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3.53 AVERAGE
3.53 AVERAGE
emotional
reflective
tense
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
Dava is indeed an amazing woman portrayed beautifully by the author. But where I should have felt shock or sadness or closure, I felt nothing. Perhaps that was the sorrow of losing Dava?
Each of her children had stories that were told together in their own sections for each chapter. And yet I felt the sections ended without completing each characters story for that section. There was more to be told that just wasn’t. The only characters who’s stories were truly told were the grandchildren. They didn’t play a big part and what we read was enough.
For a woman who was also frugal, Beatrix Island seemed excessive, even for someone who wanted to leave behind a legacy. Why not name it Shastri Island like she named her foundation? I can catch several uncharacteristic traits that just required more storytelling to justify.
Each of her children had stories that were told together in their own sections for each chapter. And yet I felt the sections ended without completing each characters story for that section. There was more to be told that just wasn’t. The only characters who’s stories were truly told were the grandchildren. They didn’t play a big part and what we read was enough.
For a woman who was also frugal, Beatrix Island seemed excessive, even for someone who wanted to leave behind a legacy. Why not name it Shastri Island like she named her foundation? I can catch several uncharacteristic traits that just required more storytelling to justify.
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
reflective
slow-paced
I really wanted to like this one! And I could totally see the author’s intent throughout. However, it fell super flat for me 😑 I didn’t find any of the characters likesble, there was next-to-no plot, and the writing really dragged on for me. This was a big miss for me.
funny
hopeful
reflective
slow-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
The writing was a bit fluffy and the book felt shallow.
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
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Wealthy Dava is dying. She brings her children to a mansion she built on an island so she can die on her own terms. She is announced dead before she dies and instead of her accomplishments the press is talking about her secrets, a baby she gave for adoption and an affair she had with a singer who wrote a song about her. family drama ensues. rich people problems. I did enjoy it but Dava is very unlikeable.
2.5
A big ensemble of mostly flat characters. I enjoyed the flashbacks more than the core story.
A big ensemble of mostly flat characters. I enjoyed the flashbacks more than the core story.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Dava Shastri had lived a life of glitz and glamor. Now, at the age of 70, she is going to die by assisted suicide. She had called her four adult children to her remote mansion to discuss her plans, and what unfolds is a story about a family and their matriarch.
This book surprised me. I went in blind (per usual) but was hooked once it started giving me Crazy Rich Asian vibes (first chapter). While it is not a humorous story like CRA, it is filled with family dynamics, drama, rivalry and secrets.
I enjoyed how the chapters went back in time to allow the reader to know Dava throughout her life. While I didn’t love her at first, I grew to love her by the end. I also enjoyed how her children each had chapters focusing on them, so each character became a main player within the story. The concept of the story was also very interesting, and I thought about this long after I finished the book. If you were able to choose when you pass on, would you want the world to know prior to your passing so you could read about what people thought about you? Interesting, right?!
This book surprised me. I went in blind (per usual) but was hooked once it started giving me Crazy Rich Asian vibes (first chapter). While it is not a humorous story like CRA, it is filled with family dynamics, drama, rivalry and secrets.
I enjoyed how the chapters went back in time to allow the reader to know Dava throughout her life. While I didn’t love her at first, I grew to love her by the end. I also enjoyed how her children each had chapters focusing on them, so each character became a main player within the story. The concept of the story was also very interesting, and I thought about this long after I finished the book. If you were able to choose when you pass on, would you want the world to know prior to your passing so you could read about what people thought about you? Interesting, right?!
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes