Scan barcode
unreal_isa's review against another edition
3.0
Starts in the early 1900s with Mehar who is one of three women married off to three sons. She ends up thinking she is married to the youngest son, even though she is married to the eldest. They carry on an affair and try to run away together but are caught. Skips back and forth with the present day and her great grandsons perspective, Coming back to India to get clean. He stays at the old family farm where Mehar lived.
charmoffinches's review against another edition
3.0
This book follows a young bride, Mehar, in 1920's India who is learning how to navigate her arranged marriage. Mehar goes on to explore her independence and her own desires. It was a really interesting perspective into a life far removed from my own. I really liked how the author explored love and intimacy in this book and juxtaposed it with current day where the same, yet slightly different, issues still persist.
leighbeevee's review against another edition
4.0
I felt the ending was a little rushed, but overall, I enjoyed this book very much.
kate66's review against another edition
5.0
A surprising read for a Booker longlist. Usually I'm bored by a Booker author trying to be too clever but this book is simply a great story written beautifully. I finished it in a couple of sessions because I desperately wanted to know what happened.
It tells the stories of Mehar and her great grandson. Mehar has been married to a man she's never seen. Even after her marriage she is unsure of which of 3 brothers is her husband. She begins to guess and through various misunderstandings she guesses wrong. The story follows what happens after.
The second story is that of her great grandson who has been sent to India for the summer to help him recover from heroin addiction. There he meets a beautiful doctor. His story follows him trying to get over his addiction and trying to find out what happened to his great grandmother.
Highly recommended.
It tells the stories of Mehar and her great grandson. Mehar has been married to a man she's never seen. Even after her marriage she is unsure of which of 3 brothers is her husband. She begins to guess and through various misunderstandings she guesses wrong. The story follows what happens after.
The second story is that of her great grandson who has been sent to India for the summer to help him recover from heroin addiction. There he meets a beautiful doctor. His story follows him trying to get over his addiction and trying to find out what happened to his great grandmother.
Highly recommended.
neelam_kull's review against another edition
3.0
A unique love story, very well written. Enjoyable read
emilyisoverbooked's review against another edition
5.0
In 1929, amidst the beginning of the Indian independence movement, Mehar is a 15-year-old bride in rural Punjab. She is one of three girls married to three brothers in a single ceremony, and with their veils and averted eye contact, the girls aren’t sure which of the brothers they’re married to. They work hard during the day in the family’s “china room” and only come into contact with the men when they are summoned in a separate dark room at night in an attempt to create male heirs. Mehar can’t help but want to know who she’s married to, and after studying their voices and hands behind her veil, she believes she knows who her husband is. But how can she be sure?
In 1999, a nameless young man arrives at his uncle’s house in Punjab to try to shake his drug addiction. As an Indian growing up in England, he has experienced racism, but is also estranged from Indian culture. He decides to move into the family’s abandoned farm, which has a mysterious locked china room, to better himself and reconnect with his culture.
China Room is inspired by Sunjeev Sahota’s personal family history, and is an unputdownable story. While I was more invested in the 1929 timeline, I loved the contrast between the two timelines, learning about Indian culture and listening to the narratives about women’s place in society and the Indian diaspora. I finished this book last week and am still thinking about it! Highly recommend picking this up - and it’s a BOTM add on if you subscribe!
Many thanks to Viking Books for this incredible advanced copy!
In 1999, a nameless young man arrives at his uncle’s house in Punjab to try to shake his drug addiction. As an Indian growing up in England, he has experienced racism, but is also estranged from Indian culture. He decides to move into the family’s abandoned farm, which has a mysterious locked china room, to better himself and reconnect with his culture.
China Room is inspired by Sunjeev Sahota’s personal family history, and is an unputdownable story. While I was more invested in the 1929 timeline, I loved the contrast between the two timelines, learning about Indian culture and listening to the narratives about women’s place in society and the Indian diaspora. I finished this book last week and am still thinking about it! Highly recommend picking this up - and it’s a BOTM add on if you subscribe!
Many thanks to Viking Books for this incredible advanced copy!
rubynajinnah's review against another edition
5.0
Wow, just wow. This is a beautifully written book. It is profoundly moving, yet heartbreaking. Mr. Sahota has shown his immense skill at writing such a powerful story in so few words. This book brought tears to my eyes. Sublimely written. You must read this book.