The Most Precious Substance on Earth

The Most Precious Substance on Earth is told in short vignettes that focus on different times in the life of Nina, a young woman of South Asian descent who lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Through these brief scenes, the reader sees snapshots from Nina's life beginning when she's an awkward 14-year-old and progressing into her 30's.

The first thing I noticed about this book was how Bhat creates a wonderful nostalgia for anyone (particularly Canadians) who grew up in the late 80's and early 90's. I enjoyed the vivid descriptions of the eras and the pop culture and Canadian references. 

But this is not a light and fluffy story and readers are soon introduced to complex and emotional (possibly triggering) topics. These make for a good pick for book club discussion, but this character-driven series of vignettes wasn't a good fit for me. As a person who enjoys a faster paced story with a clear plot and who isn't a fan of short stories, this book lacked a sense of urgency, and I didn't enjoy the disjointed feel. I felt disconnected with Nina but enjoyed the levity her parents brought to the story as they supported their daughter. 

Please note that even though this wasn't a good pick for my reading tastes, it is being well received by many other reviewers. It is a thought-provoking read and while I enjoyed the Canadian/pop culture references and could appreciate this bleak story filled with trauma and struggles, I didn't feel drawn into Nina's life and struggled to finish this book. 

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to McClelland and Stewart publishers for providing me with a complimentary digital advanced copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.

My Rating: 2.5 stars

Author: Shashi Bhat

Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Canadian, BIPOC author

Type and Source: eBook from publisher via NetGalley

Publisher: McClelland and Stewart (Penguin Random House)

First Published: August 24, 2021

Opening Lines: I started reading Beowulf about a week ago, 

not because it was on the syllabus, but because 

I am in love with my English teacher.

Book Description from GoodReads: A humorous coming-of-age novel and a sharp-edged look at how silence can shape a life, from the winner of the Journey Prize. A Chatelaine Summer Reads pick. Named one of the most anticipated books of the fall by CBC Books and 49th Shelf.

"But wait, what happened to the girl?"
"I don't know," I say. I don't tell him that what will happen to her is what happens to every girl.

Nina, a bright, hilarious, and sensitive 14-year-old, doesn't say anything when her best friend begins to pull away, or when her crush on her English teacher intensifies. She doesn't say anything when her mother tries to match her up with local Halifax Indian boys unfamiliar with her Saved by the Bell references, or when her worried father starts reciting Hindu prayers outside her bedroom door. ("How can your dad be happy when his only daughter is unsettled?")
And she won't speak of the incident in high school that changes the course of her life.

On her tumultuous path from nineties high school student to present-day high school teacher, Nina will learn difficult truths about existing as a woman in the world. And whether she's pushing herself to deliver speeches at Toastmasters meetings, struggling through her MFA program, enduring the indignities of online dating, or wrestling with how to best guide her students, she will discover that the past is never far behind her.

Darkly funny, deeply moving, at times unsettling and even shocking, Shashi Bhat's irresistible novel examines the fraught relationships between those who take and those who have something taken. Rich with wry humour and sharp-edged insight, The Most Precious Substance on Earth is an unforgettable portrait of how silence can shape a life.