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thesecretsapphic's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Child abuse, Death, Mental illness, Misogyny, Rape, Torture, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Death of parent, Murder, and Classism
sohva's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
A nice book, good French practice. I was quite disappointed with the ending. The book just completely romaticised the fact that they sold poor woman's hair to some rich Canadian without her knowledge.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism
Moderate: Cancer, Rape, and Sexism
Minor: Excrement
juliaaaaaa's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Excrement, Car accident, and Death of parent
Moderate: Animal death, Child death, Pedophilia, Vomit, Police brutality, Medical content, and War
clockworkstars's review against another edition
2.5
2.5|5
Mon premier commentaire sera : peut on prendre deux minutes et nous questionner sur la légitimité de l'autrice à écrire ce roman, à nous dépeindre le portrait (entre autres, il y a trois personnages) d'une femme pauvre intouchable en Inde, elle qui est une femme blanche en France. Je m'interroge sincèrement, surtout que le personnage a été écrit d'une manière qui il me semble voudrait attirer la pitié sur cette histoire, le paternalisme de l'occident. Je me questionne beaucoup sur la légitimité de Laetitia Colombani a écrire ceci et plus encore je me demande si elle l'a bien fait. Si elle a seulement bien traité de ce sujet.
En dehors de cela, je n'ai pas trouvé ce roman exceptionnel du tout, et cela est une déception car il m'avait été bien vendu par Izan. La plume n'est pas mauvaise, elle se lit bien mais elle n'a rien d'extraordinaire, la réalisation suit les normes, des chapitres en alternance de taille similaire. Et tout ceci devient fort vite ennuyeux.
On suit trois femme, qui refusent leur destinée respective. On alterne entre leur point de vue (je n'ai pas aimé celui de Giuila qui tourne trop autour d'une romance naissante à mon goût, apprécié celui de Sarah et resté sceptique devant celui de Smita pour la raison évoquée plus haut.), suivant la vie de chacune de ses femmes. Et malheureusement l'on comprend fort vite ce qui les lie, la révélation finale ne surprend pas ou peu, les liens étaient déjà créés dans notre têtes.
Le récit est ici porté par ses personnages et est certes un peu touchant mais il n'a pas réussi à m'attendrir malheureusement. Je peux comprendre pourquoi il a plu mais je ne l'ai pas trouvé bouleversant et une fois encore j'ai eu du mal avec le traitement du personnage de Smita. Mais je suppose que les déceptions arrivent.
Mon premier commentaire sera : peut on prendre deux minutes et nous questionner sur la légitimité de l'autrice à écrire ce roman, à nous dépeindre le portrait (entre autres, il y a trois personnages) d'une femme pauvre intouchable en Inde, elle qui est une femme blanche en France. Je m'interroge sincèrement, surtout que le personnage a été écrit d'une manière qui il me semble voudrait attirer la pitié sur cette histoire, le paternalisme de l'occident. Je me questionne beaucoup sur la légitimité de Laetitia Colombani a écrire ceci et plus encore je me demande si elle l'a bien fait. Si elle a seulement bien traité de ce sujet.
En dehors de cela, je n'ai pas trouvé ce roman exceptionnel du tout, et cela est une déception car il m'avait été bien vendu par Izan. La plume n'est pas mauvaise, elle se lit bien mais elle n'a rien d'extraordinaire, la réalisation suit les normes, des chapitres en alternance de taille similaire. Et tout ceci devient fort vite ennuyeux.
On suit trois femme, qui refusent leur destinée respective. On alterne entre leur point de vue (je n'ai pas aimé celui de Giuila qui tourne trop autour d'une romance naissante à mon goût, apprécié celui de Sarah et resté sceptique devant celui de Smita pour la raison évoquée plus haut.), suivant la vie de chacune de ses femmes. Et malheureusement l'on comprend fort vite ce qui les lie, la révélation finale ne surprend pas ou peu, les liens étaient déjà créés dans notre têtes.
Le récit est ici porté par ses personnages et est certes un peu touchant mais il n'a pas réussi à m'attendrir malheureusement. Je peux comprendre pourquoi il a plu mais je ne l'ai pas trouvé bouleversant et une fois encore j'ai eu du mal avec le traitement du personnage de Smita. Mais je suppose que les déceptions arrivent.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Racism, and Sexism
Moderate: Car accident and Death of parent
juliettedvdts's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
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? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer and Death of parent
Minor: Child abuse and Rape
elizanadeau's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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? It's complicated
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer and Excrement
Moderate: Mental illness and Death of parent
jkfan's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Cancer
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? No
4.25
The Braid is the story of three women, each facing a life changing battle. In India, Smita makes the decision to flee her village and undertake a risky cross country journey in the hope of ensuring a better life for her young daughter. In Italy, Guilia has to work tirelessly and break with tradition in order to ensure the survival of the family business and her own happiness. And in Canada a shock health diagnosis sees career woman Sarah ruthlessly sidelined by her bosses and colleagues.
At first I was unsure how these three seemingly separate stories would come together but as the novel progressed the ending became obvious. I found Smita and her storyline the most compelling, but I was invested in the stories of all three women. I’d sometimes feel frustrated when one woman’s section finished - especially when it ended on a cliffhanger - but that quickly faded as I picked up the threads of another woman’s story.
It was interesting to note the differing ways gender impacted the lives of all three women, although the impact of caste was an equally major determinant of Smita’s life. While the endings for Guilia and Sarah seemed positive I felt Smita’s storyline was left a little more up in the air. I guess I’ll have to share her faith that her sacrifice to Vishnu will be rewarded.
My one reservation is that I’m not sure the novel’s overall message, a global sisterhood if you will, stands up to close scrutiny or analysis. The fact that Smita sacrificed her hair freely for religious reasons, and it was then sold to Guilia’s business in Italy, before being manufactured and eventually bought by Sarah in Canada has more to do with globalisation and capitalism than with any feel-good sisterly bonds. The racial overtones of two wealthier white women benefitting from the body of a poor brown woman are also uncomfortable.
An enjoyable read, but one which one that left me with a few thoughts I’m not sure the author intended.
At first I was unsure how these three seemingly separate stories would come together but as the novel progressed the ending became obvious. I found Smita and her storyline the most compelling, but I was invested in the stories of all three women. I’d sometimes feel frustrated when one woman’s section finished - especially when it ended on a cliffhanger - but that quickly faded as I picked up the threads of another woman’s story.
It was interesting to note the differing ways gender impacted the lives of all three women, although the impact of caste was an equally major determinant of Smita’s life. While the endings for Guilia and Sarah seemed positive I felt Smita’s storyline was left a little more up in the air. I guess I’ll have to share her faith that her sacrifice to Vishnu will be rewarded.
My one reservation is that I’m not sure the novel’s overall message, a global sisterhood if you will, stands up to close scrutiny or analysis. The fact that Smita sacrificed her hair freely for religious reasons, and it was then sold to Guilia’s business in Italy, before being manufactured and eventually bought by Sarah in Canada has more to do with globalisation and capitalism than with any feel-good sisterly bonds. The racial overtones of two wealthier white women benefitting from the body of a poor brown woman are also uncomfortable.
An enjoyable read, but one which one that left me with a few thoughts I’m not sure the author intended.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Sexism, and Classism
atamano's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Cancer, Excrement, and Classism
Moderate: Death, Sexism, and Death of parent
Minor: Sexual content
lidia7's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-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
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Sexism, and Classism
Moderate: Child abuse, Rape, Suicide, Xenophobia, and Excrement
Minor: Confinement, Religious bigotry, and Death of parent