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teressac's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars
This book could have been about 200 pages shorter and still gotten the point across. Some of it just felt like useless filler and over description of every minute thing. The style of grammar, punctuation also took some getting used to and made it difficult to distinguish thought from actual dialogue. I thought the plot of the book was unique, just wish it had been written in a shorter, concise format. Loved a few of the main characters, conflicting feelings about the narrator and "villain".
This book could have been about 200 pages shorter and still gotten the point across. Some of it just felt like useless filler and over description of every minute thing. The style of grammar, punctuation also took some getting used to and made it difficult to distinguish thought from actual dialogue. I thought the plot of the book was unique, just wish it had been written in a shorter, concise format. Loved a few of the main characters, conflicting feelings about the narrator and "villain".
breenmachine's review against another edition
4.0
Entertaining and different! I really liked the characters.
laurelan's review against another edition
5.0
This is one of the best books I've read. Maybe it's my fascination with the Indian culture that appealed to me. But it's full of love and culture and good food and...READ IT!
eastofthesol's review against another edition
4.0
"I was born different--it started from the skin and seeped all the way in, till nothing matched."
This novel was the first YA contemporary novel written about being Indian in the US so I have a lot of things to say about it.
(My being Indian also probably has a lot to do with why I feel so strongly about this book.)
Considering this book is over ten years old and doesn't exist in the mainstream of contemporary novels, I'm reviewing this more critically. This review will be less of a summary and more of what I liked and disliked so beware of spoilers.
The Good:
The novel blends serious discussions about identity with modern coming-of-age trials and tribulations, along with lots of humor and clever observations of the United States.
"--Dimple, don't be too selfish about sharing your culture with her. At least we have a culture to share. The poor girl--what does she have? Pokemon and McDonalds and Survivor.
--But that's what I have, too, Mom. And Pokemon's Japanese."
Hidier does not shy away from what it means to live in diaspora within American society. What I mean by this is that the narrator, Dimple, experiences it all within this story. She discusses everything from white boy fetishization of asian women to cultural appropriation in all of its many forms. There's even a scene in the story in which the main characters attend a South Asian conference at NYU where they bring up these topics. Dimple encounters so many things that I've experienced throughout my life and it's so comforting/refreshing to find that in literature.
Like the title of the novel suggests, Dimple is very confused about who she is. Is she Indian? Is she American? Can she be both? That's largely what she struggles to answer as she goes through a coming-of-age of sorts within the story.
I thoroughly enjoyed how Dimple interacted with her family and other Indian people that she meets, as she often learns a great deal from these varying individuals. Hidier weaves in a lot of diversity among the Indian-American community. She doesn't ever portray Indians as a monolithic ethnicity and I applaud her for it. So often, people think that just because two people are Indian, they share the same religious and cultural experience, which is not always the case. In the beginning of the novel, Dimple comments on how she's never really gotten along with the only other Indian in her grade--Jimmy Singh, who's Sikh, which is completely different from her family's Hindu upbringing. I like how it wasn't an instant bond between the two simply because they are both Indian. (Though they do become friends after Dimple realizes that Jimmy's actually cool as fuck and goes hard at dance clubs, which I thought was hilarious.)
There's just so much to like about this novel and all the interesting, realistic people Dimple comes across. This would have been one of my favorite novels of all time if it wasn't for one glaringly bad character that I wish never existed....
The Bad:
The best friend aka nightmare that is Gwyn Sexton. This character literally made me scream multiple times while reading this book. Gwyn is a person of color's worst nightmare when it comes to a friend.
She's manipulative, inconsiderate, selfish, etc. But she also appropriates Dimple's culture like it's nobody's business and consistently shits all over Dimple throughout the book. Dimple's friendship with this toxic girl is what kept this novel from speaking to my soul and transcending time and space within my heart. I have never encountered a character more frustrating and cruel than Gwyn. She's the ultimate villain--someone who really truly does mean best in their own twisted way, but is nothing but a cancer to the main character.
The worst part is that it's completely realistic for a person of color to have a friend like Gwyn. Though I feel as if most people would have ditched Gwyn pretty quickly. I can't say the same for Dimple. She forgives Gwyn for all of the many things Gwyn does to her and suddenly everything's a-okay. Fuck that. I'm not a supporter of keeping toxic people in one's life so I can't empathize with their wonky friendship.
I hate that their fucked friendship is what kept me from loving this novel. At one point in the book, I was literally asking myself 'Wait, is this Gwyn's coming of age story or Dimple's?'. Many times it felt as if we were experiencing the life of Gwyn, not the life of Dimple, our narrator, which sucks. But I guess that was sort of the point for Dimple's character growth and what-not.
Overall, there are many things to like about this book. I would recommend this to anyone curious about the adolescence of an Indian-American and I would definitely suggest that more Indian people get a hold of this book. It's hilarious, poignant, heartwarming, and ridiculously frustrating at times. But isn't that the makings of a great coming-of-age tale?
