joey1914's review against another edition
4.0
I had to read this for my Gender, Justice, and Change class I'm taking in University.
Therefore, wasn't looking forward to reading it, and wasn't expecting it to be good either.
I really enjoyed it overall though, I was intrigued really early on and thought it was a good novel that still touched on very important matters through these fictional characters lives.
The way their lives intertwined and they all came together at one point or another as well, as I wasn't even expecting that in the beginning either, and they all tied in a great parts.
Even if this was a book I would've read on my own I would've enjoyed it.
The ending was great in my opinion as well, because I wouldn't say everyone got the perfect happy ending, but it wasn't a cliffhanger or you felt bad after it either, it had the perfect balance of setting up the characters for the ending with the information that was given and where they're going from there, while still be able to show that they're going to be okay even if it's not the definite happy ending, because especially for this book we see that's not always realistic for this reality.
Therefore, wasn't looking forward to reading it, and wasn't expecting it to be good either.
I really enjoyed it overall though, I was intrigued really early on and thought it was a good novel that still touched on very important matters through these fictional characters lives.
The way their lives intertwined and they all came together at one point or another as well, as I wasn't even expecting that in the beginning either, and they all tied in a great parts.
Even if this was a book I would've read on my own I would've enjoyed it.
The ending was great in my opinion as well, because I wouldn't say everyone got the perfect happy ending, but it wasn't a cliffhanger or you felt bad after it either, it had the perfect balance of setting up the characters for the ending with the information that was given and where they're going from there, while still be able to show that they're going to be okay even if it's not the definite happy ending, because especially for this book we see that's not always realistic for this reality.
shambhavi_basnet's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
fast-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? Yes
4.0
filaughn's review
3.5
This was an interesting, quick read. Even though I didn't necessarily like all of the POV characters, I felt like I did get to know them and each of their stories really illustrated different aspects of Nepali culture, dysfunctional NGO systems, and the difficulties faced by women. The book didn't feel super preachy and focused on teaching readers about Nepal or the aid systems - the focus was on the characters and the story. The writing flowed well throughout.
However, the fact that there were so many POV characters in a relatively short book did mean that some of the storylines felt a little too shallow or rushed - and that it was hard at the beginning to track who was doing what in which storylines. They did end up all twining together, but I think Thapa just needed a bit more space to do what she was aiming for in this book. I did like it - but it felt as though it needed a bit more length to really work well.
However, the fact that there were so many POV characters in a relatively short book did mean that some of the storylines felt a little too shallow or rushed - and that it was hard at the beginning to track who was doing what in which storylines. They did end up all twining together, but I think Thapa just needed a bit more space to do what she was aiming for in this book. I did like it - but it felt as though it needed a bit more length to really work well.
thebookmedusa's review
2.0
All of Us in Our Own Lives follows a variety of characters internationally from Paris to Dubai to Nepal to Canada, and explores the evolution of the female and male characters in a patriarchal world. Thapa explores global political themes and gender issues such as equality, gender roles, and the glass ceiling, through the main female characters Sapana, Indira, and Ava, and demonstrates their hardships and how they are overcome through their connected work in the Women's Empowerment Program. Although the book takes on a fictional lens towards the themes Thapa attempts to display, it still holds true to modern day dilemmas as many women and men can relate to the struggles each character goes through, unique to one another personally, but similar on an international scale.
At first, the book is difficult to follow with a large amount of characters all provided quickly with confusing storylines, but if you stick with it, the storylines begin to blend together and intertwine. It's short, a worthwhile read, and perfect for anyone intrigued by global gender politics and who wants to take a glimpse at the lives of women in Nepal.
At first, the book is difficult to follow with a large amount of characters all provided quickly with confusing storylines, but if you stick with it, the storylines begin to blend together and intertwine. It's short, a worthwhile read, and perfect for anyone intrigued by global gender politics and who wants to take a glimpse at the lives of women in Nepal.
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