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hollymalone's review
5.0
One of those books that leaves the sweetest taste in your mouth. I find myself haphazardly going back to reread poetic sections. The writing is sublime, and under-the-radar brilliant. It gave me the feeling I get when I watch foreign films like "Amelia" or "Monsoon Wedding"; the lyricism and beauty is so drastically different from the over-the-top effects and linear storytelling that we come to expect from Western stories. I can't wait to read the second.
ashleyspilk's review against another edition
2.0
I absolutely love reading about the immigrant experience. This one was a light, fluffy read.
literallykaren's review against another edition
2.0
The only thing I found very interesting was the story her mom told her about the shoes. And then when she wore the boys shoes. That was about it. Shoes=cute. the rest of the story... meh.
penpencil22's review against another edition
3.0
It was good, but too long. The author probably could've said what she wanted to say in 200-300 pages instead of 500 something..
jackiej96's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
melogna's review against another edition
Born Confused is the story of Dimple Lala who is Indian by heritage but was born in America. As much as she tries to hide and be removed from her traditional Indian heritage, she can't, especially since her parents are trying to set her up with a "suitable boy" and her best friend Gwen thinks that being Indian is the newest fashion craze. Dimple's parents don't understand her and why she isn't "Indian enough" and Dimple doesn't understand why she can't just be American since that's what she is. As she begins to spend more time with her cousin Kativa and her girlfriend Sabrina, she starts to understand what it means to be Indian and why it's important. It helps that the "suitable boy" that her parents set her up with is named Karsh and is a DJ for Indian music. This is the story of trying to fit into different molds and learning who to be to be your true self. I enjoyed this book a lot and I loved Dimple as a main character. I thought she was smart and rational even if she did have a horrible best friend. Her inner struggles are completely real and how I imagine it would be to try and fit in when you feel so different. There is quite a bit of Indian language and slang so it can be confusing at points. I also did not like how the dialogue was written and sometimes it was hard to know who was saying what and if Dimple says something out loud or to herself but this could have on purpose to blur the lines between the outer and inner dialogue. I would recommend this book for middle school and high school 7-12.
mostlyshanti's review
4.0
there were a lot of really good things about Born Confused. I loved the diversity, the use of Indian culture, and the relationship between friends. However, the nature of the romance annoyed me, and I don't think that it was, the defining novel for a generation of American immigrants especially Indian ones. I am an Indian- New Zealander who has lived in both places, and I didn't find that I identified with Dimple more than any other character. Maybe my expectations were too high.
This book is diverse. it had a lot of discussion about culture, cultural appropriation, the ownership of culture and the difference between folk and pop culture, and how that matters to young people. It's more than a Human Geography textbook though. As well as the awesome and though provoking discussions between Dimple and particularly Gwyn and Karsh around culture, there was lots of diversity. Firstly, Dimple had a passion, photography. That's not a particularly unusual interest in YA books but this was film photography, with developing rooms and everything, which was really cool. There were also lesbian and transgender characters, and they weren't token, either. This novel was massive, and there was time for each of them to develop. I also loved the parents. Their religion was talked about quite a bit, and that was fascinating- I know lots about Hinduism, living where I do, but I loved how it was incorporated into the story, along with Dimples fabulous, fabulous parents.
The relationships in this book were perfect (almost. Perfectly written at least) I would argue that the central relationship is between Gwyn and Dimple, and the evolution of that relationship was done really well. I think that one of the main reasons this story worked is that Dimple is a deliciously complex character. She has insecurites, and struggles and fears and dreams and she doesn't know quite where she's going. Born Confused certainly fits in the the 'coming of age' category, and in terms of the relationships, that was done fabulously. Her relationship with her parents was great. She loved them to bits but they were also embarrassing and confusing and trying to do a little marriage arrangment and I don't even know how it worked, but it was real Karsh and his complexities were complexly explored too, and so was Kavita "I just want to be a woman who loves Sabina" was a line that almost made me cry.
