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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it's been a while since I read a book I couldn't put down. Looking forward to reading more by this author
If possible, I would give 5 stars to 2/3 of this book, and 1 star to the other 1/3. There are three main characters in the book, Nisha, Devi, and Shilpa, and the chapters alternate between their voices. Devi and Shilpa are interesting, but Nisha's chapters are intolerable because they are relentlessly repetitive. Nisha’s problem is that her brain constantly reviews the same issues, probably a form of OCD. But why must the reader suffer through it? The Indian sides of the book are rich with culture and life dilemmas, which I enjoyed. But I’m not sure I actually believe the level of emotion in this book. Is finding out that you were adopted really enough of an emotional blow to make your life go off the rails?
This book has an amazingly complex structure, but it works mostly. Much of the story is told by characters either reading another character’s (or there own) writing or relating things that happen in the past (in other words, one character is telling a story to another character). As such, there are very frequent switches in time, place, tense and person. Some of these can be a little jarring, until you remember, “Oh that’s right, she was telling this story in that situation,” but it’s to the author’s credit that it works pretty well.
A note on the audio book: The story takes place in London and India, and the reader has marvelous accents for both, which I think adds a lot to the listening experience. It makes me wonder what it would be like to read the print version of the book. How much would be lost?
This book has an amazingly complex structure, but it works mostly. Much of the story is told by characters either reading another character’s (or there own) writing or relating things that happen in the past (in other words, one character is telling a story to another character). As such, there are very frequent switches in time, place, tense and person. Some of these can be a little jarring, until you remember, “Oh that’s right, she was telling this story in that situation,” but it’s to the author’s credit that it works pretty well.
A note on the audio book: The story takes place in London and India, and the reader has marvelous accents for both, which I think adds a lot to the listening experience. It makes me wonder what it would be like to read the print version of the book. How much would be lost?
Fingerprint Publishing House is slowly becoming my favourite source of review copies. They have been consistently publishing really good books. The Forgotten Daughter by Renita D’Silva only adds to their collection.
The Forgotten Daughter is the story of three women – Shilpa, Devi and Nisha. It is the story of their lives, their choices and their ups and downs in life. On one hand we have Nisha whose life falls apart after her parents’ death with a simple note. The words ‘You were adopted’ breaks down everything that Nisha thought she knew about her parents and challenges everything that she thought she knew about herself. On the other hand we have Shilpa and Devi who are trying their best to hold on to each other. With Shilpa’s life close to flickering out, Devi finds her mother’s journal filled with snippets of her life. Devi too tries to convey her side of the story. Three different women and three very different voices brought together in a plot woven by Renits D’Silva.
The book is just perfect in every way. The author has done a lovely job of bringing these women to life through her words. The characters are well developed with many hues to them. The connection I felt to them is not because of familiarity but something else on the whole. It was as if I felt their joys, their pains and lived their lives with them. The story itself invoked so many emotions in me that a person like me, who reads captivating books in one sitting, was forced to put down the book at intervals. It was so that I could reflect on the experiences or memories of the characters and actually separate my emotions from theirs. The author lyrical language and engaging narration style only adds to the beauty of the book. I have to admit that it did take me 15-20 pages to get comfortable, but once I was settled, there was no turning back with this book.
A beautiful story, narrated stunningly and is a must read.
http://www.b00kr3vi3ws.in/2016/03/the-forgotten-daughter.html
The Forgotten Daughter is the story of three women – Shilpa, Devi and Nisha. It is the story of their lives, their choices and their ups and downs in life. On one hand we have Nisha whose life falls apart after her parents’ death with a simple note. The words ‘You were adopted’ breaks down everything that Nisha thought she knew about her parents and challenges everything that she thought she knew about herself. On the other hand we have Shilpa and Devi who are trying their best to hold on to each other. With Shilpa’s life close to flickering out, Devi finds her mother’s journal filled with snippets of her life. Devi too tries to convey her side of the story. Three different women and three very different voices brought together in a plot woven by Renits D’Silva.
The book is just perfect in every way. The author has done a lovely job of bringing these women to life through her words. The characters are well developed with many hues to them. The connection I felt to them is not because of familiarity but something else on the whole. It was as if I felt their joys, their pains and lived their lives with them. The story itself invoked so many emotions in me that a person like me, who reads captivating books in one sitting, was forced to put down the book at intervals. It was so that I could reflect on the experiences or memories of the characters and actually separate my emotions from theirs. The author lyrical language and engaging narration style only adds to the beauty of the book. I have to admit that it did take me 15-20 pages to get comfortable, but once I was settled, there was no turning back with this book.
A beautiful story, narrated stunningly and is a must read.
http://www.b00kr3vi3ws.in/2016/03/the-forgotten-daughter.html
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-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
This was a fabulous book about a mother's love, and one of the few books that I anticipate reading again. I don't very often take the time to write a review but just had to for this one. Highly recommend this book, great story and interesting setting in a small village in India.
This book was a nice light read. It was okay but felt a little repetitive and wordy in places.
Evocative, beautifully written, emotional The Forgotten Daughter is an absolute pleasure to read. Renita D'Silva's writing is absolutely exquisite; smells, colours, they are so vivid, almost intoxicating.
Interweaving stories of three different women, D'Silva created a wonderful book covering themes of love, familial bonds and cultural identity. Her characters are strong and filled with emotions and fully relatable.
It was my first book by that author but it won't be the last. Highly recommended!
Interweaving stories of three different women, D'Silva created a wonderful book covering themes of love, familial bonds and cultural identity. Her characters are strong and filled with emotions and fully relatable.
It was my first book by that author but it won't be the last. Highly recommended!
This is one book that has surprised me with its content, writing style and just the evocative images that Renita D’Silva’s writing evokes. I picked the book due to its blurb about the changes the truth about being adopted would evoke.
I was fully prepared for it to be a tear jerker with the story from the point of view of a child but I was in for a pleasant surprise. This book is not about tears, loss or sadness. The Forgotten Daughter is a story about life, love and longing and a lot more. The author spins a sweetly worded tale of the quest of a daughter in search of her parents and a daughter looking for her mother.
All of this is through the eyes of three ladies, Nisha, Devi and Shilpa. The book moves through the thoughts and diaries of these three women and each presents their own side of the story, how they are involved yet separate. I found this extremely moving as page by page the story unfolded with each woman’s tone, language and thoughts being so different from the other. Initially I had thought that the father must be the reason of adoption, then I blamed the mother, eventually I blamed the sister.
Yet, Renita surprised me with the ending and the way the story progressed. I savored the soft, graceful language; descriptive yet emotive. She created images and evoked nostalgia with her words. Nisha, practical and technical one with her lists, numbers and reasons. Devi, the fiery one who spoke and lived with the anger she knew not how to snuff out. Shilpa, the demure one, love overflowing yet still inadequate.
Three ladies as different as can be and their men who we somehow exactly what they needed. This book renders a whole new meaning to fate and its mysterious ways. I enjoyed reading about the tenacity of life and how it manifests in the unlikely of times. The book has a steady flow, neither too fast nor slow with each chapter unraveling the mystery and bringing a family to where it must be.
I could go on and on but suffice to say I loved the book. If you are looking for a book with depth, a good solid story, a yearning to read how our world and life plays out in the mysterious ways, why we all surrender to a greater power this is a book for you. And a bitter sweet happy ending to boot!
This book is full of prose that evokes surreal visual imagery, words that connect to the heart and language that makes it a pleasure to read. The Forgotten Daughter will find a place in your heart as a mother or daughter or sister as you will definitely find a reflection of yourself within its pages.
(I received a copy of the book from Fingerprint Publishing, the review is my own honest opinion.)
I was fully prepared for it to be a tear jerker with the story from the point of view of a child but I was in for a pleasant surprise. This book is not about tears, loss or sadness. The Forgotten Daughter is a story about life, love and longing and a lot more. The author spins a sweetly worded tale of the quest of a daughter in search of her parents and a daughter looking for her mother.
All of this is through the eyes of three ladies, Nisha, Devi and Shilpa. The book moves through the thoughts and diaries of these three women and each presents their own side of the story, how they are involved yet separate. I found this extremely moving as page by page the story unfolded with each woman’s tone, language and thoughts being so different from the other. Initially I had thought that the father must be the reason of adoption, then I blamed the mother, eventually I blamed the sister.
Yet, Renita surprised me with the ending and the way the story progressed. I savored the soft, graceful language; descriptive yet emotive. She created images and evoked nostalgia with her words. Nisha, practical and technical one with her lists, numbers and reasons. Devi, the fiery one who spoke and lived with the anger she knew not how to snuff out. Shilpa, the demure one, love overflowing yet still inadequate.
Three ladies as different as can be and their men who we somehow exactly what they needed. This book renders a whole new meaning to fate and its mysterious ways. I enjoyed reading about the tenacity of life and how it manifests in the unlikely of times. The book has a steady flow, neither too fast nor slow with each chapter unraveling the mystery and bringing a family to where it must be.
I could go on and on but suffice to say I loved the book. If you are looking for a book with depth, a good solid story, a yearning to read how our world and life plays out in the mysterious ways, why we all surrender to a greater power this is a book for you. And a bitter sweet happy ending to boot!
This book is full of prose that evokes surreal visual imagery, words that connect to the heart and language that makes it a pleasure to read. The Forgotten Daughter will find a place in your heart as a mother or daughter or sister as you will definitely find a reflection of yourself within its pages.
(I received a copy of the book from Fingerprint Publishing, the review is my own honest opinion.)
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No