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kalyaniwarrier's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Pros: the plot and character development is wonderful. The message of unity and oneness among India and Pakistan is the core theme of the novel. The characters of the novel go through multiple tribulations to be better versions of themselves.
As it is a work of post-modern literature, it can be interpreted anyway. There are vague dialogues and scenes that are personal that could be applied to many circumstances.
Cons: it could have been down by 150-200 pages. I understand it is post-modernist, but it feels too prolonged. The stream of consciousness is a core basis of this novel, which makes it difficult to understand plots at times.
As it is a work of post-modern literature, it can be interpreted anyway. There are vague dialogues and scenes that are personal that could be applied to many circumstances.
Cons: it could have been down by 150-200 pages. I understand it is post-modernist, but it feels too prolonged. The stream of consciousness is a core basis of this novel, which makes it difficult to understand plots at times.
amyfletcher's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
roomal's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
metalheadmaiden's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
booklywookly's review
5.0
Remember that one friend of yours who can talk about anything and has opinion about everything? That one friend who starts off telling about an “interesting” incident and it’s been one hour 40 minutes and you are counting how many times they said “sorry, I digressed” (13 times) and “okay so where were we” (6 times)? However exhausting it is being with this friend, you are always enthralled by the stories and energy. After a month of silence, you call them again. If that person were to be a book, this would be it.
This feels to me like a collection of short essays, discussions and philosophical thoughts on topics touched upon over due course of a fictional plot. Annotators are gonna have some fun here. An inch of a story, a yard of these beautiful ramblings. Meandering in every direction, Shree is shepherding us through these many conversations - the many ebbs and flows - guiding us to the important “what ifs” from the less relevant ones. She is making herself noticed and is not hiding behind a character. She addresses you and occasionally shows you a mirror.
ma is depressed, ma is shrinking, ma won’t get out of the bed, ma made a friend, ma is unfurling, ma is unfurling too much, ma decides to visit Pakistan.
It’s a slow burn. You’ll have to be patient to appreciate it. Ma doesn’t utter one legit complete sentence until p.230. Another important character, Rosie, enters narrative at p.169 never to be heard of again till p.310. Pakistan? 500 pages in. You get the idea. But it picks up typical plot-pace in the second section.
Mishmash of themes and genres - exploring modern urban life, folklore, Buddhism, gender, after effects of a nation being divided, mother daughter relationship, patriarchy, and redemption. Octogenarian main character, puns, wordplay, drifting into tangents, whimsy, magic realism, coarse humor, fleshed out supporting cast, and a self aware eccentric narrator - this is what you get.
Some random thoughts in comments.
I could definitely relate to “beti” the most. I understand what she was going through and I felt bad for her. I also felt bad for “bahu” who deserved better.
A couple of chapters written from crows’ PoV and it has Rushdie written all over it.
The whole “I want to go to Pakistan” arc seemed a bit forced to me.
I watched Shree reading few excerpts from original version and it was quite dramatic and - ratatatatatatat - on fire! This is clearly a love letter to Hindi language and if I get time, I might read the OG as well. Daisy Rockwell’s clever efforts to preserve the “Indian-ness” of the context, playfulness of the words and nuances of sound over meaning in her translation is commendable. Grammar may go to hell. However, I would avoid if this is your first entry into the world of a South Asian literature. There are much easier and more forgiving books out there to give you a quick south asian culture orientations.
emilyforrer's review against another edition
3.0
I had absolutely no clue what I was reading. Every now and again I'd be like "hold on how did we get here." But it worked somehow. Too long for me but a lovely story.
