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zahrowl's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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? Yes
5.0
I hated the characters in the first two chapters because of their very human flaws, upbringing and environment, and I'm so happy for them when they and their situations improve later. Balli Kaur's prose is both beautiful and accessible and this family drama thoroughly explores societal and familial expectations, mental illness and inheritance in parallel with the development of 1970s-1990s Singapore.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Misogyny
Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Suicide attempt, Homophobia, and Sexual content
Minor: Death, Racism, Death of parent, Colonisation, Classism, Cursing, and Eating disorder
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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? Yes
3.75
Inheritance is the story of a Sikh family living in Singapore. There are plenty of the normal family dramas like sibling rivalry, parental pressure, rebellious teenagers, and grief. The story really hones in on two issues - homophobia and mental illness. I liked the way this story unfolded over three time periods, each roughly seven years apart and how it was told from the perspective of multiple family members. I really enjoyed the way the family’s story played out against the background of Singapore’s history, something I was fairly ignorant of barring some events in World War II. We saw it’s begin as a relatively new independent nation, undergo a period of major modernisation and development, implement some demanding and punitive social practices and policies, and develop a national identity.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia and Mental illness
_askthebookbug's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
At the outset no one can possibly tell that Inheritance is Jaswal's debut novel. But if you have read other books by her, the shift in her writing over the years becomes abundantly clear. One of the reasons why I keep coming back to her books is for the honesty that she provides. Although Sugarbread and Erotic Stories For Punjabi Widows carried a sense of humour despite of the serious message that they possessed, Inheritance on the other hand was a dark read right from the start. Set in Singapore, this story speaks of a Punjabi family who feel listless and uncomfortable within the walls of their own home. With the mother of the house gone, rest of the family struggles to cope with their own problems without receiving much support from each other. This is the story of a dysfunctional family who are stuck in a loop of grief and helplessness.
Set in the 70s and spanning over decades, a Punjabi father feels shame like never before when his son is questioned about his sexuality and his daughter is seen mixing with the wrong crowd of men. This shame, seeps into his life and never truly leaves, eventually wrapping itself around his children as well. Living in a society where mental health wasn't understood and sexuality was a taboo topic, Amrit and Narain fail horribly at seeking even their father's help. Gurdev, the eldest of the siblings does seemingly better in life with a family and children of his own only to be taught years later by his daughters that acknowledgement of mental health and trust are two important aspects in any relationship. The father, Harbeer, speaks to his dead wife but refuses to acknowledge his daughter's mental illness. He believes that sexuality can be changed overnight or with the onset of a new year. This paints a strikingly realistic picture of how Indian families deal with sensitive issues. Inheritance is a gruelling read that is meant to be read slowly. My only concern was how the story after a certain point began to lag. But I'm constantly awed by Jaswal's ability to bring such relevant topics to the readers.
Rating : 4.1/5.
Set in the 70s and spanning over decades, a Punjabi father feels shame like never before when his son is questioned about his sexuality and his daughter is seen mixing with the wrong crowd of men. This shame, seeps into his life and never truly leaves, eventually wrapping itself around his children as well. Living in a society where mental health wasn't understood and sexuality was a taboo topic, Amrit and Narain fail horribly at seeking even their father's help. Gurdev, the eldest of the siblings does seemingly better in life with a family and children of his own only to be taught years later by his daughters that acknowledgement of mental health and trust are two important aspects in any relationship. The father, Harbeer, speaks to his dead wife but refuses to acknowledge his daughter's mental illness. He believes that sexuality can be changed overnight or with the onset of a new year. This paints a strikingly realistic picture of how Indian families deal with sensitive issues. Inheritance is a gruelling read that is meant to be read slowly. My only concern was how the story after a certain point began to lag. But I'm constantly awed by Jaswal's ability to bring such relevant topics to the readers.
Rating : 4.1/5.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Homophobia, and Mental illness
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