Scan barcode
cian_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Medical content, Trafficking, and Abandonment
Moderate: Confinement, Pedophilia, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Blood, Kidnapping, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Terminal illness, Alcohol, and Classism
charvi_not_just_fiction's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Listen I half feel like you all should ignore my review because this isn't the kind of book I usually read. It was a bit out of my comfort zone so even though it wrote about some important and disturbing topics in a beautiful writing style I feel that I couldn't appreciate it as much as other readers did.
I think I was very much invested in the beginning and towards the end but the book became slightly boring for me in the middle. Again, I think that might just be me and lit fic books in general and not a comment on this book.
Overall this was quite dark, a bit graphic and depressing so do read the trigger warning before you go into it.
I think I was very much invested in the beginning and towards the end but the book became slightly boring for me in the middle. Again, I think that might just be me and lit fic books in general and not a comment on this book.
Overall this was quite dark, a bit graphic and depressing so do read the trigger warning before you go into it.
readingonmountains's review against another edition
4.0
I heard Anosh read from his book at the Whistler writer's festival and knew in that moment that I had to know the whole story. This is a beautiful, heart-wrenching tale about the Hijra & sex workers in the red light district in India. There are so many emotions bubbling to the surface of this story.
ludon5681's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-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
The Parcel is a deeply reflective, compassionate novel about prostitution, trafficking, gender, and deprivation set in Kamathipura, a destitute red-light district of Bombay. The story is told from the point of view of Madhu, a 40-year-old Hijra (person of the third gender - akin to a transgender woman who has been castrated) who had been a sex worker and is now a beggar. Mahdu has a very distinct voice dripping with dry, dark humour and understandable bitterness for the way her life had turned out. Her deeply and carefully rendered character - along with the characters around her who make up the rich landscape of the novel - is a highlight of the book, and the character development and depth of the characters was by far my favorite part of the novel. The writing was more matter-of-fact than I would have liked; there were fewer passages which took my breath away than I was expecting there to be, though there were still some beautiful ones. I also found the ending to be a bit abrupt - it's possible it was foreshadowed in ways that I didn't immediately pick up on, but it didn't seem to follow from a clear arc of character development in the way I would have hoped. Lastly, of course, it is best to go into this book informed - it is very much "dead dove: do not eat" territory, and while it is a gorgeous, resonant novel, it is also a lot to take in.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Trafficking, Kidnapping, Sexual harassment, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, and Medical content
hellobilzyb's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
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
3.75
This was a weird one. The concept of the book is great and I love that it centred trans sex workers but I think the ending missed a few bits to really bring the full story together. I think it was written well however, I just wish the ending was tied together better
lisalikesdogs's review against another edition
3.0
Really interesting. Learned a lot of things about India and the hijra community. I will honestly read or see everything Anosh Irani does just because he is incredible.
livetoread2024's review against another edition
2.0
A very dark read - if transgender (& all that goes with it), child prostitution or child abandonment are triggers for you, I suggest that you steer clear. Heartbreaking that parents could just discard their children just because they don't fit into society's version of "normal". I'm glad I read it as it was an eye-opener. Found it dragged a bit at the end and had to force myself to finish it.
amn028's review against another edition
3.0
It took a bit for me to get into this book and I almost gave up on it around the 50 page mark. However, I'm glad I stuck with it despite the inconsistent writing. The subject matter is dark and horrifying. It is definitely not a light read. The authors did a good job of bring truths into a fictional story.
rowangazdewich's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0