Avni Doshi's "The First House" Explores Marriage and Freedom

Avni Doshi's second novel, "The First House," released this week, delves into the complexities of marriage and personal freedom through the eyes of an unnamed narrator in suburban America. The story begins with the narrator's husband announcing his departure, leaving her to confront the structure of their marriage, which she viewed as a container for her existence. Previously a novelist, her writing career had stalled after having children, and she faced financial control from her husband, suspecting infidelity.

In the wake of her husband's departure, the narrator attempts to isolate herself not only from her ex-husband but also from her family, whose well-intentioned interventions are perceived as another form of domination. The novel's title, "The First House," refers to both the couple's home and an astrological division influencing the body, appearance, and early life experiences – the foundations of self. The narrator's self is starkly exposed by abandonment, and the novel chronicles its excoriation, presenting a harsh, sometimes bitterly humorous rejection of her personhood and existing relationships.

Doshi's narrative explores the precarious nature of marriage, with the narrator stating it requires "a terrible fear of consequences." The book details her strained relationships with her parents, who bully her, and her cousin, who attempts to set her up with other men. Her daughter's simple desire for a phone further highlights the theme of alienation within supposed connections. The novel suggests that relationships, much like devices, promise connection but ultimately deliver alienation, with the narrator reflecting, "The tight, airless room of a marriage only created the conditions for us to realise we were alone, always alone."