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kayley_j's review
I couldn’t get into the characters and it was too slow paced for what I like.
miaaisha's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
carole888's review against another edition
4.0
I had to read this book after watching the author, interviewed by Colm Toibin on the Hay Festival 2021. The book is set in 20th Century Malaysia. It gives glimpses of different periods of Malaysia's history - the 1920's with a British administered Malaya, 1940's a Japanese occupied Malaya, post-WWII Malayan Emergency period, a period of unrest with communist guerrilla warfare and finally the week in 1985 when Durga returns to Kuala Lipis to visit her Grandmother, Mary. The story enfolds with timelines blending seamlessly in the alternating voices of Mary and Durga. It is a gripping read. The characters feel real, their experiences feel real, I could not put this down.
Interview with Catherine Menon
Interview with Catherine Menon
itsgoodtobea's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
libraryofcalliope's review
4.0
"'Oh, Durga' she says. 'All this mathematics, isn't it? Always wanting for it to be right, instead of true.'"
This book was a fascinating read. What starts as a visit to Durga's grandmother for Diwali ends in a dual narrative exposing not only the Malaysian political landscape of most of the 20th Century but also buried memories coming to light. Set between the 1920s and the 1980s, the novel covers a lot of ground. Both Durga and her grandmother, Mary, have skeletons in their closet and while Durga chose to cope by moving to Canada for ten years, Mary chooses to cloak them in myth and storytelling. While Durga has pursued a career in scholarship and mathematics, Mary is a storyteller and somewhat unpleasant old women. I found the story to be highly engaging and interesting both for political insight and internal narrative. It is a heavy book with themes explored that are difficult and hard to read but I think largely they are done well. Some of the treatment of Mary's servant, Karthika, was a little insensitive, particularly the way her character was portrayed but the story is from the perspective of Durga who isn't entirely a lovely person. It definitely prompted me to lookup more about Malaysian history, especially during World War Two as it isn't an area I know much about.
Thank you very much to Penguin General UK and NetGalley for this ARC!
This book was a fascinating read. What starts as a visit to Durga's grandmother for Diwali ends in a dual narrative exposing not only the Malaysian political landscape of most of the 20th Century but also buried memories coming to light. Set between the 1920s and the 1980s, the novel covers a lot of ground. Both Durga and her grandmother, Mary, have skeletons in their closet and while Durga chose to cope by moving to Canada for ten years, Mary chooses to cloak them in myth and storytelling. While Durga has pursued a career in scholarship and mathematics, Mary is a storyteller and somewhat unpleasant old women. I found the story to be highly engaging and interesting both for political insight and internal narrative. It is a heavy book with themes explored that are difficult and hard to read but I think largely they are done well. Some of the treatment of Mary's servant, Karthika, was a little insensitive, particularly the way her character was portrayed but the story is from the perspective of Durga who isn't entirely a lovely person. It definitely prompted me to lookup more about Malaysian history, especially during World War Two as it isn't an area I know much about.
Thank you very much to Penguin General UK and NetGalley for this ARC!
ellej88's review against another edition
reflective
sad
slow-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
3.0
diadiscovers's review against another edition
4.0
I have so many mixed feelings about this one. One thing is for sure though, Menon's writing is captivating enough for me to keep reading despite not liking the main protagonist. I actually enjoyed it in an uncomfortable way that I just cannot describe.
sineadcstories's review against another edition
1.0
I didn't actually finish as it was not hooking me at all. It seemed to ramble a lot. Other reviews seem pretty positive though so I may get back to it in the new year.