Scan barcode
clairebau's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I thoroughly enjoyed every page of this book. Vara has a talent for characterization through description of other characters through the eyes of the narrator; in a description of a few sentences (or fewer. usually fewer) one gets an immediate, visceral sense of a new character and also how their description defines the narrating character. This is not just appreciated but also necessary in a story that includes so many unique players, and it was done so well. The family-epic-style storytelling reminded me a bit of Eugenides's Middlesex; aptly a Pulitzer-winning novel while Rao was sadly only nominated.
Some have criticized the ending for feeling too rushed, or that the threads connecting each storyline were not strong enough to leave the reader satisfied. I disagree; I found the connections between each story to be rewarding and surprising. I do wish the end of Athena's story was fleshed out as much as the beginning was. Vara mentioned in her acknowledgements that this novel was a twelve year long project; perhaps she was simply sick of writing it, and for that I cannot blame her.
My favorite part of this novel is that it explores every aspect of the political. A theme I did not expect to come through so strongly and repetitively was that of the man's entitlement to the woman: her body, her children, her intellect. These parts were harrowing and deeply emotional, and as cathartic as one would expect.
Great stuff. I can see myself rereading in the future.
Some have criticized the ending for feeling too rushed, or that the threads connecting each storyline were not strong enough to leave the reader satisfied. I disagree; I found the connections between each story to be rewarding and surprising. I do wish the end of Athena's story was fleshed out as much as the beginning was. Vara mentioned in her acknowledgements that this novel was a twelve year long project; perhaps she was simply sick of writing it, and for that I cannot blame her.
My favorite part of this novel is that it explores every aspect of the political. A theme I did not expect to come through so strongly and repetitively was that of the man's entitlement to the woman: her body, her children, her intellect. These parts were harrowing and deeply emotional, and as cathartic as one would expect.
Great stuff. I can see myself rereading in the future.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Medical content, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Death, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Racism, Rape, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Suicide, Colonisation, Fire/Fire injury, Sexism, Vomit, Infidelity, Police brutality, Sexual content, Violence, Classism, Blood, Body horror, and Sexual assault
americandesi's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
This book is smart, the issue is that this book also knows its smart. Or maybe I'm not smart enough to understand this book. The premise of the book starts simple enough, what if an Indian Immigrant started Apple/Microsoft. Now, what if this kid was born to a family of the lowest social class of India. Add onto that a child that was taught the value of money but also was taught Socialist and revolutionary thoughts in his classrooms. And then, jump forward like a century and that child has a kid who, as children are wont to do, chafes from being around her father. So, she rebels. Things go sideways, the world is ending, and boom, that’s the book.
Now, there was a solid 70 pages in the middle where I think I really vibed with the book. The first half was a slog and then you get to the second where the plot really gets going, everything comes to a head and then, suddenly, I'm just reading this to get to the end. Mind you, not in the good way.
With all our time limited on this world, this book probably isn't one you need to read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism and Sexual assault
____emily____'s review against another edition
challenging
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Medical content
Moderate: Colonisation, Death of parent, Grief, and Sexual assault
More...