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anjalisudarsan's review against another edition
3.0
The storytelling style in this book was beautiful- the flow felt so refreshing and I could really connect with each character. Although I absolutely hated every character I could understand their frame of thinking and how real they were.
The book felt a bit too dragged, but an enjoyable read
The book felt a bit too dragged, but an enjoyable read
hannahmayreads's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-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
3.5
Nobody does complicated characters like Ali, but her very particular talent is that when her characters do bad things we do not judge them. Her ability to ascribe humanity to everyone is remarkable. Like us, they are just human and it is our lot in life to be flawed, complex beings who make mistakes and have feelings they cannot always comprehend. A little long perhaps, but it is a meaty novel from good storyteller.
hannahclare44's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
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? Yes
5.0
andrewspink's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-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
4.0
An enjoyable and entertaining novel. The characters were occasionally a little stereotyped, but towards the end we discover that that was to present the realities of their personal histories as a greater surprise. The reader really gets to care about the characters.
jwinfield_'s review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
baltimorelibrarian's review against another edition
3.0
This book was fine. The characters were well-developed, if annoying. The plot was engaging, but not groundbreaking. I think there could have been a lot of editing that would have made it a tighter, snappier read.
vivakresh's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-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
4.0
Really enjoyed this
ha_twig's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
debirainbow's review against another edition
emotional
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Some spoilers in my review:
This is a strange book, the chapters are short and there are a lot of characters. Good descriptions of Bengali household & the author’s description of cooking and food. It explores the mixing of different cultures & parent child relationships. I liked the chapters set in the hospital wards, felt Ali described those really well - the issues with elder care & the pressures of geriatric care.
Spoiler : If she had focussed on that - the love triangle & maybe left Joe’s therapy sessions in, it would have been less of a chore to finish. Didn’t really care for Harriet’s chapters, raised a lot of issues which were not followed through ie her relationship with her dad!!! - the author had a lot to say and opinions about Brexit & Islamophobia which is great, but made the book muddled and dragged a bit towards the end.
This is a strange book, the chapters are short and there are a lot of characters. Good descriptions of Bengali household & the author’s description of cooking and food. It explores the mixing of different cultures & parent child relationships. I liked the chapters set in the hospital wards, felt Ali described those really well - the issues with elder care & the pressures of geriatric care.
Spoiler : If she had focussed on that - the love triangle & maybe left Joe’s therapy sessions in, it would have been less of a chore to finish. Didn’t really care for Harriet’s chapters, raised a lot of issues which were not followed through ie her relationship with her dad!!! - the author had a lot to say and opinions about Brexit & Islamophobia which is great, but made the book muddled and dragged a bit towards the end.
Graphic: Islamophobia, Rape, Grief, and Incest