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3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
“Ghachar Ghochar” is a powerful story told in just 118 pages. It’s narrated by a man looking back on his family’s life, mainly focusing on the drama that happens when they go from poor to wealthy. The book shows how money can change people and their relationships. Even though the story is simple, the emotions and tension between family members make it a really impactful read.
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
An interesting little novella, though I don't have any strong feelings about it one way or the other. It's funny at times, but not in a way that'll make you laugh out loud. It's more that you recognize a situation is funny and then move on.
I think the ending is pretty stupid, however. Or, it ends fine, but I think that it suddenly begs you to have emotions and ideas about the novel that simply don't exist in it, that it didn't earn, that it didn't even both to try to earn. It's a mild moment that Shanbhag tries to make profound, but this novel really isn't any kind of profound statement about anything.
It's an interesting look at what happens to people when they go from abject poverty to wealth.
Maybe if I knew about Indian culture and history this would have done more for me, so it's possible I'm just missing on cultural and historical cues that a different reader would find incredibly potent.
Anyrate, it's very short so there's no reason not to give it a chance.
I think the ending is pretty stupid, however. Or, it ends fine, but I think that it suddenly begs you to have emotions and ideas about the novel that simply don't exist in it, that it didn't earn, that it didn't even both to try to earn. It's a mild moment that Shanbhag tries to make profound, but this novel really isn't any kind of profound statement about anything.
It's an interesting look at what happens to people when they go from abject poverty to wealth.
Maybe if I knew about Indian culture and history this would have done more for me, so it's possible I'm just missing on cultural and historical cues that a different reader would find incredibly potent.
Anyrate, it's very short so there's no reason not to give it a chance.
Mediocre if I'm being polite. Ineffectual if I'm being honest.
Though, gotta say, the ambiance and family dynamic descriptions were done pretty well without being written for what I call the "Western gaze". The translation is seamless when compared to a lot of other books too. So great on those fronts. Sadly, the story itself did little more than nothing for me.
Overall, a short, aimless read.
Though, gotta say, the ambiance and family dynamic descriptions were done pretty well without being written for what I call the "Western gaze". The translation is seamless when compared to a lot of other books too. So great on those fronts. Sadly, the story itself did little more than nothing for me.
Overall, a short, aimless read.
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Simple, evocative and painfully familiar. The author has written a very flawed yet likeable protagonist.
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It was OK. There was no plot but more like a collection of incidents.
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
The ending caught me off guard.