An illuminating, if sometimes wordy, exploration of recent history and the people who lived through it. Desai’s novel explores varied perspectives on life during the Covid-19 pandemic. It is the summer of 2020. Twelve Americans arrive at a mansion in the Hamptons. Everyone has been in lockdown for months due to Covid-19, but now they are free to interact with others. The plan is for “two weeks of eating, activities, and dating in a secure environment,” though the main draw will be storytelling.