Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
Ehhh... I mean, it was engaging but felt so stereotypical
Watch me discuss it more in my reading vlog: https://youtu.be/upSzTm5QfmQ
Watch me discuss it more in my reading vlog: https://youtu.be/upSzTm5QfmQ
challenging
emotional
slow-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Do no harm. It was not, as he'd learned, an easy principle.
This was mostly a pleasant read. It took a bit for me to get into this book, and even then it never actually grabbed me exactly, but I was entertained enough to finish. The book follows Anil, eldest son of an Indian family, going to America to be a doctor. Mild culture clash ensues as Anil finds his footing, but he also soon realizes that it's not easy to leave behind his Indian family and heritage. With one foot in America and one foot, by necessity, in India, he has to figure out how to reconcile the two parts of his life while also doing what he wants to do. It sounds cliché, and in some respects it is, but I think this book handles it well. There's lots of themes of family, of separation, of old ways confronting new ways, and the book also incorporates issues of racism as part of its plot.
I felt like the dialogue and writing was a little flat, and that's what stops me from giving this a higher rating. It sort of reads like a Hallmark movie, with everything seen, shown, nothing left to the imagination, or anything really to think about or contemplate. While the India portions are written with care and detail, the America portions, particularly the characters, felt flat and undeveloped. In particular,Anil's brief fling with Amber never really went anywhere except as a plot device to hang racism issues on. Once that plot point ends, Amber's written out and Anil never really thinks about her again .
A decent book. Not a lot of wow factor, but there's still a lot to like here.
This was mostly a pleasant read. It took a bit for me to get into this book, and even then it never actually grabbed me exactly, but I was entertained enough to finish. The book follows Anil, eldest son of an Indian family, going to America to be a doctor. Mild culture clash ensues as Anil finds his footing, but he also soon realizes that it's not easy to leave behind his Indian family and heritage. With one foot in America and one foot, by necessity, in India, he has to figure out how to reconcile the two parts of his life while also doing what he wants to do. It sounds cliché, and in some respects it is, but I think this book handles it well. There's lots of themes of family, of separation, of old ways confronting new ways, and the book also incorporates issues of racism as part of its plot.
I felt like the dialogue and writing was a little flat, and that's what stops me from giving this a higher rating. It sort of reads like a Hallmark movie, with everything seen, shown, nothing left to the imagination, or anything really to think about or contemplate. While the India portions are written with care and detail, the America portions, particularly the characters, felt flat and undeveloped. In particular,
A decent book. Not a lot of wow factor, but there's still a lot to like here.
Empfehlenswert für alle, die emotionale Geschichten lieben und sich für eine realistische Darstellung von Indien interessieren.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was really a 3.5, but I bumped it up to 4 because of the storytelling. Many of the characters, however, were frustratingly cliche and stereotypical, especially the female ones. The ending also felt more like an epilogue than the story itself.
"The Golden Son" is the story of Anil, a 20-something year old who leaves behind everything he knows in India to complete his medical residency in Dallas, Texas. While he is trying to figure out the United States while trying to stay true to himself and his family, his childhood friend, Leena is forced into an loveless marriage. Both of these characters will have to figure out how to stay true to themselves while moving forward with their lives. This is a good book
I love books set in India, a place that I am absolutely fascinated with, so the setting appealed to me. As I mentioned, the book is also partially set in Dallas. I loved the juxtaposition between the unknown and the known for me. I really thought that it helped me appreciate just how different Anil's life is between India and the United States. In the U.S., Anil is a fish out of water. He is trying to get used to the culture and he's trying to understand how things are done at the hospital where he is doing his residency. He messes up a lot and begins to lose confidence at first. When he returns to India on a visit, he is looked to as a wise adviser after his father passes away. The difference in how he is seen in both places was fascinating to me.
Even with all of Anil's trials and tribulations, I was even more interested in Leena's story. As a woman in India, Leena has fewer choices than men like Anil. She is supposed to be a subservient wife and she has a very hard time figuring out her place in her new household. Some of her story is very hard to read because you feel so bad for the things that she is going through but I think it's so important to read stories that make you uncomfortable because it'll make you think a little bit more. Leena's story still unfortunately rings true for many women around the world.
The writing of the book was good. The subject matter is fascinating, which helped to carry the story. There were a couple places that could used more showing and less telling. There were also a few places that could have been smoothed out a bit in order to increase the flow of the book. Overall, I loved how the characters were written and that the author looked at two very different perspectives throughout the book. That definitely pulled me in!
I love books set in India, a place that I am absolutely fascinated with, so the setting appealed to me. As I mentioned, the book is also partially set in Dallas. I loved the juxtaposition between the unknown and the known for me. I really thought that it helped me appreciate just how different Anil's life is between India and the United States. In the U.S., Anil is a fish out of water. He is trying to get used to the culture and he's trying to understand how things are done at the hospital where he is doing his residency. He messes up a lot and begins to lose confidence at first. When he returns to India on a visit, he is looked to as a wise adviser after his father passes away. The difference in how he is seen in both places was fascinating to me.
Even with all of Anil's trials and tribulations, I was even more interested in Leena's story. As a woman in India, Leena has fewer choices than men like Anil. She is supposed to be a subservient wife and she has a very hard time figuring out her place in her new household. Some of her story is very hard to read because you feel so bad for the things that she is going through but I think it's so important to read stories that make you uncomfortable because it'll make you think a little bit more. Leena's story still unfortunately rings true for many women around the world.
The writing of the book was good. The subject matter is fascinating, which helped to carry the story. There were a couple places that could used more showing and less telling. There were also a few places that could have been smoothed out a bit in order to increase the flow of the book. Overall, I loved how the characters were written and that the author looked at two very different perspectives throughout the book. That definitely pulled me in!
This was another satisfying read by Gowda. I enjoyed her last book, The Secret Daughter, and hoped this would be as enjoyable. This is the story of Anil, the favorite son, who is sent to the US to become a doctor. Not only does he struggle with the challenges of residency, the cultural differences between the US and India are tough for him. After his father dies, his mother expects him to continue in the role of arbitrator for all the people in his village. To say that Anil has a lot on his plate is an understatement. And then there is the story of Leena, his childhood friend. In a tragic arranged marriage, Leena's struggles are heartbreaking, her resilience is inspiring. Ahhh. This book was a very worthwhile read.
The story took a whole different turn than I expected it to... but I loved it!