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A review by jessferg
Atlas of Unknowns by Tania James
2.0
Overall, I'm disappointed in this book.
I enjoyed the beginning a lot and was interested in the characters and the story but by page 160 or so I was getting a little tired of it. The characters became kind of static and there was no real movement of the plot.
Somehow I missed everything the jacket flap said I would find ("gifts of an old-fashioned storyteller - engrossing drama, flawless control of plot, beautifully drawn character, surprises around every turn - ..." Really?) I also missed all the sister/mother/female bonding that many other readers seemed to find so integral to this book. All of the women in this book seem selfish and weak. Every one of them gains any level of "success" by relying on or using someone else and they don't really seem that invested in each other.
The "drama" is so anti-climactic as to be non-existent. For example, there's a lot of build up around money and an immigration lawyer and then suddenly he's in jail and we just forget that was ever part of the plot. Even the pivot point (which I will try not to spoil) is just handed over. It's like James is thinking "eh, they've figured out how this is going to go - let's just get it over with." Trust me, there are no surprises.
In addition, I'd hoped that maybe there would be a lot of cultural reference to Indian traditions since the author is clearly trying to make a contrast between India and the United States - but there really isn't. So the sari shop reminds Anju of home. So they eat food that's hard to pronounce. None of this really gives insight to the non-Indian reader. Even the most ignorant of Indian culture won't find anything to make them get a feel for the country or its people.
I guess I'm frustrated that I found this read to be the exact opposite of all it was purported to be - but I won't deter you from reading it and finding out for yourself.
I enjoyed the beginning a lot and was interested in the characters and the story but by page 160 or so I was getting a little tired of it. The characters became kind of static and there was no real movement of the plot.
Somehow I missed everything the jacket flap said I would find ("gifts of an old-fashioned storyteller - engrossing drama, flawless control of plot, beautifully drawn character, surprises around every turn - ..." Really?) I also missed all the sister/mother/female bonding that many other readers seemed to find so integral to this book. All of the women in this book seem selfish and weak. Every one of them gains any level of "success" by relying on or using someone else and they don't really seem that invested in each other.
The "drama" is so anti-climactic as to be non-existent. For example, there's a lot of build up around money and an immigration lawyer and then suddenly he's in jail and we just forget that was ever part of the plot. Even the pivot point (which I will try not to spoil) is just handed over. It's like James is thinking "eh, they've figured out how this is going to go - let's just get it over with." Trust me, there are no surprises.
In addition, I'd hoped that maybe there would be a lot of cultural reference to Indian traditions since the author is clearly trying to make a contrast between India and the United States - but there really isn't. So the sari shop reminds Anju of home. So they eat food that's hard to pronounce. None of this really gives insight to the non-Indian reader. Even the most ignorant of Indian culture won't find anything to make them get a feel for the country or its people.
I guess I'm frustrated that I found this read to be the exact opposite of all it was purported to be - but I won't deter you from reading it and finding out for yourself.