Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
#IReadCanadianDay
Probably would have been five stars if life hadn’t gotten in the way of reading it faster. Very good; emotional and heart-wrenching.
Probably would have been five stars if life hadn’t gotten in the way of reading it faster. Very good; emotional and heart-wrenching.
Wonderfully woven tale
With crisp, clear writing and a plot with just enough twists, this story is woven into a beautiful yet unexpected tale of discovery. My favorite read of the year so far.
With crisp, clear writing and a plot with just enough twists, this story is woven into a beautiful yet unexpected tale of discovery. My favorite read of the year so far.
Yest Another emotive and culturally rich story from Gowda. I really loved her first book, Secret Daughter, how it was written, the characters, the story, all of it. I love books that teach me of cultures different from my own and how Gowda does it is so easy to absorb digest. Like Secret Daughter, that touched on many topics, The Golden Son did too. This one looked to culture, family, love, values, beliefs and change. The Golden Son was both heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same same. While at times hard to read (due to the horrible situations told of), it was also so nice to see things work out as they should. I would definitely recommend this one just as I do Secret Daughter.
A different read for me but I enjoyed it. The Golden Son is more of a family story. A young Indian man decides to take a different path and become a doctor and study in America. The story mainly follows his life during his 3 year residency in a hospital in Texas. He deals with many issues regarding family, obligations, love, friendship, culture, and racism. The story is well written and has lots of great, interesting, and strong characters.
An enjoyable tale that mixes complex family dynamics and Indian culture to great emotional effect. The juxtaposition of American and Indian cultures works well here as Anil is pulled between two completely different worlds, each one with different expectations for how he ought to live his life.
Overall this was a beautiful book with the character's stories woven together wonderfully. I didn't find myself scanning ahead to a POV that I preferred. If you love realistic fiction from different cultures this is definitely a good read worth your time!
Very intriguing and well researched like Shilpi's previous book. It leaves impression on the mind even days after reading it.
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
This story is a bittersweet one for me, diving into Indian society and looking through the eyes of the main characters Anil (aspiring Doctor) and Leena the business woman who does all she can to survive by helping her family manage a pottery business while raising her niece and nephew in India.
I love learning about the Indian culture and traditions in this book although it was fiction, there was so much drama, violence (trigger warning) and childhood love. In a nutshell, it’s about the high expectations parents have towards their children and if they are able to live by traditions, while having dreams and aspirations of their own. The ending to my surprise wasn’t what I was hoping for 😢 (noOooOoOo!!) but nevertheless it was still a happy ending. There were a few tear-jerker moments and it made me realize we all have our own choices to make when it comes to what we want do with our lives regardless if our parents approve or not. Do what makes your soul happy.
I love learning about the Indian culture and traditions in this book although it was fiction, there was so much drama, violence (trigger warning) and childhood love. In a nutshell, it’s about the high expectations parents have towards their children and if they are able to live by traditions, while having dreams and aspirations of their own. The ending to my surprise wasn’t what I was hoping for 😢 (noOooOoOo!!) but nevertheless it was still a happy ending. There were a few tear-jerker moments and it made me realize we all have our own choices to make when it comes to what we want do with our lives regardless if our parents approve or not. Do what makes your soul happy.
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Done reading this book today! An easy read, except the complex medical terms. Not much emotional fuss but the simplicity and fast-flowing narrative are absorbing. The Golden Son is about a young man torn between the place he left behind and those that he chose to live; between east (India) and the west (America); between family and career; between responsibility and ambition. I also learned from this book that there is a long tradition in India of settling disputes between individuals and families within community, called panchanayat, in its original form, meaning, the assembly (ayat) of five (panch) respected elders akin also to the traditional ways of solving disputes in the Philippines.
PROS: Unexpectedly enjoyed this novel. Being with a ‘golden son’ myself for the last 6 years... this rang true and especially the parts set in Dallas. I can’t attest to the rest of it but I found it a fast read and I was invested in the characters.
CONS: the white people SUCK in this book (ok, fair enough), but also - super sick of violence against women / having a phoenix moment being the only way they rise. Truly, truly, tired of that trope.
CONS: the white people SUCK in this book (ok, fair enough), but also - super sick of violence against women / having a phoenix moment being the only way they rise. Truly, truly, tired of that trope.