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3.56 AVERAGE
3.56 AVERAGE
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A mystery with a difference. Definitely enough below the radar at first to keep the interest, and by the time the big reveal comes, you find yourself thinking “I should have spotted that”.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
funny
reflective
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:
No
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
challenging
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Very thought provoking and well written. It was a bit hard to be fully immersed sometimes due to the other languages that were spoken from time to time but still a very enjoyable read with complex and dynamic characters and character choices.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
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
This book started out strong, the strongest moments being the MC's thoughts on translation, alienation, and being an outsider and an immigrant in privileged academic spaces. Some of MCs meandering ruminations on identity, class, and inequality resonated with me, but eventually the book unspooled spectacularly. The reveal wasn't that much of a surprise given the not so subtle foreshadowing (at least for the South Asian foodies out there), but the true disappointment was MCs reaction to everything. I don't agree with some reviewers who saw her as an unreliable narrator, I think she meant to be very precise. Her lack of self reflection and growth are a consequence of her privilege and the blinders that come with it. Consequently, much like Arjun "Uncle" (