Scan barcode
evawondergem's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- 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
Moderate: Sexual assault, Violence, and Murder
greta_bbunyi's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
A wonderful and thought-provoking exploration of the concept of Honor in the eyes of the characters, who hail from vastly different backgrounds (race, gender, religion, caste). And more than showing how these characters define the word, you also get to rethink and realize how much value their “honor” truly has.
Just shy of 5 stars for me because of the use of a lot of highfalutin words that I found unnecessary and unrealistic, especially in conversations. But that’s just a personal preference and I don’t think it took away from the important aspects of the book.
Just shy of 5 stars for me because of the use of a lot of highfalutin words that I found unnecessary and unrealistic, especially in conversations. But that’s just a personal preference and I don’t think it took away from the important aspects of the book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Islamophobia, Religious bigotry, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Violence, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Sexual assault and Death of parent
prinzessin_aj's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
slow-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
Graphic: Death, Hate crime, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Torture, Violence, Police brutality, Islamophobia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
thefluffyowl's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Couldn’t put this one down, breathtaking and powerful…read with tissues
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death, Death, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Violence, Religious bigotry, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Classism
ksanderss's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
ALL THE FEELINGS
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Violence, Islamophobia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, and Classism
jenbsbooks's review against another edition
sad
4.25
Upon finishing this book (in audio) it was stated "we hope you enjoyed ..." Enjoyed? This was a tough story, but it was well written and definitely pulls at the heart strings while providing some eye opening situations that while fiction here, are not unrealistic unfortunately.
I really liked how it started off with an "article" and then we meet the writer of the article, who has to have surgery, so a new journalist is brought in (our MC, Smita). Her story is "book 1" and is 3rd person/past tense. In "book 2" we are introduced to Meena, who is the subject of the article. Her portions are 1st person/past tense, sounding like the discussions she likely had with Smita. Smita's own story continues (shifting back to the 3rd person for her parts) as well. It's a single narrator, which is good, because then when Meena is the POV, the voice of Meena matches during Smita's storyline. The narrator makes the voices/accent different enough that it was easy to tell them apart. The sections were NOT labeled, but I noticed in print (the kindle copy was included in KU, so I grabbed it to look over) that Meena's "memories", her portions, were printed in italics to easily differentiate them (as well as the change in tense).
The actions toward Meena, and toward Smita earlier in her life ... they are just SO horrible! It IS utterly ironic (as is pointed out a few times) that these men think they are so religious and good, and see no conflict with that and with hurting/destroying others.
I liked the tie-in to the title, provided at the very end. The mangos pictured on the cover.
Often I'll simply put things on hold that have been recommended or raved about, without really reading the blurb or knowing what the book is about. I found it a little interesting that I had three, in audio, with heavy Indian accents ... this one, Shantaram and The Reading List in one month.
I really liked how it started off with an "article" and then we meet the writer of the article, who has to have surgery, so a new journalist is brought in (our MC, Smita). Her story is "book 1" and is 3rd person/past tense. In "book 2" we are introduced to Meena, who is the subject of the article. Her portions are 1st person/past tense, sounding like the discussions she likely had with Smita. Smita's own story continues (shifting back to the 3rd person for her parts) as well. It's a single narrator, which is good, because then when Meena is the POV, the voice of Meena matches during Smita's storyline. The narrator makes the voices/accent different enough that it was easy to tell them apart. The sections were NOT labeled, but I noticed in print (the kindle copy was included in KU, so I grabbed it to look over) that Meena's "memories", her portions, were printed in italics to easily differentiate them (as well as the change in tense).
The actions toward Meena, and toward Smita earlier in her life ... they are just SO horrible! It IS utterly ironic (as is pointed out a few times) that these men think they are so religious and good, and see no conflict with that and with hurting/destroying others.
I liked the tie-in to the title, provided at the very end. The mangos pictured on the cover.
Often I'll simply put things on hold that have been recommended or raved about, without really reading the blurb or knowing what the book is about. I found it a little interesting that I had three, in audio, with heavy Indian accents ... this one, Shantaram and The Reading List in one month.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Physical abuse, Violence, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury
beccastayton's review against another edition
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Sexual assault, Violence, Xenophobia, and Murder
sushmita_reads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Despite its dark subject matter (gender violence), I found it very difficult to put down. I found the characters flawed but well-written and engaging, the plot moved at a reasonable pace. The whole story felt deeply human. And being part of the Indian diaspora, I related to parts of the main character. The feeling of being responsible for India's struggles, relief and gratitude for being brought up in the Global North and grief at what culture I've lost.
Like others, I was a bit confused by Smita's choice to stay in India. Considering how much trauma she'd suffered and seen. But I think a) she decided to extend her stay by 3 months not forever and b) it wasn't just Mohan but also the promise she made to Meena. I know it's fiction but would've been nice to see at least a convo or two about Abru's future. Consistency and routine is so important, the child's life felt like a plot point rather than an important consideration. The trauma of uprooting her or abandoning her after forming a bond etc.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Hate crime, Misogyny, Racism, Sexual assault, Violence, Islamophobia, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Sexual content and Suicide attempt
Minor: Body shaming
criticalgayze's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This was the first book from my 30 before 30 list, a project I curated by getting 30 book recommendations from friends to read before my 30th birthday coming up this December.
I will start with the lessons I learned from this book that I hope to carry into my 30s:
I will start with the lessons I learned from this book that I hope to carry into my 30s:
- Standing up for yourself and your needs is always the right decision
- It is never inconvenient to build and maintain community
Now, for my actual review:
If the book had been just the first 2/3s of the final text, I would maybe have given it somewhere between 3.5 and 4 stars. Like many Reese picks, it was a little on the nose with its themes and values, but it was intense and emotionally affecting in the way it seemed to want to be. I did feel like it was still largely westernized in its lens, but I thought that was fine, especially as the author has similar cultural connections from my understanding.
The book started to lose me when Smita suddenly realized, seemingly out of nowhere, that she was starting to love India again, despite having had no positive experiences other than her budding relationship with Mohan. When a book struggles that bad with setting up where it wants to go, I know it is going to lose me. But even then, I didn't think I'd fall off as bad as I did.
I also found it interesting that Smita never resolves the truth of her work with her father, who is dropped fairly quickly after the "revelation" at the start of Book Two.
This, combined with Daisy Jones and Crawdads, confirms for me that I am probably not the reader for Reese's literary fiction picks. We'll just have to agree to disagree there.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Violence, Xenophobia, Islamophobia, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Blood, Medical content, and Medical trauma
karo_g's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Violence, Islamophobia, and Fire/Fire injury