Reviews

Nar Nareeshwar by Perumal Murugan

kumipaul's review against another edition

4.0

Pretty fascinating look at the "underbelly" of societal pressure on a couple due to infertility. Everyone around them was insensitive or pushy or downright annoying and insulting because they couldn't conceive. And everyone had crazy suggestions about one ridiculous superstition or another that would guarantee to fix the problem. To me, the fertility gods and silly attempts were sadly laughable, but to our main characters, they were serious efforts to crawl out from under the ridicule. Rather than provide spoilers, suffice to say that I found it to be an exaggeration of what childless couples often endure, with the tension growing and growing like a horror novel, leading to the big ending. As for that ending, however, I wish it went on for about 2 or 3 more pages and finished differently.

torvosaur's review against another edition

dark reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

itsophieso's review against another edition

challenging emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.75

Didn‘t realize this was written by a man when I picked it up. Was disappointed there wasn’t more in the book from Ponna’s POV seeing as it’s about fertility and childbearing. Felt very patriarchal but was an interesting concept. Hated the ending. 

ajkeller's review against another edition

challenging emotional tense medium-paced

4.25

paintedverse's review against another edition

dark reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

sabrinasayshey's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

shanmugapriya's review against another edition

emotional fast-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

3.75

kavya_prabhuram's review against another edition

reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

aishathebibliophile's review against another edition

slow-paced

3.5

pavanayi's review against another edition

5.0

The story of the childless couple Ponna and Kaali reminds us the quite often unreciprocrated relationship between an individual and the constricting walls of the Indian society. It leaves one with a question each of us struggle to answer; how much of psychological abuse can one take just to be accepted by our loved ones and the society?

What happens to Kaali and Ponna? Can't wait to read the sequels Lonely Harvest and Trial by Silence.