375 reviews for:

A Great Country

Shilpi Somaya Gowda

3.89 AVERAGE

megibson82's review

5.0

emotional inspiring sad tense fast-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

---

A Great Country by Shilpi Somaya Gowda is a moving, beautifully written novel that lingers long after the final page. Gowda weaves together themes of family, identity, belonging, and sacrifice with such emotional depth that it feels both deeply personal and universally relatable. The characters are layered and authentic, their struggles and triumphs rendered with empathy and honesty.

What I loved most is how Gowda explores the tension between generations—between tradition and new opportunities, between cultural heritage and the challenges of forging a path in a new place. The writing is elegant yet accessible, with passages that stopped me in my tracks to reread.

This is a novel that invites reflection on what it truly means to call a place home and how families navigate love, loss, and resilience together. Powerful, heartfelt, and unforgettable—one of the best books I’ve read this year.

druy10's review against another edition

4.5

emotional hopeful reflective tense 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: Complicated

mschoo's review against another edition

3.25

challenging emotional reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

shasha05_'s review

2.0

---

this novel was tied up way too nicely for the author to have proved any point about any systemic issues. 

teedee1204's review

4.25

medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

wildflowerjen's review

3.25

challenging hopeful reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

pearsonash's review against another edition

3.0

challenging emotional tense

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

wedwardscott's review

3.0

emotional informative reflective sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

cass10's review

4.5

emotional reflective tense 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

monquarter's review

4.0

challenging emotional sad tense slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Yes