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nehaanna's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-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? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Xenophobia, Transphobia, and Islamophobia
Moderate: Sexual assault, Classism, Police brutality, Racism, and Colonisation
imaginaryisobel's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-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
2.5
Really quick read and some really interesting topics discussed but I really didn't connect to any of the characters and a lot of it fell flat for me. Didn't not enjoy just felt very meh
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, Medical content, and Islamophobia
Moderate: Violence, Racism, Transphobia, and Death
Minor: Animal death and Confinement
sophtank's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-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
3.5
I started out not liking this book, but I have a general rule of thumb that I'll give any book 100 pages before I decide to call it quits. I'm really glad I stuck with this book, as the plot began to pick up quickly after my 100 pages. I felt at times that there was too much focus on fully developing each of the three main characters, and that some details and interesting questions fell to the wayside as the book got closer to the end. A third-person POV/omniscient narrator would have been much better for this storyline. There is a graphic few pages in which a rally that PT Sir is speaking at goes drastically south and a man is killed and his wife is raped. I felt that it added to the plot but by a minor, minor amount and was moreso put in the book as a bit of a shock moment. I had to put the book down for a while at that point, as it was 8AM on my morning commute and I couldn't stomach reading a rape scene that early. Like others have said, the ending felt a bit rushed. It almost felt like the author was leaving the plot open to a sequel, and I wish she had taken another 50-100 pages to fully flesh out the story, especially PT Sir's.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Murder, and Racism
katielouisef's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
0.5
Jivan is arrested for a crime she didn’t commit but everyone believes she did it. From Kolkata to the slums of Kolabagan, the future seems to be cut short by political corruption and anti-Muslim hate.
I honestly am lost for words with this book.
A truly disappointing read. In less than 20 pages, we have a meagre introduction, an acting class, a terrorist attack, an arrest, a judge appearance, another character talking about a relationship and a sentencing.
Despite covering an important theme about the treatment of Muslims in India it merely glosses over that treatment. When writing about such topics in a fictional setting it really needs to be done well or just not at all in my opinion.
<Spoiler> - the death of two characters were covered in less than a page.’ <Spoiler>
Jivan, despite being a victim of a corrupted government has very few redeemable qualities and is her ignorance shines when she doesn’t want to hear about the other inmates stories. Needless to say she would’ve learned a few things had she listened.
It’s such a shame about the poor plot and execution of the book especially given as it’s such an important topic to talk about. I will however try and find some more on similar topics to read instead.
I honestly am lost for words with this book.
A truly disappointing read. In less than 20 pages, we have a meagre introduction, an acting class, a terrorist attack, an arrest, a judge appearance, another character talking about a relationship and a sentencing.
Despite covering an important theme about the treatment of Muslims in India it merely glosses over that treatment. When writing about such topics in a fictional setting it really needs to be done well or just not at all in my opinion.
<Spoiler> - the death of two characters were covered in less than a page.’ <Spoiler>
Jivan, despite being a victim of a corrupted government has very few redeemable qualities and is her ignorance shines when she doesn’t want to hear about the other inmates stories. Needless to say she would’ve learned a few things had she listened.
It’s such a shame about the poor plot and execution of the book especially given as it’s such an important topic to talk about. I will however try and find some more on similar topics to read instead.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Hate crime, Murder, Rape, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Police brutality and Racism
travelseatsreads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
4.0
I'd put off reading A Burning for a bit as I'd seen quite a few hit or miss reviews. If it's one you're in two minds about picking up I would suggest definitely giving it a chance, especially the audiobook.
The story centers around 3 major characters, Jivan who is imprisoned for a terrorist act she did not commit, Lovely a transgender woman chasing her dream to become an actress and PT Sir an opportunistic gym teacher with some very questionable morals. Through their eyes we get to see a heartbreaking story of corruption, oppression and intense manipulation unfold.
Megha Majumdar has written each character so distinctively and vibrantly that from within the first few moments I was immediately captivated and connected to the characters and their stories. This connection was definitely enhanced by the energetic and spirited audiobook narration which fully brought each character to life.
A thought-provoking, heart-breaking novel which looks at some complex issues without feeling overbearing.
The story centers around 3 major characters, Jivan who is imprisoned for a terrorist act she did not commit, Lovely a transgender woman chasing her dream to become an actress and PT Sir an opportunistic gym teacher with some very questionable morals. Through their eyes we get to see a heartbreaking story of corruption, oppression and intense manipulation unfold.
Megha Majumdar has written each character so distinctively and vibrantly that from within the first few moments I was immediately captivated and connected to the characters and their stories. This connection was definitely enhanced by the energetic and spirited audiobook narration which fully brought each character to life.
A thought-provoking, heart-breaking novel which looks at some complex issues without feeling overbearing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Violence, Police brutality, Racism, Sexism, Classism, Fire/Fire injury, Islamophobia, Murder, Religious bigotry, and Transphobia
kaylaboevers's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Classism, Death, Racism, Islamophobia, Murder, Religious bigotry, and Rape
stanisz's review against another edition
emotional
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Hate crime, Islamophobia, Murder, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Religious bigotry, Transphobia, and Violence
sarah984's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
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
5.0
This was a tough read (and I can't really say I "enjoyed" it in the traditional sense) but it was timely and well-written. Each character’s perspective feels unique and alive, and their actions are believable even when they're terrible. I felt like the demonstration of a person being seduced into doing increasingly awful things on behalf of a right-wing political party was realistic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Hate crime, Islamophobia, Medical content, Murder, Religious bigotry, Transphobia, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Child death, Excrement, Fatphobia, Police brutality, Racism, and Rape
Minor: Suicide
There is a description of a terrorist attack on a train.atsundarsingh's review against another edition
challenging
dark
funny
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I wanted to like this book more. It's timely, it's got multiple voices, and it's the kind of thing where the harshness of real life it literature-ified just enough to get you to think about it without being exhausted. But there just isn't enough character development. The book sort of sits on the surface of the topic. Why is it getting all the awards and notice this year? I think because for many people the portrait of India it paints was new to them in this years news. For me though, it just wasn't enough. Not a bad read, but not special either.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Chronic illness, Islamophobia, Misogyny, Police brutality, and Racism
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