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4.11 AVERAGE
4.11 AVERAGE
This is at least my third, perhaps fourth read of this book(s). I glanced at some of the reviews before starting it again, and have to acknowledge the negative reviews make some valid points.
But I don’t care. I love this book. I will read it again. And probably again. And then again.
Do I skim some of political speeches? Sure. But I really enjoyed reading them the first time. I love the scope of this book, I love all the characters, and it never feels long to me.
I find it completely immersive. Once I start reading I feel like I’m there, where the story is taking place. The characters are all so well drawn, I feel like I’m in conversation with them. Do I love Pran best of all? Of course, but it is a little like picking a favourite child.
And with a world full of war and death and hardship and just everything shitty, I was really ready for a read that takes me away from all that. That said, part of why I love this book so, is that it isn’t escapism. There’s no escaping hardship, and the fallout from partition, Muslim- Hindu strife, the cruelty of caste, the pain of loss, they are all there in the book.
So read it. Just read it. Read it with Firefox open beside you (it turns out Bramho is not another name from Brahmin, see? So much to learn, with every read) in case you need help figuring out where or what everything is. And like someone said about LeGuin, visit an imaginary world, and then return to our own, with your heart eased.
But I don’t care. I love this book. I will read it again. And probably again. And then again.
Do I skim some of political speeches? Sure. But I really enjoyed reading them the first time. I love the scope of this book, I love all the characters, and it never feels long to me.
I find it completely immersive. Once I start reading I feel like I’m there, where the story is taking place. The characters are all so well drawn, I feel like I’m in conversation with them. Do I love Pran best of all? Of course, but it is a little like picking a favourite child.
And with a world full of war and death and hardship and just everything shitty, I was really ready for a read that takes me away from all that. That said, part of why I love this book so, is that it isn’t escapism. There’s no escaping hardship, and the fallout from partition, Muslim- Hindu strife, the cruelty of caste, the pain of loss, they are all there in the book.
So read it. Just read it. Read it with Firefox open beside you (it turns out Bramho is not another name from Brahmin, see? So much to learn, with every read) in case you need help figuring out where or what everything is. And like someone said about LeGuin, visit an imaginary world, and then return to our own, with your heart eased.
I had to give it back to the library.
slow-paced
Wow.
This took me 2 years to finish and I can definitely say this is book which we can just randomly open any page and read at any time.
The poems, the different religion outlook, the politics everything is very detailed.
Obviously would have loved to see the love being a success but the ending was very realistic.
This took me 2 years to finish and I can definitely say this is book which we can just randomly open any page and read at any time.
The poems, the different religion outlook, the politics everything is very detailed.
Obviously would have loved to see the love being a success but the ending was very realistic.
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really enjoyed this book and liked the way it told a year of history in India from the point of view of a couple of families.
It is a bit too lengthy at times though, hence only four stars.
It is a bit too lengthy at times though, hence only four stars.
After reading some of his others, I had to read this one. It did not disappoint. Set in India right before its independence, you not only get a history lesson you never learned in school, but got the stories of several families and how they adjusted to the change in their homeland and how they coped through the next several decades. Memorable characters and a great setting.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book, in paperback, is physically hard to read. It's about 4 inches thick, so I'm having trouble toting it along with me to read, and actually holding it up in bed. So it's not getting read. I hope to get through it...
Update 10/13: I finished 2 out of 3 of the books of this novel, picked up a book club book, and never got back to the 3rd book. It was really good, and I learned a lot about Indian culture. Some of the characters were great, the writing was very good. But it just kept going and going. Now, it's been months and I'm sure I've forgotten too much.
Update 10/13: I finished 2 out of 3 of the books of this novel, picked up a book club book, and never got back to the 3rd book. It was really good, and I learned a lot about Indian culture. Some of the characters were great, the writing was very good. But it just kept going and going. Now, it's been months and I'm sure I've forgotten too much.
Door-stopper of a story about a family. I remember that I enjoyed this book, and despite the length, didn't find this a slow read.