"I remembered my mother's once cryptic advice to never make decisions when horizontal, even alone, and it seemed to make sense now, because your mind was much closer to extreme states in this position--depression, dreaming, insanity."
hmonkeyreads's review against another edition
4.0
I read this book because it came in my "read out of your comfort zone" box from Quarterly.com.
The writing got muddled for me a few times in this one but I think that's ok because it tended to mirror the main character's confusion about her place in life.
I thought it painted a full picture of the complexities of teenaged friendships, experimentation with alcohol, sex, drugs and the strangeness of realizing that your parents are fully realized people on top of being your parents.
I liked the glimpse into South Asian culture and the whole ABCD storyline.
My biggest complaint is that I think the characters are a bit too young. This takes place the summer between junior and senior year of high school and I think it all would have made more sense if it was between high school and college.
The writing got muddled for me a few times in this one but I think that's ok because it tended to mirror the main character's confusion about her place in life.
I thought it painted a full picture of the complexities of teenaged friendships, experimentation with alcohol, sex, drugs and the strangeness of realizing that your parents are fully realized people on top of being your parents.
I liked the glimpse into South Asian culture and the whole ABCD storyline.
My biggest complaint is that I think the characters are a bit too young. This takes place the summer between junior and senior year of high school and I think it all would have made more sense if it was between high school and college.
raeanne's review
4.0
I wish I had gotten the e-book instead of the audiobook. Not because it was bad, but because I liked it. I liked it but I cannot stand the amount of awkwardness, the large dumps of descriptions, and not going somewhere fast enough. If I had the e-book, I would've been able to skip around and finish the thing. Instead I made it through after the party, like 20 chapters and skipped to the last chapter. It went the way I thought, the way it was supposed to go. I was just not in the right mood for this kind of narrator and languishing flow.
But it was really good. I do recommend it absolutely. Just maybe not the audiobook, especially if you're a speed reader.
Notes While Reading:
"too curvy"
One of two Indians at school.
Bullying, Racism, "Pochoantas"
Turning 17, dumped on 16th b-day, "gained 10lbs"
"head in the fridge, heart in the garbage disposal"
odd numbers are auspicious
oh no, lightening BS.
Ugh so fat hating herself.
Clothes shopping is hell.
"body is your temple, your home, your bones"
Curve hating for hips, butts, and boobs. Totally the in type now.
"closet Christians"
Wow Gwen, greedy, selfish, and forthright
Should have left the coat, idiot!
Wow, wearing the same outfit. Fucking Gwen.
Now we're drunk & loopy.
Ugh Julian is creep.
Throw up on him!
uh, the sleepover?!?
Should've closed the lid and sat on it.
You idiot.
"lifeless like a sold house"
"I have J-lo dressing alcoholic photographer for a daughter"
haha, omfg. At least they care.
Love her mom's way of talking.
Yes, the dude is the lucky one too not just the girl!
She calls arranged marriage barbaric.
American Born Confused Desi = ABCD
Love the actual sleepover
Aww the presents
Love the ABCD's
Man, she's really dull & judgemental at the tea
He's doing it on purpose!
WTF is going on with Gwen?
WTF Dillian. Julian.
Uh oh. Calls black woman "cornrow" and says "cornrow to cornho"
"not in Jersey anymore" Shut up stuck up Dick Dillian
Not even at the party yet, dragging. Ch. 17.
So tired of Dimple's shit.
So obsessed with Gwen's looks. Is she in love with her?
Sabina got armpit hair. Good for her!
Asexual? Pansexual?
Love Sabina.
Has she never heard of a dj before?
Karsh is SO VERY FUCKING CUTE!
Omg Gwen is such a bitch. Stand up to her!
Gwen wants Dimple's life without the complications of being an immigrant Indian. Fuck her.
Excruciating AF!!! Awkwardness is killing me. omfg. Dimple! Gwen! Karsh! SOMEONE ACT RIGHT!
Wow the dumps of descriptions and memories between sentences are..ugh. Let's get somewhere!
Skipped to Chpt 44 (the last one). It's the end of summer, September. And all ends well that ends well. YAY!
But it was really good. I do recommend it absolutely. Just maybe not the audiobook, especially if you're a speed reader.
Notes While Reading:
"too curvy"
One of two Indians at school.
Bullying, Racism, "Pochoantas"
Turning 17, dumped on 16th b-day, "gained 10lbs"
"head in the fridge, heart in the garbage disposal"
odd numbers are auspicious
oh no, lightening BS.
Ugh so fat hating herself.
Clothes shopping is hell.
"body is your temple, your home, your bones"
Curve hating for hips, butts, and boobs. Totally the in type now.
"closet Christians"
Wow Gwen, greedy, selfish, and forthright
Should have left the coat, idiot!
Wow, wearing the same outfit. Fucking Gwen.
Now we're drunk & loopy.
Ugh Julian is creep.
Throw up on him!
uh, the sleepover?!?
Should've closed the lid and sat on it.
You idiot.
"lifeless like a sold house"
"I have J-lo dressing alcoholic photographer for a daughter"
haha, omfg. At least they care.
Love her mom's way of talking.
Yes, the dude is the lucky one too not just the girl!
She calls arranged marriage barbaric.