The plot was fairly typical contemporary' you know 'the whole way I see the world has just changed", but the story still kept me (mostly) interested.
So the place where this book falls short is the romance. It's very will they-won't they, and I got very frustrated of Karsh playing with hearts. he was a perfectly likeable guy, but Dimple just melted when he was around, and the way it turned out was pretty obvious. I seem to just really dislike it when guys get in the way of friendships, and that was certainly a major part of the breakdown between Gwyn and Dimple. At least it was temporary I also didn't really identify. I don't go to parties (it's the boarding school), I don't do the things or think the things that Dimple does, even though she was an interesting character.
Still however, I reccommend this book to anyone who likes complex Heroines, New York City and entertaining discussion of culture.
This book is diverse. it had a lot of discussion about culture, cultural appropriation, the ownership of culture and the difference between folk and pop culture, and how that matters to young people. It's more than a Human Geography textbook though. As well as the awesome and though provoking discussions between Dimple and particularly Gwyn and Karsh around culture, there was lots of diversity. Firstly, Dimple had a passion, photography. That's not a particularly unusual interest in YA books but this was film photography, with developing rooms and everything, which was really cool. There were also lesbian and transgender characters, and they weren't token, either. This novel was massive, and there was time for each of them to develop. I also loved the parents. Their religion was talked about quite a bit, and that was fascinating- I know lots about Hinduism, living where I do, but I loved how it was incorporated into the story, along with Dimples fabulous, fabulous parents.
The relationships in this book were perfect (almost. Perfectly written at least) I would argue that the central relationship is between Gwyn and Dimple, and the evolution of that relationship was done really well. I think that one of the main reasons this story worked is that Dimple is a deliciously complex character. She has insecurites, and struggles and fears and dreams and she doesn't know quite where she's going. Born Confused certainly fits in the the 'coming of age' category, and in terms of the relationships, that was done fabulously. Her relationship with her parents was great. She loved them to bits but they were also embarrassing and confusing and trying to do a little marriage arrangment and I don't even know how it worked, but it was real Karsh and his complexities were complexly explored too, and so was Kavita "I just want to be a woman who loves Sabina" was a line that almost made me cry.
The plot was fairly typical contemporary' you know 'the whole way I see the world has just changed", but the story still kept me (mostly) interested.
So the place where this book falls short is the romance. It's very will they-won't they, and I got very frustrated of Karsh playing with hearts. he was a perfectly likeable guy, but Dimple just melted when he was around, and the way it turned out was pretty obvious. I seem to just really dislike it when guys get in the way of friendships, and that was certainly a major part of the
Still however, I reccommend this book to anyone who likes complex Heroines, New York City and entertaining discussion of culture.
tora76's review against another edition
5.0
This is the story of Dimple Lala growing up and finding herself over the summer between 11th and 12th grade. There is romance in there, and there is friendship stuff, but really it's about Dimple. I've been reading more young adult books lately (so many of the interesting books I see recced are YA...) and a lot of them really feel like it. This did in some ways (the feel of the POV felt more like a novel aimed at teens), but it wasn't dumbed down or anything. I really enjoyed this book a lot, and I'm sad to see Hidier hasn't written any other novels.[return][return]I did have some frustrations with it, namely that because it's first person and Dimple doesn't really speak up when people blame her for stuff, it comes off feeling like we're supposed to think she was the one in the wrong. (With Gwyn, it kind of came around at the end (though I still felt like she never admitted/realised what an ass she'd been to Dimple), but by the end of the book I was still left feeling like Dimple was blamed for the mixups with Karsh, even though it would be ridiculous to read his behaviour any other way than she does. In fact, I was shocked that he said he had never been dating Gwyn. I was sure that he was dating her, but still had feelings for Dimple, and I am just so confused as to what the fuck he thought he was doing if not dating Gwyn.) Also Gwyn seriously bugged me. Like, the whole time. I loved um, the lesbian cousin, whose name I can't remember right now. And Zara! e& And Dimple's parents were awesome, too.[return][return]Very highly recommended.
akalexander24's review against another edition
4.0
Dimple Lala is seventeen years old and Indian. And American. And severely confused.
