mxbenjaminrose's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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
2.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia
skrau's review against another edition
3.0
This seemed to take an age to get going, and the movement was heavily reliant on the development of the characters once it did - which is fine! there was some good stuff there - but at several points it felt a little too stiff and shallow, and I don't know if some of the cultural aspects weren't a little too stereotyped. The ending wasn't anything surprising, but it was sweet enough.
kmc3050's review against another edition
5.0
5. Just what I want out of a book. I love a good road trip and these three were so funny. I really appreciate having the older perspective and how she was written as a main character with just as much integrity as the others. I usually take a star off for a tidy ending, but not this time.
Soneela Nankani Does a great job narrating.
Soneela Nankani Does a great job narrating.
vanquishingvolumes's review against another edition
3.0
This book hovers between a 3 star and a 4 star rating...it was a story of quiet resilience and of finding yourself no matter what phase of life you are in.
Ultimately, I am glad I read this book. It was quiet and understated, but had a beautiful way of helping me to see America through the eyes of someone who was not from America. The main character of the widow was someone who as a young woman was a fiery young woman, whose traditional marriage quieted that fire into subservience and a quiet life that she would never have chosen for herself.
I don’t know why I keep reading books about (and this is a non-spoiler as it is revealed in Chapter One) older people who are determined to kill themselves. I think the juxtaposition of hope against despair makes for a compelling story, and one this is incredibly human at its core. Exploring themes of acceptance, relationships of parents and their children, and resilience - this was a quiet read that will both warm you and bring tears to your eyes.
Ultimately, I am glad I read this book. It was quiet and understated, but had a beautiful way of helping me to see America through the eyes of someone who was not from America. The main character of the widow was someone who as a young woman was a fiery young woman, whose traditional marriage quieted that fire into subservience and a quiet life that she would never have chosen for herself.
I don’t know why I keep reading books about (and this is a non-spoiler as it is revealed in Chapter One) older people who are determined to kill themselves. I think the juxtaposition of hope against despair makes for a compelling story, and one this is incredibly human at its core. Exploring themes of acceptance, relationships of parents and their children, and resilience - this was a quiet read that will both warm you and bring tears to your eyes.
jeanna's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
3.5
krismarley's review against another edition
4.0
Only thing better than a road trip movie is a road trip book!
jamicuns01's review against another edition
5.0
Darling book. This is a sweet story about 3 people who would never have meet find themselves thrown together on a cross country tour of America. They learn from each other as their minds and hearts are expanded. Stereotypes and biases are shed as they get to know each other and find the humanity in each other. This is a book our world needs at this time.
shravyapandiri's review against another edition
4.0
I did not expect this book to be so simple and good. The characters in this book are so lovely. Each of them are so different and connected. I liked how each of them had a different past , culture, background and how they are all on a trip. For me it was even more interesting because I am from India and came to US recently. And also visited most of the places describe in the book.. Washington DC, Newyork, Niagara, Statue of Liberty etc. Now during the other end of the journey is again funny for me because I came to stay in the east coast from California and also visited Vegas , LA and SFO. How interesting and wonderful
It is sad at the end and I wanted story to be little different but what can be done :(
It is sad at the end and I wanted story to be little different but what can be done :(
lopab94's review against another edition
1.0
When I saw this book featured on Goodreads and read the summary, I thought I would enjoy the book. As I read the first few chapters and realized that one of the main characters is a Hindu Bangladeshi Bengali from Sylhet, like myself, I was even more excited to keep reading. I’ve never read a book that had such a character. Usually a book has a Bangladeshi character, they are Muslim since the country’s population is 90% Muslim. But as I kept reading, it was obvious that the author has no idea about what Bengali means or what relationships are like between a Bangladeshi Bengali and a Bengali from West Bengal in India. I found the way Bangladeshi were portrayed and described (of course they were the “dark skinned” ones) did not follow reality at all. Not to mention the behavior of the two South Asian characters seemed like something straight out of a 1970s Bollywood movie. I think if the author were ever to meet a Bengali from Bangladesh or a widow from Kolkata, she’d be shocked to see how different they are from her preconceived notions of them. I was curious about the ending but once I found out about Rahi, I was done. The book was about 4 chapters longer than it needed to be as well.
If you want a good story to learn about Bengalis, both Bangladesh’s and West Bengal’s, I recommend reading Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine from Jhumpa Lahiri’s Pulitzer Prize winning book of short stories, Interpreter of Maladies.
I don’t mind people of other cultures writing about my own, but I would hope that when they do, they actually do research and learn about it instead of writing like this.
If you want a good story to learn about Bengalis, both Bangladesh’s and West Bengal’s, I recommend reading Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine from Jhumpa Lahiri’s Pulitzer Prize winning book of short stories, Interpreter of Maladies.
I don’t mind people of other cultures writing about my own, but I would hope that when they do, they actually do research and learn about it instead of writing like this.
claireak95's review against another edition
4.0
I could barely tell you what the plot of this book is for most of the book, but essentially it's these 3 strangers thrown together for a road trip. The plot isn't the main point here. It's more of an exploration of the characters and how they change throughout the book. I always find it interesting to read about outside perspectives on places I'm familiar with, and this book centers on South Asians' impressions of the US. (However, I did realize after I finished the book that the author is from the US and is not South Asian, but her husband is Indian and they live in India.) I found it interesting to go along for the ride and see what happens with all the characters as the book goes along.