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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
Great read about an Indian man finding himself caught between cultures. The characters were so varied that it turned out to be a reminder that there are so many layers to crossing cultures. Every experience is unique.
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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:
No
Anil has known since he was a boy that he would be a doctor. His father had bigger plans for him than farming the fields of India, as has been his family's history for generations. Now Anil finds himself far from the only home he's ever known, serving his residency at a hospital in Texas. Rooming with two other young men from India, Anil settles into the complicated life of living as an American.
Anil gets word that his father has died, and being the oldest son he is what is known as The Golden Son. He is expected to take on the role of village arbitrator now that his father is gone. This is complicated by the fact that Anil is so far from home, but he does his best to fulfill his duty.
I enjoyed this story. It's a nice exploration of Indian culture, family dynamics and hospital politics. Anil and roommates Baldev and Mahesh become like brothers. They grow and mature together, navigating adulthood and dealing with the demands of their jobs and parents. After lives spent growing up somewhat sheltered, America has new dangers and temptations for each of these young men to handle.
While following Anil, there is a side story going for Leena, childhood friend of Anil and his sister Piya. Leena finds herself in an arranged marriage that is less than happy, and later finds herself in a compromised position.
There are a lot of very likable characters in this story. Anil is a man of great ethic and commitment. His roommates are likewise good men. His sister Piya is sweet and funny with a mind of her own. Leena is guarded, but charming and smart and dedicated.
My final word: It's unfortunate that I wound up battling the flu while reading and reviewing this book. I'm suffering from brain fog, and feel that I just can't do this book justice. It's a light and easy read, full of likable characters, with enough conflict to hold your interest. It's a great introduction to India and Indian culture (although it seems that not everything portrayed in the book as part of common Indian culture may really be that, as the author did use some creative license). I found myself especially fond of Anil and Leena. I would not hesitate to recommend this book. I only wish I hadn't been too sick to really relax and enjoy this story fully.
Anil gets word that his father has died, and being the oldest son he is what is known as The Golden Son. He is expected to take on the role of village arbitrator now that his father is gone. This is complicated by the fact that Anil is so far from home, but he does his best to fulfill his duty.
I enjoyed this story. It's a nice exploration of Indian culture, family dynamics and hospital politics. Anil and roommates Baldev and Mahesh become like brothers. They grow and mature together, navigating adulthood and dealing with the demands of their jobs and parents. After lives spent growing up somewhat sheltered, America has new dangers and temptations for each of these young men to handle.
While following Anil, there is a side story going for Leena, childhood friend of Anil and his sister Piya. Leena finds herself in an arranged marriage that is less than happy, and later finds herself in a compromised position.
There are a lot of very likable characters in this story. Anil is a man of great ethic and commitment. His roommates are likewise good men. His sister Piya is sweet and funny with a mind of her own. Leena is guarded, but charming and smart and dedicated.
My final word: It's unfortunate that I wound up battling the flu while reading and reviewing this book. I'm suffering from brain fog, and feel that I just can't do this book justice. It's a light and easy read, full of likable characters, with enough conflict to hold your interest. It's a great introduction to India and Indian culture (although it seems that not everything portrayed in the book as part of common Indian culture may really be that, as the author did use some creative license). I found myself especially fond of Anil and Leena. I would not hesitate to recommend this book. I only wish I hadn't been too sick to really relax and enjoy this story fully.
An enjoyable read. A little simplistic but still a very good plot and examination of two cultures and the diverging life paths of two childhood friends.
dark
hopeful
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
This book actually started of kind of meh to me, but then I got to Part II, and it became increasingly better in each part as I got to know the characters more. It’s a wonderfully told story and I will be reading ‘Secret Daughter’ for sure.
4.5 What a well-written and captivating book. I was very taken in by the two protagonists and had a difficult time putting the book down.
This was a comfort read for me. I enjoyed the story. I always enjoy stories that take me to a different country and share aspects of another culture. This was highly recommended to me by a number of people and perhaps this is why I was a little disappointed. There was no suspense, surprises or thought provoking story line .
My review was originally published on Q-Avenue.com.
Anil is the eldest son of a wealthy family in rural India destined to take over the family business. Leena is the daughter of farmers and his closest friend. However, as they get older they grow apart. He is an ambitious young man and the first of his family to attend college, leave for the United States, and become a doctor. She marries a man her family approves of and moves to a distant village to live with him. He questions his worth as a doctor after he makes a fatal medical error. She works hard cooking and cleaning for her new family. Years later, they form a strong friendship despite their parents’ objections. It’s a powerful story about family, love and finding your own identity.
