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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
Really enjoyed this. The book is set in the state I am from so Roy's vivid descriptions invoked detailed and familiar memories of Kerala for me, including the scenery and the personalities of the characters. Such a tragic story, just heartbreaking. I also enjoyed the fractured structure of the book, flitting back and forth from the past to the present, with detailed descriptions of every key character's past which fleshed out their actions in the present. My only criticism is that I felt like the flowery language was a bit too much at times. When we are eagerly reading on to find out what happened to Sophie Mol, the colourful but sometimes self-indulgent descriptions slow the pace of the storytelling so much that it becomes, at times, tedious. Still, overall, I enjoyed the book. Roy's style of writing is unique compared to what else I've read. And I left with my sense of injustice about the caste system as fervent as ever.
The writing in this is so stunning and certainly scratched my "I need something gritty" itch. I do agree with those who said the time jumps are a bit confusing (but nothing a bit of Sparknotes can't clarify lol) but the story of love and loss was poignant and beautiful.
I tried multiple times to understand this book. But alas, all I could gather was that there are some quirky character descriptions and totally random events under the pile of grandiose words.
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
How does one recover from this book?
Setting this aside at 40% through. It’s too heavy for me, at least at this point in time. The on page depiction of the sexual assault of a child was a hard pill to swallow. The writing style is different and I found it interesting.
I'm not sure if I want paying enough attention to this story or if I just didn't get it. Either way, I am entirely lost with this novel and kept wondering what the point of it was, if such possibilities existed.
I never felt drawn to the characters, perhaps that was the problem. I always felt like it was a million little instances that may or may not correlate. This novel never flowed well for me and most the time I found myself scrunching my nose in either disgust or befuddlement. Even as I write this, a small part of me hopes that I will come to understand the significance and importance of this novel. I have found nothing yet and I don't think I ever will. It didn't even feel like it took place in India! There was nothing about this novel that had a firm grasp on time or space. It just wobbled through the lives of these forgettable characters who never felt developed or flushed out with life.
Maybe when I'm older and wiser I'll understand what the heck is going on in this novel. Until then, I'm going to forget trying to make sense of the wobbly story I just read.
I never felt drawn to the characters, perhaps that was the problem. I always felt like it was a million little instances that may or may not correlate. This novel never flowed well for me and most the time I found myself scrunching my nose in either disgust or befuddlement. Even as I write this, a small part of me hopes that I will come to understand the significance and importance of this novel. I have found nothing yet and I don't think I ever will. It didn't even feel like it took place in India! There was nothing about this novel that had a firm grasp on time or space. It just wobbled through the lives of these forgettable characters who never felt developed or flushed out with life.
Maybe when I'm older and wiser I'll understand what the heck is going on in this novel. Until then, I'm going to forget trying to make sense of the wobbly story I just read.
dark
emotional
reflective
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The most beautiful writing style I’ve ever read. The last 100 pages were exceptional
dark
emotional
tense
slow-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
i don’t even have the words to describe what i felt when i read this, only that it is worth every praise and accolade it has been given