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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
It has taken me nearly 6 months to finish this book. I started after finishing Cutting for Stone and having been so swept up in that story, I couldn't seem to get into The Glass Palace.
At last, I finished this book and my only regret is to not have given it more attention early on. It spans the course of a lifetime of wars and follows the story of a family. It interweaves characters which can make it confusing to follow but ultimately, they all connect back.
This book is beautiful and tragic. Although it didn't bring me to tears like other books, it felt real and it is haunting.
At last, I finished this book and my only regret is to not have given it more attention early on. It spans the course of a lifetime of wars and follows the story of a family. It interweaves characters which can make it confusing to follow but ultimately, they all connect back.
This book is beautiful and tragic. Although it didn't bring me to tears like other books, it felt real and it is haunting.
Liked it, but not as much as Sea of Poppies. I don't know, I think the broad sweep of it meant that you didn't get quite as invested in the characters, because you didn't get to know them as well.
The most interesting parts were probably the parts about Arjun and his relationship with the Empire. Lots of really well-worded insights into the nature of colonialism.
What I liked best was that some of it took place in Sungai Petani. Nothing takes place in Sungai Petani! That was cool.
The most interesting parts were probably the parts about Arjun and his relationship with the Empire. Lots of really well-worded insights into the nature of colonialism.
What I liked best was that some of it took place in Sungai Petani. Nothing takes place in Sungai Petani! That was cool.
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is a sweeping saga populated by so many varied characters and set against the historical upheavals of the twentieth century. Through each stage of the story the background and cultures are vividly drawn out and illustrated. It gives disturbing insights into the suffering of the peoples of India, Malaya and especially Burma/Myanmar. The abuse of power by the great and the suffering of the ordinary people is horrendous to see.
Although written in English, I can imagine it having greater impact on those whose families are drawn from the cultures and history described. There again, maybe it has to be in English invoking the same arguments that, in the closing pages, Dinu had with his author/wife. There needs to be a common language of expression in a book format however varied the original or imagined conversations may have been.
It is my regret that I did not create (or it was not provided) a list of the major characters. A map is provided to cover the geographical 'players' but not for the major human 'players'. With so many characters, generations and unfamiliar names it would have greatly helped me.
Although written in English, I can imagine it having greater impact on those whose families are drawn from the cultures and history described. There again, maybe it has to be in English invoking the same arguments that, in the closing pages, Dinu had with his author/wife. There needs to be a common language of expression in a book format however varied the original or imagined conversations may have been.
It is my regret that I did not create (or it was not provided) a list of the major characters. A map is provided to cover the geographical 'players' but not for the major human 'players'. With so many characters, generations and unfamiliar names it would have greatly helped me.
I wanted the book to go on for several more generations
a 4.5 star read. i was so immersed in the story that i kinda felt sad when i finished it. what i liked most was the story telling. how effortlessly each part of the story flows to the other. how three generations of stories connected so seamlessly. it was so good that at one point you cant distinguish what's fiction and what's not. it was even interesting to read about the end of burma and its transition to being myanmar. overall a really good book with messy real characters and a great storyline.
This book sucked me in from the first page and I blazed through it, anxious to see what could possibly happen next. I learned quite a bit about places I knew very little of and found it surprisingly easy to keep track of a large, interconnected cast of characters. I look forward to reading more by this author.
Reminded me a lot of Gabriel Garcia Marquez's 100 Years of Solitude but set in India and Burma/Mynmar.
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No