drplantwrench's reviews
129 reviews

I love a good collection of short stories. I actually didn't know this was a collection of short stories, just heard good things and decided to buy it, so as pleasantly surprised when I read the first unforgettable short story. Lahiri's style is impeccable and most of the stories are truly great. Others are a bit meandering and inconsequential, but pleasant nonetheless. I would give this a 4.5, so torn whether to give a 4 or a 5, but decided to round down given that some of these stories were a bit forgettable. But at least three of the stories are true classics that I won't forget so definitely worth the read.

I had hear great things about this book, but the length and age of it was daunting. But at the insistence of a friend, I decided to take it on. And man, it is a great page-turning revenge story. I suspected it would take me months to finish, but in actuality, it took only three weeks. For anyone who has been avoiding this book because it is daunting, I really recommend you to take the plunge - you won't regret it.

It is a roller-coaster of a book, with well conceived plot twists, even if some of those can been seen from a mile away. It is equally cathartic, melodramatic, and racing. There are some flaws, but they are easy to dismiss given all the great things about this book. (I'd give it a 4.5 out of 5, but absent half stars, would definitely round up).

I've heard many people compare this to Game of Thrones (the TV series) favorably, but that does not really do it justice. This is one of the best page-turning politically thrilling books I have read. The plot completely enraptured me, but better yet, the writing is also very good. Add in compelling characters, and what more can you ask!

This is was a huge disappointment to me. Look, I like to think I'm cool and free and all that good stuff. This book is constantly mentioned as one of those books that Cool & Free (TM) people love, and I thought it would be mind-opening ride.

Instead, I got a bunch of pointless drivel of a dirtbag who doesn't even do anything. There were some moments of blissful freedom that gave me some hope of the book's recovery, but they ust move past it as if that wasn't what the book was looking for at all. Also has some other interesting moment, but like a vagabond, the book mindlessly moves on from it as soon as possible. Overall more nihilistic and pointless than I thought it would be, and pretty disappointing.

I love magic realism, and I love short stories. This was my introduction to Milan Kundera, and it's like a perfect storm of things I enjoyed. This is incredibly well written, poignant, and magical. I have since read other works of Milan Kundera, and I am officially a Kundera-fan. Highly recommend!

This book was pretty disappointing. I love a good book that can transport you to a new perspective and a new place, which is what I came into this book thinking it would be. I had recently read some great British/Indian books and was ready to keep that roll going.

Instead I got a book that was extremely boring with a protagonist that bored me to tears with mediocrity, and a plot that was just filled with implicit racism. Of course, the more you read about Naipaul himself, the less there is to like. But to overlook his personal faults to enjoy some masterpiece would questionable at best, yet to do it for a boring, self-serving book with little purpose is downright foolish.

~~no plot, just vibes~~

Seriously though, this book has a meaningless, meandering plot, and it's only strength is the setting (which as a desert lover, I don't think does it true justice). Also expect a double serving of religious boredom with a side order of mild racism. Sure it's on a pretty plate, but I do hope you like bland food!

Reading this book made me realize that I really enjoy magic realism. This was a book that some of my classmates in high school read for class, but I didn't, and I always thought it was a very morose, depressing slog of a read, like most books (regardless of whether they are in reality) are in high school. But, I kept hearing how great Garcia Marquez is, and how good this book is, so I eventually decided to read it and give it a try.

And man, I was so pleasantly surprised. Even though the book is focused on solitude, I didn't feel that lonely reading it. Filled with vivid characters, settings and prose, the book was truly magical, and highly recommend it. Not the stuffy heavy book I was expecting at all.

I cannot tell you how much I hate this book. This book is endowed a classic, a valiant stance against racism, and I came into it expecting to be touched, inspired, etc. Instead, I read a story about a man who does the bare minimum, treats virulently racists with an "aw shucks" attitude, before the story moves onto a story of white-on-white revenge and the mystery of Boo Radley. Meanwhile the story of the black man is swept aside and essentially forgotten

Spoiler

when he nonchalantly is murdered in jail and Atticus shrugs it off

. The great racial injustice isn't the core of the book, it is just the instigating action that sets the stage for the rest of the story.

In fact, [minor spoiler warning] it doesn't surprise me that Go Set a Watchman establishes Atticus as a racist, it is a logical continuation of this story! Lee might as well have said that Atticus "doesn't see race" and "some of my friends are black". Overall a huge disappointment, and still makes me a bit mad that this book is so well regarded. Go read books that treat racial injustice as its narrative focus.