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novelesque_life's review
3.0
3 STARS
"The gathering clouds of the Indo-Pakistan War impinge on the lives of Gustad Noble, a Bombay doctor, and his family. His dreams, although modest, are denied him as he realizes he is not in control of events." (From Amazon)
I though this novel was okay - an interesting time period in India as it effected a lot of my relatives. I was expecting more from this book as I heard a lot of good things about this author.
"The gathering clouds of the Indo-Pakistan War impinge on the lives of Gustad Noble, a Bombay doctor, and his family. His dreams, although modest, are denied him as he realizes he is not in control of events." (From Amazon)
I though this novel was okay - an interesting time period in India as it effected a lot of my relatives. I was expecting more from this book as I heard a lot of good things about this author.
vartika's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
jevgeniya's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
gerda7's review against another edition
3.0
Nicely written book about an ordinary life. The main character has a 'What will be will be' prevailing attitude, his wife mixing potions to change events. Who was right? don't know, but believe the journey will continue on....
agingerg's review
3.0
Admittedly skimmed a section. Had I been in the right mood I would have read every word. 3.5
attytheresa's review against another edition
3.0
Bombay, India, 1971. India Gandhi is Prime Minister, corruption is rampant throughout all levels of government, refugees are pouring over the Pakistani border, and war between India and what is now Bangladesh is about to erupt. Against that background we have the story of Gustad, a middle-aged bank clerk, his wife Dilnavaz, and their 3 children, who live in a deteriorating apartment complex in Bombay. They are the middle class who are slowly slipping into poverty given the economic stresses of the times. The intellectually gifted eldest son is rebelling against his parents' plans for his future, their young daughter suffers a mysterious illness, and Gustad's boyhood friend, beloved by the family as Major Uncle, works in some secret capacity for the goverment and has written Gustad asking him to do him a favor. Needless to say, it pulls Gustad into something that threatens the precarious stability of his life.
This is a quiet read, taking you on an emotional journey with this family, their friends and neighbors. There is a very strong sense of place and time. There is humor, tenderness, mystery, tragedy, protest. It is not a flattering portrait of Indira Gandhi's rule. One aspect that I particularly loved was the brilliant balancing in the characters' day-to-day lives of modernity with tradition and superstition. The chapter describing the Zoroastrian funeral at Bombay's Tower of Silence of Gustad's bank colleague and friend was mind-blowing -.
However, while liking it, I had to push myself to read it. It failed to engage me completely, so I only gave it 3 stars. I also designated it as filling 2015 Pop Sugar Challenge prompt of book about magic because of the traditional 'spells' used by some of the characters, key to forwarding the plot at times.
This is a quiet read, taking you on an emotional journey with this family, their friends and neighbors. There is a very strong sense of place and time. There is humor, tenderness, mystery, tragedy, protest. It is not a flattering portrait of Indira Gandhi's rule. One aspect that I particularly loved was the brilliant balancing in the characters' day-to-day lives of modernity with tradition and superstition. The chapter describing the Zoroastrian funeral at Bombay's Tower of Silence of Gustad's bank colleague and friend was mind-blowing -
Spoiler
it involves vulturesHowever, while liking it, I had to push myself to read it. It failed to engage me completely, so I only gave it 3 stars. I also designated it as filling 2015 Pop Sugar Challenge prompt of book about magic because of the traditional 'spells' used by some of the characters, key to forwarding the plot at times.
jangribird's review
4.0
I had heard of Rohinton Mistry's A Fine Balance and had always wanted to read it, but when I got my hands on a copy of Such a Long Journey, I decided to give it a shot. I later found out that it is Mistry's debut novel, and while I have nothing to compare it with, it still stands out as a wonderfully written novel, a slow and gentle read. I think anyone, particularly an Indian would be able to easily relate with the fears, joys and frustrations of the characters. Both Gustad and Dilnavaz are very finely drawn characters, and at the end of the novel, you are left with the impression of them just being very truly and convincingly human. The setting is that of pre-Emergency Bombay and while the cityscape comes alive in the pages of the book, it is the mood of the times and the characters that truly bring life into the book. It also gave a peek into the Parsi community, which I was not familiar with. I look forward to finally reading A Fine Balance.
avasantaana's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kathrync17's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this! Not as much as a fine balance but I definitely think I've found a new favourite author :) I love his writing style and all his characters are so well developed :)