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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
The book kept my interest because it narrates the journey of three young immigrants plus one religious girl, each running away from their own troubles/ past lives.
Some of them emerged a different person from the experience and that's the problem. The characters that grew worked really well for the book, but we have a huge time skip right at the end of the book telling us how the remaining immigrants have changed, but I can't compute how they got from point A to B.
Some of them emerged a different person from the experience and that's the problem. The characters that grew worked really well for the book, but we have a huge time skip right at the end of the book telling us how the remaining immigrants have changed, but I can't compute how they got from point A to B.
Absolutely loved it.... need time though to do a review that will do it justice.
Beautiful, haunting, grim but a must read
Beautiful, haunting, grim but a must read
I'll admit, I was a little iffy about this book at first. I mean the entire first half is just character background and I started to wonder what the point of it all was as I kept reading. But I kept reading and I'm glad I did because wow did this novel make me think. I'm not talking that I sat back and pondered for a moment think. No, more of a revelation on life kind of think. For that it what this novel is about, life. And all the shit that comes with it.
While it was a bit hard at first to feel any connection to the four main characters at first, I found myself growing attached to them the more I read. Strangely though, Tochi became my favorite in his quiet, brooding heartfelt way. I feel like he was the one who truly fulfilled his dream in the end; though the others made the appearance they did as well, it was not so. What really made me think and feel toward these characters who all worked together for there own separate motivations was the suffering they went through. I have been desperate before, I have lived hard before, yet I realized that I really haven't in comparison to what theses characters went through. It was realistically astounding to read about the drive Avtar had to find and complete work even as he was severely sick. I've lived with money being right, but what they went through in these pages was far more than I thought humanly capable.
This novel was a brilliant look not only into the life of those trying to make it in the world. It was also profoundly about Indian life and culture. It was so abundant that I had to look things up; which I love doing to learn more. It was alive with old customs clashing with the current century and traditions still held in simple things like preparing a meal. It was amazing to read of how different castes interact in our modern time and how many prejudices still exist. This was incredibly eye opening and insightful. It was for the mind and the spirit; even if just to remind that one might lose both for a time but will always find them again.
While it was a bit hard at first to feel any connection to the four main characters at first, I found myself growing attached to them the more I read. Strangely though, Tochi became my favorite in his quiet, brooding heartfelt way. I feel like he was the one who truly fulfilled his dream in the end; though the others made the appearance they did as well, it was not so. What really made me think and feel toward these characters who all worked together for there own separate motivations was the suffering they went through. I have been desperate before, I have lived hard before, yet I realized that I really haven't in comparison to what theses characters went through. It was realistically astounding to read about the drive Avtar had to find and complete work even as he was severely sick. I've lived with money being right, but what they went through in these pages was far more than I thought humanly capable.
This novel was a brilliant look not only into the life of those trying to make it in the world. It was also profoundly about Indian life and culture. It was so abundant that I had to look things up; which I love doing to learn more. It was alive with old customs clashing with the current century and traditions still held in simple things like preparing a meal. It was amazing to read of how different castes interact in our modern time and how many prejudices still exist. This was incredibly eye opening and insightful. It was for the mind and the spirit; even if just to remind that one might lose both for a time but will always find them again.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Sexual assault, Violence
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Started and finished date - 11.07.25 to 13.07.25.
My rating - Three Stars.
This book was okay but I didn't love it and I found is book to be boring and dull also I think people who are fans of the invisible crowd by Ellen Wiles or the people of ostrich mountain by Ndirangu Githaiga may like is book. The cover of book was okay and The writing was hard to follow also the writing took some time to get used to.
The ending was okay and the atmosphere was fine but it bit bland. The author does a great job shows us the ugly truth of our world and how money rules everything and the author does a good job shows us the struggles of immigrants. The paced of plot was very slow and the paced of book was unsteady. The characters was okay but they needed to flash out bit more
My rating - Three Stars.
This book was okay but I didn't love it and I found is book to be boring and dull also I think people who are fans of the invisible crowd by Ellen Wiles or the people of ostrich mountain by Ndirangu Githaiga may like is book. The cover of book was okay and The writing was hard to follow also the writing took some time to get used to.
The ending was okay and the atmosphere was fine but it bit bland. The author does a great job shows us the ugly truth of our world and how money rules everything and the author does a good job shows us the struggles of immigrants. The paced of plot was very slow and the paced of book was unsteady. The characters was okay but they needed to flash out bit more
Body of essence without a grip or style.
Story of a few immigrants from India ending up in UK with a mountain loads of struggle to survive - too painful. The lives of the characters, as the author paints, is extremely difficult, and hence makes you think.
Despite carrying such an unexplored theme (for me at least, quite new), the story telling is poor, and the character building is feeble. Jumbled up timelines and dissatisfying ending.
May be I'll give his debut novel a try
Story of a few immigrants from India ending up in UK with a mountain loads of struggle to survive - too painful. The lives of the characters, as the author paints, is extremely difficult, and hence makes you think.
Despite carrying such an unexplored theme (for me at least, quite new), the story telling is poor, and the character building is feeble. Jumbled up timelines and dissatisfying ending.
May be I'll give his debut novel a try
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-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
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
informative
tense
medium-paced
What a depressing book. I kept thinking, "Oh, maybe something good is going to happen." And I'd be wrong. The exploitation, racism, classism, sexism, religious discrimination - it rang true. It didn't seem contrived, which made it all the worse.
The only real knock I have on this book is the epilogue - it felt much more false than everything else. But perhaps where they ended up was supposed to be just as depressing as how they got there - in a very different way.
The only real knock I have on this book is the epilogue - it felt much more false than everything else. But perhaps where they ended up was supposed to be just as depressing as how they got there - in a very different way.