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3.26 AVERAGE
3.26 AVERAGE
3 1/2 rating, rounded up to 4.
There was much that I liked about this book, and a lot that I did not like.
Like many other reviews, it took a while for me to become comfortable with the narrative structure that Diksha Basu writes in. Towards the beginning of the book, timelines and perspectives jump RAPIDLY, and you really have to pay attention to what you’re reading in order to catch up with the rhythm. I often found myself having to go back a paragraph or two to figure out where I was and who I was following along, and it wasn’t until much later in the story that I was able to keep up, but once I became comfortable with it, it was actually quite enjoyable. However, as someone who has never been to India, I would have appreciated a bit more description in terms of setting whilst in Delhi to get a better feel for where they were. Basu focuses more on character and dialogue than setting, which is great in some cases, but makes it difficult to envision where the characters are. For instance, I would have loved to read more about what Nono’s home and greenhouse looked like!!! That, and for a story revolving around a wedding, the actual event happens so quickly that you hardly get a good feel for the extravagancies that the characters have spent a significant part of the book talking about!
I agree with other reviewers that this book would have benefitted from another editor to tidy things up a bit.
As for the story, I never found myself to be interested in anything that happened involving Tina. Specifically, certain aspects of her storyline that involved the character Sid frequently bordered on romanticization of poverty that I wasn’t too fond of. I understand that in many cases it was used as a narrative device to distance Tina from a place she felt she was supposed to connect to, but it often took me out of the story when I had to wonder what the intention was of adding it in. I think the fact that her dynamic with Sid meandered before being quickly wrapped up only solidified my opinion that perhaps there were just too many subplots going on, and perhaps the book would have benefitted if the Sid storyline was taken out, or if the narrative focus shifted from Tina altogether. I don’t always agree that the main character needs to be likable, but it was only towards the end of the book that I found Tina’s personal arc tolerable and saw what Diksha was aiming for with her narrative.
I was far more interested in the stories of Radha, Mr. Das, and Mrs.Sethi who were all a far more interesting take and had more to say on love, tradition, family, marriage, life, and relationships than any other character in the book. I was always excited to read about their personal journeys, and perhaps the story would have benefitted from having them be the main focus rather than Tina? However, there was enough of Radha, Mr. Das, and Mrs. Sethi in the story for me not to be mad at it. I just feel that I, personally, have not seen many stories from the perspective of those who have been divorced/widowed in cultures that place an incredible emphasis on marriage, so their arcs were really exciting to read.
Where Basu excels is the humor and comedic timing in her writing. Characters such as Bubbles, Mr. Das, and Rajesh were very very funny, and brought a lot to the story.
Regardless of the previously mentioned, it was a fun, light-hearted, and quick read that I would recommend to anyone looking for that type of thing. Jump into it for the fun setting, petty drama, and funny characters, but don’t go into it expecting a deep-dive into the culture and wedding traditions.
There was much that I liked about this book, and a lot that I did not like.
Like many other reviews, it took a while for me to become comfortable with the narrative structure that Diksha Basu writes in. Towards the beginning of the book, timelines and perspectives jump RAPIDLY, and you really have to pay attention to what you’re reading in order to catch up with the rhythm. I often found myself having to go back a paragraph or two to figure out where I was and who I was following along, and it wasn’t until much later in the story that I was able to keep up, but once I became comfortable with it, it was actually quite enjoyable. However, as someone who has never been to India, I would have appreciated a bit more description in terms of setting whilst in Delhi to get a better feel for where they were. Basu focuses more on character and dialogue than setting, which is great in some cases, but makes it difficult to envision where the characters are. For instance, I would have loved to read more about what Nono’s home and greenhouse looked like!!! That, and for a story revolving around a wedding, the actual event happens so quickly that you hardly get a good feel for the extravagancies that the characters have spent a significant part of the book talking about!
I agree with other reviewers that this book would have benefitted from another editor to tidy things up a bit.
As for the story, I never found myself to be interested in anything that happened involving Tina. Specifically, certain aspects of her storyline that involved the character Sid frequently bordered on romanticization of poverty that I wasn’t too fond of. I understand that in many cases it was used as a narrative device to distance Tina from a place she felt she was supposed to connect to, but it often took me out of the story when I had to wonder what the intention was of adding it in. I think the fact that her dynamic with Sid meandered before being quickly wrapped up only solidified my opinion that perhaps there were just too many subplots going on, and perhaps the book would have benefitted if the Sid storyline was taken out, or if the narrative focus shifted from Tina altogether. I don’t always agree that the main character needs to be likable, but it was only towards the end of the book that I found Tina’s personal arc tolerable and saw what Diksha was aiming for with her narrative.
