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3.53 AVERAGE
3.53 AVERAGE
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Couldn’t get into it or care about the characters, am learning to move in rather than push through when a book doesn’t grab me
emotional
reflective
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
I couldn’t get emotionally invested but loved the themes of legscy and family
I got really bored around the 200-page mark. I didn't really like the pacing, there would be flashbacks at awkward moments that lasted for so many pages, and I found myself not really caring about the story once the two 'twists' were revealed.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Ok so this book had a lot of boring moments, but it definitely had some that pulled at your heart strings. For example, Dava’s letter to Chaitanya and her whole convo thing with her grandchildren and Sandi . The last chapter kinda made me really sentimental. I did appreciate the book for giving Telugu representation. I don’t know if I would recommend this book to someone because of all the inconsistencies and boring moments, but the heartfelt moments really do hit. This book has a close place in my heart though.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Terminal illness, Death of parent
Minor: Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Alcohol
I rated this 3.5* mainly because I had to pick it up more than once. Although it was beautifully written, and I enjoyed the story and character development, it was just slow enough to make it difficult to get into at first. Dava Shastri has gathered her family for one last Christmas together, unbeknownst to them. When they begin to see news reports of her death, though, the family must come to terms with what the death of their matriarch means to each of them. And Dava herself must wrestle with her regrets and what she hopes will be her legacy. Beautiful idea, somewhat well-executed.
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
reflective
tense
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I loved the premise of this book. Dava Shastri is dying. She invites her family to her island to spend her last few days with her. Unbeknownst to her family, the billionaire has orchestrated a leak of news of her death one day early, for the sole purpose of reading what the world has to say about her. The prospect of knowing what people really think of you is quite enticing, so this is the reason I picked up this book, coupled with the fact that the main character is South Asian. Regrettably, I disliked every character. The children bickered over little things at every possible moment, and the problems they focussed on seemed unrelatable to me. The in-laws are practically two-dimensional. As a result, Dava's relationship with her family seems tenuous (which is the point at first) even to the end. The children mourning her at the end seem insincere and perfunctory.
I was also bothered by the attempt to frame Dava as an "ethical billionaire" when in fact it seemed that there was so much more that she could have done with her money to help others.
While I wanted to read this book all the way to the end, I am not compelled to reread, or recommend to anyone.
I was also bothered by the attempt to frame Dava as an "ethical billionaire" when in fact it seemed that there was so much more that she could have done with her money to help others.
While I wanted to read this book all the way to the end, I am not compelled to reread, or recommend to anyone.