Scan barcode
natalieabigail's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
4.25
alisonmarielee's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
bookph1le's review against another edition
3.0
This book was so frustrating. Some spoilers to follow in my review, so read at your own risk.
When I first started reading this book, I was so into it. I found the use of alchemy so interesting and so mysterious, and I was invested in what the book seemed to be saying about the ways in which boys' and men's ambitions are given precedence over those of girls and women. Then the portion of the book where Neil is in high school ended, and my interest in the book took a nosedive.
Oh, I knew early in reading the later parts that I just did not like Neil as a character, but it wasn't until after I'd finished reading the book that I figured out why: he was a trope, a trope that usually prevents me from reading literary fiction because I find obnoxious and egregious. Neil is unambitious. Neil envies everyone who has drive in life because he himself has none. Neil drinks, does drugs, and engages in other forms of questionable behavior in an attempt to forget about the details of his life. In short, Neil is wangsty.
Honestly, I hated the book so much for making me suffer through Neil not just because I thought Neil sucked, but because the secondary characters surrounding him are much more interesting than Neil is. Like far too much literary fiction I've read, I found myself resenting the author for forcing me to sit through Neil's existential angst so that I could find out what was going to happen to Lakshmi, Anjali, and Anita. And I kept wondering, why does literary fiction do this? Why does it so often frame its narrative through the lens of some observer (who is almost always a dude) that I care nothing about, but have to suffer if I want to find out what's going to happen to the real characters?
Anita's family saga is where the meat of this story is. Yes, Neil's portions do touch on the question of growing up as a first generation American, but Neil never seems to have much to say about it--unlike the female characters. Instead, why couldn't I have read a book from Anita's point of view, one in which I got more information about not only what she was struggling with, but about her mother's and grandmother's struggles as well? That was the part of the book that really pulled me in. That was the part I genuinely cared about. I don't want to watch those emotions from a remove, I want to live them. I think I was particularly frustrated about this because just before reading this book, I'd read [b:His Only Wife|49151001|His Only Wife|Peace Adzo Medie|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1601488515l/49151001._SY75_.jpg|74604967], a book that actually allowed me to watch the story unfold from the perspective of one of the truly interesting characters.
So, yeah, four and a half stars because the three-generation saga of Anita and her family was fascinating. Minus a star and a half because having to read about Neil spoiled the impact of their story.
When I first started reading this book, I was so into it. I found the use of alchemy so interesting and so mysterious, and I was invested in what the book seemed to be saying about the ways in which boys' and men's ambitions are given precedence over those of girls and women. Then the portion of the book where Neil is in high school ended, and my interest in the book took a nosedive.
Oh, I knew early in reading the later parts that I just did not like Neil as a character, but it wasn't until after I'd finished reading the book that I figured out why: he was a trope, a trope that usually prevents me from reading literary fiction because I find obnoxious and egregious. Neil is unambitious. Neil envies everyone who has drive in life because he himself has none. Neil drinks, does drugs, and engages in other forms of questionable behavior in an attempt to forget about the details of his life. In short, Neil is wangsty.
Honestly, I hated the book so much for making me suffer through Neil not just because I thought Neil sucked, but because the secondary characters surrounding him are much more interesting than Neil is. Like far too much literary fiction I've read, I found myself resenting the author for forcing me to sit through Neil's existential angst so that I could find out what was going to happen to Lakshmi, Anjali, and Anita. And I kept wondering, why does literary fiction do this? Why does it so often frame its narrative through the lens of some observer (who is almost always a dude) that I care nothing about, but have to suffer if I want to find out what's going to happen to the real characters?
Anita's family saga is where the meat of this story is. Yes, Neil's portions do touch on the question of growing up as a first generation American, but Neil never seems to have much to say about it--unlike the female characters. Instead, why couldn't I have read a book from Anita's point of view, one in which I got more information about not only what she was struggling with, but about her mother's and grandmother's struggles as well? That was the part of the book that really pulled me in. That was the part I genuinely cared about. I don't want to watch those emotions from a remove, I want to live them. I think I was particularly frustrated about this because just before reading this book, I'd read [b:His Only Wife|49151001|His Only Wife|Peace Adzo Medie|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1601488515l/49151001._SY75_.jpg|74604967], a book that actually allowed me to watch the story unfold from the perspective of one of the truly interesting characters.
