868 reviews for:

Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens

Shankari Chandran

4.23 AVERAGE

bookishpanda97's review against another edition

3.5

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This was an enjoyable book not like anything I have read before it was copy and well written 

pialilyk's review against another edition

5.0

emotional informative reflective

annie_reads848's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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This was a wonderful and complex book. It touched on important and necessary themes, and it made me sad and outraged. The characters were all so well developed and the switching between perspectives was well done. Justice for Ruben and the worst possible life for Gareth. 

I’m also glad that this taught me
about Sri Lanka’s history. 

heatherrobi's review against another edition

4.5

dark emotional 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

reidfrancis's review against another edition

5.0

emotional 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: Yes

behapgood's review against another edition

4.0

challenging emotional informative mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

thebookishkimmy's review against another edition

2.0

emotional informative slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: N/A

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

l_ise's review against another edition

4.25

reflective sad medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

suzie_b_reads's review against another edition

5.0

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At first I thought this was a gentle story, giving me a sense of community and warmth. And then I felt a huge punch as the book becomes one of the appalling systemic racism in Australia. Although I felt the escalation of the violence to be a little unrealistic , I applaud Shankari for emphasising the treatment of immigrants and refugees and how it is one to be ashamed of. The scenes of civil war in Sri Lanka are confronting, yet necessary, for us to understand how we should be proving a home as a refuge and opportunity for re-growth, yet never loosing the essence of yourself and your culture. Quite brilliant and thought provoking, there are so many layers to unpack.

indiroar's review against another edition

5.0

emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad medium-paced