thepageladies's review against another edition
3.0
Fleeing his demons and the dark undercurrents of contemporary life in the UK, Hilary Byrd takes refuge in a former British hill station in South India. Charmed by the foreignness of his new surroundings and by the familiarity of everything the British have left behind, he finds solace in life’s simple pleasures, travelling by rickshaw around the small town with his driver Jamshed and staying in a mission house beside the local presbytery where the Padre and his adoptive daughter Priscilla have taken Hilary under their wing.
The Padre is concerned for Priscilla’s future, and as Hilary’s friendship with the young woman grows, he begins to wonder whether his purpose lies in this new relationship. But religious tensions are brewing and the mission house may not be the safe haven it seems.
Thank you, Goodreads and Scribner Books for the chance to read The Mission House!
“{The best sentences are the ones I begin without knowing how they will end.}”
This was a very stunning and gentle story. I have to say I don’t think I have ever read anything like it. It’s very unique to the author. At times it felt almost like I was reading poetry. It feels like there isn’t much happening, only hints of action to come. That may be why the book felt like it was slow going. The world building in this book makes you feel like you are actually there. That you can hear, see, and smell all the same things as Hillary. I’m not 100% sure what I think of this book. There were things I liked and things I didn’t. I know that doesn’t help much. But the only thing I can say that may help is you have to try it and you will either like it or you won’t. Happy reading everyone!
The Padre is concerned for Priscilla’s future, and as Hilary’s friendship with the young woman grows, he begins to wonder whether his purpose lies in this new relationship. But religious tensions are brewing and the mission house may not be the safe haven it seems.
Thank you, Goodreads and Scribner Books for the chance to read The Mission House!
“{The best sentences are the ones I begin without knowing how they will end.}”
This was a very stunning and gentle story. I have to say I don’t think I have ever read anything like it. It’s very unique to the author. At times it felt almost like I was reading poetry. It feels like there isn’t much happening, only hints of action to come. That may be why the book felt like it was slow going. The world building in this book makes you feel like you are actually there. That you can hear, see, and smell all the same things as Hillary. I’m not 100% sure what I think of this book. There were things I liked and things I didn’t. I know that doesn’t help much. But the only thing I can say that may help is you have to try it and you will either like it or you won’t. Happy reading everyone!
bfields352's review against another edition
3.0
I wanted to love this book based on the summary. But I struggled with this book. The writing style was very easy. What I struggled with was it took way too long to build up to the problems and way too long to reach the climax in my opinion. It didn’t draw me in where I couldn’t put it down like other books do. That’s why it took me longer to read. I would set it down and forget about it.
kimswhims's review
4.0
This was a fascinating read. A thoroughly original story with so much to it. The Indian highland setting, the middle aged British man trying to find himself and the host of other interesting characters. It didn't blow me away as much as her novel "West" but it's a thoroughly good story that is well written and I'll read anything that this author writes.
tierneyspence's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- 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? N/A
3.5
wtb_michael's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
3.25
Davies crafts Ruch, believable characters in just a few sentences, and this odd post-colonial story is captivating, even if it doesn't hold together as perfectly as West
harryayresbalch's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.0
lisajd73's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- 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? Yes
3.75
Some interesting character exploration and interplay. I found the conclusory events felt sudden and abrupt, concluding the story within so few pages; for me, this jarred against the slower overall pace of the unfolding of the story around the mission house itself. Overall, I did enjoy this book and found aspects of the main character's experience, emotions and behaviours recognisable and identifiable. For me, it was a slow read which I put down and came back to again and again rather than a compelling and consuming read.
littlesophie's review against another edition
3.0
After delivering a superb historical novel with "West", Cary Davies sets her new novel "The Mission House" in contemporary India. Sadly, I wasn't really convinced by it. The main protagonist is almost painfully hapless and makes for a really uncomfortable lense through which to view the section. Other characters, I felt, were verging similarly on the charicature. The single mindedly excentric characters and the occasionally contrived plot worked wonderfully in the historical setting of "West" but I don't think it succeeds in a contemporary context. Instead of strengthening Davies' point about brutal Hindu nationalism, it seems to transport the real-life problems into a dream-like, slightly silly India.
katherinejayne's review
4.0
This was excellently paced for me - I found the short chapters at the start captured me and I was constantly wanting to just read one more section. Towards the end of the book! The chapter lengthened allowing you to engage more with the story.
After reading this, I’d love to learn more about the real life events which inspired this book & I think that is always a sign of success for an author if they pique your curiosity.
After reading this, I’d love to learn more about the real life events which inspired this book & I think that is always a sign of success for an author if they pique your curiosity.
onpage_365's review against another edition
5.0
Amazing! Loved the India vibes and it was such a warm and well written book!