I was far more interested in the stories of Radha, Mr. Das, and Mrs.Sethi who were all a far more interesting take and had more to say on love, tradition, family, marriage, life, and relationships than any other character in the book. I was always excited to read about their personal journeys, and perhaps the story would have benefitted from having them be the main focus rather than Tina? However, there was enough of Radha, Mr. Das, and Mrs. Sethi in the story for me not to be mad at it. I just feel that I, personally, have not seen many stories from the perspective of those who have been divorced/widowed in cultures that place an incredible emphasis on marriage, so their arcs were really exciting to read.
Where Basu excels is the humor and comedic timing in her writing. Characters such as Bubbles, Mr. Das, and Rajesh were very very funny, and brought a lot to the story.
Regardless of the previously mentioned, it was a fun, light-hearted, and quick read that I would recommend to anyone looking for that type of thing. Jump into it for the fun setting, petty drama, and funny characters, but don’t go into it expecting a deep-dive into the culture and wedding traditions.
Some creative components but overall it feels carelessly written with superficial character development and several significant and distracting typos
A comedy of manners set in India, Diksha Basu’s Destination Wedding is an entertaining portrayal of a large number of nuanced personalities coming together in Delhi for a wedding.
Tina Das, a reality tv show programmer, is the main character of the novel though it frequently switches to different perspectives throughout.
Having lived in the US since she was born but having been “conceived” in India, as she says, Tina has long been aware of the challenges associated with others' responses to her dual heritage & wonders again & again if she could/should live in India.
Traveling to India with her best friend Marianne as well as her parents gives her an opportunity to explore the place her parents are from & the place she visited often as a child.
Filled with moments that are by turns moving & absurd Destination Wedding seems to celebrate humanity. The characters are flawed, they are sometimes selfish and/or oblivious, sometimes unlikable, they show love & care, & they are hopeful.
There’s only a small amount of romance here and what there is isn’t super convincing to me but that’s not the focus of the story as I see it.
Though the switches in perspective are often jarring I also appreciated seeing things from so many different points of view, from Tina & Marianne, to the former’s parents, to the driver, a matchmaker, & more.
The various narrators’s thoughts on wealth, the complexity of India beyond any stereotype, & the complexity of the people in the story, are compelling.
While there are times the book feels a little too glossy to me, I enjoyed it *&* getting to meet characters who feel real to me.
3.5⭐️. Destination Wedding is available now. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.
Tina Das, a reality tv show programmer, is the main character of the novel though it frequently switches to different perspectives throughout.
Having lived in the US since she was born but having been “conceived” in India, as she says, Tina has long been aware of the challenges associated with others' responses to her dual heritage & wonders again & again if she could/should live in India.
Traveling to India with her best friend Marianne as well as her parents gives her an opportunity to explore the place her parents are from & the place she visited often as a child.
Filled with moments that are by turns moving & absurd Destination Wedding seems to celebrate humanity. The characters are flawed, they are sometimes selfish and/or oblivious, sometimes unlikable, they show love & care, & they are hopeful.
There’s only a small amount of romance here and what there is isn’t super convincing to me but that’s not the focus of the story as I see it.
Though the switches in perspective are often jarring I also appreciated seeing things from so many different points of view, from Tina & Marianne, to the former’s parents, to the driver, a matchmaker, & more.
The various narrators’s thoughts on wealth, the complexity of India beyond any stereotype, & the complexity of the people in the story, are compelling.
While there are times the book feels a little too glossy to me, I enjoyed it *&* getting to meet characters who feel real to me.
3.5⭐️. Destination Wedding is available now. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions provided are my own.
I had a hard time with this book, on one hand, it was familiar and on the other I was not sure what the point of this book was.
The entire book took place over a week so it is not like characters went through profound change. They did change a little, but overall, I, personally always struggle with books like this. These books tend to be a window into a moment or in this case a week, of the character's lives.
As a window, it was spectacular. The characters were multi-layered and multi-faceted. I was not disappointed in the development of the tertiary characters. There was a lot going on with a lot of them. It was a bit like Crazy Rich Asians, it delved into the lives of people that are insanely rich in India because they do exist, but there was another side to it all with the poverty as well.
Tina was extremely unlikeable for me as a character. I disliked her and felt she never redeemed herself.
I didnt hate the book, I didnt love the book. I liked Tina's parents as characters and people, but that might be it. I didnt understand the abrubt change of heart in the end, those decisions, I am not sure the characters understand how they play out in the long term.
Overall not for me, but well written
The entire book took place over a week so it is not like characters went through profound change. They did change a little, but overall, I, personally always struggle with books like this. These books tend to be a window into a moment or in this case a week, of the character's lives.
As a window, it was spectacular. The characters were multi-layered and multi-faceted. I was not disappointed in the development of the tertiary characters. There was a lot going on with a lot of them. It was a bit like Crazy Rich Asians, it delved into the lives of people that are insanely rich in India because they do exist, but there was another side to it all with the poverty as well.
Tina was extremely unlikeable for me as a character. I disliked her and felt she never redeemed herself.
