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dafni's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Dementia
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Sexual harassment
Minor: Infidelity
readingthroughinfinity's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Burnt Sugar is about the changing relationship between a mother and daughter over the course of several decades. The book oscillates between the past, with the protagonist, Antara, growing up in an ashram, and the present, where she's trying to take care of her mother, Tara, who has dementia.
The book is incredibly character-driven, with little plot to drive the narrative forward, making the pacing very slow. Antara has a complicated relationship with Tara; at times she despises her mother for things she put her through in her childhood as well as her selfishness and body shaming, but in other moments, she feels a strong bond with her mother and deep love for her. She alternates between wishing her mother was out of her life, and fearing that she'll die soon and Antara will no longer have her in her life.
There were some moments of profound sadness because of Tara's dementia and the book offers up reflections on shared history and forgiveness. But Antara as a character has little personality and nothing that really makes her stand out as a narrator, so I felt apathetic towards her for almost the entire novel.
There are also some strange moments where the narrative wanders off on a tangent to discuss something else (the state of the road or pavement, dying animals) that isn't relevant to the story and doesn't add any deeper meaning. And if you don't like abject descriptions of bodily functions or excrement, then this book isn't for you, because it features a lot of them (again, not always for any particular reason). I also wasn't particularly comfortable with the main character's thoughts about having sexual relations with her estranged father.
I've read books where authors successfully raise difficult, uncomfortable, and often harrowing topics to start discussions on the flaws in our society or condemn certain behaviors. It felt like this book was trying to do that, but was unfortunately unsuccessful in its endeavors. We don't really get any resounding moral messages or satisfying conclusions (where prejudices are challenged) by the end of the novel. Instead the book ends with a strange scene which left me feeling desolate and disquieted.
Content warnings for dementia, fatphobia, body shaming, descriptions of bodily fluids and excrement, physical and emotional abuse, adult/minor relationships, explicit sexual content, gaslighting, religious prejudices, arson.
Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual content, Excrement, and Dementia
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Religious bigotry, Gaslighting, and Sexual harassment
waybeyondblue's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Body horror, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Dementia, and Sexual harassment
itsamemarion's review
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Medical content, Dementia, and War
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Pregnancy
Minor: Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Sexual harassment