First, there's Gwyn, Dimple's very best friend since forever. She's perfect for here in Jersey--blonde, tall, beautiful. She's the star of Dimple's best photographs and the star of Dimple's life.
And then there's Karash. According to Dimple's parents, he's a "suitable boy". Can we say matchmaking time?
Dimple doesn't want to like Karash. She doesn't want her parents to mess with her life. She's spent the past seventeen years trying to become less Indian, after all--if Karash is suitable for her parents, he's clearly not suitable for her.
...Right?
Quick! Think of three words to describe this book!
Ready for mine?
1. long
2. surprising
3. creative
It's a long book. It took me forever to read it. Yet every time I did, I would find myself curled up in bed reading for as long as I could, completely immersed in the book. It's long, but it's not painful. I read a few other books in the time I read this one as breaks (and to keep up my review blog). It's worth reading, but it's not worth pounding your head over trying to finish in a day. Born Confused deserves more than that.
It's surprising. The plot takes turns that I haven't seen in a long time. They're completely genuine, nothing so outlandish it could never happen... but not the norm for a YA novel. (Example: She doesn't end up with the first guy she meets, not everyone ends up with a soul mate.)
It's creative. There are so many wonderful metaphors and phrases... Reading this is like eating a perfectly prepared dessert, luscious and wonderful. And that's just the writing. The plot itself has so many turns (not exactly twists--think a water slide park, not a roller-coaster), each bringing you to the edge of your seat. (I feel compelled to admit, however, that the ending is slightly lackluster. It kind of makes sense. But it's also kind of strange and quick...)
Recommended, but keep in mind the length before embarking.
(Reviewed for my blog, accessible here.)
First, there's Gwyn, Dimple's very best friend since forever. She's perfect for here in Jersey--blonde, tall, beautiful. She's the star of Dimple's best photographs and the star of Dimple's life.
And then there's Karash. According to Dimple's parents, he's a "suitable boy". Can we say matchmaking time?
Dimple doesn't want to like Karash. She doesn't want her parents to mess with her life. She's spent the past seventeen years trying to become less Indian, after all--if Karash is suitable for her parents, he's clearly not suitable for her.
...Right?
Quick! Think of three words to describe this book!
Ready for mine?
1. long
2. surprising
3. creative
It's a long book. It took me forever to read it. Yet every time I did, I would find myself curled up in bed reading for as long as I could, completely immersed in the book. It's long, but it's not painful. I read a few other books in the time I read this one as breaks (and to keep up my review blog). It's worth reading, but it's not worth pounding your head over trying to finish in a day. Born Confused deserves more than that.
It's surprising. The plot takes turns that I haven't seen in a long time. They're completely genuine, nothing so outlandish it could never happen... but not the norm for a YA novel. (Example: She doesn't end up with the first guy she meets, not everyone ends up with a soul mate.)
It's creative. There are so many wonderful metaphors and phrases... Reading this is like eating a perfectly prepared dessert, luscious and wonderful. And that's just the writing. The plot itself has so many turns (not exactly twists--think a water slide park, not a roller-coaster), each bringing you to the edge of your seat. (I feel compelled to admit, however, that the ending is slightly lackluster. It kind of makes sense. But it's also kind of strange and quick...)
Recommended, but keep in mind the length before embarking.
(Reviewed for my blog, accessible here.)
mara_miriam's review against another edition
2.0
While there was a lot that I liked about this book, I can't quite recommend it. There was tremendous character development and the friendship at the core of the story was fascinating and frustrating to me. The dialogue felt really forced at times, perhaps because I'm so distant from youth culture. The prose was frequently startlingly charming and clever, at other times it was too clever by half. The happy ending was overly saccharine for me and came together too neatly.