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sarahwiltshire's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
mysterious
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
3.0
It was great to have an older woman at the centre of this book giving the opportunity to see the world - past and present and the interplay between the two through her perspective. I found it a bit long and got a bit lost at times with the story and it's diversions and skimmed the last 300+ pages. It wasn't quite what I was expecting, so I'm a little disappointed with it. Nevertheless always good to read an International Booker winner.
kate_cunningham's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
avidreadr's review against another edition
5.0
Playful language, metaphor/ poetry, and literature combine in this powerful feminist novel. A memorable story, moving characters, a truly unique work of literature that I would highly recommend.
beccadbuss's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
lsoucy's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
This will sound a bit preposterous because it’s not the right angle to take, but this is just about the most superbly translated novel ever. The story itself dwells in a kind of magical, (a)musing miasma I did not always have patience for given the slowness of the plot, especially in the first half, but the wit and wordplay, the sheer confidence with language, are shocking to encounter in a translation. Well done, Shree, but incomparable, Rockwell!
(At one point there’s a congress of crows, which is pretty fun.)
(At one point there’s a congress of crows, which is pretty fun.)
raindrops333's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-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? It's complicated
3.0
Confusing narrative, sometimes you are hearing the narrator's voice, sometimes is the character's. What its true, is how "The Partition" was painful for all in India and Pakistan, and this is but a glimpse on how it affected some in the story. I understand why it won accolades and scholastic awards, but it's definitely not for everyone.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Xenophobia, Trafficking, and Dementia
Minor: Colonisation, Mental illness, Sexism, Racism, and Deportation
bonnie's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
mareru's review against another edition
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
lindserature's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-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
3.0
“The most important character in every person’s life is the thing that they lack.”
This is the story of an old woman’s journey through the depression that accompanies major loss in her life. (The summary will tell you that her recovery is thanks to a magical cane, but I found this to be a surprisingly insignificant part of the story.) She recovers in the home of her unconventional daughter and forges a friendship with a joyful person, ending the story with a journey that will shape the lives of all those around her.
I had a lot of trouble with the first section. Shree’s writing (or maybe Rockwell’s translation?) is meandering and disconnected, which makes it extremely difficult to follow; I found myself reading a paragraph and not understanding where the topic switched, or how we got there, or what exactly happened, and multiple readings did nothing to ease my confusion. But despite the same issues persisting (to a lesser extent), the second and third sections of this book are stronger. I enjoyed the characters and their journeys, and much of the writing is jarring and profound. I do think that, at least for me, the editing could have been tighter, but overall, this is a compelling story. Three stars.