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kaiolenatac's review against another edition
Was simply not interested enough in the content to continue reading it. Won't end up writing a paper on it and the unit we read this for in class has since ended. it will live on the shelf until the end of the semester and probably get donated or resold.
bluestarfish's review against another edition
3.0
Wonderfully written with great use of language. Bits of it held me enthralled, and then bits made me cringe with discomfort - but that was always the story which at moments I also felt a bit bored with. So an odd one to review or even gather my thoughts about. Anita Desai conjures up something really memorable, perhaps it's just because there is so much sadness in here too that I felt so uncomfortable? Bombay, Calcutta, Germany, Venice, internment camps, cafes, streets, race courses - all so well described and brought to life. But what a life.
fmlc's review against another edition
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
The ending.... I just.... Tragic. I really ended up loving the characters and felt attached to them.
the_naptime_reader's review against another edition
2.0
Middle of the road, 2.5 stars for me. I continue to enjoy the beauty of Desai’s writing, however Again I find that her plot meanders and ultimately doesn’t really reach anything.
The main character Hugo Baumgartner is such a tragic hero. He is a man caught in between everywhere he goes, never fitting in. In childhood he sat on the stairs that divided his apartment and his mother, from his father and his workshop/store, not belonging in either. A Jewish man by heritage who did not belong in Nazi Germany, but was also an outsider from the Jewish community, and then a foreigner in India...multiple more examples. You feel sorry for him, but it’s almost just a depressing tome as he sinks further and further, and for what point.
The main character Hugo Baumgartner is such a tragic hero. He is a man caught in between everywhere he goes, never fitting in. In childhood he sat on the stairs that divided his apartment and his mother, from his father and his workshop/store, not belonging in either. A Jewish man by heritage who did not belong in Nazi Germany, but was also an outsider from the Jewish community, and then a foreigner in India...multiple more examples. You feel sorry for him, but it’s almost just a depressing tome as he sinks further and further, and for what point.
b00kr3vi3ws's review against another edition
5.0
In the last one month I have read three books by Anita Desai, but this is only my first review out of the three. The reason behind it is that Anita Desai’s writing always leaves me with a feeling of awe towards the author. Her language and her writing style is unparalleled in her genre and I feel extremely under qualified to review her works. So instead of making this a proper review, I am going to merely state my feelings from reading this book.
Baumgartner’s Bombay is the story of one Hugo Baumgartner and his life during the World War II. Hugo had the misfortune to be born into a Jewish family during the time of The Holocaust. When his father’s furniture shop was ransacked and he was taken to a concentration camp, Hugo’ mother sent him off to Calcutta with the hope of a better future for her son before going into hiding. But Hugo arrived at Calcutta only to be imprisoned for a long period. Once freed, he moves to Bombay where he rekindles his acquaintance with Lotte and makes a few new acquaintances too. But even then he remains a loner for most part as his true companions were not human, but cats for whom he used to bring scrap food.
Starting with a murder at the beginning, Anita Desai continues to tell Baumgartner’s story by tying up the present with the past. Hugo Baumgartner at a glance seems to be an extremely plain person with no strong personality. As the story progresses, we realize that there’s more to depth to Hugo’s character than we had initially thought. The loner’s need for relationship/companionship is reflected in his apparent affection for the cats. His life from the time of The Holocaust and the following experiences were responsible for shaping up his life and his personality. I found Lotte’s character to be a sharp contrast to Hugo. She had a certain belligerent persona that made her stand apart from Hugo.
The ending was just perfect for how the story had been shaping up. The novel takes us on a ride to discover the importance of relationships, friendships and explore the feelings of loss and solitude. The best part of the story is the author’s narrative style and her elegant writing style which has the quality to grasp the reader unawares and not let go. It simply compels you to delve further and further into the character’s lives and feel their emotions in person.
Awesome book and I recommend it to the people who are interested in reading quality fiction with some depth.
Baumgartner’s Bombay is the story of one Hugo Baumgartner and his life during the World War II. Hugo had the misfortune to be born into a Jewish family during the time of The Holocaust. When his father’s furniture shop was ransacked and he was taken to a concentration camp, Hugo’ mother sent him off to Calcutta with the hope of a better future for her son before going into hiding. But Hugo arrived at Calcutta only to be imprisoned for a long period. Once freed, he moves to Bombay where he rekindles his acquaintance with Lotte and makes a few new acquaintances too. But even then he remains a loner for most part as his true companions were not human, but cats for whom he used to bring scrap food.
Starting with a murder at the beginning, Anita Desai continues to tell Baumgartner’s story by tying up the present with the past. Hugo Baumgartner at a glance seems to be an extremely plain person with no strong personality. As the story progresses, we realize that there’s more to depth to Hugo’s character than we had initially thought. The loner’s need for relationship/companionship is reflected in his apparent affection for the cats. His life from the time of The Holocaust and the following experiences were responsible for shaping up his life and his personality. I found Lotte’s character to be a sharp contrast to Hugo. She had a certain belligerent persona that made her stand apart from Hugo.
The ending was just perfect for how the story had been shaping up. The novel takes us on a ride to discover the importance of relationships, friendships and explore the feelings of loss and solitude. The best part of the story is the author’s narrative style and her elegant writing style which has the quality to grasp the reader unawares and not let go. It simply compels you to delve further and further into the character’s lives and feel their emotions in person.
Awesome book and I recommend it to the people who are interested in reading quality fiction with some depth.
angela_king's review against another edition
4.0
A tangled, rich stew of people, plots and places, haggard, heavy-hearted and sometimes humble. Well-worth reading for the beautifully clear sensual imagery Desai is so good at.
hsr731's review
5.0
This book takes you on such a journey but it absolutely will break your heart, cut your heart up, and jump on the little pieces.
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