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aravind12's review
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Sexual assault, Suicide attempt, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Rape, Panic attacks/disorders, and Mental illness
reallyintoreading's review
emotional
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? It's complicated
4.0
jess_mango's review
4.0
Trigger Warning: Death of a child
The Shape of Family is a moving novel about the impact of grief on a family. The Oldander family lives in California living a comfortable, happy upper middle class life. Kieth works in finance and his wife Jaya is the daughter of an Indian diplomat. They have two children Karina (13) and Prem (8).
When tragedy strikes, the family is wracked by grief and starts to fall apart. Everyone struggles to make sense of their life and each follow their own paths to try to move forward. The story mainly follows Karina with occasional glimpses what the other family members are doing/thinking. When Karina goes off to college in Santa Barbara she hopes to start fresh.
The story was compelling and well written. I could see this being a TV series like This is Us...it has that sort of vibe.
I won a copy of this novel from a GoodReads Giveaway.
The Shape of Family is a moving novel about the impact of grief on a family. The Oldander family lives in California living a comfortable, happy upper middle class life. Kieth works in finance and his wife Jaya is the daughter of an Indian diplomat. They have two children Karina (13) and Prem (8).
When tragedy strikes, the family is wracked by grief and starts to fall apart. Everyone struggles to make sense of their life and each follow their own paths to try to move forward. The story mainly follows Karina with occasional glimpses what the other family members are doing/thinking. When Karina goes off to college in Santa Barbara she hopes to start fresh.
The story was compelling and well written. I could see this being a TV series like This is Us...it has that sort of vibe.
I won a copy of this novel from a GoodReads Giveaway.
alice007's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
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? Yes
4.0
teresaalice's review
3.0
When I saw this book on my quick reads audio selection, I thought of this author’s last book that I read, secret daughter, which I remember being well written and fairly captivating. During this time of Covid I’ve been trying genres that I don’t usually turn towards, and contemporary family drama is not my usual choice, so I thought what the hell. Well, it was definitely outside of the thrillers are usually use for entertainment, but Goddamn it was it depressing.
novelvisits's review
4.0
Note: I received a copy of this book from William Morrow (via NetGalley) in exchange for my honest thoughts.
For the first half of The Shape of a Family, I was a huge fan. It’s the story of a family who tragically loses their 6-year old son in a drowning accident. It was about what grief did to the three family members left behind, Karina, 11-years old, and her parents, Jaya and Keith. I particularly liked this part of the book because Gowda got it just right. When I was 18, we suddenly lost my younger sister and so I know from experience just how hard it is to push through your own grief while watching the ones you love also suffering through theirs. It very, very difficult to stay together and Gowda told that part of her story beautifully. Unfortunately, the second half of the book got a little out there for me and slowed the story down a lot. I did feel like it came back together in the end, and got back to it’s more authentic theme of a family and grief.
Original Source: https://novelvisits.com/march-mini-reviews-including-3-audiobooks/
For the first half of The Shape of a Family, I was a huge fan. It’s the story of a family who tragically loses their 6-year old son in a drowning accident. It was about what grief did to the three family members left behind, Karina, 11-years old, and her parents, Jaya and Keith. I particularly liked this part of the book because Gowda got it just right. When I was 18, we suddenly lost my younger sister and so I know from experience just how hard it is to push through your own grief while watching the ones you love also suffering through theirs. It very, very difficult to stay together and Gowda told that part of her story beautifully. Unfortunately, the second half of the book got a little out there for me and slowed the story down a lot. I did feel like it came back together in the end, and got back to it’s more authentic theme of a family and grief.
Original Source: https://novelvisits.com/march-mini-reviews-including-3-audiobooks/
pb06's review
4.0
I can’t read sad books. They leave me in a funk I can’t detach from. So I couldn’t read this book. It was a long slow train wreck. I was going to give it a 3 but I actually loved the style of writing and the authors skills deserved more.
beastreader's review against another edition
4.0
If the story of the Olander's does not tug at your heart strings; I don't know what to tell you. I felt every emotion that Jaya, Keith, and Karina experienced. There is grief, anger, guilt, loneliness, forgiveness, and happiness.
This book is told from each family member's point of view. Alternating between each family member; draws me the reader into the story more. Therefore, I form a strong emotional connection to everyone. The actions that each family member did, I did not judge them but understood the "why".
To quote Prem "I've been with my family ever since that day, and if they could really let go of all those feelings of guilt and sadness, they would feel me there."
