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ebgould's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Abandonment, and Mental illness
sooz_767's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
3.0
Ugh I'm disappointed I didn't love it one, it had so much potential but ended up being a bit all over the place. It had a strong start but by the 40% mark it became repetitive and overdrawn.
Nita's storyline, which I already disliked purely for the fact she left her 6 year old "to be an <i>artiste</i>" 🙄, became predictable and I really couldn't feel much beyond distaste for her.
I liked Sophie's storyline much better but that poor girl just could not catch a break! Abandoned, robbed, everyone dies, it was just one thing after another.
The best part of this was the people she met along the way and how they impacted her life. I actually teared up hearing about Simon, and he was only a side character!
All in all, it was an interesting read but personally I found I just couldn't get on board with Nita's side of the story, but this likely won't affect others.
Nita's storyline, which I already disliked purely for the fact she left her 6 year old "to be an <i>artiste</i>" 🙄, became predictable and I really couldn't feel much beyond distaste for her.
I liked Sophie's storyline much better but that poor girl just could not catch a break! Abandoned, robbed, everyone dies, it was just one thing after another.
The best part of this was the people she met along the way and how they impacted her life. I actually teared up hearing about Simon, and he was only a side character!
All in all, it was an interesting read but personally I found I just couldn't get on board with Nita's side of the story, but this likely won't affect others.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, and Abandonment
sizzlesteaks's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Abandonment, Death of parent, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Sexual violence, Grief, Emotional abuse, and Pregnancy
Minor: Car accident
way2sweet2's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
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? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Drug abuse, Drug use, Abandonment, and Addiction
adlane22's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-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
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Addiction, Abandonment, and Death of parent
jasminegalsreadinglog's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- 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? It's complicated
2.5
The Direction of the Wind is the story of a daughter searching for her mother. This book is set in Paris and Ahmedabad of 1998 and 2019. Alternating between the stories of Nita and Sophie we get to transverse their stories.This is the premise in nutshell. Throughout the journey we get to see other characters who are stuck in their own stories.
I liked the part where the author tries to highlight the part where the narrative talks about the mental illnesses not discussed enough. Nita's turmoil about leaving her family is written well. But that's where my liking for this novel ends.
I am probably one of those people who is going to be critical about this novel. Nita and Sophie are stuck in patriarchal society I agree but some of their actions just doesn't add up. Nita is an educated person but without doing any research moves to a different country just because she wants to pursue art and is fed up with her privileged life. Same with Sophie. An accountant goes to Paris without looking up hotels, something called as Uber and Paris of this age doesn't have Indians? I get it that patriarchal society is prevalent in India but writing these women characters as dumb doesn't make sense. And since when does having pets in India not common.
Can Indian American authors please stop projecting India as this backward country where everything is about poverty, street animals and gossiping aunties? Please look at other diverse authors who try to incorporate their culture positively too and highlight the wonderful community they have. Sadly this novel disappointed me.
CW: Child Abandonment, addiction, drug usage, Infidelity, sexual assault
I liked the part where the author tries to highlight the part where the narrative talks about the mental illnesses not discussed enough. Nita's turmoil about leaving her family is written well. But that's where my liking for this novel ends.
I am probably one of those people who is going to be critical about this novel. Nita and Sophie are stuck in patriarchal society I agree but some of their actions just doesn't add up. Nita is an educated person but without doing any research moves to a different country just because she wants to pursue art and is fed up with her privileged life. Same with Sophie. An accountant goes to Paris without looking up hotels, something called as Uber and Paris of this age doesn't have Indians? I get it that patriarchal society is prevalent in India but writing these women characters as dumb doesn't make sense. And since when does having pets in India not common.
Can Indian American authors please stop projecting India as this backward country where everything is about poverty, street animals and gossiping aunties? Please look at other diverse authors who try to incorporate their culture positively too and highlight the wonderful community they have. Sadly this novel disappointed me.
CW: Child Abandonment, addiction, drug usage, Infidelity, sexual assault
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Infidelity, Drug use, Death, Alcohol, Abandonment, and Addiction
aroseshaw's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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? Yes
4.5
“The direction of the wind cannot be changed, but we can change the direction of our sails.”
Sophie has grown up in Ahmedabad, India with her father, who becomes her whole world after her mother, Nita, dies when she is six. Now 28, she’s agreed to an arranged marriage brokered by her aunties after the unexpected death of her father. While going through his things, Sophie finds letters written by her mother, years after her supposed death. Nita, feeling trapped in her marriage and motherhood, leaves her family and the privileges of upper class life to pursue her art, and herself, in Paris. Now, Sophie leaves her home for the first time to look for the mother who abandoned her.
This is the type of emotional read I love. Different cultures, a strong sense of place, great characters, plus a bit of mystery and drama makes this a book you just fall into. The book is written from both Sophie and Nita’s POV in two timelines. At first I didn’t think I’d like the story because I cannot imagine leaving my children, but I could empathize with Nita’s feelings of inadequacy and as being seen as only part of herself. I felt the story hit a slow patch in the middle but I just had to know what happened. This book is both heartbreaking and full of hope.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing, and the author for an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment and Drug abuse
erinmjustice's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Death of parent, Abandonment, Addiction, and Drug use
Moderate: Infidelity, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
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