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in_and_out_of_the_stash's review against another edition
4.0
Not the best book to read on public transport on the way to work. The book starts with the typical portrayal of Indian homes falling apart and corrupt society but we see some compassionate characters and some honest characters who make you see a better side of India.
I really recommend this book for those of you struggling with the care of older parents. If only we could all have the compassion and love that Roxanna has for her father.
I really recommend this book for those of you struggling with the care of older parents. If only we could all have the compassion and love that Roxanna has for her father.
cseibs's review against another edition
3.0
A great family study. I picked up this book because it was on a recommended list of books about India by Indians. Strangely, though, I felt that this book could have been set anywhere. The family study was central, with Bombay (or Mumbai) serving only as backdrop. Mistry portrayed family discord with such unsparing honesty that at times I found the book hard to stomach. I remember feeling that A Fine Balance was Dickensian in its uninhibited portrayal of sadness and strife, and Mistry has not shied away from that approach in this novel. Because of this unvarnished take on family living, I particularly appreciated the epilogue and how Mistry stayed true to his characters to the end.
hscoop_'s review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
My first 5 star of the year (and for a while actually). Such a beautifully written book, with a brilliant, although sad, plot. I really enjoy Mistry’s work so I was expecting to enjoy it, and I did.
bluestarfish's review against another edition
3.0
Three generations of a Parsi family in Bombay live through the grandfather's illness with the action mostly confining itself to two houses (Chateau Felicity and Pleasant Villa), the sports shop Yezad works at, and Jehangir's school. The family interactions and reactions are really interesting, and although there was a moment about half way through where I thought it might be getting too depressing to carry on reading I did enjoy lots of this. I liked Jehangir a lot. The ending was a bit weird though, would have happily done without the epilogue.
leslielu67's review against another edition
3.0
Nothing can top A Fine Balance, which drew me in from the start and kept the tension high. Family Matters was a slower pace, not really grabbing me until 3/4 through, and I'm still trying to work out who I was rooting for. Still, the book contained multi-generational dramas of love, religion, sibling rivalry, and Parkinson's.
dansquire's review against another edition
5.0
I don't understand how Rohinton Mistry hasn't won a Booker Prize yet, considering every novel he's ever written has been shortlisted. A Fine Balance is my favourite book of all time, so I picked up Family Matters this month with high expectations; it had big boots to fill. Family Matters completely lives up to A Fine Balance - I finished it in 3 days - although I did still prefer the latter. I won't say too much for fear of spoilers, but like Mistry's other work, Family Matters has such beautiful and touching depictions of characters that you get swept away with the emotion. This is a brilliant book, 5/5.
calypsogilstrap's review against another edition
2.0
Although I enjoyed the setting, I felt this book is going to be very difficult for young adults to relate to the characters in this story.
expatally's review against another edition
5.0
It's been years since I read "A Fine Balance" and I had forgotten how wonderful Mistry is at writing about life in Bombay. I loved that the story is centered around a Parsee family so that the reader is introduced to this Persian religion that has been around since at least 850 BC.
angmsmith1's review against another edition
4.0
Family is such a complicated thing - everyone is messed up in their own way. That's part of what makes them beautiful, right? This was pretty good - I read it a while ago so I don't remember much about it, but I remember liking it.