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nauticachampaign's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
pam2375's review
3.0
I loved getting to know all the characters that are trapped together during an earthquake. the stories each character told was very telling and touching. The ending, however, was a huge disappoint and a let down.
book_concierge's review
3.0
3.5***
When an earthquake strikes, nine people are trapped in the basement of the Indian consulate: an upper-class Caucasian couple with a troubled marriage, a young Muslim-American man with a tendency to act rashly, a graduate student whose parents have returned to India, an African-American Vietnam veteran, a Chinese grandmother with a secret along with her punk-rock teenage granddaughter, and two visa office workers.
I was immediately caught up in the “present day” story of these nine people trapped in a basement. I liked the way that the author revealed their strengths and weaknesses as they acted / reacted to the situation. Who was selfish, or brave, or took charge, or retreated. But when Uma suggests that they pass the time by each telling “one amazing thing” from his/her life, the story arc lost some momentum, and it became more of a collection of short stories.
I don’t mind this too much, because I love short stories, and Divakaruni writes them well. However, this sort of hybrid between a short story collection and a novel seemed a little awkward. I was enthralled and interested in both the story of nine people trapped by the earthquake, and in the characters back stories. What each chose to reveal to these strangers, while fearing they would die together, told much about them as individuals. I have to admit it made me wonder what episode of my life I would tell in such circumstances.
One final note: the city in the book is unnamed, but apparently San Francisco. There are references to cable cars and being “by the bay.” Additionally, there IS an Indian consulate (where one would go for a visa) in San Francisco. And, of course, it is a city with a history of earthquakes.
When an earthquake strikes, nine people are trapped in the basement of the Indian consulate: an upper-class Caucasian couple with a troubled marriage, a young Muslim-American man with a tendency to act rashly, a graduate student whose parents have returned to India, an African-American Vietnam veteran, a Chinese grandmother with a secret along with her punk-rock teenage granddaughter, and two visa office workers.
I was immediately caught up in the “present day” story of these nine people trapped in a basement. I liked the way that the author revealed their strengths and weaknesses as they acted / reacted to the situation. Who was selfish, or brave, or took charge, or retreated. But when Uma suggests that they pass the time by each telling “one amazing thing” from his/her life, the story arc lost some momentum, and it became more of a collection of short stories.
I don’t mind this too much, because I love short stories, and Divakaruni writes them well. However, this sort of hybrid between a short story collection and a novel seemed a little awkward. I was enthralled and interested in both the story of nine people trapped by the earthquake, and in the characters back stories. What each chose to reveal to these strangers, while fearing they would die together, told much about them as individuals. I have to admit it made me wonder what episode of my life I would tell in such circumstances.
One final note: the city in the book is unnamed, but apparently San Francisco. There are references to cable cars and being “by the bay.” Additionally, there IS an Indian consulate (where one would go for a visa) in San Francisco. And, of course, it is a city with a history of earthquakes.
shareen17's review
4.0
This reminded me so much of Bel Canto. Then I finished the book and read the author interview, and she mentions she read Bel Canto right before writing this and was influenced by it. So there you go. A set of strangers are thrown together and end up each telling stories about their lives. It's engaging storytelling.
ginabyeg's review
3.0
I expected better. It was an okay read, but I don't think the characters stories reflected "one amazing thing" as the synopsis leads the reader to believe. The stories bring the characters closer together during the story, perhaps building empathy. However, I felt there was a lack of resolution at the end of the book, such that even that increased bond as a result of each character's stories can't classify as "amazing."
goneabroad71's review against another edition
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
3.75
A really enjoyable read!
barbaraskalberg's review
3.0
Interesting collection of short stories told by a small group of strangers as they wait, trapped in an office space in the aftermath of an earthquake.
retiredlibrarylady's review
4.0
I really like this book about people buried in an basement office after an earthquake. Things get worse and worse, and the people decide to tell a story about their past to help pass the time and keep their minds off their situation. Nicely written.
kawarwick's review
3.0
A very different story. It made me stop and think about my one amazing thing.
spaulk57's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
3.75
3.5 stars. Good quick read with an interesting mix of characters and their stories. As other reviewers have mentioned, more of the efforts to survive the earthquake and comments on each other’s stories would have made for a more engrossing story.