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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
This book left me with a deep sense of the pointlessness of Empire and the confusion experienced by many growing up within this system, especially those who migrated within the British Empire, as Ghosh's characters did between India and Burma.
The small stories within the larger novel are vividly written and arresting. But Ghosh skips around from character to character and skips long periods of time in his characters' lives, which at times made it hard for me to deeply connect with the characters or the over-arching narrative. Thus, while I thoroughly enjoyed this book, especially the second half, it wasn't quite life-changing.
Made me want to visit Burma.
The small stories within the larger novel are vividly written and arresting. But Ghosh skips around from character to character and skips long periods of time in his characters' lives, which at times made it hard for me to deeply connect with the characters or the over-arching narrative. Thus, while I thoroughly enjoyed this book, especially the second half, it wasn't quite life-changing.
Made me want to visit Burma.
adventurous
challenging
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Colonisation, War
Moderate: Racial slurs, Suicide, Grief
Minor: Sexual assault, Torture
I got The Glass Palace from a colleague at work and I had no idea what to expect.
In the beginning, the book has the feel of a memoir, a personal story put together with historical facts, starting with the British invasion of Burma at the end of 1885, then going through the Second World War and ending almost in the present day. It spans across generations and several countries, and it begins with introducing Rajkumar, an Indian boy orphaned from an early age who uses his ambition and determination to rise from his humble origins as a poor boy in a foreign land, to a prosperous teak merchant.
The march of the British forces into Burma’s city of Mandalay is the catalyst that sets things in motion and it is at this time that Rajkumar has its first encounter with the Royal family. In the pandemonium that ensues he sees Dolly, one of the queen’s maids and she makes such an impression that years later he goes to search for her. From this love story events start to unfold, and it is their descendants’ lives that the author is following in his narrative.
The author introduces the characters gradually but by the end of the book all of the family connections and their ramifications made it difficult to keep track of how they were related.
One of the themes running through the novel is that of the dispossessed. People separated by war, forced to abandon their country (as was the case with King Thebaw and the royal family – one of my favorite stories within the story), trying to adjust to a new life in a new land.
The action progresses at a steady pace with very few changes. The glimpse into the art of photography, used to add more depth to the romance between two of the characters, was interesting. As I delved deeper into the narrative, I had the feeling that the author manipulated the characters to describe the events of the time, rather than letting their stories become part of the history. Although the roles they had to play were focal points in the narrative, I wish there was more of their stories, rather than the story of the times they lived in. But that’s just me.
The end is touching and provides a suitable finish to the tale, bringing back that intimate feeling from the beginning of the book.
In the beginning, the book has the feel of a memoir, a personal story put together with historical facts, starting with the British invasion of Burma at the end of 1885, then going through the Second World War and ending almost in the present day. It spans across generations and several countries, and it begins with introducing Rajkumar, an Indian boy orphaned from an early age who uses his ambition and determination to rise from his humble origins as a poor boy in a foreign land, to a prosperous teak merchant.
The march of the British forces into Burma’s city of Mandalay is the catalyst that sets things in motion and it is at this time that Rajkumar has its first encounter with the Royal family. In the pandemonium that ensues he sees Dolly, one of the queen’s maids and she makes such an impression that years later he goes to search for her. From this love story events start to unfold, and it is their descendants’ lives that the author is following in his narrative.
The author introduces the characters gradually but by the end of the book all of the family connections and their ramifications made it difficult to keep track of how they were related.
One of the themes running through the novel is that of the dispossessed. People separated by war, forced to abandon their country (as was the case with King Thebaw and the royal family – one of my favorite stories within the story), trying to adjust to a new life in a new land.
The action progresses at a steady pace with very few changes. The glimpse into the art of photography, used to add more depth to the romance between two of the characters, was interesting. As I delved deeper into the narrative, I had the feeling that the author manipulated the characters to describe the events of the time, rather than letting their stories become part of the history. Although the roles they had to play were focal points in the narrative, I wish there was more of their stories, rather than the story of the times they lived in. But that’s just me.
The end is touching and provides a suitable finish to the tale, bringing back that intimate feeling from the beginning of the book.
What a lovely read. The history was fascinating and told through the stories of multiple generations of one extended family. The characters were equally as fascinating and even though it was long, I couldn’t put it down. Ghosh’s descriptive skills are extraordinary and even though I’ve never set foot in Asia, he is able to give one a sense of place whether it’s a soup stall in 19 th century Mandalay or being ambushed in a rubber plantation during WWII. I loved the ending and it made me want to reread the book!
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
I loved this book. An epic sweeping story of Burma - fascinating insight into the Burmese royal family and telling many individual stories across history.
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The book redeemed itself to me only in the last 100 pages.
The story builds slowly and we get to view the lives of Rajkumar, Dolly, Uma and so many varied characters that come and go creating a vast tapestry with Burma and war as its background.
It felt like a chore initially to finish this book and I never could connect with the characters and didn't care much as to what was happening or happened to them.
The story builds slowly and we get to view the lives of Rajkumar, Dolly, Uma and so many varied characters that come and go creating a vast tapestry with Burma and war as its background.
It felt like a chore initially to finish this book and I never could connect with the characters and didn't care much as to what was happening or happened to them.
This a long book full of history and the family saga becomes somewhat strained and contrived at the end. But it's a literary scholarly book not genre fiction ( I read both happily but I don't review them the same way).
My dad uses to work upcountry in Burma near some of the sites in this book. I' ve always been at a loss to describe to others the tragedy of how this rich land was reduced to such poverty. I understood much of the history, but Ghosh fleshes it out and adds the dimension of a post colonial sensibility so beautifully that I cannot recommend it enough.
My dad uses to work upcountry in Burma near some of the sites in this book. I' ve always been at a loss to describe to others the tragedy of how this rich land was reduced to such poverty. I understood much of the history, but Ghosh fleshes it out and adds the dimension of a post colonial sensibility so beautifully that I cannot recommend it enough.
casey recommended this book about Burma and India. I thought it was good but in the middle it dragged a little bit. Last third was very good.
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated