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4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
A Hindu perfumer and a Muslim calligrapher are torn apart by Partition, but cannot forget each other.
challenging
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I have many feelings. The writing and the imagery it conjures is gorgeous. Yet, at times, the beautiful evocative language felt slow and sticky, like a hot humid summer day, which made continuing the book feel like a chore. This may have something to do with the mood I've been in, or maybe with the way we in the West are used to living at a fast pace, to the point where it may feel uncomfortable to slow down. So, for much of the book, I fluctuated between being delighted by the imagery and wishing for the story to move along. At the end, I cried like a little bitch, which is not *that* difficult to achieve, but still counts for something.
In 1938, young Samir Vij locks eyes with Firdaus Khan across his family’s perfume shop. Over the years, they fall in love, dreaming of a future with each other. However, India is falling apart, and their city is destroyed in the partition. Now, Hindu Samir is Indian, but Muslim Firdaus is Pakistani, and the two are not allowed to see each other again. The two never forget each other but must decide what from the past to let go of in order to live again.
This was a fantastic and heartbreaking read. In addition to Samir and Firdaus’s love story, I enjoyed learning about perfume making, calligraphy, the British Indian army, and the partition. Despite the length of the book, the story was well told, and I wasn’t ready for it to end. The characters were well-developed and realistic. I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy historical fiction and family sagas.
Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an audio ARC of this book.
This was a fantastic and heartbreaking read. In addition to Samir and Firdaus’s love story, I enjoyed learning about perfume making, calligraphy, the British Indian army, and the partition. Despite the length of the book, the story was well told, and I wasn’t ready for it to end. The characters were well-developed and realistic. I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy historical fiction and family sagas.
Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an audio ARC of this book.
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Loved how descriptive this book was, I was drawn to the bazaar and all the smells. Main theme is love at first sight( which I find problematic). I enjoyed the story, I think I wished it delved a bit deeper into partition.
I got an ARC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
First off, the narrator, Deepti Gupta, did a fantastic job. She voices each character so well and has the perfect voice for narrating such beautiful writing. Great job.
Now the book. Aanchal Malhotra has such a way with words. Her descriptions and writing in the book are just so beautiful. I’m so glad I listened to this book the first time so I could really take in her writing. Smell is really important to the story and her writing brought that to life.
The story is about Samir and Firdaus, two young lovers separated by the partition of India and Pakistan and their different religions. A large part of the story is also about Samir’s uncle, who had a secret life in France during the war. As a reader, I really got to know Samir well. As a nostalgic person myself, I connected with his longing for his past life that was taken from him, despite trying to move forward. The ending was heartbreaking, but also very moving.
My only complaint is that I did not feel that I got to know Firdaus as well. She is a large character throughout the book, but the story is only told from her perspective as a teenager and then rarely and sporadically as an adult. I suppose that it ties into how Samir doesn’t really know what her life is like since their separation, but I would’ve loved to have read more about her life without Samir.
Overall, I really loved this book. The writing was beautiful and I loved the story. I would definitely recommend it, especially the audiobook as the narrator really helps bring this story to life.
First off, the narrator, Deepti Gupta, did a fantastic job. She voices each character so well and has the perfect voice for narrating such beautiful writing. Great job.
Now the book. Aanchal Malhotra has such a way with words. Her descriptions and writing in the book are just so beautiful. I’m so glad I listened to this book the first time so I could really take in her writing. Smell is really important to the story and her writing brought that to life.
The story is about Samir and Firdaus, two young lovers separated by the partition of India and Pakistan and their different religions. A large part of the story is also about Samir’s uncle, who had a secret life in France during the war. As a reader, I really got to know Samir well. As a nostalgic person myself, I connected with his longing for his past life that was taken from him, despite trying to move forward. The ending was heartbreaking, but also very moving.
My only complaint is that I did not feel that I got to know Firdaus as well. She is a large character throughout the book, but the story is only told from her perspective as a teenager and then rarely and sporadically as an adult. I suppose that it ties into how Samir doesn’t really know what her life is like since their separation, but I would’ve loved to have read more about her life without Samir.
Overall, I really loved this book. The writing was beautiful and I loved the story. I would definitely recommend it, especially the audiobook as the narrator really helps bring this story to life.
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes