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sabs98's review against another edition
I could not get behind the author’s writing style and tone. I don’t know exactly how to describe it: the stories almost felt hollow, cold. The author’s own background, being white married to an Indian and living in India, was echoed in each story I completed - but there is something there that doesn’t sit right with me.
lifeinpoetry's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed a number of these melancholy stories though so many in such a short time span leads one to realize the similarities so this c0llection is probably best consumed in smaller doses.
pharmdad2007's review against another edition
2.0
Really more like a 2.5 star... nothing bad, just nothing awe-inspiring or groundbreaking either. I could take it or leave it.
showthisbooksomelove's review against another edition
2.0
This short story collection comes from India, but is written in English instead of translated as Jhabvala is an immigrant to India herself. Anita Desai wrote a lovely introduction, and I don't typically read introductions, but have enjoyed some of Desai's previous work and trust her judgment. Jhabvala herself unfortunately has passed, and this book is coming to the United States.
I have historically struggled with short story collections, although recently I have found several that I love. This book, unfortunately, was not one that I loved. It wasn't a bad story, but I didn't feel any attachment to the characters or particularly moved by the stories. After about a hundred pages, I decided not to finish this book. Have you ever had the experience where you're reading something, but you're not quite sure what's going on cause you zoned out, and that happens every time you pick up a certain book? That's how reading this book felt. I'm sure it was just not good timing.
Additionally the synopsis does not give much to go by about this collection, or I would encourage you to decide for yourself whether you would like to read this book or not.
I received a copy of this book for review via the publisher through Edelweiss.
I have historically struggled with short story collections, although recently I have found several that I love. This book, unfortunately, was not one that I loved. It wasn't a bad story, but I didn't feel any attachment to the characters or particularly moved by the stories. After about a hundred pages, I decided not to finish this book. Have you ever had the experience where you're reading something, but you're not quite sure what's going on cause you zoned out, and that happens every time you pick up a certain book? That's how reading this book felt. I'm sure it was just not good timing.
Additionally the synopsis does not give much to go by about this collection, or I would encourage you to decide for yourself whether you would like to read this book or not.
I received a copy of this book for review via the publisher through Edelweiss.
bent's review against another edition
3.0
Jhabvala is a very good writer. Almost all the stories have a whiff of the tragic about them - lonely people, naifs who must be cared for by more responsible family and friends, estranged or widowed spouses, parents trying to cling to their adult children. Several stories feel like they have similar elements to them.
I'm not sure what it is that prevents me from giving this book a higher rating, but it might just be that I found a lot of the stories a little depressing. The only story that stands out without that is "A Course of English Studies," which is about a student that goes to England for university and ends up in an affair with her professor. Although the story isn't a happy one - the professor is married and she causes great damage to the marriage - the student, Nalini, has an indefatigable personality that sweeps you along as she seduces the teacher and tries to break up the marriage, all while being sure of the rightness of her actions. Even the end of the story, where their relationship has ended and she is faced with the poor marks that have come with her neglecting her studies, she still moves forth with a joie de vivre and a self-confidence that is quite intoxicating.
But otherwise, the rest of the stories are filled with loneliness, sacrifice and resignation. Life goes on, as the song says, long after the thrill of living is gone. And as a result, the overall feeling the book left me with was sadness and mild depression.
I'm not sure what it is that prevents me from giving this book a higher rating, but it might just be that I found a lot of the stories a little depressing. The only story that stands out without that is "A Course of English Studies," which is about a student that goes to England for university and ends up in an affair with her professor. Although the story isn't a happy one - the professor is married and she causes great damage to the marriage - the student, Nalini, has an indefatigable personality that sweeps you along as she seduces the teacher and tries to break up the marriage, all while being sure of the rightness of her actions. Even the end of the story, where their relationship has ended and she is faced with the poor marks that have come with her neglecting her studies, she still moves forth with a joie de vivre and a self-confidence that is quite intoxicating.
But otherwise, the rest of the stories are filled with loneliness, sacrifice and resignation. Life goes on, as the song says, long after the thrill of living is gone. And as a result, the overall feeling the book left me with was sadness and mild depression.
xtinelovesmusic's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
Ruth Prawer Jhabvala is a great writer but these stories were often depressing. I never quite knew what to takeaway from them.
Content Warnings
Minor: Rape
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