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A review by coffeekitaab
The Secret of Elephants by Vasundra Tailor
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-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? It's complicated
3.5
"Navsari, India. Penniless and trapped in a loveless marriage, Nirmala spends her days anxiously caring for her sick young son, Varun. Looming over Nirmala’s impoverished home is an imposing mansion built by her grandfather, and from its balcony her cruel aunt scorns them, refusing to help in any way. But when a mysterious letter addressed to her long-dead father arrives from Zimbabwe, it opens a door to a past Nirmala never knew existed and a future she never imagined possible."
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Thank you @tandemcollective and @amazonpublishing for the opportunity to be a part of this readalong. Nirmala's footsteps felt like a journey I would not have been introduced to without this spotlight, and the read was an eye-opener.
This book started off strong. We learn of a bizarre tragedy that has led the earlier generation of family members becoming estranged, and how this domino effect ultimately befalls Nirmala's life. Not only do we cover a multiple generational POV but also involving two different families, there is alot going on. The way India and particularly Zimbabwe are visualised in the book is gorgeous, and I experienced a sense of escapism as I made my way through the pages; the narrative is rich with culture and diversity.
The main protagonists are well written and well developed characters, however, at the cost of fleshing out the story, the side characters are underdeveloped and I would question including them in the story at all (unless this was made into a longer novel). There was definite potential. I think these additional side characters made the story hard to follow in parts for me, and around three-quarters of the way through the book I felt there was unnecessary repetition that could have been reduced. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed the premise of the book, for a debut it is fantastic read and I am looking forward to seeing more from Vasundra Tailor. Thank you @tandemcollective @amazonpublishing for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest unedited review, and to read this as part of the #collectivevoices campaign.
AD/PR Product
Thank you @tandemcollective and @amazonpublishing for the opportunity to be a part of this readalong. Nirmala's footsteps felt like a journey I would not have been introduced to without this spotlight, and the read was an eye-opener.
This book started off strong. We learn of a bizarre tragedy that has led the earlier generation of family members becoming estranged, and how this domino effect ultimately befalls Nirmala's life. Not only do we cover a multiple generational POV but also involving two different families, there is alot going on. The way India and particularly Zimbabwe are visualised in the book is gorgeous, and I experienced a sense of escapism as I made my way through the pages; the narrative is rich with culture and diversity.
The main protagonists are well written and well developed characters, however, at the cost of fleshing out the story, the side characters are underdeveloped and I would question including them in the story at all (unless this was made into a longer novel). There was definite potential. I think these additional side characters made the story hard to follow in parts for me, and around three-quarters of the way through the book I felt there was unnecessary repetition that could have been reduced. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed the premise of the book, for a debut it is fantastic read and I am looking forward to seeing more from Vasundra Tailor. Thank you @tandemcollective @amazonpublishing for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest unedited review, and to read this as part of the #collectivevoices campaign.