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trippalli's review
adventurous
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
An interesting and perplexing adventurous drama with lots of drugs and an oddly magical addiction to drinking lemonade me with melted refined gold, not any gold but the gold of fine jewelry full of memories, hopes and power from previous owners and the original goldsmoth's skills and intentions?
Also lots of soap opera drama on love relationships, so many I lost track.. Overall the characters are seeking to make something of themselves and find love.
It seems to have a mostly happy ending although I admit I didn't follow all the drama through it's twists and turns and I lost some of the plot points along the way.. I might've also gotten distracted a bit.. But it was good in a miriad of ways. Especially strong character development...
Also lots of soap opera drama on love relationships, so many I lost track.. Overall the characters are seeking to make something of themselves and find love.
It seems to have a mostly happy ending although I admit I didn't follow all the drama through it's twists and turns and I lost some of the plot points along the way.. I might've also gotten distracted a bit.. But it was good in a miriad of ways. Especially strong character development...
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use, Drug abuse, Addiction, and Suicide
Moderate: Eating disorder and Bullying
emoryscott's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Drug use, and Addiction
Moderate: Alcohol, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, Gun violence, Vomit, Xenophobia, and Body horror
kdelatorre's review
adventurous
mysterious
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? Yes
2.25
I struggled to stay motivated and finish this book
The writing is good at times and worse at others, occasionally pretentious in a way that is clearly show offy and not the writers natural tone. The main character could be to blame but he is so annoying and there is very little if any magical realism making this a boring read, wish she would’ve made it more magical
There’s a random heist that is just a mess but at least adds a meaning to the title
The writing is good at times and worse at others, occasionally pretentious in a way that is clearly show offy and not the writers natural tone. The main character could be to blame but he is so annoying and there is very little if any magical realism making this a boring read, wish she would’ve made it more magical
There’s a random heist that is just a mess but at least adds a meaning to the title
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction and Suicide
elykeepthefaith's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Every single piece of this book was well thought out and masterfully executed. When you start the book it feels like you several different stories are being told and then Sathian discreetly weaves all these different plot points together to create this emotional and raw telling of the immigrant story. The story dissects so many facets of the American Dream and what that means to the South Asian community. One of the things that really sets this book apart is the use of magical realism. If you are going into this book expecting a full blown fantasy, the magic element will not satisfy. The “alchemy” aspect of the book is a thread in the larger plot of the book. I loved it from begin to end!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, and Suicide
Moderate: Bullying and Gun violence
mandkips's review
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Drug abuse, and Addiction
Moderate: Sexual content, Bullying, and Drug use
eli_is_trying's review
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Drug use, Mass/school shootings, Gun violence, Addiction, Death, and Drug abuse
Moderate: Alcohol, Bullying, Misogyny, Body shaming, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Toxic friendship, and Physical abuse
kdrummonds's review
lighthearted
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Drug use, Addiction, and Toxic relationship
anu_wil's review
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Might be my favorite Desi diaspora book, with a perfect combination of comical wit and poignant analysis. I was biased by some interviews with the author in terms of what themes to look for, but seeing South Asian diaspora fiction go beyond the family and the past to roots that are simultaneously ours and not ours is a rare thing I hope to see more. And this is the first time I’ve seen a diaspora novel include mysticism and magic as an embraced part of our lives, rather than a silly falsehood to be rejected and scorned by the American-born second generation; it’s a welcome breath of fresh air
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Drug use
Moderate: Chronic illness and Addiction
abookandaspotoftea's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Drug use, Grief, Bullying, Death, Misogyny, Racism, Religious bigotry, and Toxic relationship
bites_of_books's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Gold Diggers by Sanjena Sathian took me by surprise. In this book we follow Neil (Neeraj) from his teenage years to his adulthood. As a child of immigrants he is feeling the pressure to succeed academically and make his family proud, their sacrifices "worth it". So, when he discovers that his neighbor, Anita, and her mom, are making a magical lemonade that grants ambition and the focus to succeed on whatever you put your mind to, he is hooked.
The book delves deep into the dark side of ambition, the way that immigrants, especially but not exclusively, can be pressured to achieve things whether we want to or not. A danger of being the best can mean that we lose our true selves in the process.
Overall a good representation of what a lot of immigrant children (and adults) face when trying to meet the ideals presented by a new country.
The book delves deep into the dark side of ambition, the way that immigrants, especially but not exclusively, can be pressured to achieve things whether we want to or not. A danger of being the best can mean that we lose our true selves in the process.
Overall a good representation of what a lot of immigrant children (and adults) face when trying to meet the ideals presented by a new country.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction
Moderate: Suicide