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ludon5681's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
The Parcel is a deeply reflective, compassionate novel about prostitution, trafficking, gender, and deprivation set in Kamathipura, a destitute red-light district of Bombay. The story is told from the point of view of Madhu, a 40-year-old Hijra (person of the third gender - akin to a transgender woman who has been castrated) who had been a sex worker and is now a beggar. Mahdu has a very distinct voice dripping with dry, dark humour and understandable bitterness for the way her life had turned out. Her deeply and carefully rendered character - along with the characters around her who make up the rich landscape of the novel - is a highlight of the book, and the character development and depth of the characters was by far my favorite part of the novel. The writing was more matter-of-fact than I would have liked; there were fewer passages which took my breath away than I was expecting there to be, though there were still some beautiful ones. I also found the ending to be a bit abrupt - it's possible it was foreshadowed in ways that I didn't immediately pick up on, but it didn't seem to follow from a clear arc of character development in the way I would have hoped. Lastly, of course, it is best to go into this book informed - it is very much "dead dove: do not eat" territory, and while it is a gorgeous, resonant novel, it is also a lot to take in.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Dysphoria, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Emotional abuse, Chronic illness, Sexual violence, Slavery, Addiction, and Child abuse
Moderate: Drug use, Medical content, and Drug abuse
hellobilzyb's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
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
3.75
This was a weird one. The concept of the book is great and I love that it centred trans sex workers but I think the ending missed a few bits to really bring the full story together. I think it was written well however, I just wish the ending was tied together better
lisalikesdogs's review against another edition
3.0
Really interesting. Learned a lot of things about India and the hijra community. I will honestly read or see everything Anosh Irani does just because he is incredible.
livetoread2024's review against another edition
2.0
A very dark read - if transgender (& all that goes with it), child prostitution or child abandonment are triggers for you, I suggest that you steer clear. Heartbreaking that parents could just discard their children just because they don't fit into society's version of "normal". I'm glad I read it as it was an eye-opener. Found it dragged a bit at the end and had to force myself to finish it.
amn028's review against another edition
3.0
It took a bit for me to get into this book and I almost gave up on it around the 50 page mark. However, I'm glad I stuck with it despite the inconsistent writing. The subject matter is dark and horrifying. It is definitely not a light read. The authors did a good job of bring truths into a fictional story.
rowangazdewich's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-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? It's complicated
3.0
covertocovergirl's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
tense
slow-paced
4.0
stevensquirrels's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
5.0
An artfully smooth writing style lures you into an emotionally brutal story of finding your footing in a world that reviles you.
The story left me pondering cycles of violence - how a personal context limits choices.
How the scars from rejection from the family in which you were raised continue to sting. Even if surrounded by your found family - the longing to be reconciled, even if impossible, deepens the heart ache.
Brutal. Many-many triggers.
Again, wonderfully written. “Madhu loved gurumai, and would continue to do so, but not the way humans experience love. Madhu loved her the way wind loved the trees. She was visible only because of her.”
The book wraps up jarringly fast. I can see why the author made the decision - catching us off guard in the suddenly changed world that the characters find themselves in. But still, be prepared for a slight feeling things being unresolved.
It’s a book that I will keep, am very happy I read, but will only consider rereading if I’m home alone, armed with a gallon of ice-cream and nursing a depression.
The story left me pondering cycles of violence - how a personal context limits choices.
How the scars from rejection from the family in which you were raised continue to sting. Even if surrounded by your found family - the longing to be reconciled, even if impossible, deepens the heart ache.
Brutal. Many-many triggers.
Again, wonderfully written. “Madhu loved gurumai, and would continue to do so, but not the way humans experience love. Madhu loved her the way wind loved the trees. She was visible only because of her.”
The book wraps up jarringly fast. I can see why the author made the decision - catching us off guard in the suddenly changed world that the characters find themselves in. But still, be prepared for a slight feeling things being unresolved.
It’s a book that I will keep, am very happy I read, but will only consider rereading if I’m home alone, armed with a gallon of ice-cream and nursing a depression.
trulybooked's review
challenging
dark
emotional
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
3.75
readwithmeemz's review against another edition
3.0
I received an ARC of this book from Indigo Head Office.
Honestly, as excited as I was about this book (a novel about a Hijra in India), it fell a little flat. First things first, I was a little disappointed to learn that Anosh Irani did not interview a Hijra until after he had written his first draft of the book. That seems presumptive to me, and if [you] want to write about a population that is so often shafted, and not talked about, it is important to lend them an authentic voice.
As obvious as Anosh Irani's talent as a writer it, it felt a little like he was trying too hard to be gritty. It often seemed disjointed, and I felt like he was just trying to 'shock'. For example, there would be a few sentences that were powerful, and beautifully written, and then all of a sudden, there would be a jarring word or metaphor thrown in - it seemed random and unnecessary, like the author was just trying to go for shock-factor.
I get that Madhu, and many of the other individuals in the book have a really tough go of things, and that their lives are miserable and that it's not going to necessarily be an optimistic novel, it was frustratingly gritty and dark and frustrating. There wasn't a single character I really liked (which I didn't actually mind in this case). However, this book was a bit difficult to get through. It was a little confusing at times, I still don't think I completely understand what happened at the end - it sort of felt like the whole plot built up incredibly slowly, but then the end was rushed and confused and I think that made it lose some of its poignancy.
Honestly, as excited as I was about this book (a novel about a Hijra in India), it fell a little flat. First things first, I was a little disappointed to learn that Anosh Irani did not interview a Hijra until after he had written his first draft of the book. That seems presumptive to me, and if [you] want to write about a population that is so often shafted, and not talked about, it is important to lend them an authentic voice.
As obvious as Anosh Irani's talent as a writer it, it felt a little like he was trying too hard to be gritty. It often seemed disjointed, and I felt like he was just trying to 'shock'. For example, there would be a few sentences that were powerful, and beautifully written, and then all of a sudden, there would be a jarring word or metaphor thrown in - it seemed random and unnecessary, like the author was just trying to go for shock-factor.
I get that Madhu, and many of the other individuals in the book have a really tough go of things, and that their lives are miserable and that it's not going to necessarily be an optimistic novel, it was frustratingly gritty and dark and frustrating. There wasn't a single character I really liked (which I didn't actually mind in this case). However, this book was a bit difficult to get through. It was a little confusing at times, I still don't think I completely understand what happened at the end - it sort of felt like the whole plot built up incredibly slowly, but then the end was rushed and confused and I think that made it lose some of its poignancy.