When I Open the Shop

In his cosy yet turbulent noodle shop nestled in the heart of Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington), a young chef meticulously juliennes carrots while life unravels around him. As the shop's financial woes deepen and the weight of his mother's recent death presses heavily on his shoulders, he contends with the unexpected presence of strangers in his kitchen. All the while, the ancestors watch closely. This intricate tapestry of modern immigrant life in Aotearoa unfolds through a series of brilliant interludes and jump cuts. The narrative veers from darkly humorous to seething with anger, lyrical, and at times soaring into surrealism. A particularly memorable scene depicts a car careening off the road on an eerie journey to the Wairarapa.

When I Open the Shop is a highly entertaining, surprising, and poignant debut novel that delves deep into themes of grief, struggle, and community. The novel beautifully captures the essence of loss, exile, and dislocation, skilfully blending time, space, and memory into a fluid narrative that resonates deeply with readers. Each character navigates their own journey, facing the complexities of immigrant life and seeking solace in the midst of turmoil.

Brannavan Gnanalingam, author of Sprigs and Slow Down, You're Here, praises the novel: "When I open the shop is a novel about loss, exile, and dislocation, in which time, space, and memory become a beautiful, fluid thing. It is very funny, angry, and constantly pleasurable and moving in the way it depicts people opening space for themselves and finding comfort, in spite of everything."

Pip Adam, author of Audition and Nothing to See, adds: "This is a beautiful and compelling work. The language is magnificent on a sentence-by-sentence level, but I think that the structure is an incredibly adept act of decolonisation."

Romesh Dissanayake's debut skillfully captures the immigrant experience in a multicultural landscape, offering readers a narrative filled with vibrant characters, emotional depth, and unexpected twists. Whether you are seeking a tale that will make you laugh, shed a tear, or ponder life's intricacies, When I Open the Shop stands out as a must-read novel that will linger in your thoughts long after the final page is turned.