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bookph1le's review against another edition
4.0
The ending was kind of pat and after school special, which is a shame, because this is a very thought-provoking book. It brings up a lot of themes about privilege and exploitation, and it doesn't shy away from some uncomfortable questions, contemplating things like the ethics of technologies that enable infertile couples to have children. In addition to the meaty issues the book presents about parenthood, pregnancy, childbirth, surrogacy, and fertility treatments, the culture clashes described in the book were fascinating as well.
juliabragg's review against another edition
2.0
The idea of the book was better than the execution. This pregnancy lasted longer than Skylar White's in Breaking Bad which went on for 3 season.
beckimoody29's review against another edition
2.0
This book was good, but I expected more. At the beginning, it seemed to be setting up a discussion of the surrogacy program in India and whether it was exploiting low income women. Certainly it was mentioned and I am sure that readers may form their own conclusion, but it seemed to skim over the issue after introducing it and I am not sure what the author's viewpoint was. I don't think she needed to come down on one side or the other - for example, Jodi Picoult does an excellent job of presenting multiple sides of an issue fairly objectively - but it basically became a non-issue by the end of the book. The characters were interesting, but I never felt tremendously invested in any of them. I was most interested in whether the little boy would get into a good school, which doesn't say much for the mothers involved. Overall, it was good but could have been so much better.
schmolls's review against another edition
1.0
Wanted to strangle some of the characters. It was fine but I won't recommend it. The last paragraph was way too sappy and unrealistic.
yarn_chicken's review
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
justlily's review
3.0
This was a mostly enjoyable read. It went on for quite a while with very little actually happening but it did make me feel for all the characters. Some more than others, especially since I found Priya, the American woman who was using a surrogate, to be...unbearably unlikable. She was rude to her family, shitty to her husband, not all that great of a human in general until the very end.
However, I do always enjoying learning about cultural situations so different from my own and from what I know so that was a huge bonus of this book. It was overall well-written and I do plan on checking out more from this author.
However, I do always enjoying learning about cultural situations so different from my own and from what I know so that was a huge bonus of this book. It was overall well-written and I do plan on checking out more from this author.
kdurham2's review against another edition
4.0
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
A woman who is half Indian and half American grows up in America and doesn't know much about her mother's heritage. Her mother doesn't help much either to share her heritage with her daughter. Her husband was born and raised Indian and his parents still live over in India. They have tried many different ways to become parents and finally end up having to go the surrogate route, but not only do they go the surrogate route, they choose a surrogate from India to carry their child. Asha is the woman who chooses to be the surrogate and get paid for carrying their child. She has wishes and dreams for this money and wants to use it to better the life of her family, but there are definitely some reservations for earning money this way; at least in her mind.
A woman who is half Indian and half American grows up in America and doesn't know much about her mother's heritage. Her mother doesn't help much either to share her heritage with her daughter. Her husband was born and raised Indian and his parents still live over in India. They have tried many different ways to become parents and finally end up having to go the surrogate route, but not only do they go the surrogate route, they choose a surrogate from India to carry their child. Asha is the woman who chooses to be the surrogate and get paid for carrying their child. She has wishes and dreams for this money and wants to use it to better the life of her family, but there are definitely some reservations for earning money this way; at least in her mind.
sambocky's review against another edition
3.0
As a new mom and someone with a particular interest in stories of fertility, this novel about surrogacy struck me as a must-read. Well written with a good amount of depth, the story balances the perspectives of both surrogate and mother-to-be -- although, in my opinion, the surrogate had a much stronger emotional pull (and a much more well-rounded, realistic character).
The ending, however, utterly spoiled it for me. After pages of buildup discussing the ethical conflict inherent to this arrangement, I found the conclusion to be stunted, contradictory, and rather shallow.
The ending, however, utterly spoiled it for me. After pages of buildup discussing the ethical conflict inherent to this arrangement, I found the conclusion to be stunted, contradictory, and rather shallow.
jamheck's review against another edition
4.0
interesting look into the world of surrogacy and the different paths we take to become mothers and to provide for our children... especially poignant for me, now that i have norah in my life!
ejbkimbler's review against another edition
3.0
I really enjoyed this book. The characters were interesting, and the perspective switched back and forth nicely between the two women.
My issue with it is that there wasn't a big climax and then it was over. The last 5 pages were a big disappointment to me, since I felt like there was going to be more of a struggle between the women when the baby was born, but instead they just thanked each other and moved on. I don't know what more I had hoped for but I definitely didn't get it.
My issue with it is that there wasn't a big climax and then it was over. The last 5 pages were a big disappointment to me, since I felt like there was going to be more of a struggle between the women when the baby was born, but instead they just thanked each other and moved on. I don't know what more I had hoped for but I definitely didn't get it.