A review by atcucchetti
Tomb of Sand by Geetanjali Shree

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

 If you are looking for a book that allows you to wallow in the wonder of words; allowing them to wash over you in magical waves, this is a book to savor. Oh my goodness this big, beautiful book. There is a comfort to this book that I didn’t expect. I went into it expecting more of a road trip adventure and found it to be a much more character driven exploration of Ma’s metamorphosis after the death of her husband and the retirement of her local son. The subtle approach to everything from the role of women in households to the relationship she forges with Rosie, whose hijra identity allows for both genders, opens space for readers to consider, reexamine and reinterpret their own thoughts and ideas. I appreciated the focus on the octogenarian Ma and what comes next, after she has made all her sacrifices and served all the expectations of family and community. What happens when she selfishly chooses? Something quite remarkable not just for her but many around her. While not ordinarily a fan of magical realism, it worked for me here, especially in the third part when she ventures to Pakistan on Rosie’s behalf. As I looked at the different covers for this book, I enjoyed deciphering what the artist chose to emphasize about the text. I like the international paperback cover best as it highlights some of that magical realism. I enjoyed reading this across both print and audiobook formats, together they made it a more complete experience for me. This is a book to savor when you have the time and the mental bandwidth to immerse yourself in it fully, not a book to attempt a crash through reading as you try to achieve some end of year reading goal. Besides, reading at that pace you’d miss so much of what’s magical about this story.