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kristenpoel's review against another edition
reflective
slow-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
2.75
alisonp's review against another edition
emotional
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.75
oliviaalice's review against another edition
challenging
funny
informative
reflective
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? It's complicated
3.75
Beautifully written and a beautiful story. I felt fully immersed in Nazneen’s world and was rooting for her. Although the jumps all ove the place were sometimes a bit confusing. Don’t know if I just didn’t understand things but felt like things needed to be clearer sometimes. Like I’m not sure now if her mother killed herself or was also having an affair? Also took me so long to read as nothing happened in the start and I had to push through. Good immersion into a culture I had little experience with but the actual writing could have been better.
rachelreads92's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
yukiho's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
chrispac's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lizaroo71's review against another edition
3.0
nanzeen is from a small village in bangladesh. her sister, hasina, is beautiful beyond her years and runs off with her chosen love when she is only sixteen. nanzeen is married off to a man in london, chanu. she is only eighteen when she makes her way to her new life in britain.
chanu is a kind man, but one that reads rather than acts. he surrounds himself in knowledge and seeking certificates and ruminating on what he learns, but he doesn't engage nanzeen in meaningful conversation. she doesn't know what he is saying half of the time; moreover, she doesn't care.
nanzeen and chanu continue in their marriage and father three children, the first of which, a boy, dies in infancy. her two daughters, bibi and shahana, are products of modern london, not the villages of bangladesh. chanu wants to return to their home country much to the chagrin of the entire family.
the story is really about conflicting cultures, growing up in one place without knowing your roots and being displaced in a new community.
chanu is a kind man, but one that reads rather than acts. he surrounds himself in knowledge and seeking certificates and ruminating on what he learns, but he doesn't engage nanzeen in meaningful conversation. she doesn't know what he is saying half of the time; moreover, she doesn't care.
nanzeen and chanu continue in their marriage and father three children, the first of which, a boy, dies in infancy. her two daughters, bibi and shahana, are products of modern london, not the villages of bangladesh. chanu wants to return to their home country much to the chagrin of the entire family.
the story is really about conflicting cultures, growing up in one place without knowing your roots and being displaced in a new community.
lekoweko's review against another edition
2.0
Praised for being subtle. Perhaps a little too subtle...
emmawheatley's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0