex, and highly nuanced cultural exchange and contemplation. As the lonely doctor keeps returning to the exclusive Inn kept by an early retiree couple, whom he befriends, and encounters various characters, the veneer of polite talk soon wears off, bringing forth various conflicted and conflicting notions of identity, politics, culture, and history as well as biases and anxieties triggered by race, class, and background. A highly intelligent and sensitive book, The Inn’s narrative is imbued with Maniza’s cosmopolitanism, keen observation, and careful reflection. Lyrically told and outstanding for its flowing dialogue and wealth of cultural, literary, and historical references. A truly delightful and thought-provoking read that boldly explores what alienates humans as well as what brings them together.’

OSAMA SIDDIQUI