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A review by sarasanders2
Mother Ocean Father Nation by Nishant Batsha
4.0
Set in 1985 on a small Pacific island, Mother Ocean Father Nation features a family being torn apart amidst rising racial tensions, political oppression, and a national coup.
Bhumi, one of the two main characters, is an ambitious young woman who has just begun her botany studies at South Pacific University when she is forced to leave the country. Taken away from her passion and stripped of her citizenship, Bhumi struggles to build a new life. Her brother Jaipal, on the other hand, is stuck on the island managing the family business. He always feels second-best to his over-achieving sister and struggles with his own identity in a country under collapse.
This was a truly wonderful debut novel from Batsha. My one critique is that the story took off quickly, but the pace slowed about a third of the way through and never really picked back up. I was still very intrigued and invested, I just think the pace could have been more evenly distributed.
Mother Ocean Father Nation is still a beautifully written, incredibly poignant, and timely saga exploring familial dynamics, oppression, self discovery, immigration, and the meaning of home.
I highly recommend this book, and I can’t wait to read more of Nishant Batsha’s work in the future.
Thank you to Ecco Press and HarperCollins for the advanced copy!
Check out @doubletoilandtrouble on insta for more reviews.
Bhumi, one of the two main characters, is an ambitious young woman who has just begun her botany studies at South Pacific University when she is forced to leave the country. Taken away from her passion and stripped of her citizenship, Bhumi struggles to build a new life. Her brother Jaipal, on the other hand, is stuck on the island managing the family business. He always feels second-best to his over-achieving sister and struggles with his own identity in a country under collapse.
This was a truly wonderful debut novel from Batsha. My one critique is that the story took off quickly, but the pace slowed about a third of the way through and never really picked back up. I was still very intrigued and invested, I just think the pace could have been more evenly distributed.
Mother Ocean Father Nation is still a beautifully written, incredibly poignant, and timely saga exploring familial dynamics, oppression, self discovery, immigration, and the meaning of home.
I highly recommend this book, and I can’t wait to read more of Nishant Batsha’s work in the future.
Thank you to Ecco Press and HarperCollins for the advanced copy!
Check out @doubletoilandtrouble on insta for more reviews.