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sassybooksquirrel's review against another edition
5.0
I know I love a book when I take It to the chest often, close my almost welling eyes to drift into thoughts , taking my own sweet time to return back to reality ! So its safe to say I loved this book , and will love it to eternity !
When you turn the last page of a book and feel like going right back to page 1 and starting it all over again because you care so much about the characters and do not want to part, thats when you know you’ve found a gem ! This book is it, the gem..
I dont really know if the reason I love this book is because it is two of my favourites genres sandwiched into one i.e Historical fiction + Multi-generation family saga , or if it was just how beautiful the book by itself is crafted
When you turn the last page of a book and feel like going right back to page 1 and starting it all over again because you care so much about the characters and do not want to part, thats when you know you’ve found a gem ! This book is it, the gem..
I dont really know if the reason I love this book is because it is two of my favourites genres sandwiched into one i.e Historical fiction + Multi-generation family saga , or if it was just how beautiful the book by itself is crafted
vivi_in_naniwa's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
3.75
eleftheria's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-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
3.0
nishivora's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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? N/A
5.0
charis_e's review against another edition
5.0
I received this in a subscription box (Books that Matter, if you’re interested) and I am so glad as it’s not the type of book I’d ever pick up myself.
It taught me about a history I’d never even considered in an engaging way, and I loved the inter-generational storytelling - not just for the different perspectives but also for the narrative devices (letters/diaries/prose) each protagonist used. You can tell how much I loved it by how long this review is compared to my usually non-existent reviews.
Tl;dr: read this book
It taught me about a history I’d never even considered in an engaging way, and I loved the inter-generational storytelling - not just for the different perspectives but also for the narrative devices (letters/diaries/prose) each protagonist used. You can tell how much I loved it by how long this review is compared to my usually non-existent reviews.
Tl;dr: read this book
whatsshwereading's review
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
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? N/A
5.0
Back in February, I was at a book fair. Just as we were leaving, a bronze pile of books caught my attention. Belonging by Umi Sinha, it said. I read the blurb - it wasn't terribly original or exciting, yet I picked it anyway. These days, my books are well researched and TBR planned, so, I am still wondering what made me pick a book by an author I'd never heard of. Perhaps, it was fate intervening. Perhaps, it wasn't me who chose the book, but the book that chose me. Little did I know then that this book was to become one of my favourite reads of 2021.
Belonging is a beautiful multi-generational saga of two families - Partridges and Langdons - connected by marriage, set against the backdrop of British Raj, who seemed to have been kissed by misfortune. The story is told from three perspectives - Cecily Partridge (in 1800s), her son Henry Langdon (late 1800s), and her granddaughter, Lila (early 1900s). Each story is touched by tragedy and rips your heart skein by skein.
To tell you anymore about the story would be spoiling it. So instead, I'll talk about the writing and what made me fall in love with a book that emotionally destroyed me. First, the writing is haunting, the prose simple yet affecting ( quite reminded me of Vikram Seth, though his work is nowhere as dark ); Sinha manages to create a portrait of times gone by so realistically, that I could smell the fresh air, feel the winter sun on my face. The nuances of language and culture are on point - Brits in India during 1800s and 1900s spoke and behaved a certain way. But what hit me the most was how Sinha managed to maintain the delicate balance of objectivity. Her story neither romanticizes nor villainizes British Raj. It shows how costly war is and that each side pays a heavy price. It tells you how greed, power, and the desire for vengeance can push a man to commit inhumane and monstrous acts.
Sinha uses multiple literary devices to tell her story - letters, diary entries, and third person narrative. To me, as a reader, this was an immersive experience and in no way detracted from reading. In fact, I loved it.
Belonging was published in 2015 and I am so surprised that I never even heard of it. It's a book that deserves to be read and lauded. I am certainly going to recommend it to everyone until they've ALL read it.
In short, Belonging is one of the finest historical fictions that I've read and whether you're a fan of this genre or not, I highly recommend it.
P.S: Naming a certain awful character Rebecca was a stroke of genius. I was so amused when I made the connection ( I don't know if it was intentional, but it's awesome )
Belonging is a beautiful multi-generational saga of two families - Partridges and Langdons - connected by marriage, set against the backdrop of British Raj, who seemed to have been kissed by misfortune. The story is told from three perspectives - Cecily Partridge (in 1800s), her son Henry Langdon (late 1800s), and her granddaughter, Lila (early 1900s). Each story is touched by tragedy and rips your heart skein by skein.
To tell you anymore about the story would be spoiling it. So instead, I'll talk about the writing and what made me fall in love with a book that emotionally destroyed me. First, the writing is haunting, the prose simple yet affecting ( quite reminded me of Vikram Seth, though his work is nowhere as dark ); Sinha manages to create a portrait of times gone by so realistically, that I could smell the fresh air, feel the winter sun on my face. The nuances of language and culture are on point - Brits in India during 1800s and 1900s spoke and behaved a certain way. But what hit me the most was how Sinha managed to maintain the delicate balance of objectivity. Her story neither romanticizes nor villainizes British Raj. It shows how costly war is and that each side pays a heavy price. It tells you how greed, power, and the desire for vengeance can push a man to commit inhumane and monstrous acts.
Sinha uses multiple literary devices to tell her story - letters, diary entries, and third person narrative. To me, as a reader, this was an immersive experience and in no way detracted from reading. In fact, I loved it.
Belonging was published in 2015 and I am so surprised that I never even heard of it. It's a book that deserves to be read and lauded. I am certainly going to recommend it to everyone until they've ALL read it.
In short, Belonging is one of the finest historical fictions that I've read and whether you're a fan of this genre or not, I highly recommend it.
P.S: Naming a certain awful character Rebecca was a stroke of genius. I was so amused when I made the connection ( I don't know if it was intentional, but it's awesome )
readgret__'s review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
whatshruyireads's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
awellreadlady's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0