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emersonseyeball's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident, Death of parent, and Infidelity
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Xenophobia, Sexual content, and Islamophobia
Deals a lot with internalized racismcaseythereader's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Given that I'm extremely late to THE NAMESAKE party, you probably don't need a real review from me. I'll just say that this is such a beautiful, tender, sprawling book that carries you along its currents. Following the Ganguli family through their joys and heartbreaks was such a wonderful experience, and - as with every time I've joined @idleutopia_reads' #DiversifyYourBacklist buddy read group - I've been so grateful to Karen for getting me to pick up such a lovely book. I would have gladly read hundreds more pages of this story, and I'm looking forward to reading Lahiri's other works.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, Grief, Infidelity, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Racism
Minor: Deadnaming
debookgeek's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Racism, Xenophobia, Pregnancy, Infidelity, and Sexual content
Minor: Transphobia
words_and_coffee's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-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
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, Infidelity, and Sexual content
kitaabon_ka_ghar's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity and Death of parent
silver_valkyrie_reads's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
I have to start by saying that this is not the sort of book I normally enjoy, so just having finished it ranks it my most favorite literary fiction of all time. Instead of the 'lovely' *cough* overly descriptive *cough* writing that usually marks literary fiction, this writing is simple and compelling.
It also helps that the characters give me a window into a different life and different set of circumstances than I've experienced, which I always enjoy. Even better, I found their 'different' circumstances strangely relatable in some ways. I don't come from an immigrant family, but I do know what it's like to have a family culture that's vastly different from everyone else around.
So, five star writing, with some five star moments, and overall a four star experience because I still struggle a bit with the very slow, literary style.
Except... Well, staying spoiler free, let's just say that on occasion some very poor decisions are made in the course of the story, and some of them disturbed me enough to really drag down the experience, hence the 3.5 star rating instead of four.
I'm glad I read this story, and parts of it will probably stay with me for a very long time, but I don't see myself being likely to revisit it.
It also helps that the characters give me a window into a different life and different set of circumstances than I've experienced, which I always enjoy. Even better, I found their 'different' circumstances strangely relatable in some ways. I don't come from an immigrant family, but I do know what it's like to have a family culture that's vastly different from everyone else around.
So, five star writing, with some five star moments, and overall a four star experience because I still struggle a bit with the very slow, literary style.
Except... Well, staying spoiler free, let's just say that on occasion some very poor decisions are made in the course of the story, and some of them disturbed me enough to really drag down the experience, hence the 3.5 star rating instead of four.
I'm glad I read this story, and parts of it will probably stay with me for a very long time, but I don't see myself being likely to revisit it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Grief, Infidelity, and Sexual content
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