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A review by nookofley
Kopi, Puffs & Dreams by Pallavi Gopinath Aney
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
I have had a book disappoint me so sorely like this one did. The blurb of the book promised me something entirely different than what I expected in the book.
We are introduced to these 2 young men, who are casted out from their own society, strike a close bond on the way to be sold off as labourers in British Malaya and then their journey to establishing their successful restaurant in Singapore. The story then follows their journey from their 20s to their 40s as they try to survive in this foreign land with only each other to depend on.
I loved the first part of the book where we see them working in rubber estates and the hierarchy among the workers and their 'leader'. Growing up with grandparents who worked in those exact conditions, this felt so close to my heart and it was refreshing to read it.
However, this is when everything went downhill. Everything seemed so convenient? Every conflict was resolved within the next page and it is just for the achievement of our MC's current goals. After logging through 300+ pages, we finally see the "secret" unraveling, only for it to be resolved abruptly within the next page. It all feels like the author just decided to cop out in the last pages.
Don't even get me started on the characters themselves. So many aspects that could've been fleshed out to create more layers to the story itself. This book feels like a wasted potential of what it could've been.
We are introduced to these 2 young men, who are casted out from their own society, strike a close bond on the way to be sold off as labourers in British Malaya and then their journey to establishing their successful restaurant in Singapore. The story then follows their journey from their 20s to their 40s as they try to survive in this foreign land with only each other to depend on.
I loved the first part of the book where we see them working in rubber estates and the hierarchy among the workers and their 'leader'. Growing up with grandparents who worked in those exact conditions, this felt so close to my heart and it was refreshing to read it.
However, this is when everything went downhill. Everything seemed so convenient? Every conflict was resolved within the next page and it is just for the achievement of our MC's current goals. After logging through 300+ pages, we finally see the "secret" unraveling, only for it to be resolved abruptly within the next page. It all feels like the author just decided to cop out in the last pages.
Don't even get me started on the characters themselves. So many aspects that could've been fleshed out to create more layers to the story itself. This book feels like a wasted potential of what it could've been.