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duskx's review against another edition
- 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? Yes
3.75
Rather than diving into the plot, I’d argue the true brilliance of this novel lies in Roy’s prose. Her writing is both lyrical and evocative, almost poetic, a fusion that captures the fragility and quiet despair of the world she constructs. Her imagery is unforgettable: crisp dead insects littering the floor, the wilted arum lilies atop the child’s coffin, the aroma of red fish curry cooked with black tamarind, the stench of old urine lingering in the air. It’s a symphony of senses, combining both beauty and decay, woven together with such precision that each line feels like an incantation.
In Roy’s hands, small moments become monumental. The sound of innocent laugh basking in sunlight, and then, almost imperceptibly, bitter lies ignite like kindling, swelling into devastating fires. A weak protest, dismissed at first, is shattered beyond repair. The narrative reverberates with gut-wrenching sobs, hollow laughter, deafening curses, and late apologies drenched in vertiginous guilt. It is a cacophony of regret that buzzes, swelling with a delirious intensity.
Slapping. Cursing. Spitting. Kicking. Stomping.
Each revelation carves deeper, unraveling the delicate threads of hope. What begins with an air of innocence and optimism spirals into a chasm—vast, dark, and unrelenting—until every flicker of light is consumed. The tension tightens gradually, each moment more harrowing than the last.
The characters are just as intricately crafted—vivid, multi-dimensional, and tethered to the weight of societal and familial expectations. Forbidden love, caste oppression, and dysfunctional familial bonds pulse through the narrative, adding complexity without sacrificing the nuanced portrayal of human emotion and interaction.
I almost put this book down at the (child) sexual assault scene, but since Rosh recommended it to me, I mustered the grit and determination to keep going. I’m glad I did because this is a must-read for anyone who appreciates literary fiction that is as beautifully written as it is socially relevant. While its fragmented structure and constant shifts in time can be disorienting, and the prose, at times, quite dense, the novel remains an essential read.
Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
agnela's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Fatphobia, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, and Death of parent
awoodward1's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, and Death
Minor: Domestic abuse
serenspace's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Incest, Sexual content, Grief, and Classism
avuavu's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, Grief, Colonisation, and Classism
pranati_pathak05's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Xenophobia, Police brutality, Grief, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Sexual harassment
quinn24's review against another edition
3.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Sexual content and Sexual harassment
thomasdj's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Moderate: Child death, Death, Incest, and Pedophilia
Minor: Sexual content
tinny's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death, Emotional abuse, Incest, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Domestic abuse
mirandaleighhhh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
It's hard to rate this for enjoyment...it was profoundly depressing. But it is solid in its execution and deserves a 4 at least.
The imagery was 10/10...I annotated so much but these are some of my favorites.
"So small god laughed a hollow laugh and skipped away cheerfully. Like a rich boy in shorts. He whistled, kicked stones. The source of his brittle elation was the relative smallness of his misfortune. He climbed into people's eyes and became an exasperating expression."
"Liquid ache spread under her skin, and she walked out of the world like a witch, to a better, happier place."
"Pointed in the wrong direction, trapped outside their own history and unable to retrace their steps because their footprints had been swept away."
"War has made us adore our conquerors and despise ourselves."
"Ammu flew through her dream on heavy, shuddering wings, and stopped to rest just under the skin of it."
"If you're happy in a dream Ammu, does it count?
Graphic: Body horror, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Police brutality, Grief, Murder, Abandonment, and Colonisation