juby_uwu's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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
4.75
This book was definitely ahead of its time. Lahiri really authentically captures the experience of simply anyone who has heritage in one country, but has been brought up in another. All the questions that Nikhil asks, the emotions he feels had definitely crossed me, especially during childhood. Its really sad that many of us deeply relate to this experience, but atleast there's a book to shed light on it.
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However, there are some moments when describing Nikhil's love interests where the appearance is objectified, the word "suggestively" shows up many a time.
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However, there are some moments when describing Nikhil's love interests where the appearance is objectified, the word "suggestively" shows up many a time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Racism
emersonseyeball's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Death of parent, and Infidelity
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Xenophobia, Sexual content, and Islamophobia
Deals a lot with internalized racismdebookgeek's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Racism, Xenophobia, Pregnancy, Infidelity, and Sexual content
Minor: Transphobia
words_and_coffee's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-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
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, Infidelity, and Sexual content
silver_valkyrie_reads's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I have to start by saying that this is not the sort of book I normally enjoy, so just having finished it ranks it my most favorite literary fiction of all time. Instead of the 'lovely' *cough* overly descriptive *cough* writing that usually marks literary fiction, this writing is simple and compelling.
It also helps that the characters give me a window into a different life and different set of circumstances than I've experienced, which I always enjoy. Even better, I found their 'different' circumstances strangely relatable in some ways. I don't come from an immigrant family, but I do know what it's like to have a family culture that's vastly different from everyone else around.
So, five star writing, with some five star moments, and overall a four star experience because I still struggle a bit with the very slow, literary style.
Except... Well, staying spoiler free, let's just say that on occasion some very poor decisions are made in the course of the story, and some of them disturbed me enough to really drag down the experience, hence the 3.5 star rating instead of four.
I'm glad I read this story, and parts of it will probably stay with me for a very long time, but I don't see myself being likely to revisit it.
It also helps that the characters give me a window into a different life and different set of circumstances than I've experienced, which I always enjoy. Even better, I found their 'different' circumstances strangely relatable in some ways. I don't come from an immigrant family, but I do know what it's like to have a family culture that's vastly different from everyone else around.
So, five star writing, with some five star moments, and overall a four star experience because I still struggle a bit with the very slow, literary style.
Except... Well, staying spoiler free, let's just say that on occasion some very poor decisions are made in the course of the story, and some of them disturbed me enough to really drag down the experience, hence the 3.5 star rating instead of four.
I'm glad I read this story, and parts of it will probably stay with me for a very long time, but I don't see myself being likely to revisit it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Grief, Infidelity, and Sexual content
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