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3.62 AVERAGE
3.62 AVERAGE
emotional
mysterious
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Hilary Byrd flees his melancholy life in the UK to try living abroad for a bit. He winds up renting a small house on the property of a former mission in a hill town in South India. There he forms a new small life with daily routines. He goes out for daily rides with a local rickshaw driver stopping at the library, the Botanical Gardens, the local market and chocolate shop. Byrd forms a friendship with the two people who live in the main house on the property, the Padre and a young orphan woman he took in named Priscilla.
This is a heartwarming story about trying to form a connection while also trying to escape. Byrd finds comfort in the British-isms left behind in post colonial India. He is a man who is deeply uncomfortable in his own skin and is seeking some meaning in his life. He finds a spark of hope with the Padre and Priscilla.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads Giveaway.
This is a heartwarming story about trying to form a connection while also trying to escape. Byrd finds comfort in the British-isms left behind in post colonial India. He is a man who is deeply uncomfortable in his own skin and is seeking some meaning in his life. He finds a spark of hope with the Padre and Priscilla.
I won a copy of this book in a Goodreads Giveaway.
"The Mission House" is a lovely book about a small Indian town and the characters whithin. Hillary Byrd is a middle aged Englishman traveling to find peace in his depression. On a train trip, he meets the priest at a small mission who offers him a cozy bungalow. Hilary settles in, and makes a connection with Jamshed, the driver of a pedi cab who takes him wherever he wants to go.
At this point, you're thinking that this novel will be about Hilary's re-engagement with life through the kindness of others. Don't be deceived. This novel will offer a number of surprises, touching characters, heart, and brutality.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for access to this fine novel.
At this point, you're thinking that this novel will be about Hilary's re-engagement with life through the kindness of others. Don't be deceived. This novel will offer a number of surprises, touching characters, heart, and brutality.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for access to this fine novel.
Similarly to West, I thought Davies' beautiful, tender writing style carried this novel through any gripes I had with it. I saw another review say that Davies had a masterpiece in her but this isn't it, and I agree. I appreciated how she played with time and perspective to build tension, and thought the character design was mostly effective. I'll be excited to read her next book.
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Jeg lurte lenge på hvorfor jeg leste denne boken, og enda mer stusset jeg over hvorfor den ble skrevet. Forfatteren, en britisk kvinne stort sett bosatt i USA og England, skriver om en avdanket, middelaldrende hvit bibliotekar som er på finne seg selv-tur i Tamil Nadu i India, hvor han opplever en form for oppvåkning etter et anonymt og grått liv i England, fordi .... ja, fordi. Settingen er en såkalt Hill Station i fjellene innenfor Kerala-kysten sveiper innom politiske forhold i India før Narendra Mori, hvor spenningene mellom religiøse grupper øker, og blir viktig mot slutten av boken. Men i stor grad er dette fortellingen om Hilary Byrd, som i forsøket på å finne seg selv graver seg dypt inn i vrangforestillinger og selvbedrag. Rundt ham er en pastor, en rikshaw-sjåfør, en gutt som vil bli countryartist og den adopterte datteren til pastoren. Som sagt, jeg skjønner ikke hvorfor Carys fra Wales skal skrive om en mann og et miljø hun ikke har noen forbindelser til, men jeg blir likevel tatt med inn i verdenen til Ruth Prawer Jhabwala, E. M. Forester, Rudyard Kiping, Jane Gardam m.m. der nostalgi rundt kolonlitiden danser polka med kritikken mot det samme - og til slutt liker jeg det jeg leser.
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.5-4
Niet zo goed als "West". Redelijk traag, maar wel aangename schrijfstijl.
Niet zo goed als "West". Redelijk traag, maar wel aangename schrijfstijl.
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-paced