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4.23 AVERAGE
4.23 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
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
Beautifully written and agonizingly real. A must read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Child death, Death, Genocide, Gore, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Grief, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Cultural appropriation, Abandonment, Sexual harassment
Minor: Sexual content, Dementia
Shankari Chandran won the Miles Franklin Award last year for Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens and my goodness she deserved it. It’s one of the best books I’ve read this year and I’ve no doubt it will make it to my list of best books for 2024.
She’s such an accomplished writer and juggles so many huge themes with ease and extraordinary humour. The book is quite remarkable in that way. It covers everything from society’s treatment of the elderly, what community means, maternal loss, endemic racism and how that manifests itself in society, storytelling, trauma, the Sri Lankan civil war, to the plight of the Tamil people and no theme ever feels underdone or glossed over. I can’t believe it’s only her third book; she writes like someone who’s been honing her craft for a very long time. It's wonderful; please read it.
She’s such an accomplished writer and juggles so many huge themes with ease and extraordinary humour. The book is quite remarkable in that way. It covers everything from society’s treatment of the elderly, what community means, maternal loss, endemic racism and how that manifests itself in society, storytelling, trauma, the Sri Lankan civil war, to the plight of the Tamil people and no theme ever feels underdone or glossed over. I can’t believe it’s only her third book; she writes like someone who’s been honing her craft for a very long time. It's wonderful; please read it.
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book made my heart ache and rage. What an incredible story. I learnt so much about the devastating history of Sri Lanka which I am really grateful to have learnt.
The racism of white Australians portrayed in this book made me so very angry and it also made me reflect on my privilege as a white Australian and the ways I am unknowingly racist towards so many different cultures within our nation. I want be more aware and push back on the internalised racism that comes with being unaware.
I feel like I didn’t getting to properly release my sadness whilst reading this book because I was so angry so I feel a little unsatisfied and tense walking away from the book.
This book is very intense but very much worth reading.
The racism of white Australians portrayed in this book made me so very angry and it also made me reflect on my privilege as a white Australian and the ways I am unknowingly racist towards so many different cultures within our nation. I want be more aware and push back on the internalised racism that comes with being unaware.
I feel like I didn’t getting to properly release my sadness whilst reading this book because I was so angry so I feel a little unsatisfied and tense walking away from the book.
This book is very intense but very much worth reading.
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Just was too boring, didnt know what was happening most of the time
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
reflective
I’m glad I read/listened to this book. It was a hard read, grappling both with audio (fairly new way to read for me) and violence (something I tend to avoid). I learnt a lot about the past and am reminded that sometimes things, acts, and views I like to think of as historical are achingly close to the present and continue to impact people every day.
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a really beautiful read that gave me a lot of insight into a history and culture that I did not know a lot about. It gives a really poignant view on racism in Australia that feels particularly relevant in today’s political climate. Highly recommend!
dark
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia
Moderate: War