I didnt hate the book, I didnt love the book. I liked Tina's parents as characters and people, but that might be it. I didnt understand the abrubt change of heart in the end, those decisions, I am not sure the characters understand how they play out in the long term.
Overall not for me, but well written
I couldn't finish it. The perspective changed too frequently - it was hard to even keep track of whose story I was reading!! Nothing really grabbed my attention.
Destination Wedding was a nice bit of escapism following a woman as she travels with her family and best friend to India for a lavish wedding. Tina is feeling dissatisfied in her love life and career in New York and hopes this trip can be a nice reset. Once they’ve arrived however, she struggles to figure out exactly how she fits in as an Indian-American in Delhi and feels like she has to pretend to be more comfortable in the city and culture than she really is. In the whirlwind week captured in this story, the characters come to realize that love is sometimes found in unexpected places or at unexpected ages (as seen in Tina’s divorced parents).
This was a light book with a few moments of depth particularly concerning how it can feel to be someone torn between two cultural identities and the vast economic divide in India between the wealthy wedding guests and the people living beyond the walls of their exclusive resort. I didn’t find myself very invested in the characters and thought that some of the switches in perspective were confusing and often led into tangents. I do think this could be a fun movie or short series one day though!
This was a light book with a few moments of depth particularly concerning how it can feel to be someone torn between two cultural identities and the vast economic divide in India between the wealthy wedding guests and the people living beyond the walls of their exclusive resort. I didn’t find myself very invested in the characters and thought that some of the switches in perspective were confusing and often led into tangents. I do think this could be a fun movie or short series one day though!
I think this would have been excellent as an audiobook to wander around listening to. The writing was good and the stories were funny. In hardcover, though, the lack of focus made it hard to keep going. It's basically a bunch of vignettes. Again, they were good vignettes, but I couldn't stay focused for the whole book, or even more than a few pages at a time.
Looking at the cover, you may think this is a light romcom, but it is much more substantial than that. Set with a backdrop of a high-class wedding in Delhi, the main characters of (mostly) Indian-Americans show us all levels of Indian and American society. There are so many thought-provoking but accessible elements of culture, the feeling of being an outsider, generational differences, and caste. It has the fun of Crazy Rich Asians while diving so much deeper into identity.
3.5 stars rounded to 4
Charming, witty and full of heart, Destination Wedding by Diksha Basu is a kaleidoscope of colorful characters, desi drama and spot on dialogues, amidst a lavish Indian wedding.
The writing is simple and unique but I am afraid it might not appeal to those who aren't familiar with what I think of as "Indian style english". Anyhow, I personally found it delightful. The narrative is third person and the author seamlessly transitions between characters, incorporating their backstories along with the background commentary. The portrayal of contemporary India is pretty accurate and I found myself nodding in agreement and laughing out loud several times throughout the book. There is no plot, but that's hardly unexpected in literary fiction as it's usually more about character study than storyline.
With the wedding being the central theme, there's no shortage of drama, gossip and mayhem, all extremely entertaining, but, beneath all that humor we get an astute examination of class structure, culture, identity, race and belonging. Readers also gain an insight into second generation immigrant experience and interracial relationships.
I loved getting a glimpse into the lives of characters from The Windfall, and if you've read the author's debut you'll easily see the connection, but don't worry if you haven't, because you won't miss anything.
Overall, Destination Wedding is a light heated, enjoyable read that both entertains and educates. Recommended if you enjoy character driven, diverse literary fiction with a sprinkle of South Asian culture, custom and traditions.
**A free ARC was provided by Random House in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.**
Charming, witty and full of heart, Destination Wedding by Diksha Basu is a kaleidoscope of colorful characters, desi drama and spot on dialogues, amidst a lavish Indian wedding.
The writing is simple and unique but I am afraid it might not appeal to those who aren't familiar with what I think of as "Indian style english". Anyhow, I personally found it delightful. The narrative is third person and the author seamlessly transitions between characters, incorporating their backstories along with the background commentary. The portrayal of contemporary India is pretty accurate and I found myself nodding in agreement and laughing out loud several times throughout the book. There is no plot, but that's hardly unexpected in literary fiction as it's usually more about character study than storyline.
With the wedding being the central theme, there's no shortage of drama, gossip and mayhem, all extremely entertaining, but, beneath all that humor we get an astute examination of class structure, culture, identity, race and belonging. Readers also gain an insight into second generation immigrant experience and interracial relationships.
I loved getting a glimpse into the lives of characters from The Windfall, and if you've read the author's debut you'll easily see the connection, but don't worry if you haven't, because you won't miss anything.
Overall, Destination Wedding is a light heated, enjoyable read that both entertains and educates. Recommended if you enjoy character driven, diverse literary fiction with a sprinkle of South Asian culture, custom and traditions.
**A free ARC was provided by Random House in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.**