Review:
The Golden Son is the first novel I’ve read by Shilpi Somaya Gowda and I wasn’t disappointed. She beautifully illustrates two very different worlds – the traditional Indian village of Panchanagar and the foreign and harsh city of Dallas, Texas. Both are places where Anil and Leena find hate, independence and self-discovery.
Anil is an interesting character because he must reconcile his family’s values and the “corruption” of western influence. While trying to find this balance, he makes mistakes in all aspects of his life, which made me root for his success. At first, Leena’s character doesn’t hold the same appeal for me that Anil’s did. Gowda depicts her as someone whose fate lies in marriage because there are no other options. She is intelligent but suffers mistreatment by her new family in silence and I felt sorry for her.
What I didn’t understand was the purpose of Amber, an American and Anil’s first love. They want to spend all their time together and he even loses his virginity to her. Originally, I thought she was there to provide contrast. Her relationship with Anil was founded on respect, whereas, Leena and Girish’s was abusive. However, despite Amber’s “love” for Anil, she lets her family’s and friend’s discrimination come between them.
Death, violence and recovery are themes that change the course of Leena’s and Anil’s lives. Firstly, death is both a defining and freeing aspect in this book. For Anil, his father’s untimely passing means he feels obligated to take over the role of clan leader and family arbiter. For Leena, her father’s suicide means freedom from her family’s debt. Secondly, the violence that happens to both characters propels their stories forward. Anil is determined to succeed as a doctor after his friend is badly beaten and Leena works hard to become financially secure after she escapes verbal and physical abuse. Finally, recovery is about discovering where they belong in the world. Anil compromises his goals as a doctor so he can have a personal life and spend more time in India. Leena finds peace by working and making money off of her family’s land.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed experiencing India and Dallas through The Golden Son. The flawed characters, intriguing storylines and cultural differences kept me reading until the end.
Rating: 4/5
Anil is the eldest son of a wealthy family in rural India destined to take over the family business. Leena is the daughter of farmers and his closest friend. However, as they get older they grow apart. He is an ambitious young man and the first of his family to attend college, leave for the United States, and become a doctor. She marries a man her family approves of and moves to a distant village to live with him. He questions his worth as a doctor after he makes a fatal medical error. She works hard cooking and cleaning for her new family. Years later, they form a strong friendship despite their parents’ objections. It’s a powerful story about family, love and finding your own identity.
Review:
The Golden Son is the first novel I’ve read by Shilpi Somaya Gowda and I wasn’t disappointed. She beautifully illustrates two very different worlds – the traditional Indian village of Panchanagar and the foreign and harsh city of Dallas, Texas. Both are places where Anil and Leena find hate, independence and self-discovery.
Anil is an interesting character because he must reconcile his family’s values and the “corruption” of western influence. While trying to find this balance, he makes mistakes in all aspects of his life, which made me root for his success. At first, Leena’s character doesn’t hold the same appeal for me that Anil’s did. Gowda depicts her as someone whose fate lies in marriage because there are no other options. She is intelligent but suffers mistreatment by her new family in silence and I felt sorry for her.
What I didn’t understand was the purpose of Amber, an American and Anil’s first love. They want to spend all their time together and he even loses his virginity to her. Originally, I thought she was there to provide contrast. Her relationship with Anil was founded on respect, whereas, Leena and Girish’s was abusive. However, despite Amber’s “love” for Anil, she lets her family’s and friend’s discrimination come between them.
Death, violence and recovery are themes that change the course of Leena’s and Anil’s lives. Firstly, death is both a defining and freeing aspect in this book. For Anil, his father’s untimely passing means he feels obligated to take over the role of clan leader and family arbiter. For Leena, her father’s suicide means freedom from her family’s debt. Secondly, the violence that happens to both characters propels their stories forward. Anil is determined to succeed as a doctor after his friend is badly beaten and Leena works hard to become financially secure after she escapes verbal and physical abuse. Finally, recovery is about discovering where they belong in the world. Anil compromises his goals as a doctor so he can have a personal life and spend more time in India. Leena finds peace by working and making money off of her family’s land.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed experiencing India and Dallas through The Golden Son. The flawed characters, intriguing storylines and cultural differences kept me reading until the end.
Rating: 4/5
The Golden Son was one of those books that once I started reading it, I didn’t want to put it down. Anil, the main character, is faced with an almost impossible task: juggling his duties as the firstborn to his family half a world away while trying to complete his residency at a Dallas hospital. Those struggles coupled with being a complete fish out of water and his lack of confidence make him a likable and sympathetic character. The story also follows Leena, his childhood friend, as she tries to find her own way in the world. The setting details are wonderful, from the gruelling rigours of being a resident doctor to the way of life in rural India. The portrayal of Anil’s family’s homestead and their place in the local community are fascinating. A most worthwhile read.