Reviews with content warning for Genocide - Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens

Reviews tagging 'Genocide'

Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens by Shankari Chandran

8 reviews

bee_eviljoy36's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This book holds a mirror up to Australia's racist past and present and the view is not pleasant.

It follows the stories of residents and staff of a nursing home called Cinamon Gardens in Sydney. Many of whom are refugees that fled Sri Lanka which was undergoing genocide and ethnic cleansing.

The stories unfold slowly in a gut wrenching and emotional tail of finding forgiveness for the decision made while under extreme trauma.

Content Warnings

kirstym25's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Content Warnings

serendipitysbooks's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional informative reflective

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Content Warnings

danajoy's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark sad tense

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

4.0

The beautiful, whimisical cover and cosy sounding name makes this novel appear to be a light choice. Based on those you'd likely be forgiven in believing that this was a warm, safe, story about a nursing home.

This is instead a deeply important but difficult and confronting story about survival, racism and violence. The content is highly confronting.

The Sri Lankan civil war is not a topic I was very aware of.

This story is brutal and important.

Content Warnings

katiiekhaos's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This book is beautifully written and has a rich world and characters, however I found myself getting confused with the multiple time lines and so many main characters. I wanted to love this one more, however I can tell the author is incredibly talented and will definitely pick up more of their books in the future.

Content Warnings