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lucysod's review against another edition
3.0
maybe i’m just not enough of an academic to truly love this book. pretty good though
ajkhn's review against another edition
2.0
Man, maybe it's just the way of the world right now or the fact that I'm past this moment in my life, but there was nothing I want to read less than the romantic violence a 20something dude wreaks on the world. There's definitely an interesting way to write about being horny in New York in the 1990s, but the protagonist is just thoughtlessly cruel as he sleeps through his department and it doesn't seem like something we the readers are supposed to think too closely about. Not great! Beautifully written, though.
spaddy29's review against another edition
4.0
Who is a book written for- the author or the reader?
This book is an amalgam of memories blended by reality and fiction (after all, isn’t that what memories are?) that takes the reader through the narrator’s journey through grad school. While the writing is inaccessible at times, particularly if one doesn’t have the prerequisite literary or cultural background, the struggle to overcome imposter syndrome, stemming from both an immigrant identity and incessant comparison to peers, is relatable.
Most of all, reading this feels like (and probably is) an intrusion on someone reminiscing on their past. If anything, it seems like this book was primarily written because the author couldn’t bear not writing it.
As an Indian-American, I also found fascinating the history detailing the relationships between early 20th century Indian revolutionaries and American leftists, which I didn’t know about before.
This book is an amalgam of memories blended by reality and fiction (after all, isn’t that what memories are?) that takes the reader through the narrator’s journey through grad school. While the writing is inaccessible at times, particularly if one doesn’t have the prerequisite literary or cultural background, the struggle to overcome imposter syndrome, stemming from both an immigrant identity and incessant comparison to peers, is relatable.
Most of all, reading this feels like (and probably is) an intrusion on someone reminiscing on their past. If anything, it seems like this book was primarily written because the author couldn’t bear not writing it.
As an Indian-American, I also found fascinating the history detailing the relationships between early 20th century Indian revolutionaries and American leftists, which I didn’t know about before.
siriface's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Xenophobia, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Pregnancy and Abortion
raphaelle_a's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
I am not sure that I know what this book is about. Is it a biography? Is it a fictional story? Who is the judge that keeps being referred to?
I must say that the sexcapades in this book viewed through the male gaze made me uncomfortable.
The only part that felt good were those rare instances when the narrator would give us geopolitical analysis. It was interesting, seeing the world through his gaze for those rare instances.
I must say that the sexcapades in this book viewed through the male gaze made me uncomfortable.
The only part that felt good were those rare instances when the narrator would give us geopolitical analysis. It was interesting, seeing the world through his gaze for those rare instances.
mochand's review against another edition
3.0
I don't think I've ever read a book where the author puts on display so much vulnerability. Straddling the lines between fiction and non-fiction I could see the real introspection happening behind Kumar's writing. The little footnotes are a welcome addition providing a surprising amount of information on real world people and references to articles expanding on those mentioned. At first I sped through the book, his explorations of his experiences in India and then moving to America was captivating but there was something towards the latter half of the book that soured it for some reason.
I think it could be viewing his actions in his relationships in a sort of retrospective manner without too much critique seemed initially kinda odd.His relationships come off as a bit of a humble brag, but he does seem to acknowledge it slightly towards the end but it comes of as not really understanding the root of it. And in his epilogue he drops the story in the diner of being confronted about who he chooses to date but it seems like he took it as something of a slight against him that he addressed in his actual marriage...as if to say "haha I proved you wrong Jennifer".Which I sincerely hope is fiction but he does show that he missed the point... And I do think the author understands this but in this anti-climactic moment he shies away from really critiquing himself. It's messy but interesting though.
I think it could be viewing his actions in his relationships in a sort of retrospective manner without too much critique seemed initially kinda odd.His relationships come off as a bit of a humble brag, but he does seem to acknowledge it slightly towards the end but it comes of as not really understanding the root of it. And in his epilogue he drops the story in the diner of being confronted about who he chooses to date but it seems like he took it as something of a slight against him that he addressed in his actual marriage...as if to say "haha I proved you wrong Jennifer".Which I sincerely hope is fiction but he does show that he missed the point... And I do think the author understands this but in this anti-climactic moment he shies away from really critiquing himself. It's messy but interesting though.
champjanie's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
southernbellebooks's review against another edition
1.0
I thought I was going to love a book like this but I was wildly disappointed.