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daja123's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, Violence, and Racism
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
knkoch's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
A deeply sad look at the way oppressive societal structures can make human life almost impossible, particularly for those at the bottom of the hierarchy. It’s a twin tale from the perspective of a young Sikh bride and her eventual great grandson: she lacks the freedom to even look her husband in the eye, and he is choking under the weight of intense racial discrimination in Britain. Both resist as they search for some kind of freedom or transcendence of their circumstances.
These two narratives are well paired, but it was a hard read for me. I found Mehar, the young woman, more compelling, and sometimes her story ended in suspense with a sudden shift to the unnamed young man’s narrative. The story overall angered and saddened me.
These two narratives are well paired, but it was a hard read for me. I found Mehar, the young woman, more compelling, and sometimes her story ended in suspense with a sudden shift to the unnamed young man’s narrative. The story overall angered and saddened me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual content, Adult/minor relationship, and Racism
dominicangirl's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Colonisation, Drug abuse, and Racism
Moderate: Rape
Minor: Kidnapping
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
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
emmagreenwood's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Excrement, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pregnancy, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Xenophobia
bookswithchaipai's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
THE BOOKER PRIZE LONGLIST 2021
CHINA ROOM – Sanjeev Sahota
Genre – Historical Fiction, India
“That a wife was a wife, there to bear sons and otherwise live behind her veil, out of the way. Her face was barely worth considering”.
This was the mindset of rural India & still is in some parts. The “chador”/veil makes it hard for a woman to identify the husband among his siblings, sometimes going a whole lifetime without knowing who it is, having to perform the marital relations in darkness. “They grow up in a prison & then get married into one.” The sadness of this thought shook me, thinking of how repressed women are. But despite that, the strong character of 16-year-old Mehar, shone through as she went about village life.
Fast forward to 1999 - Mehar’s unnamed 19-year-old great-grandson, a Heroin addict, returns to the farm to go cold turkey. He bides his time in the China Room, where Mehar was sequestered, and he feels a connection flow through him from over the years.
The 1929 rural life fascinated me – the dung patties, candle making, foraging for vegetables, delivering food to the farmworkers. Sahota’s vivid visions of village life are authentic for someone who has been to India only a handful of times.
What I loved –
- Mehar’s story of love & lust is heartbreaking – falling prey to the desire of a man because she was blindfolded by traditions.
- The Indian's cry for Azaadi from colonization is beautifully portrayed through the form of Tejh Singh’s call for arms.
- Mehar’s great-grandson, went through a process of self-discovery, making connections with people and the land, which was an insightful journey.
- The flashbacks into the great-grandson’s childhood, where he was a victim of racism in London, led to his addiction. Apart from Mehar's story, this caused me a lot of heartbreak.
I would have loved to know more about Radhika and the teacher, but it was touched on lightly.
FACT - Sahota weaved this story taking instances from his own experience in London of racism and his great grandmother, who was one of 4 veiled daughters-in-law, who did not know who the husband was.
CHINA ROOM – Sanjeev Sahota
Genre – Historical Fiction, India
“That a wife was a wife, there to bear sons and otherwise live behind her veil, out of the way. Her face was barely worth considering”.
This was the mindset of rural India & still is in some parts. The “chador”/veil makes it hard for a woman to identify the husband among his siblings, sometimes going a whole lifetime without knowing who it is, having to perform the marital relations in darkness. “They grow up in a prison & then get married into one.” The sadness of this thought shook me, thinking of how repressed women are. But despite that, the strong character of 16-year-old Mehar, shone through as she went about village life.
Fast forward to 1999 - Mehar’s unnamed 19-year-old great-grandson, a Heroin addict, returns to the farm to go cold turkey. He bides his time in the China Room, where Mehar was sequestered, and he feels a connection flow through him from over the years.
The 1929 rural life fascinated me – the dung patties, candle making, foraging for vegetables, delivering food to the farmworkers. Sahota’s vivid visions of village life are authentic for someone who has been to India only a handful of times.
What I loved –
- Mehar’s story of love & lust is heartbreaking – falling prey to the desire of a man because she was blindfolded by traditions.
- The Indian's cry for Azaadi from colonization is beautifully portrayed through the form of Tejh Singh’s call for arms.
- Mehar’s great-grandson, went through a process of self-discovery, making connections with people and the land, which was an insightful journey.
- The flashbacks into the great-grandson’s childhood, where he was a victim of racism in London, led to his addiction. Apart from Mehar's story, this caused me a lot of heartbreak.
I would have loved to know more about Radhika and the teacher, but it was touched on lightly.
FACT - Sahota weaved this story taking instances from his own experience in London of racism and his great grandmother, who was one of 4 veiled daughters-in-law, who did not know who the husband was.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Alcoholism, Xenophobia, and Racism