Family and the weight of change in Montreal's West End: Arjun Basu's latest novel, The Reeds

In The Reeds, novelist Arjun Basu turns his eye toward Montreal’s West End for an introspective family novel set during a summer of seismic personal shifts.

J.P. Karwacki

October 29, 2024- Read time: 4 min

Photograph: ECW Press

Arjun Basu’s newest novel The Reeds (ECW Press, 2024) is, in more ways than one, far outside the usual literature set in Montreal.

A fresh take on contemporary family dynamics, the book’s also set in the city's quiet, often overlooked West End. It follows a family of four during one transformative summer, “with each member going through significant changes that affect the entire family dynamic,” Basu explains.

“It’s set in 2017, during a time of political upheaval worldwide. That backdrop of global change amplifies the theme of change within the family, with each member responding differently to personal transitions.”

Set in the city's uncelebrated corners

For Basu, who grew up in Montreal, the city’s uncelebrated corners are a natural choice for a novel that explores what it means to be a family—and to feel at home—amidst the relentless currents of change they experience.

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