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maya_canzini's review against another edition
didn’t really enjoy it, was not my style of writing or story
macondo_soul's review against another edition
4.0
This book has the power to take us back to our origins, in this case, the glass palace brought me back to Macondo. Despite, their many travels there was so much of the mysteries of life at the edge of the natural frontier.
krobart's review against another edition
4.0
See my review here:
http://whatmeread.wordpress.com/tag/the-glass-palace/
http://whatmeread.wordpress.com/tag/the-glass-palace/
cseibs's review against another edition
3.0
A satisfying read. I am grateful to Ghosh for not giving in to the urge to give us clean, tidy endings. The complexities of the family made the story feel authentic and made it worth the read.
tartanshelf's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Injury/Injury detail, War, Trafficking, Suicide, Animal death, Colonisation, and Racism
Moderate: Infidelity, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Violence, Death, Child death, Death of parent, Dementia, and Infertility
Minor: Sexual assault, Police brutality, Torture, Xenophobia, and Suicidal thoughts
aishwaryashenolikar's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
clarareads1000books's review against another edition
4.0
I was luke-warm about this novel for the better part of it, perhaps because of the eagle-eye view of the narrator and ambitious number of characters, generating a general lack of character development in my opinion. However, I was really interested in the historical and cultural aspects of the book, that spans more than a century and lays out age-old ties between Birma and India, something I virtually knew nothing of.
Eventually, as most (good) family sagas do, this book ended pulling me in and making me care for the characters whose life we follow, not so much because of them (as their personalities were rather superficially explored), but because of the long time that we spend with them, seeing them age, fall in love, birth children and die, and accompanying them through the low and high tides of their lives. And I would say that Amitav Ghosh did a fantastic job within the genre of laying out the historical events in his character's lifetimes, how it affected them personally, and how their world changed from an indigenous kingdom, to a colony of the British Empire, to a totalitarian military regime.
One star removed for lack of character development, 4 stars added for excellent historical context, the great family saga feeling and making me cry like a baby at one of the most touching endings I have ever read.
Eventually, as most (good) family sagas do, this book ended pulling me in and making me care for the characters whose life we follow, not so much because of them (as their personalities were rather superficially explored), but because of the long time that we spend with them, seeing them age, fall in love, birth children and die, and accompanying them through the low and high tides of their lives. And I would say that Amitav Ghosh did a fantastic job within the genre of laying out the historical events in his character's lifetimes, how it affected them personally, and how their world changed from an indigenous kingdom, to a colony of the British Empire, to a totalitarian military regime.
One star removed for lack of character development, 4 stars added for excellent historical context, the great family saga feeling and making me cry like a baby at one of the most touching endings I have ever read.
booklover1974's review against another edition
DNF... what a drag... I really wanted to like this book.