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m3l89's review
3.0
The Pacifist opens in 1920s Australia, and wealthy Malcolm Baxter making his annual donation to a local orphanage. His assistant Henna, grew up in the orphanage and neither her nor fellow employee Tommy know why Malcolm is obsessed with the orphanage. Uncovering the link between Malcolm and the orphanage is clearly the premise of the plot as a whole.
The book then goes back in time to the birth of Malcolm's sister Tiara and explores his relationship with his Mother, Father and new-born sister. Later, the book goes back even further to when Malcolm’s parents are children and meet each other. There were times when I found myself getting lost with regards to the plot and characters and how they were connected to one another. I found the introduction of Mr and Mrs Carpenter particularly confusing, and it did take a while for this to be explained by the author. It might have helped if there were dates at the beginning of each chapter, as it always took a little while to re-centre myself and remember who it was I was reading about.
The Pacifist was very well written in terms of technique and style, but in terms of plot, I feel could be tightened a bit more and honed. A variety of interesting themes were touched upon, including family relationships, madness and race and identity in Australia, but not in a great amount of detail.
The book then goes back in time to the birth of Malcolm's sister Tiara and explores his relationship with his Mother, Father and new-born sister. Later, the book goes back even further to when Malcolm’s parents are children and meet each other. There were times when I found myself getting lost with regards to the plot and characters and how they were connected to one another. I found the introduction of Mr and Mrs Carpenter particularly confusing, and it did take a while for this to be explained by the author. It might have helped if there were dates at the beginning of each chapter, as it always took a little while to re-centre myself and remember who it was I was reading about.
The Pacifist was very well written in terms of technique and style, but in terms of plot, I feel could be tightened a bit more and honed. A variety of interesting themes were touched upon, including family relationships, madness and race and identity in Australia, but not in a great amount of detail.
kellyjo's review
4.0
The Pacifist by Mehreen Ahmed, is an interesting tale with many twists and turns, some of which the reader will never see coming. However, this is a book that I wasn't sure if I wanted to put down or keep reading. The first quarter of the book discusses a man by the name of Malcolm Baxter. Readers discover that he is tied to the local orphanage as a generous donor and that he is also tied to a mysterious, private red folder. However, it then jumps back to tell the story of Malcolm's father and the truth behind the orphanage and the red folder.
The beginning section about Malcolm was far too long in comparison to what's told about him in the denouement; it was too detailed and drawn out and definitely could have been shortened as it did not add much to the story overall. Otherwise, I'm glad I continued reading this one.
The beginning section about Malcolm was far too long in comparison to what's told about him in the denouement; it was too detailed and drawn out and definitely could have been shortened as it did not add much to the story overall. Otherwise, I'm glad I continued reading this one.
shubhra19's review against another edition
1.0
I received this book in return of honest review. To be honest, I could not connect with the book. The book garnered a lot of positive reviews and readers really liked the book, but I could not continue to read it past few pages.
The plot looked promising when I read the summary but as I started with the book, I got bored and left it mid way. Writing is good and characters are well placed.
This would be a definitive good read for those who like historical-war-fiction, with a lot of relationship drama.
The plot looked promising when I read the summary but as I started with the book, I got bored and left it mid way. Writing is good and characters are well placed.
This would be a definitive good read for those who like historical-war-fiction, with a lot of relationship drama.
writeramyshannon's review
5.0
Storytelling at its best!
This book was nominated for one of my Best Indie Titles of 2017 awards on my author blog, and I was honored to already have read the book before the nomination. Something about the way this story was put together and how it was told, draws the reader in immediately. Ahmed shows the audience the difference between richness and poverty. Being rich or poor is not an issue when it comes to love, but it can be, especially in one’s own mind. The pen is a grand storyteller, and it paints a wondrous and dark story that brings the reader right in the middle of the families, and the secrets that are held close. Darkness is a loom over the story, but it brings that element that is needed, a hint of realism and soulfulness of both Peter and Rose. The demons of the past are sure to haunt the future, and the backstory is what makes the story enriching and compelling.
This book was nominated for one of my Best Indie Titles of 2017 awards on my author blog, and I was honored to already have read the book before the nomination. Something about the way this story was put together and how it was told, draws the reader in immediately. Ahmed shows the audience the difference between richness and poverty. Being rich or poor is not an issue when it comes to love, but it can be, especially in one’s own mind. The pen is a grand storyteller, and it paints a wondrous and dark story that brings the reader right in the middle of the families, and the secrets that are held close. Darkness is a loom over the story, but it brings that element that is needed, a hint of realism and soulfulness of both Peter and Rose. The demons of the past are sure to haunt the future, and the backstory is what makes the story enriching and compelling.
marcia_94's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting story about a family during the Australian gold rush and the secrets of their past.
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