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travelsinfiction's review against another edition
3.0
Actually 3.5.
I quite liked this book, but I didn’t love it. I enjoyed reading from a different perspective, and I found the different characters interesting and their individual voices definitely cane through. I think the plot could have been stronger, but I still enjoyed it nonetheless.
I think what stopped it from being a 4 was that the ending felt a bit rushed and unfinished.
Would still recommend if you want to read a story about how individual the path of immigration can be.
I quite liked this book, but I didn’t love it. I enjoyed reading from a different perspective, and I found the different characters interesting and their individual voices definitely cane through. I think the plot could have been stronger, but I still enjoyed it nonetheless.
I think what stopped it from being a 4 was that the ending felt a bit rushed and unfinished.
Would still recommend if you want to read a story about how individual the path of immigration can be.
sweddy65's review against another edition
4.0
Beautiful, beautiful, tragic, tragic, tragic, tragic, beautiful.
Akhil Sharma packed a lot into a very short novel and very sparse prose. We meet an immigrant family from India filled with hope for the future who then experience a terrible tragedy. The story is told through Ajay's eyes, only a boy when the story begins. He grows up by the bedside of his brain damaged brother in a family that can never be the same after the accident.
How does an immigrant boy negotiate the rest of his life with that tragedy at the center? Sharma gives us only a few clues.
Akhil Sharma packed a lot into a very short novel and very sparse prose. We meet an immigrant family from India filled with hope for the future who then experience a terrible tragedy. The story is told through Ajay's eyes, only a boy when the story begins. He grows up by the bedside of his brain damaged brother in a family that can never be the same after the accident.
How does an immigrant boy negotiate the rest of his life with that tragedy at the center? Sharma gives us only a few clues.
_dunno_'s review against another edition
4.0
Not really a fan of the ending (like many, from what I see), I feel he rushed it a bit, but well, the story is excellent.
read_with_tea's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
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? No
4.25
froydis's review against another edition
3.0
Thanks to Edelweiss and W.W. Norton & Company for early access to this title.
3 1/2 stars -
This was an interesting read. I was really compelled by the family drama, and enjoyed the style the author used to tell the tale. It's really quite a funny book in its own way. It reminded me a bit of "Angela's Ashes" from that respect - a family with unimaginable struggles, but coping in their own (sometimes ridiculous) ways. This isn't a book for everyone, but those who enjoy more literary works would enjoy this. The author definitely tips his hat to Hemingway, both in style and in the narrative of the book. He uses seemingly simple language to examine profound issues. For me, it left me a bit cold at the end, but I would recommend this book.
3 1/2 stars -
This was an interesting read. I was really compelled by the family drama, and enjoyed the style the author used to tell the tale. It's really quite a funny book in its own way. It reminded me a bit of "Angela's Ashes" from that respect - a family with unimaginable struggles, but coping in their own (sometimes ridiculous) ways. This isn't a book for everyone, but those who enjoy more literary works would enjoy this. The author definitely tips his hat to Hemingway, both in style and in the narrative of the book. He uses seemingly simple language to examine profound issues. For me, it left me a bit cold at the end, but I would recommend this book.
bklyn76's review against another edition
4.0
didn't realize this story was based on the author's life till after I finished it. writing was moving. story was unbelievably sad yet darkly funny at times too. a good, quick read.
thatpatti's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this a lot, but the ending was so sudden and strange.
stephenl's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
4.75
bleary's review against another edition
5.0
Such a beautiful book and such a change from the Booker nominees I'm reading at the moment. Simple and unfussy with a strong focus on telling a story, which in this case is the story of immigrants to the US who are forced to deal with a terrible tragedy. A lovely and admirable novel.