Reviews tagging 'Classism'

Pyre by Perumal Murugan

2 reviews

serendipitysbooks's review against another edition

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dark reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • 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

 Pyre is my first book from the International Booker longlist. It is the story of an inter-caste marriage in rural India. Kumarasen and Saroja marry in secret and then he takes her home to his village. His family and other villagers refuse to accept her because she is of a different caste to them. The couple was effectively ostracised and the way the village women treated Saroja, who was stuck there alone while her husband travelled for work, was particularly cruel. Her unhappiness was harrowing to read. This book shows what life can be like in poor, isolated, rural communities, and how important and all powerful families and tradition are there. As a reader I felt slightly distanced from the two main characters, possibly because they were so passive, tolerating their treatment and simply hoping things would improve. I wonder if this is part of the invidiousness of caste; that it can feel so powerful that trying to effect change feels pointless. I think the author did a wonderful job slowly building up the tension - I could feel my body tense and my blood pressure rise. As much as I wanted young love to triumph the more I read the more I knew that was unlikely. A simply told story that was tough to read. 
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hannahleewhite's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad tense fast-paced
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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