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fkshg8465's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
What was the point of this book?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Grief
notthatcosta's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
fast-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
4.0
I’ve never particularly had an interest in squash, nor do I know much about it, but the depictions of gameplay and its history in the book were a very interesting plot point.
I’m very much for any and all attempts at exploring grief in literature, and this was among the more touching and visceral I’ve read. Some of the more whimsical and obscure passages lost me, but ultimately I really enjoyed this book.
I’m very much for any and all attempts at exploring grief in literature, and this was among the more touching and visceral I’ve read. Some of the more whimsical and obscure passages lost me, but ultimately I really enjoyed this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
ncghammo's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
jennikreads's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
amyvl93's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Chetna Maroo has had an amazing start to her career, with her debut novel longlisted for both the Booker and now the Women's Prize. Unfortunately, this means that expectations are typically raised for her novel, which in my case with <i>Western Lane</i> weren't quite met.
The novel follows Gopi, whose Mum has recently passed away, leaving her father and older sisters in something of a freefall. Her Dad throws her into an intense squash training regime, where Gopi begins to find a life outside of the roles she falls into within her family.
In terms of strengths, despite the short length of the novel the characters in its pages felt rounded and real; Maroo really manages to ground the reader in her settings. I felt like I could imagine the claustrophobia of her bedroom that she shares with her two sisters, the opening scene of the sisters helping their aunt with the cooking under critical gaze felt really fully rendered too. I also found the exploration of the migrant community and family that Gopi and her family lived within really interesting, particularly the combination of support and monitoring that impacts on all the characters in the novel.
Although marketed as a book about grief, I don't really feel like we delved that much into that feeling - we don't hear that much about Gopi's mother at all. In part this may be because it is a representation of individuals who are suppressing their grief, or have complicated feelings about this, but I didn't feel like there was much emotion explored here.
Also, whilst I learnt an awful lot about the history of squash and squash players, a little less squash recounting to focus more on Gopi and her family would have been appreciated!
I'll definitely look into Maroo's writing in the future, which will hopefully be given a little more space to breath for a writer early in their career.
The novel follows Gopi, whose Mum has recently passed away, leaving her father and older sisters in something of a freefall. Her Dad throws her into an intense squash training regime, where Gopi begins to find a life outside of the roles she falls into within her family.
In terms of strengths, despite the short length of the novel the characters in its pages felt rounded and real; Maroo really manages to ground the reader in her settings. I felt like I could imagine the claustrophobia of her bedroom that she shares with her two sisters, the opening scene of the sisters helping their aunt with the cooking under critical gaze felt really fully rendered too. I also found the exploration of the migrant community and family that Gopi and her family lived within really interesting, particularly the combination of support and monitoring that impacts on all the characters in the novel.
Although marketed as a book about grief, I don't really feel like we delved that much into that feeling - we don't hear that much about Gopi's mother at all. In part this may be because it is a representation of individuals who are suppressing their grief, or have complicated feelings about this, but I didn't feel like there was much emotion explored here.
Also, whilst I learnt an awful lot about the history of squash and squash players, a little less squash recounting to focus more on Gopi and her family would have been appreciated!
I'll definitely look into Maroo's writing in the future, which will hopefully be given a little more space to breath for a writer early in their career.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and Grief
sakisreads's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
✨ Gifted ✨
We work through a LOT of grief in this book. There were moments where I wanted to cry, because there was such profound sadness, but also times where I wanted to laugh. Gopi and her family are the epitome of love 🥹
I would highly recommend this to people who are interested in family dynamics and grief. Content warnings will be below!
4 out of 5 stars for me, thank you ✨
We work through a LOT of grief in this book. There were moments where I wanted to cry, because there was such profound sadness, but also times where I wanted to laugh. Gopi and her family are the epitome of love 🥹
I would highly recommend this to people who are interested in family dynamics and grief. Content warnings will be below!
4 out of 5 stars for me, thank you ✨
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
hegesteindal74's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Perfect!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
nialiversuch's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death of parent
Minor: Alcohol, Bullying, and Racism
barbarella85's review against another edition
I was just bored. This could have been interesting but the way the author told the story (I did this and then we did that) did not grab my attention
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief
deedireads's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
I read Western Lane because it was shortlisted for the Booker Prize, and I enjoyed it. It’s a very quiet, interior novel that packs a punch much bigger than its slim size might suggest. At first glance, this is a coming of age novel about a girl named Gopi who plays squash, but really, it’s much more about a family dealing with grief as told through that girl’s eyes.
The emotional power of the book comes not from what is said by the characters, but by their silences, their unfinished sentences. On the one hand, I found this to be really impressive (and effective) from a craft perspective; on the other, I thought Gopi’s powers of observation made her feel much older than she was supposed to be (eleven years old). Sure, she was only noticing limited interactions, but her gaze was also focused enough that it led the audience to understand a great deal. In the end, though, this was a minor complaint; there’s no denying that Maroo is an ultra-talented writer and I’ll be interested to see what she does next.
The emotional power of the book comes not from what is said by the characters, but by their silences, their unfinished sentences. On the one hand, I found this to be really impressive (and effective) from a craft perspective; on the other, I thought Gopi’s powers of observation made her feel much older than she was supposed to be (eleven years old). Sure, she was only noticing limited interactions, but her gaze was also focused enough that it led the audience to understand a great deal. In the end, though, this was a minor complaint; there’s no denying that Maroo is an ultra-talented writer and I’ll be interested to see what she does next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, and Death