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A review by amyvl93
Burnt Sugar by Avni Doshi
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
What a reading experience. I started with Burnt Sugar as it was also on the Man Booker shortlist so I figured it would be one to definitely read; but I've been left feeling somewhat underwhelmed.
Burnt Sugar is the story of the deeply dysfunctional relationship between the narrator Antara, an artist living with her Indian-American husband in Pune, India, and her mother Tara. Her childhood was spent following the whims of her mother and now that Tara is suffering from early stages of dementia, Antara must reckon on their relationship.
The novel slowly reveals the difficult relationship between the two women, culminating (...of course) in a conflict over the same man. As a reader, I don't think we're supposed to like either woman, but this unlikability made it difficult for me to want to reach for the book as I just didn't really want to spend more time with Antara - who extends her contempt from her mother, to her husband, her friends, and especially servants. There was a real lack of reflection from Antara on...anything through the book - she dismisses the idea of therapy as she was 'asked too many questions' and really this book seems to show the impact of trauma on just shutting down an ability to understand the impact of that trauma on a life.
However, there were times when Doshi's writing was really powerful. There were times when her use of bathos didn't really work (e.g. dropping in casually the smell of specific bodily functions), but other times it worked well to reveal, for instance, the abuse experienced within the asham and at boarding school. At it's best there were moments when the writing reminded me of The Yellow Wallpaper, I really liked the slightly nightmarish final tableau. The novel's setting also felt really well drawn (though some reviewers have said it doesn't feel accurate, so perhaps one to note).
I'm not sure this is one I'd recommend, outside of being for reasons of completeness for book prizes!
Burnt Sugar is the story of the deeply dysfunctional relationship between the narrator Antara, an artist living with her Indian-American husband in Pune, India, and her mother Tara. Her childhood was spent following the whims of her mother and now that Tara is suffering from early stages of dementia, Antara must reckon on their relationship.
The novel slowly reveals the difficult relationship between the two women, culminating (...of course) in a conflict over the same man. As a reader, I don't think we're supposed to like either woman, but this unlikability made it difficult for me to want to reach for the book as I just didn't really want to spend more time with Antara - who extends her contempt from her mother, to her husband, her friends, and especially servants. There was a real lack of reflection from Antara on...anything through the book - she dismisses the idea of therapy as she was 'asked too many questions' and really this book seems to show the impact of trauma on just shutting down an ability to understand the impact of that trauma on a life.
However, there were times when Doshi's writing was really powerful. There were times when her use of bathos didn't really work (e.g. dropping in casually the smell of specific bodily functions), but other times it worked well to reveal, for instance, the abuse experienced within the asham and at boarding school. At it's best there were moments when the writing reminded me of The Yellow Wallpaper, I really liked the slightly nightmarish final tableau. The novel's setting also felt really well drawn (though some reviewers have said it doesn't feel accurate, so perhaps one to note).
I'm not sure this is one I'd recommend, outside of being for reasons of completeness for book prizes!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse
Moderate: Sexual violence