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hollyrebecca's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Addiction and Confinement
Moderate: Racism
ellen_suth's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
TW: there are scenes where the main character’s consent to sex is very dubious, i.e. she doesn’t really understand what she’s consenting to, and other characters take advantage of this. Something to be aware of!
Graphic: Infidelity, Sexism, and Misogyny
Moderate: Racism, Drug abuse, Addiction, Confinement, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Xenophobia, Adult/minor relationship, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Colonisation
internationalreads's review against another edition
- 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
4.0
Graphic: Drug abuse, Medical content, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Addiction, Confinement, Sexual content, Domestic abuse, Grief, Infidelity, Sexual violence, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Rape, and Sexism
booksjessreads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Alcohol, Addiction, and Sexual assault
Minor: Pregnancy
bookishbrenbren's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
My problems lie mainly with the first story. Not only does this story barely pass the Bechdel test, it's a sloppy attempt at writing women (girls) in general. My first issue is the fact that a grown man wrote a story about a 15-year old being forced to marry someone she's not only never met, but never even SEEN and instead of giving any page space to the absolute terror one must feel in being forced to have sex with an unknown husband, and the bodily invasion, lack of physical autonomy, etc. that seems obvious in such a case, he wrote instead about her falling in love with her jailor. And of course, because a man can not write a book about an adolescent girl without being creepy (PROVE ME WRONG) there's a scene of her touching herself (albeit fade to black) to thoughts of her unknown husband.
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Addiction
biblio_jordyn's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.75
This book has dual timelines and perspectives throughout different sections of the book and I think the transitions could have been a bit better/more apparent to make it easier to read. I, also, think the author had a ton of GREAT things going on, but I wish it delved deeper. It felt like I was just getting a taste of several serious topics and different cultural elements, which left me wanting for more, especially when it came to the addiction piece of the story (very lacking for such a serious addiction).
What I enjoyed?
The writing was attention grabbing and had me hooked from page one, as well as being impactful.
I felt pretty immersed in the 1929 Punjab Indian culture and the future timeline. I think the author did an excellent job of transporting us.
I loved how it illustrated how culture and our upbringing play such a deep part of who we are.
I loved the present timeline illustrating the struggles of immigration and racism in England (usually I just see the US).
This book was a very quick read and I understand all the positive reviews! It has a little bit of everything and it’s a book you appreciate more as you sit on it.
Graphic: Addiction, Racism, and Rape
abbycummings13's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, and Sexism
Moderate: Infidelity, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
leekaufman's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- 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
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Addiction
ladymirtazapine's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Hate crime, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
deedireads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
TL;DR REVIEW:
I liked China Room a lot. Short, and with one plotline that’s more plot-driven and one that’s more character-driven, I was pleasantly surprised at how fast-paced and engaging it was.
For you if: You want to read more books with Punjabi representation.
FULL REVIEW:
China Room landed on my radar because it was longlisted for the 2021 Booker Prize. It’s only 250 pages long, and I ended up easily reading it in one day; the super-short chapters combined with the fast pace (at least for a ~Booker book~) really had me turning the pages.
The story takes place in two timelines with two characters: The first, Mehar, lives in Punjab in the 1920s. She is married off to one of three brothers in a triple wedding, but she and her fellow brides are kept in the dark (literally) about which of the brothers are their husbands. When she seems to have figured it out, she can’t help but careen herself down a very risky path. The other timeline, which takes place today, is about Mehar’s unnamed great-grandson, who travels to Punjab to recover from addiction. Staying in the same house where she lived, he faces down his own kind of personal and generational trauma.
While I was reading, I found myself most engaged in Mehar’s story, although that’s mostly because her chapters were fast-paced and driven heavily by plot. The story of our unnamed modern main character, on the other hand, is much more introspective and character-driven. I’m not sure I’ve ever read a book that had both of those styles alongside one another like that, and it was really interesting.
At book club, a lot of us talked about wanting more out of either or both of the storylines, at the same time realizing that Sahota’s restraint was likely purposeful, even if the reason why wasn’t immediately clear. I can agree here; there were definitely connections and events I’d been rooting for (love when a book makes you root for things!), and yet I also think what we were ultimately given did quite a bit of work.
Pick this one up if you’re a sucker for a love story and/or interested in reading more historical fiction set in India.
Graphic: Addiction, Racism, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Confinement
Minor: Pregnancy