Play Book Tag discussion

While watching a sunset, an Old Man of Tamil Nadu in South India is approached by a giant of a man who says he is wandering from village to village trying to sell a day-old black baby female goat. It is the runt of a litter of 7, with the potential of breeding a litter of 7, a very high number. But he wants the goat to be raised with care. He ends up giving the goat to the Old Man and walking away. The Old Man and his wife go to a lot of effort, straining their food supply and time to raise the goat. The story is also told from the viewpoint of the goat.

There is definitely political satire, with magical or mythical interpretations of events, and the supposition of human emotions to the animals. An enjoyable look at another culture.

National Book Award Nominee for Translated Literature (2020). Perumal Murugan is described as one of India's most well-known literary writers.