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elisebweir's review against another edition
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
amandan981's review against another edition
5.0
This book is really beautiful. I was at one of the authors readings and it was hilarious. I thought this book would be silly and witty. It is at times but mostly it is heartfelt, sad, and beautifully composed.
kangaruthie's review against another edition
3.0
This book tells the story of the Mishra family, who immigrate to the U.S. in 1978. It paints a detailed portrait of what it's like for the Mishras to transition to a completely different culture and way of living, and the many hardships they encounter along the way. Though I found the book very readable, and did enjoy reading it, the pace felt too slow for me, and it wasn't well written enough to compensate for the lack of compelling plot.
shirleytupperfreeman's review against another edition
A brilliant, sad, and sometimes funny look at an Indian family's immigrant experience. The clash between duty to family and duty to self is brought into sharp focus by this poignant, beautifully written novel.
sarahmareacarr's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lizzyacker's review against another edition
5.0
Read it here: http://the-tusk.com/2015/02/12/read-this-now-family-life/
chrisb0905's review against another edition
3.0
I was tempted to give this two stars only because I didn't feel it really went anywhere - nothing happened. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized I liked it not for the story, but for the artistic value - the way that it evoked emotion, and how clearly I could feel the pain and struggle of the characters. In addition, the voice used, that combines the youthful innocence and randomness with some adult sophistication is really powerful and leads to an engaging pace. I tore through the book in 4 days so there must have been something there that kept me turning the pages.
quiltmom14's review against another edition
4.0
Very hard to rate this one because the story is what it is - nothing “new” happens in it. In the interview at the end of the book, the author speaks of possibly boring the reader and at times, he does. But that only speaks to the relentless monotony of dealing with a catastrophic event that changes a family forever. There is no real pause in the horror of the situation - only moments of grace - and that’s what you find in the book. There is actual humor here - an amazing feat - and a lot of the immigrant experience. I think you might have to be familiar with both being an immigrant and dealing with a “forever” health problem in the family, to find this book as gripping as I did.