Reviews

A Great Country by Shilpi Somaya Gowda

romyschnaiberg's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

_cherry_'s review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

I wish we had gotten Ajay’s pov more seeing as he was the one who went through the police encounter.

nancyt's review against another edition

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challenging informative reflective sad fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Set in current day America,  the Shah family has a chance to move into a gated community in Pacific Hills, California.  All of their hard work has finally paid off and everything is going to be perfect. Until their 12 year old son is arrested and sends them down a path they couldn't imagine would happen to them.

The immigrant experience is captured and brought to life in the pages of this book.  The belief that you can work hard, pay taxes, support the economy, provide essential services and realize “success” is blown to bits. There is prejudice, often inhumane treatment, and vulnerability, especially if your skin is dark. And as this family comes to terms with what has happened, the ever present conflict between trying to assimilate yet holding on to one’s heritage is compounded by the generational conflict - of being an immigrant versus the children of an immigrant….there are a lot of things to think about after reading this book!

kristensreading's review

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challenging reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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dunnadam's review against another edition

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4.0

Thought provoking, engaging, warm. A quick, worthwhile read.

qmm1503's review against another edition

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emotional reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

anjlimehta's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

head2toe's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

annetjeberg's review against another edition

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emotional reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

ssura's review against another edition

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informative reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0