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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
I have mixed feelings about this book. It is beautifully written in an engaging style and the descriptions of Srinigar and the mountains of northern India really made me want to visit the area. I thoroughly enjoyed the first half of the book and was really looking forward to finding out what happened to all the interesting characters the author had introduced. Then... the second half of the book felt increasingly dull and hard to believe and it became it a bit of a slog. In the end (spoiler alert), most of the character's stories ended badly or with a lack of resolution which left me feeling unsatisfied. It's a shame as it was a great premise and a lovely setting.
A beautiful story, but one that deserved better telling.
3.5 stars. I'm not entirely sure why I didn't want to give this book 4 stars, especially as everyone else who's read it from my book club has given it at keast that many, but there you go :) It was two parallel stories about two generations where the granddaughter is trying to unravel the story behind her grandmother's high quality pashmina which is only discovered after the death of her father. Her only clues are a photo, a lock of hair, and the knowledge that her grandparents did work as missionaries in Kashmir prior to and during WW2. There are some lucky coincidences and the story slowly unfolds in both timelines. Sometimes there are some random interjections about the granddaughter's past too - but I'm not sure those were always entirely relevant. I did enjoy this book.
Parts of this didn't need to be in the book (circus, possibly the magician, Lotus's fate), and I think the historical bits were much more interesting, but was an easy read about solving a mystery from your family's past.
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A lovely read with a historical element. Endearing characters flipping between past and present.
I enjoyed this book but like others preferred the older story to the present day one. I felt the characters were wonderfully created and a colourful English world in 1940's India was so easy to picture. Without spoiling anything I also loved the choice of ending of both stories
Very atmospheric. Didn’t always need quite so much detail. Really interesting storyline. I liked that it was different from other WWII era novels I’ve read.
This was a recommended read for my book club. I really wanted to enjoy the book and I pushed myself through the story, however, I found that I was bored. Yet the story itself was quite interesting, so to be bored told me that it was more the telling of the story that was dragging me down. It felt many times like moving through mud where you can see the end clearly, but struggle to get there. I skipped through the book to the end.
informative
medium-paced
adventurous
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated