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3.3 AVERAGE
3.3 AVERAGE
It was everything I needed it to be and even the predictable parts didn't phase me. It captured the pressures first generation kids are under as well as the strained communication between parents and their kids. I loved it.
This book made me think it was about something very different then it actually was.
I thought this book was about a newly single woman navigating life after marriage, single parenting and suddenly trying to re-enter the work force. I thought she would lack family support and would make it in the face of odds etc.
Perhaps I thought too much.
This book in fact was a giant toddler tantrum thrown by the protagonist. Not judging it, adulting is hard sometimes but still.
She felt like she was in a loveless marriage, having married way too young to her first love. She seperated from her husband and soon fell in a relationship with someone else.
The abrupt end of that relationship causes her to spiral, she makes a slew of rash decisions, fights with and shuts out any friend or family that has a question about her behavior or tries to understand it.
And then magically she centers herself and it all works out. There was no growth just a long held in tantrum in my opinion
I thought this book was about a newly single woman navigating life after marriage, single parenting and suddenly trying to re-enter the work force. I thought she would lack family support and would make it in the face of odds etc.
Perhaps I thought too much.
This book in fact was a giant toddler tantrum thrown by the protagonist. Not judging it, adulting is hard sometimes but still.
She felt like she was in a loveless marriage, having married way too young to her first love. She seperated from her husband and soon fell in a relationship with someone else.
The abrupt end of that relationship causes her to spiral, she makes a slew of rash decisions, fights with and shuts out any friend or family that has a question about her behavior or tries to understand it.
And then magically she centers herself and it all works out. There was no growth just a long held in tantrum in my opinion
Song/s the book brought to mind: Hey Girl by Lady Gaga and Florence Welch
[b:Grown-Up Pose|51174125|Grown-Up Pose|Sonya Lalli|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1563205986l/51174125._SX50_SY75_.jpg|71700424] by [a:Sonya Lalli|16831695|Sonya Lalli|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1494775353p2/16831695.jpg] is such a fun book! I loved learning more about Indian culture and I could definitely see this as a movie.
I never did read [b:The Matchmaker's List|40061992|The Matchmaker's List|Sonya Lalli|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1531173832l/40061992._SX50_.jpg|56402160] even though I own it, but I am going to be changing that shortly. Grown-Up Pose was https://www.thebookdrop.com/ Books For Bubbly selection for April and since I subscribe to it that's how I found out about this book. I excepted this to be a lighter read, and it was, but it was also on the serious side as well.
I loved Anu, and especially how flawed the characters are. This really spoke to me and made it more realistic. I may not be a mother, but I did understand her want to follow her dreams, the mistakes along the way, and being a wife to someone that at times drives you crazy. I think her marriage was relatable, although her friendships were a little odd to me since they were so mean to each other. I do appreciate sarcasm though and there was plenty of that!
I think there are plenty of things that are very relatable in Grown-Up Pose, and I was definitely able to connect with Anu and some of the pressures she felt. This book basically tells you it is ok to make mistakes and be a bit messy along the way and I really loved that. If you want something that is quick, heartfelt, and funny then I highly recommend reading Grown-Up Pose!
[b:Grown-Up Pose|51174125|Grown-Up Pose|Sonya Lalli|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1563205986l/51174125._SX50_SY75_.jpg|71700424] by [a:Sonya Lalli|16831695|Sonya Lalli|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1494775353p2/16831695.jpg] is such a fun book! I loved learning more about Indian culture and I could definitely see this as a movie.
I never did read [b:The Matchmaker's List|40061992|The Matchmaker's List|Sonya Lalli|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1531173832l/40061992._SX50_.jpg|56402160] even though I own it, but I am going to be changing that shortly. Grown-Up Pose was https://www.thebookdrop.com/ Books For Bubbly selection for April and since I subscribe to it that's how I found out about this book. I excepted this to be a lighter read, and it was, but it was also on the serious side as well.
I loved Anu, and especially how flawed the characters are. This really spoke to me and made it more realistic. I may not be a mother, but I did understand her want to follow her dreams, the mistakes along the way, and being a wife to someone that at times drives you crazy. I think her marriage was relatable, although her friendships were a little odd to me since they were so mean to each other. I do appreciate sarcasm though and there was plenty of that!
I think there are plenty of things that are very relatable in Grown-Up Pose, and I was definitely able to connect with Anu and some of the pressures she felt. This book basically tells you it is ok to make mistakes and be a bit messy along the way and I really loved that. If you want something that is quick, heartfelt, and funny then I highly recommend reading Grown-Up Pose!
