Reviews

Valmiki's Daughter by Shani Mootoo

kamilacajiao's review against another edition

4.0

i really liked it but the ending could mean a number of things

aruarian_melody's review against another edition

Took me over two weeks to read 200 pages. Just couldn't get into it. 

caseythecanadianlesbrarian's review against another edition

4.0

Any discussion at all of Shani Mootoo I must precede with an acknowledgement that I love, love, LOVE, her writing. I think she’s one of the most talented writers or artists period whose work I am familiar with—she happens to be one of those disgustingly talented people who is not only an imaginative and brilliant writer but also a gifted visual artist and filmmaker. So when I finally picked up her most recent novel Valmiki’s Daughter (2008), after being too swamped for too long with school work to fit time in to read it, the anticipation was killing me. I pretty much devoured it in one day—it was the first thing I read when I decided not to continue my PhD, in fact. The novel, indeed, forcefully pulls the reader in immediately, somewhat disconcertingly addressing “you” directly in the first section and, using an imperative tense, telling you where you are, what you see, smell, hear, and touch—and where to go next. You are a visitor to San Fernando, Trinidad and Mootoo inundates you with vivid sensory details of the polyphonic, bustling city, the lush environment, and mouth-watering food....
see the rest of my review here: http://caseythecanadianlesbrarian.wordpress.com/2012/06/16/review-of-shani-mootoos-novel-valmikis-daughter/

bela's review against another edition

emotional tense slow-paced

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

4.0

clem's review

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.5

fartashiareads's review

4.0

3.5

kikireads's review

4.0

The simplest plots can take on the world. With the two families Mootoo charts cultural, political, social, and sexual histories and identities. She broaches topics specific to a particular Trinidadian context. (Tobago don't figure at all, tbh. Not in a way I could decipher.) With this book, obviously in dialogue with A House for Mr Biswas, Mootoo goes beyond its limits, using gender, sexuality, and aspects of T&T's colonial past, to emphasise the multiplicity that can and does exist in the most conservative East Indian families.

Viveka identifies as non-binary (even though she doesn't use that term). I was so glad Mootoo made it explicit. First time reading a Caribbean novel with a genderqueer MC. We need more please.

This is not my final review. Just had to get some words out about this marvellous novel. Thanks, Kay!