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3.53 AVERAGE
3.53 AVERAGE
I checked the audiobook out of my local library because Lilly Singh had made this one of her earlier book club picks and the synopsis sounded intriguing.
Dava Shastri views herself in terms of her own philanthropic work and she desperately wants to know how the world will view that work when she is gone. However, as Dava gathers her children around her for Christmas she begins to see that perhaps she and her legacy are more complicated than she realized. The course of the book examines how Dava and those closest to her navigate those complications and come to terms with them to find love, joy, and comfort in each other and from the sorrows that life brings.
I loved this book. The narrative was beautiful and so complex. Ramisetti has this way of making you feel as if you are a player in the plot even though you are standing outside of it. While I was listening it felt as if I was both Dava and her children throughout the story. As Dava began to think about her life and legacy as a reader it felt like I was learning and understanding how to navigate the parts of yourself that you create to interact with the outside world to accomplish your goals and dreams. As the children, I felt like I was learning how to cope with my own life while learning that my mother was not just a mother but a whole complicated, mess of a person. My only complaint about this book is I wanted the epilogue to be a whole other book. I cannot wait to read Ramisetti's next work.
Dava Shastri views herself in terms of her own philanthropic work and she desperately wants to know how the world will view that work when she is gone. However, as Dava gathers her children around her for Christmas she begins to see that perhaps she and her legacy are more complicated than she realized. The course of the book examines how Dava and those closest to her navigate those complications and come to terms with them to find love, joy, and comfort in each other and from the sorrows that life brings.
I loved this book. The narrative was beautiful and so complex. Ramisetti has this way of making you feel as if you are a player in the plot even though you are standing outside of it. While I was listening it felt as if I was both Dava and her children throughout the story. As Dava began to think about her life and legacy as a reader it felt like I was learning and understanding how to navigate the parts of yourself that you create to interact with the outside world to accomplish your goals and dreams. As the children, I felt like I was learning how to cope with my own life while learning that my mother was not just a mother but a whole complicated, mess of a person. My only complaint about this book is I wanted the epilogue to be a whole other book. I cannot wait to read Ramisetti's next work.
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
inspiring
reflective
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
The characters were all very complicated in this story, and their relationships felt very raw and real. This book took me some time to read because I found the omniscient narration from multiple perspectives a little hard to follow. That being said, my favorite parts were Dava’s flashbacks on her life and wish I could to live in that part of the story a little more!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer
DNF at chapter 5
maybe I found this book at the wrong time or in the wrong mood but I didn’t click with it at all. There was something about the writing style and the introduction of characters that totally turned me off the book.
emotional
reflective
sad
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
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
this book was somewhat of a trudge to get through at times & the inconsistent narrative style was frequently confusing. (omniscient third-person narrator that is often switched mid-scene so you’re left wondering who we’re following exactly)
i appreciate the message of the book & found some parts very enjoyable, but overall, not the biggest fan unfortunately.
i appreciate the message of the book & found some parts very enjoyable, but overall, not the biggest fan unfortunately.
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
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
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Ok this was a 3/5 cuz I enjoyed it but like wasn’t anything special. Just some fun family drama 🎭