sde's review
4.0
Good writing, interesting point of view. I didn't like the main characters kids very much at the beginning of the book, but I like the way the relationship with their parents unfolded as they faced the impending death of their mother. They were still pretty flawed, but it was realistic to me. I never quite got what was going on with the son and his wife, but that's OK. The story was told from the mother's point of view, and she would never have really known either. I liked the depiction of the comfortable marriage between the two older people, and I loved the ending.
The book may encourage readers to be in touch with their parents without being didactic or morbid about it.
I was surprised at the end to realize the author is a man. He wrote empathetically from an older woman's point of view.
The book may encourage readers to be in touch with their parents without being didactic or morbid about it.
I was surprised at the end to realize the author is a man. He wrote empathetically from an older woman's point of view.
teriboop's review
3.0
Amit Majmudar explores the subject of familial relationships in the face of death/dying in The Abundance. Siblings Mala and Ronak grew up in mid-west America in a loving Indian home, dealing with old-fashioned parents and the occasional strained relationship between them. It is the typical story of children taking their family for granted until they they have to face the mortality of their parents. This book is less about cancer and death and more about mending and strengthening family relationships and having the chance to preserve one's heritage, even if it was something that went unappreciated for most of a lifetime.
The story takes place between Ohio and the parents home of Ahmedebad in India and is told through the mother's viewpoint as she helps to teach her daughter to cook in the old traditional Indian way. I would have liked to see some of the actual recipes that were discussed, since the book centered so much on the food.
The story takes place between Ohio and the parents home of Ahmedebad in India and is told through the mother's viewpoint as she helps to teach her daughter to cook in the old traditional Indian way. I would have liked to see some of the actual recipes that were discussed, since the book centered so much on the food.
siria's review
3.0
I really enjoyed this—Majmudar isn't a flashy writer, but his prose is smooth, his dialogue realistic, and the novel as a whole does an excellent job at exploring familial dynamics. The unnamed narrator is an older Indian-American immigrant, slowly dying of cancer; she has a tense relationship with her overachieving daughter; her son holds himself apart, trying to be 'Ron' instead of 'Ronak'; her husband loves her but has never had to think about stepping outside the gender roles to which he is accustomed. I was especially impressed with how Majmudar—who is male—managed to capture a mother-daughter relationship, with all its guilts and fights about things big and small, so effectively. I also liked how The Abundance avoids both cloying reconciliations or jarring angst; it makes it seem that much more realistic because of it.
floribunda52's review
4.0
I have to admit that I was drawn to this book by its cover, and it turned out to be a lovely read!
heatherer's review
3.0
A middling book for me. I think it would be interesting to read in an intro anthropology class with a professor who has the ability to unpack some of the cultural nuances that I can only catch bits of.
shanyeahh's review
emotional
inspiring
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
This novel is such an immersive experience, there's no other way to describe it. I felt I was on an emotional journey that made me ask important questions about my own mortality as well as that of my loved ones. Yes, bittersweet as mentioned in the summary but also oddly inspiring in the way that returning to where you came from can be.
jasleenaw's review
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
esotericareads's review
5.0
"It had gone through my mind when I was taking care of my mother. It must be going through Mala's. 'I need to do this, or I am going to feel guilty later.' That is what it is like for us good daughters. Not just guilt over the past, but fear of future guilt. Daughterhood has one natural resource, and that is guilt. Hourglass sand blows over events and words and, a million years later, there are guilt deposits, black guilt anywhere you sink a drill. So much burning out of something buried so long."
-
Amit Majmudar is now a favorite author, though he's only written The Abundance and Partitions (which I also reviewed, link in my stories today). The Abundance is about an Indian immigrant mother who is dying of cancer. The story is told from her perspective and it is skillfully and beautifully put together. We see what it's like for her to raise children who become so culturally different than her, growing up in America. And we see the choices that she makes to shape her experience of dying, how even the arguments she has with her daughter are comforting because they are normal. I'm not a big fan of family sagas, but I guess I could become one if more of them are written in this style. Phenomenal character development, beautiful prose, and depth of content. There are themes of racism, parenting, first and second generation immigration, gender roles, independence, and unconditional love. I'd recommend this book to everyone. (Especially if you like reading about Indian cooking. Mmmmmm.)
5 stars!
-
Amit Majmudar is now a favorite author, though he's only written The Abundance and Partitions (which I also reviewed, link in my stories today). The Abundance is about an Indian immigrant mother who is dying of cancer. The story is told from her perspective and it is skillfully and beautifully put together. We see what it's like for her to raise children who become so culturally different than her, growing up in America. And we see the choices that she makes to shape her experience of dying, how even the arguments she has with her daughter are comforting because they are normal. I'm not a big fan of family sagas, but I guess I could become one if more of them are written in this style. Phenomenal character development, beautiful prose, and depth of content. There are themes of racism, parenting, first and second generation immigration, gender roles, independence, and unconditional love. I'd recommend this book to everyone. (Especially if you like reading about Indian cooking. Mmmmmm.)
5 stars!
bexcapades's review
5.0
I got this book from the library & couldn’t put it down! Very beautiful view of family life and how different things can inevitably shape our view of relationships.