American Born Confused Desi = ABCD
Love the actual sleepover
Aww the presents
Love the ABCD's
Man, she's really dull & judgemental at the tea
He's doing it on purpose!
WTF is going on with Gwen?
WTF Dillian. Julian.
Uh oh. Calls black woman "cornrow" and says "cornrow to cornho"
"not in Jersey anymore" Shut up stuck up Dick Dillian
Not even at the party yet, dragging. Ch. 17.
So tired of Dimple's shit.
So obsessed with Gwen's looks. Is she in love with her?
Sabina got armpit hair. Good for her!
Asexual? Pansexual?
Love Sabina.
Has she never heard of a dj before?
Karsh is SO VERY FUCKING CUTE!
Omg Gwen is such a bitch. Stand up to her!
Gwen wants Dimple's life without the complications of being an immigrant Indian. Fuck her.
Excruciating AF!!! Awkwardness is killing me. omfg. Dimple! Gwen! Karsh! SOMEONE ACT RIGHT!
Wow the dumps of descriptions and memories between sentences are..ugh. Let's get somewhere!
Skipped to Chpt 44 (the last one). It's the end of summer, September. And all ends well that ends well. YAY!
michromeu's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
So I loved a lot of this book, and could really identify with the main character feeling "too Indian for Americans, and too American for Indians" (roughly paraphrasing) - just replace "Indian" with "Latin" and you've got the story of my life. I feel like a lot of the cultural confusion rang true and I was really drawn in by Dimple's voice throughout the entire story. I also really enjoyed how Dimple's relationship with her parents evolved throughout the story, and how our perception of her parents changed by the end, as well. I thought the characters were well-drawn and dynamic.
My two main gripes are these: one, this book is set in the early 2000s, but for some reason it felt dated to me instead of nostalgic. This could also be due to the fact that it was also written in the early 2000s, but something about it felt off to me.
Two, the character of Dimple's white best friend Gwyn made me deeply uncomfortable throughout the novel. The issue of her appropriation of Indian culture is brought up briefly at a couple of points, and it may be that the author was presenting her as an example of what is wrong with cultural appropriation. Regardless, there were too many times where I was blatantly shocked at the ways in which she was exploiting Dimple and her culture, and it felt as though the narrative was saying it's ok. If you're going to put in a character and use her as an example of what NOT to do, then maybe you should make it more obvious that you're not condoning it?
In the end, I liked the novel, but the message regarding cultural appropriation and exploitation was unclear, which preventing me from fully enjoying it.
So I loved a lot of this book, and could really identify with the main character feeling "too Indian for Americans, and too American for Indians" (roughly paraphrasing) - just replace "Indian" with "Latin" and you've got the story of my life. I feel like a lot of the cultural confusion rang true and I was really drawn in by Dimple's voice throughout the entire story. I also really enjoyed how Dimple's relationship with her parents evolved throughout the story, and how our perception of her parents changed by the end, as well. I thought the characters were well-drawn and dynamic.
My two main gripes are these: one, this book is set in the early 2000s, but for some reason it felt dated to me instead of nostalgic. This could also be due to the fact that it was also written in the early 2000s, but something about it felt off to me.
Two, the character of Dimple's white best friend Gwyn made me deeply uncomfortable throughout the novel. The issue of her appropriation of Indian culture is brought up briefly at a couple of points, and it may be that the author was presenting her as an example of what is wrong with cultural appropriation. Regardless, there were too many times where I was blatantly shocked at the ways in which she was exploiting Dimple and her culture, and it felt as though the narrative was saying it's ok. If you're going to put in a character and use her as an example of what NOT to do, then maybe you should make it more obvious that you're not condoning it?
In the end, I liked the novel, but the message regarding cultural appropriation and exploitation was unclear, which preventing me from fully enjoying it.
caitatoes's review
4.0
the use of fake expletives is what gets me most about this book, it reads too much like what an adult thinks a kid would cuss like. but maybe i'm just out of the loop with how the kids cuss in Jersey. also, the bit at the end where Dimple gets the brunt of the blame for her and Gwen's fight, despite the fact that Gwen was, for the whole back half of the book (and as only one character mentioned and then immediately dropped, and was never mentioned again) fully appropriating Dimple's culture and was trying to be more brown because of it. Even in their fight, and subsequent make-up, Gwen still comes out shining and on top, and nothing ever happened because of or to solve her bad behavior. meanwhile Dimple gets the boy (and was fully willing to let him go if that's what he and Gwen wanted, meanwhile Gwen accuses her of, basically, sabotage or something close to it) but she still is the only one who actually feels negative emotion because of the way she acted. this is partially because the book is written from Dimple's point of view, sure, but if Gwen truly did feel bad about openly, explicitly, and meanly dumping on Dimple in order to win a boy from her then something should indicate that other than one single apology at the end. Dimple should have been more open about her feelings, yes, but Gwen shouldn't have been just, like, a huge bitch the whole time.
marpesea's review against another edition
3.0
Somewhere between two and three stars. The writing was lovely, but the book itself was bloated--so many times emotions were described brilliantly and then blatantly stated.