Most of the drama in Members Only by Sameer Pandya takes place in one week's time. The story is narrated by Raj who has the. worst. week. ever. Raj is an untenured college professor of anthropology at a small college in California. Raj was born in Bombay, India and came to the United States when he was eight years old. Some conservative students accuse him of reverse racism. They follow him around and video him. They splice the videos to make him look bad and post them. They organize a hunger strike vowing not to eat again unless his employment is terminated. Raj also has trouble at home. He, his wife, and two boys belong to a Tennis Club. Raj is the only person of color in the club and a member on the membership committee who interviews and selects new members. Raj makes a careless comment to a potential new member who is black. Although Raj and the potential new member discussed the comment and all is well, other members of the club want Raj expelled from the club. Poor Raj is being accused of racism and reverse racism at the same time. Meanwhile he suffers the racist treatment and micro-aggressions at work and at the tennis club. Raj tries to use humor to deflect his situations but he doesn't always handle situations well. Members Only is one of those books I found difficult to put down.
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