kim_momreadsbooksinbtwn 's review for:

A Great Country by Shilpi Somaya Gowda

5.0

emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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This book was such a fantastic find. The setting of the story was what originally grabbed my attention, “Pacific Hills, California.” I discovered that this fictional location is based on a city very close to where I live. The story also included local places like Irvine (where I grew up) and local references like the Orange County Register Newspaper and John Wayne Airport. All these local elements drew me into the story. The story takes off right from the beginning with the characters Ashok and Priya Shah receiving a phone call from the local police regarding the arrest of their twelve-year-old son, while they were attending a dinner party. Years before this event, Ashok and Priya came to the US as immigrants from India to further their education and create a good life for their new family. With success, come changes, compromises, and difficult decisions. Changes that not only Ashok and Priya have to experience, but also their three children, Jay, Maya, and Deepa. Trying to fit in as a teenager can be very difficult, as well as having to leave your friends and school behind. There were so many themes, racism/racial profiling, a mother’s love and need to protect her children, people’s desire to fit in, and the meaning of true friendship. Since I am also a mother of teenagers, I felt such empathy with Priya. I could just as easily see my kids experiencing the same type of difficult transition if we moved and left behind everything and everyone they grew up with. I think this was a combination of character and plot-driven novel, that seemed to move at a decent pace, I did not experience a lull in the storyline. I have recommended this book to many of my friends who currently live or have grown up in Orange County, CA. 

 

This is Shilpi Somaya Gowda’s fourth novel. Her first novel Secret Daughter was published in 2010, won many awards, and was chosen as several book club picks. Secret Daughter is currently in production with Amazon Studios to be a feature film starring Priyanka Chopra and Sienna Miller. There does not appear to be a release date yet, but until then I am looking forward to exploring her backlist of books.