Scan barcode
bsmorris's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed the style and alternative points of view in this novel. The characters were varied and interesting and sympathetic. The story focuses on three generations of a Bengali-American family, spending part of the novel on each generation. My only complaint is that the characters were so likable that I wish I could have read an entire novel on each one.
booksaremyfavorite's review
4.0
Really enjoyed the characters and their development over time. Sweet story that dealt with the complexities of identity and belonging as well as family relationships. I look forward to reading more by this author.
reneesmith's review against another edition
5.0
A heartwarming coming-of-age story. Five Indian women, family members over three generations, explore the unique aspects of identity as they figure out where they fit in the American story. A gently told story filled with grace & humor. A gem.
theresab93's review against another edition
3.0
As an Own Voices novel, I admire how Perkins captured Indian culture and family values, but the story arc just lacked a bit of heart and care. It's very "snapshot" story telling, weeks, months, even years would be between each chapter that it became hard to really grasp onto these characters. Since the next time we would see them, for example, Character A has now broken up with boyfriend that she started dating last chapter but we have no idea why, leaving the reader feeling quite distant from these characters in general
adamrshields's review against another edition
5.0
Short thoughts: I picked this up because I heard an interview with the author on a podcast I like (Conversing with Mark Labberton). I didn't know anything going into the book. It is a young adult book, but doesn't feel immature, just pitched to a younger audience. You Bring the Distant Near is the story of an immigrant family coming to the US in the 1970s. It starts with the daughters (15 and 17) coming to the US from London, via Ghana, but born in India. As time passes, the daughters fall in love and get married and then their daughters become the main characters before moving back to the grandmother. The story alternates perspectives, but the perspectives are kept clear. (I listened to the audiobook and many audiobooks with shifting perspectives do not work in audiobook.)
I appreciated the characters being human. They each have strengths and weaknesses and the shifting perspectives gives complexity to the story and motivations.
This is Perkins' most recent book and it was nominated for a National Book award. The New York Public library named her earlier book, Rickshaw Girl) one of the 100 best children's books of the last 100 years. And other books also have awards. Perkins has another book coming out in April 2019. I will read more of her books, but this is the only one that my library had without requesting it from another branch.
my longer thoughts are on my blog at http://bookwi.se/you-bring-the-distant-near/
I appreciated the characters being human. They each have strengths and weaknesses and the shifting perspectives gives complexity to the story and motivations.
This is Perkins' most recent book and it was nominated for a National Book award. The New York Public library named her earlier book, Rickshaw Girl) one of the 100 best children's books of the last 100 years. And other books also have awards. Perkins has another book coming out in April 2019. I will read more of her books, but this is the only one that my library had without requesting it from another branch.
my longer thoughts are on my blog at http://bookwi.se/you-bring-the-distant-near/
magnetarmadda's review against another edition
4.0
This incredible merging of cultures was beautiful and heartwarming to read, even when the characters were frustrating. My only complaint: the way time moves in the story. Even chapter is set in a different year, without any real indication of what it is, except for a section bracketing out years. It made it feel a little detached to me, like I was missing important moments and character development, and so each time I met a character, they were someone else.
goosemixtapes's review against another edition
5.0
i don't really think the description of this book does it justice. and i don't really blame it for that, either - this is a hard book to sum up. it's a book about a family, and about the women of that family specifically, and the blurb descriptions of each of the five main characters aren't WRONG. it's just that all of the characters are so much more than that. the characters in this book are SO well written; they're drawn with intense care, and it's hard not to root for them. even ranee, who is portrayed in a less than favorable light by her daughters, is clearly a vivid and complex character from the start, and i really came to love her by the time i finished the book.
the thing is that this book stretches over three generations, and i think... it could have... been longer? i don't say that about a lot of books, but i do feel like i was ready to read hundreds more pages about these characters. i liked the tara and sonia sections better than the chantal and anna sections, and i think it's because tara and sonia get more screen time (twice as much as the other two) and thus have room to carry a more cohesive narrative; chantal's and anna's segments all had the vague feeling of being short stories grouped together rather than one story with two narrators. that said. i reiterate. all of these characters are SO well written; this is a very character-driven story and it KNOWS that and it pulls it off very very well. i would definitely recommend this book :0
the thing is that this book stretches over three generations, and i think... it could have... been longer? i don't say that about a lot of books, but i do feel like i was ready to read hundreds more pages about these characters. i liked the tara and sonia sections better than the chantal and anna sections, and i think it's because tara and sonia get more screen time (twice as much as the other two) and thus have room to carry a more cohesive narrative; chantal's and anna's segments all had the vague feeling of being short stories grouped together rather than one story with two narrators. that said. i reiterate. all of these characters are SO well written; this is a very character-driven story and it KNOWS that and it pulls it off very very well. i would definitely recommend this book :0
emilymorgan02's review against another edition
3.0
I really enjoyed this one...more strong female characters, struggling to balance their Indian culture with their new lives in America. It would have been a four...but I didn't enjoy how it would skip huge chunks of time, magically moving the narrative forward, and towards the end, it felt a bit forced. However, it's well-written and you'll love the girls.
mugglemom's review against another edition
3.0
I felt like I was reading a middle grade book – coaching me but not inspiring me. Tho it is a decent multicultural and feminist-encouraged story but fell short on charming me.
At times I could sense that scenes were probably taken from events in someone’s life or memories, most likely the authors or people she knew. But for me, the author tackles too many issues with a barely a touch—skimming the surface of the issue with more or less “happy endings”.
One thing which annoyed me was the multicultural issues were lopsided; the biracial high school aged character seems unaware to racial tensions within her own family, equally seems ignorant to cultural norms of both races all while living New York City – the embodiment of the term ‘melting pot’ of humanity. Or the other New York City based character who can’t start a fashion club at her school?! AGAIN, its New York City – the home of US fashion week, runways and Vogue!!!? Hence, maybe a school kid would not see the plot holes, but YA & adult readers should be quick to see problems.
Sadly, I was glad I read the book but I will probably forget it in two days.
At times I could sense that scenes were probably taken from events in someone’s life or memories, most likely the authors or people she knew. But for me, the author tackles too many issues with a barely a touch—skimming the surface of the issue with more or less “happy endings”.
One thing which annoyed me was the multicultural issues were lopsided; the biracial high school aged character seems unaware to racial tensions within her own family, equally seems ignorant to cultural norms of both races all while living New York City – the embodiment of the term ‘melting pot’ of humanity. Or the other New York City based character who can’t start a fashion club at her school?! AGAIN, its New York City – the home of US fashion week, runways and Vogue!!!? Hence, maybe a school kid would not see the plot holes, but YA & adult readers should be quick to see problems.
Sadly, I was glad I read the book but I will probably forget it in two days.
sverville's review against another edition
4.0
I went into this expecting one story with multiple perspectives, but it ended up being more a collection of short stories about this family. Not really a distinct plot line like the back cover leads you to believe, but still worth reading.