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hollyrebecca's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
A stunning and gripping tale about interior life within two different time periods. I got swept up in the telling, both due to the plot and the beautiful narrative Sahota spins, and could barely put this down.
Our occasional narrator, 17 and unnamed, immersed us in the racism he endured growing up in the UK and the vices he turned to in order to cope. In an effort to recover from the vice that has him in its grip, prior to starting University, he’s sent to India to visit family. Here he has an opportunity to ground himself in the people and culture he’s been missing from his life, to learn how to spend time alone and make friends without expectations.
In the past we follow Mehar, 15, and two other girls, Harbans and Gurleen, who are married to three brothers on a farm . But whilst the brothers know who their wives are, the girls don’t know which of the brothers is their husband. Mehar spends her time with the other two wives in the China Room, unless instructed by her mother-in-law to go to a dark room and perform her marriage duties. Any instance in which she may catch sight of her husband is foiled by the red veil she must continue to wear.
For Mehar, life unravels in a misunderstanding which leads to danger, secrets and growing love. This is all told against a backdrop of the growing political strife prior to the Indian partition, which enhances the tension on the farm and leads to devastating consequences.
Sahota wrote the China Room based on an old family legend and, when combined with the use of first person narrative for our unnamed narrator, this book feels almost autobiographical in its telling. This is further indicated at through the family photo provided at the end of the novel and lends extra weight to the tale as a result.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction and Confinement
Moderate: Racism
ellen_suth's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
fast-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
5.0
Just beautiful - beautiful story, prose, characters, everything.
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!
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!
Content Warnings
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
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
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
challenging
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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
This book was genuinely phenomenal and I loved it. It was incredibly insightful and full of brilliant writing, well fleshed out characters and a wonderful plot. I read this a long while ago and I am very behind with reviews, but I remember there being a confusion with a part of the plot which is why this didn't get 5 stars. However, other than this is was genuinely one of my favourite reads this year.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Addiction, and Sexual assault
Minor: Pregnancy
bookishbrenbren's review against another edition
medium-paced
- 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
This book tried to be a story about two interwoven stories, one set in millennial India, one set in 1929 India, amidst the country's growing independence movement. The first story, about a 15-year old bride wed to one unidentified brother of three is, I believe, supposed to be about the struggles women in early-twentieth century India faced and how those women and girls might make attempts to exert control or autonomy over their own lives and bodies and the challenges they would face as a result. The second story is about a young man, fresh out of high school, struggling with addiction and using a trip to India as a chance to get away from his demons. Honestly, I didn't think the two stories wove together very well at all, they seemed like completely dissonant stories which were connected only by a family line, three levels removed.
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. then her brother in law seduces her, which threatens to ruin her life, and when she discovers his betrayal, is she crushed?? Oh no, she falls in love with him. ;aldfja;lk ale // oh sorry my eyeballs rolled into the back of my skull
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.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
Minor: Addiction
biblio_jordyn's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
What could have been better?
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Racism, and Rape
abbycummings13's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, and Sexism
Moderate: Infidelity, Sexual assault, and Sexual content
leekaufman's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Addiction
ladymirtazapine's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
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
tense
fast-paced
- 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
All my reviews live at https://deedispeaking.com/reads/.
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Racism, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Confinement
Minor: Pregnancy