aspersephone's review against another edition
4.0
पुस्तक को पहिलो १०० पृष्ठ सम्म पुग्न अलिक कठिन नै छ। यस्तो लाग्छ कि लेखक बेमतलबका गफ गर्दै छन्। तर यी बेमतलब का कुरा का नि आफ्नै बेग्लै अर्थ छन्, बिम्ब र उदाहरण ले भरिएर स्पस्ट नहोलान् तर यो लेखनी हेर्दा लाग्छ पाना भरि वाक्यहरु मधुर waltz गरिरहेका छन्।
यहाँ सबै अटाएको छ, घर, समाज, राजनिती,दर्शन, व्यङ्ग्य,संवेदना,भाषा शिल्प।
यो कथा एउटि आमा को हो जो केही समय बिना हलचल ओछ्यान मै पल्टिरहन्छिन् र जब उठ्छिन् उनी सङ्गै उठ्छन् कथा का अनेक मोड। यो कहानी एउटि छोरी को हो जो समाजले छोरी का लागि बनाइदिएका सबै परिधी भन्दा पर बाँचिरहेकी हुन्छिन् तर जब आमा चढ्दो उमेर सङ्गै दिनानुदिन बालक झैँ हुन थाल्छिन उनिलाइ मातृत्व को सबै रङ्ग ले बाँध्न थाल्छ। यो कहानी एउटा घर को हो,सामान्य घर झैँ त्यहाँ बस्ने केहि मान्छे का, सम्बन्ध का,विचारका,उच्च अहोदा समालेका बाबुको, मोडेर्न हुन खोज्ने आमाको,परदेश मा हुने सन्तानको, तीन परक पिढी को, केही नोकर चाकर को, केहि चराचुरुङ्गी, केही बोट बिरुवा,दुई देशको, केही समाजको केही तपाईं अनि हाम्रो।
यो कथा कोरिएका सिमानाको हो जो आफैमा निरर्थक छ्न्, जोडिदा जोडिदै सार्थक बनिजान्छन्। यो कथा सम्झनाको पनि हो, एक स्मृति बाट अर्को स्मृतिमा यसरी उफृन्छ कि केही समय यो चाहिँ मुख्य कथावस्तु होला भन्ने सोच्दा सोच्दै अर्कै कथा बन्न थाल्छ। पछिल्लो १०० पाना मा छन् भेटाउन पर्ने सबै कुरा तर त्यहीँ पुर्याउने बाटो भने अघिल्लो पानाहरुमा अल्झिएर आउँछ। अन्तमा भेटिने भनेको आयाम बेग्लै भए पनि यो आदत को कथा हो,प्रेम को कथा हो, समय को कथा हो।
यहाँ सबै अटाएको छ, घर, समाज, राजनिती,दर्शन, व्यङ्ग्य,संवेदना,भाषा शिल्प।
यो कथा एउटि आमा को हो जो केही समय बिना हलचल ओछ्यान मै पल्टिरहन्छिन् र जब उठ्छिन् उनी सङ्गै उठ्छन् कथा का अनेक मोड। यो कहानी एउटि छोरी को हो जो समाजले छोरी का लागि बनाइदिएका सबै परिधी भन्दा पर बाँचिरहेकी हुन्छिन् तर जब आमा चढ्दो उमेर सङ्गै दिनानुदिन बालक झैँ हुन थाल्छिन उनिलाइ मातृत्व को सबै रङ्ग ले बाँध्न थाल्छ। यो कहानी एउटा घर को हो,सामान्य घर झैँ त्यहाँ बस्ने केहि मान्छे का, सम्बन्ध का,विचारका,उच्च अहोदा समालेका बाबुको, मोडेर्न हुन खोज्ने आमाको,परदेश मा हुने सन्तानको, तीन परक पिढी को, केही नोकर चाकर को, केहि चराचुरुङ्गी, केही बोट बिरुवा,दुई देशको, केही समाजको केही तपाईं अनि हाम्रो।
यो कथा कोरिएका सिमानाको हो जो आफैमा निरर्थक छ्न्, जोडिदा जोडिदै सार्थक बनिजान्छन्। यो कथा सम्झनाको पनि हो, एक स्मृति बाट अर्को स्मृतिमा यसरी उफृन्छ कि केही समय यो चाहिँ मुख्य कथावस्तु होला भन्ने सोच्दा सोच्दै अर्कै कथा बन्न थाल्छ। पछिल्लो १०० पाना मा छन् भेटाउन पर्ने सबै कुरा तर त्यहीँ पुर्याउने बाटो भने अघिल्लो पानाहरुमा अल्झिएर आउँछ। अन्तमा भेटिने भनेको आयाम बेग्लै भए पनि यो आदत को कथा हो,प्रेम को कथा हो, समय को कथा हो।
jamorley's review against another edition
3.0
I'm not usually one to balk at long novels, but I would have enjoyed this one a lot more had it been around a third of the length. I'd be happy on one level to see someone pull out a cleaver and produce a bastardised version, leaving the narrative framework that a western reader would feel safest with and leaving dense and unfamiliar modes of address, stories and references in a messy heap on the floor, but I'd know somehow that the true heart of the novel would be left there with the offal.
I couldn't find peace with the seemingly redundant meta-commentary. "There's no harm in starting the story right here, that is, the way we're doing it right now," it's stated early on. "Not much need be said about [whomever/whatever], as the story doesn't really concern [them/it]," begging the question of why this subject was dragged up in the first place. These explicit goiters of inefficiency, as George Saunders might refer to them, layered on frustration for me that was not shaken off by any later re-incorporation or reveal.
I am grateful for the exposure to themes of partition, despite the opening of part three being maybe the most lost I've ever been reading a book.
I wanted more on Bahu and her Reeboks.
I couldn't find peace with the seemingly redundant meta-commentary. "There's no harm in starting the story right here, that is, the way we're doing it right now," it's stated early on. "Not much need be said about [whomever/whatever], as the story doesn't really concern [them/it]," begging the question of why this subject was dragged up in the first place. These explicit goiters of inefficiency, as George Saunders might refer to them, layered on frustration for me that was not shaken off by any later re-incorporation or reveal.
I am grateful for the exposure to themes of partition, despite the opening of part three being maybe the most lost I've ever been reading a book.
I wanted more on Bahu and her Reeboks.