Scan barcode
mrswythe89's review against another edition
3.0
Liked it, but not as much as Sea of Poppies. I don't know, I think the broad sweep of it meant that you didn't get quite as invested in the characters, because you didn't get to know them as well.
The most interesting parts were probably the parts about Arjun and his relationship with the Empire. Lots of really well-worded insights into the nature of colonialism.
What I liked best was that some of it took place in Sungai Petani. Nothing takes place in Sungai Petani! That was cool.
The most interesting parts were probably the parts about Arjun and his relationship with the Empire. Lots of really well-worded insights into the nature of colonialism.
What I liked best was that some of it took place in Sungai Petani. Nothing takes place in Sungai Petani! That was cool.
phoenix32's review against another edition
emotional
sad
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? No
4.75
alanyoung's review against another edition
4.0
This is a sweeping saga populated by so many varied characters and set against the historical upheavals of the twentieth century. Through each stage of the story the background and cultures are vividly drawn out and illustrated. It gives disturbing insights into the suffering of the peoples of India, Malaya and especially Burma/Myanmar. The abuse of power by the great and the suffering of the ordinary people is horrendous to see.
Although written in English, I can imagine it having greater impact on those whose families are drawn from the cultures and history described. There again, maybe it has to be in English invoking the same arguments that, in the closing pages, Dinu had with his author/wife. There needs to be a common language of expression in a book format however varied the original or imagined conversations may have been.
It is my regret that I did not create (or it was not provided) a list of the major characters. A map is provided to cover the geographical 'players' but not for the major human 'players'. With so many characters, generations and unfamiliar names it would have greatly helped me.
Although written in English, I can imagine it having greater impact on those whose families are drawn from the cultures and history described. There again, maybe it has to be in English invoking the same arguments that, in the closing pages, Dinu had with his author/wife. There needs to be a common language of expression in a book format however varied the original or imagined conversations may have been.
It is my regret that I did not create (or it was not provided) a list of the major characters. A map is provided to cover the geographical 'players' but not for the major human 'players'. With so many characters, generations and unfamiliar names it would have greatly helped me.
wilde_woolf's review against another edition
5.0
I wanted the book to go on for several more generations
booksndew's review against another edition
4.0
a 4.5 star read. i was so immersed in the story that i kinda felt sad when i finished it. what i liked most was the story telling. how effortlessly each part of the story flows to the other. how three generations of stories connected so seamlessly. it was so good that at one point you cant distinguish what's fiction and what's not. it was even interesting to read about the end of burma and its transition to being myanmar. overall a really good book with messy real characters and a great storyline.
red_magpie's review against another edition
5.0
This book sucked me in from the first page and I blazed through it, anxious to see what could possibly happen next. I learned quite a bit about places I knew very little of and found it surprisingly easy to keep track of a large, interconnected cast of characters. I look forward to reading more by this author.
nuhafariha's review against another edition
5.0
Reminded me a lot of Gabriel Garcia Marquez's 100 Years of Solitude but set in India and Burma/Mynmar.
elliehamilton38's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
cfaulstich's review against another edition
3.0
The book dragged near the end. I found the information about Burmese history to be helpful more than I found the storyline to be interesting.