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4.09 AVERAGE
4.09 AVERAGE
Stunning. Heart-wrenching and honest and witty and so on point with the characters. It's not at all preachy but certainly has a message. I devoured this book and will continue to turn it over in my mind. Definitely definitely recommend.
I simply cannot get past 50 pages of this book and I literally almost fell asleep trying to read more of it. The writing style doesn't intrigue me at all. Too many moving books lately to waste my time slogging through this one. I don't recommend this book at all given I could barely get to 50 pages.
This book reminded me why I use to devour fiction when I was a kid - completely engrossing and wonderful, complex characters. I slowed down the last quarter of the book because I did not want it to end.
I learned a lot about Indian (the country) customs, esp the food. Great story about a family that immigrates from India to New Mexico. The family left behind in India is destroyed by a man w/ some kind of sleep disorder, likewise the new American family is also afflicted. The main character, Amina, becomes a professional photographer. Her father, Thomas, a brain surgeon, starts having conversations w/ dead relatives. Kamala, his wife, alerts Amina. They find he has a brain tumor. Somewhat sad at times, this book was also hopeful and humorous. A fine 1st novel!
I loved this book, even though I'm not usually one for sprawling, slightly meandering tales. It's amazing that a book filled with heartache left me feeling full of love and hope. It's structured a little differently, but I seem to enjoy books that jump around in time.
So much emotion and insight into a different kind of family dynamic. I love the people in this book.
This was a nice straightforward book about an American born to an emigrant family (from India to the U.S.) & their lives. Some sadness. Some personalities. Somewhat like a second "coming of age" for the thirty something daughter. Kind of like My Big Fat Greek Wedding in a way.
I wanted to know more about her life. I would have loved to hear of her donating the proceeds of her show to the family of the man who's photo she took.
I wanted to know more about her life. I would have loved to hear of her donating the proceeds of her show to the family of the man who's photo she took.
This is not a well-written book, the main character is a wimp I did not care about, and I found the characters boring. Surprised so many readers give it a high rating. Mystified, in fact. Yawn. "Wah wah wah I have to curl up in bed and drink because I got a great photograph of a suicide." I should have stopped reading then.
- To live in the Eapens' house was to acknowledge the sharpness of invisible borders, the separations that had divided it like two countries since 1983. -
- It was a beautiful picture. It was a horrible moment. Both. -
- Embroiled in activities? There was a beehivey quality to the phrase that made her think of thin limbs working in unison for some greater, sweater good. -
- They ate while she waited. Rather, they tried to eat while the food tried not to be eaten. -
- "Do you think she'd be as cool if she had kids?" Dimple asked.
"No," Akhil said. "No one is."
- It got better after the Andersons' visit. Not better in that anything actually good happened, but better in that Amina stopped waiting for it to. -
- It was a beautiful picture. It was a horrible moment. Both. -
- Embroiled in activities? There was a beehivey quality to the phrase that made her think of thin limbs working in unison for some greater, sweater good. -
- They ate while she waited. Rather, they tried to eat while the food tried not to be eaten. -
- "Do you think she'd be as cool if she had kids?" Dimple asked.
"No," Akhil said. "No one is."
- It got better after the Andersons' visit. Not better in that anything actually good happened, but better in that Amina stopped waiting for it to. -
Usually, it takes a few chapters for me to get comfortable with a new book. A few pages in, this book swept me away! It's a wonderful family story told over 30 years.
I read this for my book club, and we had a great discussion about it at the local Curry & More restaurant.
I read this for my book club, and we had a great discussion about it at the local Curry & More restaurant.