lrc52's review
5.0
I'm not sure why I loved this book exactly. I think it was the the family's imperfect love for each other. That frustrating desperate love that holds you together so often through the hard times. The joyous happy love in the moments of normalcy that softens the sharpness of past hurts. The overwhelming grief that only talking with ghosts can reconcile. All of this while new love is happening too--or new old love. I felt expanded by this novel--filled with the more of it all.
Families. "Happy families are all alike. Every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." (Tolstoy) But aren't all families happy and not happy? We don't all hang lights--some of us scribble missives on the walls--but we all have deep disappointment layered under and over the knowing that we are together for better or worse.
The main characters in this book were so real. So true. I sometimes felt me in the room with me. I recognized myself in them. I felt at home with them.
This is why I loved this book.
Families. "Happy families are all alike. Every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." (Tolstoy) But aren't all families happy and not happy? We don't all hang lights--some of us scribble missives on the walls--but we all have deep disappointment layered under and over the knowing that we are together for better or worse.
The main characters in this book were so real. So true. I sometimes felt me in the room with me. I recognized myself in them. I felt at home with them.
This is why I loved this book.
soliteyah's review
emotional
reflective
medium-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
4.5
Really enjoyed this -- it felt much shorter than 500 pages! The author writes appealing characters and good (often humorous) dialogue.
danielcrogers's review
5.0
I couldn’t help but fall in love with the characters in this beautiful and poignant study of life’s full range of experiences.
nicoleisalwaysreading's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Death, Terminal illness, and Grief
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Xenophobia and Racial slurs
catherineabarrett's review
4.0
Really enjoyed this debut novel, which centered on a first-generation Indian-American protagonist, and her somewhat dysfunctional family. Appreciated that the ending wasn't too tidy but still felt satisfying.
orygunn's review
4.0
A wonderfully woven story about life, death, family, and finding oneself. Wish I knew Indian foods better to have more ideas of what was eaten, but that didn’t detract from this great tale.
embreads98's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-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
5.0
One of the most beautifully written books I have ever read. The way Jacob paints a scene with words is incredible, her characters are so fully fleshed out and you truly share in their hope, their grief, and their pain. I cannot recommend this book highly enough.
dixiet's review
4.0
Once I started reading, it was very hard to put this book down. A very original voice and story, full of emotion which sometimes made it difficult to read but was also one of the highlights.