ANOTHER crap book by this useless author (who is btw, a pretty terrible writer). At the core of this book is another white washed brown woman who generally rejects the Indian culture because of some toxic people. In this case, the protagonist is an irresponsible woman who randomly buys a yoga studio, separates from her husband, and goes on a London trip (LEAVING behind her young daughter) to “find herself” by having a random one night stand. None of this is inherently an issue (Anu’s husband is a useless man WHO KEEPS FORGETTING TO SHUT THE FRONT DOOR OF THE HOUSE - EVEN IN THE WINTER
After a few heavy reads, this was a refreshing novel focused on a woman finding herself in a world that placed heavy expectations on her place as a woman. As the book begins, we meet Anu who asked her husband to move out a few months prior. She loved their daughter, but felt trapped in a marriage that she had entered into at a young age. As part of a tight-knit Indian community, there’s high expectations with respect to family and marriage. The book skips around chronologically as we learn how Anu has often made decisions based on what was expected of her, not based on what she wants. She reaches a breaking point and escapes to London, but is soon drawn back due to a family crisis.
Through the book we watch as Anu learns who she is and how she wants to move forward with her future. Enjoyable read – not intellectually challenging, but that’s not always necessary.
3.5/5 on romance scale
Through the book we watch as Anu learns who she is and how she wants to move forward with her future. Enjoyable read – not intellectually challenging, but that’s not always necessary.
3.5/5 on romance scale
I wouldn't really classify this as a romance novel. It's more along the line of Bridget Jones because it's about the growth and self-realization of the character with any relationship shenanigans completely secondary. I liked the glimpse of traditions and family dynamics of Indian culture as well as the contradictions that can bring with emotions. The ending is clearly telegraphed from nearly the beginning, but I found this a satisfying read once I stopped expecting a romance and just followed the journey of self-discovery.
Grown-Up Pose is about a young mom, Anu, who feels like shes been pushed to the corner of her own life. Her conservative upbringing pushed her into an early marriage to the first and only man she ever kissed. Feeling neglected by her husband, controlled by her mother and MIL, taking care of her daughter and her household by herself, she's fed up with everything.
Now separated from her husband for almost a year, Anu struggles with who she is, who she could have been, and what is really going to make her happy. And I think many people, including myself, also are trying to figure that out.
I have previously read Sonya Lalli's earlier novel, The Matchmakers List, and I think her writing has developed a lot. I enjoyed both books but the characters and story were much better fleshed out in Grown Up Pose. Looking forward to more from Sonya!
Now separated from her husband for almost a year, Anu struggles with who she is, who she could have been, and what is really going to make her happy. And I think many people, including myself, also are trying to figure that out.
I have previously read Sonya Lalli's earlier novel, The Matchmakers List, and I think her writing has developed a lot. I enjoyed both books but the characters and story were much better fleshed out in Grown Up Pose. Looking forward to more from Sonya!
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
There were so many things that bothered me with this novel.
The main character is a thirty-something Punjabi Canadian woman; however, by the way that she’s described in the novel, it feels as if she is quite immature and acts like a teenager. While I thought some of the commentary on the pop-culture obsession and appropriation of Indian culture with yoga studios were entertaining and on point, I thought that it was a little over done in this book.
Additionally I felt like this novel tried to cover too many topics all at once - this made it so that the various topics didn’t get developed or discussed enough and were merely mentioned and then moved on from. Some of the topics that were touched on were the differences in generations from India to Canada, getting married young and “missing out” on life, divorce in Desi (specifically Punjabi) culture, the overall dating culture, being a mother, and finding interests and pursuing them.
Overall, I enjoyed to Punjabi representation in this novel but it overall felt like the main character was extremely immature causing this novel to fall flat for me.
The main character is a thirty-something Punjabi Canadian woman; however, by the way that she’s described in the novel, it feels as if she is quite immature and acts like a teenager. While I thought some of the commentary on the pop-culture obsession and appropriation of Indian culture with yoga studios were entertaining and on point, I thought that it was a little over done in this book.
Additionally I felt like this novel tried to cover too many topics all at once - this made it so that the various topics didn’t get developed or discussed enough and were merely mentioned and then moved on from. Some of the topics that were touched on were the differences in generations from India to Canada, getting married young and “missing out” on life, divorce in Desi (specifically Punjabi) culture, the overall dating culture, being a mother, and finding interests and pursuing them.
Overall, I enjoyed to Punjabi representation in this novel but it overall felt like the main character was extremely immature causing this novel to fall flat for me.