The Shape of Family is not to be missed! The Olander family will stay with you long after you have finishing reading this book.
This book is told from each family member's point of view. Alternating between each family member; draws me the reader into the story more. Therefore, I form a strong emotional connection to everyone. The actions that each family member did, I did not judge them but understood the "why".
To quote Prem "I've been with my family ever since that day, and if they could really let go of all those feelings of guilt and sadness, they would feel me there."
The Shape of Family is not to be missed! The Olander family will stay with you long after you have finishing reading this book.
bobbykarmakar's review against another edition
5.0
Initially, I was excited about this book being titled The Seekers. I found it original, unique and different, compared to The Shape of Family. However, if there’s anything that truly resonates with this story, it’s the title. How a tragedy can nearly estrange a family, I always thought they’d be seeking for the meaning of family by coming together as they find their own purposes. Instead, the shape of who they are in the story, and how the Olanders define themselves resonate much more strongly.
Throughout the book, I found myself enjoying the character of Karina. Her parents become too absorbed to get their attention off the tragedy—her father, Keith, spending more time into work, and her mother, Jaya, obsessed with spirituality. Though I think both are fine to be committed to, I believe there was no balance for them. And then there’s Prem, Karina’s little brother nearly half her age trying to make out of the situation and watching his family float apart from each other.
There are things I wish Karina told someone (namely her parents) about the events that occur, beginning from the tragedy, up until the end. Eventually, like all of us, we all learn and grow from our experiences, including the Olander’s. There are times when you see them alone in their thoughts, their actions, and you wonder why they cannot come together and communicate with each other.
I often skim through a book to see when a new part will begin, what the title will be, and that’s when I stumbled upon another character’s point of view, Serotina. My first glance at the name when I skimmed through, for some reason, never sat well with me before she was introduced. We meet Serotina in The Sanctuary that Karina stays at for some time while in university. Personally, I feared she was going to drop out of university and stay in a place I never felt strongly about her being there. The meaning and purpose behind The Sanctuary are lovely, but there was something in me that didn’t stick well from the time she first went there.
The Shape of Family has been a long time coming for me. I first discovered Secret Daughter a decade ago when it was first published, became a Heather’s Pick at Indigo, and then saw my Mom glued to the story as she read a copy from a friend. I got my own copy when she returned it, and only a few years later, in 2015, I finally read it and understand the impactful story. The same year, my absolute favourite book was published, The Golden Son. I read it as soon as it released and had the honour of meeting Shilpi at the launch but also knew her next novel at the time, The Shape of Family, was going to be a bit of a wait. Until now, I have never experienced a story so rich and satisfying like this one that it has been worth the entire wait time.
Throughout the book, I found myself enjoying the character of Karina. Her parents become too absorbed to get their attention off the tragedy—her father, Keith, spending more time into work, and her mother, Jaya, obsessed with spirituality. Though I think both are fine to be committed to, I believe there was no balance for them. And then there’s Prem, Karina’s little brother nearly half her age trying to make out of the situation and watching his family float apart from each other.
There are things I wish Karina told someone (namely her parents) about the events that occur, beginning from the tragedy, up until the end. Eventually, like all of us, we all learn and grow from our experiences, including the Olander’s. There are times when you see them alone in their thoughts, their actions, and you wonder why they cannot come together and communicate with each other.
I often skim through a book to see when a new part will begin, what the title will be, and that’s when I stumbled upon another character’s point of view, Serotina. My first glance at the name when I skimmed through, for some reason, never sat well with me before she was introduced. We meet Serotina in The Sanctuary that Karina stays at for some time while in university. Personally, I feared she was going to drop out of university and stay in a place I never felt strongly about her being there. The meaning and purpose behind The Sanctuary are lovely, but there was something in me that didn’t stick well from the time she first went there.
The Shape of Family has been a long time coming for me. I first discovered Secret Daughter a decade ago when it was first published, became a Heather’s Pick at Indigo, and then saw my Mom glued to the story as she read a copy from a friend. I got my own copy when she returned it, and only a few years later, in 2015, I finally read it and understand the impactful story. The same year, my absolute favourite book was published, The Golden Son. I read it as soon as it released and had the honour of meeting Shilpi at the launch but also knew her next novel at the time, The Shape of Family, was going to be a bit of a wait. Until now, I have never experienced a story so rich and satisfying like this one that it has been worth the entire wait time.