So, yeah, four and a half stars because the three-generation saga of Anita and her family was fascinating. Minus a star and a half because having to read about Neil spoiled the impact of their story.
notlikeshrek's review against another edition
4.0
I love the way Sathian plays with time in this; flitting back and forth between various generations to portray immigrant experiences, love, ambition, and more. Her writing is light and easy to read while packed with meaning. At times it does feel as though the book is attempting to tackle too much, but I think it’s worth it when reflecting on the themes, memories, and emotions that are expressed throughout.
jess_mango's review against another edition
4.0
Gold Diggers is in part in fact about gold diggers during the American gold rush. But, mostly it is about the Indian American experience. Gold holds an important place in Indian culture, being gifted with best wishes for weddings and births. Each peace holds a special meaning and intention. This story spans several decades and our protagonist is Neil, a young Indian American man who starts the book as a teen living in the suburbs of Atlanta in the years following 9/11. A teen who rubs elbows with other Indian American teens in his family's social circle. He feels like a bit of an underachiever in this crowd. He discovers that one overachieving family is having their daughter drink a beverage that contains melted down gold in the hope that it will bring her skill and luck. The gold they use for this is stolen from other Indian families' treasured collections of gold received at special events.
This was a fun read about coming of age in the Indian diaspora when you don't quite fit the mold and the things one will do in hopes of success and advantage. This book has so many aspects to it: magical realism, coming-of-age, humor, heist, etc. There is definite wit infused throughout this novel and Neil is a relatable character who while he made some questionable choices, I hoped for him to find his own happiness.
What to listen to while reading...
Young Folks by Peter Bjorn and John
Gold by Chet Faker
Electric Feel by MGMT
Crazy by Gnarls Barkley
Run On by Moby
DARE by Gorillaz
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!
This was a fun read about coming of age in the Indian diaspora when you don't quite fit the mold and the things one will do in hopes of success and advantage. This book has so many aspects to it: magical realism, coming-of-age, humor, heist, etc. There is definite wit infused throughout this novel and Neil is a relatable character who while he made some questionable choices, I hoped for him to find his own happiness.
What to listen to while reading...
Young Folks by Peter Bjorn and John
Gold by Chet Faker
Electric Feel by MGMT
Crazy by Gnarls Barkley
Run On by Moby
DARE by Gorillaz
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!
alicebme's review against another edition
3.0
First half great. Original and fast paced. Has a Virgin Suicides vibe, as it’s narrator is a young teen boy, and it gives that kid insider tone of dread. Second half was a great idea, but I found that the future super sucked for all of the characters in a way I did not enjoy reading. So many drugs, it’s dizzying. Also, the deeper dive into the historical fiction aspect of the story in the second half was not my jam.
lk222's review against another edition
3.0
Sanjena Sathian's debut novel is a fully original story that harnesses the fever of the California Gold Rush, the intoxication of the American dream, and the pressure of the modern day immigrant parent all in one story. In Atlanta, Georgia we meet Neil / Neeraj, a second-generation teen struggling to live up to his Indian-born parents’ goals. He’s surrounded by Asian-American whiz kids whose academic and extracurricular activities leave him in the dust. He simply seems to be missing the drive. He’s also besotted with his neighbor, Anita, an exceptionally successful student as well as a leading contestant for Miss Teen India Georgia. It’s like she’s in overdrive, imbued with some extra special quality that Neil can only fantasize of obtaining. But then Neil discovers Anita’s secret to success. I won’t give it all away, but Anita’s power lies in gold and alchemy. In exchange for his silence, Neil obtains access to Anita’s secret weapon and suddenly he’s able to compete with his peers, he’s able to meet his parents’ weighty expectations. But this success comes with a price, as well as a level of addiction, and one fateful event shatters everything. Ten years and a number of partially-managed addictions later, the cycle begins again. . .
I love discovering new and distinct voices in literature and Sathian’s voice is fully her own. She’s already an award-winning author of short fiction as well as a winner of the Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans. Her first book is undoubtedly a success. Sathian starts a necessary conversation about the pressures that immigrant parents so often place on their children, centered around a protagonist that breaks the stereotype of the Asian-American overachiever. I loved her use of gold as a central player in the story and as a metaphor for both the intoxication of the American promise and the addiction of its pursuit. Sathian’s play of alchemy, culture, history, and lore in a modern drama is enchantingly delivered. I would absolutely love to hear what second-generation readers think of this story.
I love discovering new and distinct voices in literature and Sathian’s voice is fully her own. She’s already an award-winning author of short fiction as well as a winner of the Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans. Her first book is undoubtedly a success. Sathian starts a necessary conversation about the pressures that immigrant parents so often place on their children, centered around a protagonist that breaks the stereotype of the Asian-American overachiever. I loved her use of gold as a central player in the story and as a metaphor for both the intoxication of the American promise and the addiction of its pursuit. Sathian’s play of alchemy, culture, history, and lore in a modern drama is enchantingly delivered. I would absolutely love to hear what second-generation readers think of this story.
alexismsw's review against another edition
hopeful
mysterious
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
3.5
alinedc's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75