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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
slow-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
medium-paced
challenging
fast-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
emotional
sad
tense
fast-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
Amazing story of how one family’s world is turned upside down when their 12-year-old neurodiverse son is arrested.
challenging
emotional
fast-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
challenging
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
For starters, thank you to @bibliolifestyle and @marinerbooks for this #gifted copy! I was looking forward to the character-driven examination of the model minority myth, class and privilege. I was supposed to tag the author for this feature, but since my overall impressions are extremely so-so, I haven’t.
Why the so-so feelings? At first I couldn’t put my finger on it. I enjoyed the writing style and the characters were diverse and real. But something about it was just not hitting right. This book is exactly what you’d expect it to be and I realized it all felt very…standard. Nothing took me by surprise and each of the characters filled a specific role without much complexity.
But it was more than that, and I didn’t identify it until seeing a review from @low_keybookish. I agree with her that the approach of the son’s presumed autism spectrum disorder felt off. I still can’t quite articulate what it is that isn’t sitting right. (She did a much better job at this - definitely check out her review!) I think it’s a vibe of “if he gets diagnosed, he’ll get the right help and everything will be better” instead encouraging education about how to recognize and adjust practices on the policing side to accommodate those on the spectrum. I realize it’s FAR more complicated than that, but the book really oversimplified things and I wish it had approached this differently.
If I had read this book in 2020, I would’ve adored it. It really does touch on some important topics and would’ve opened my eyes to a number of things if I hadn’t already read many other stories that did the same in a more complex, compelling way. Even as I wrap up this review, I am still unsure that I really understand exactly what didn’t work for me, but the bottom line is that if a friend were to ask me what I thought, my response would be “it was fine”.
Why the so-so feelings? At first I couldn’t put my finger on it. I enjoyed the writing style and the characters were diverse and real. But something about it was just not hitting right. This book is exactly what you’d expect it to be and I realized it all felt very…standard. Nothing took me by surprise and each of the characters filled a specific role without much complexity.
But it was more than that, and I didn’t identify it until seeing a review from @low_keybookish. I agree with her that the approach of the son’s presumed autism spectrum disorder felt off. I still can’t quite articulate what it is that isn’t sitting right. (She did a much better job at this - definitely check out her review!) I think it’s a vibe of “if he gets diagnosed, he’ll get the right help and everything will be better” instead encouraging education about how to recognize and adjust practices on the policing side to accommodate those on the spectrum. I realize it’s FAR more complicated than that, but the book really oversimplified things and I wish it had approached this differently.
If I had read this book in 2020, I would’ve adored it. It really does touch on some important topics and would’ve opened my eyes to a number of things if I hadn’t already read many other stories that did the same in a more complex, compelling way. Even as I wrap up this review, I am still unsure that I really understand exactly what didn’t work for me, but the bottom line is that if a friend were to ask me what I thought, my response would be “it was fine”.
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
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
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A Great Country by Shilpi Somaya Gowda packs a powerful punch! Tackling topics such as racial bias and class divides, Gowda explores what it means to be the "model minority" in America. Sometimes, you can do everything right, and things still turn out all wrong.
After coming to the US for graduate school, Ashok Shah thought he was escaping the class issues prevalent in India. He and Priya have always made decisions based on giving their children the best lives possible. With his business flourishing and having just made the move to a more affluent neighborhood, Ashok felt his family was finally on the right track.
That is until one Saturday evening when Priya receives a call from the Orange County Jail. Their son Ajay has been arrested! In their rush to get to him, they struggle to understand what happened and why their son is in an adult facility when he's only twelve years old!
There are so many layers to A Great Country. As a mother, I identified with Priya's worries and concerns. Sometimes, it feels like we're always questioning our decisions, wondering if we're truly doing what's best. As a woman, it was encouraging to watch the enduring, heartfelt friendship between Priya and Archie, whom Priya met soon after settling in the US. That sense of support and community is so important in life. I also appreciated Gowda's exploration of the complex angles in the Shah family's story. It was eye-opening to read about issues I've never considered, such as the antiquated caste system in India and its carry-over in America.
I don't want to give anything away, but trust me, A Great Country is well worth the read! So many layers and so much to consider! It's available today and would be perfect for book clubs or buddy reads as there are a plethora of topics for discussion!
Read this if you like:
• Books that explore complex topics
• Strong female friendships
• Cultural heritage fiction
After coming to the US for graduate school, Ashok Shah thought he was escaping the class issues prevalent in India. He and Priya have always made decisions based on giving their children the best lives possible. With his business flourishing and having just made the move to a more affluent neighborhood, Ashok felt his family was finally on the right track.
That is until one Saturday evening when Priya receives a call from the Orange County Jail. Their son Ajay has been arrested! In their rush to get to him, they struggle to understand what happened and why their son is in an adult facility when he's only twelve years old!
There are so many layers to A Great Country. As a mother, I identified with Priya's worries and concerns. Sometimes, it feels like we're always questioning our decisions, wondering if we're truly doing what's best. As a woman, it was encouraging to watch the enduring, heartfelt friendship between Priya and Archie, whom Priya met soon after settling in the US. That sense of support and community is so important in life. I also appreciated Gowda's exploration of the complex angles in the Shah family's story. It was eye-opening to read about issues I've never considered, such as the antiquated caste system in India and its carry-over in America.
I don't want to give anything away, but trust me, A Great Country is well worth the read! So many layers and so much to consider! It's available today and would be perfect for book clubs or buddy reads as there are a plethora of topics for discussion!
Read this if you like:
• Books that explore complex topics
• Strong female friendships
• Cultural heritage fiction