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kerrin's review against another edition
emotional
funny
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
leawyo's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this!! A different but no less necessary look at how different shades of race are seen differently in different groups. Raj is a college professor who in one week alienates his tennis club and his students in ways that are so opposite yet founded in basic truths about American Culture. I loved the setup of the story and how even though it takes place over just one week we learn about families, relationships, cultures, and motivations. Highly recommend this on audio as well.
erinevelynreads's review against another edition
5.0
Member’s Only follows Raj, an Indian American professor who is accused of racism twice over one week. When Raj accidentally uses a racial slur while interviewing an African American couple for membership to the prestigious tennis club he belongs to, the other members turn on him and accuse him of racism. As if that’s not bad enough, the next day a student uploads his Anthropology lecture to a popular conservative website and he is accused of having an anti-Western, anti-Christian bias. Both situations quickly escalate, and both Raj’s job and his membership to the tennis club come under fire.
Members Only is a story about one man with a powerful commentary on racism, racial identity, and cancel culture. It takes place over a single week, starting with the tennis club membership on Sunday. It’s told in long chapters, broken up by each day. Raj narrates the story in the first person and it is told largely in the present, with anecdotes where Raj reflects on impactful moments in his life that have shaped his current viewpoint. Though the synopsis and title lead you to believe the story is focused on the tennis club, the bulk of the book is focused on the negative press Raj receives as a professor under a microscope and the overall impact on his psyche.
At first, I found this story challenging but after the first chapter, I felt like I came to get to know Raj, and connected with his story and thoroughly enjoyed it. I found myself sympathizing with Raj and the predicament he finds himself in. If you like contemporary character-driven stories, Members Only is a book for you.
Thank you to Mariner Books and BookishFirst for my review copy. All opinions are my own.
Members Only is a story about one man with a powerful commentary on racism, racial identity, and cancel culture. It takes place over a single week, starting with the tennis club membership on Sunday. It’s told in long chapters, broken up by each day. Raj narrates the story in the first person and it is told largely in the present, with anecdotes where Raj reflects on impactful moments in his life that have shaped his current viewpoint. Though the synopsis and title lead you to believe the story is focused on the tennis club, the bulk of the book is focused on the negative press Raj receives as a professor under a microscope and the overall impact on his psyche.
At first, I found this story challenging but after the first chapter, I felt like I came to get to know Raj, and connected with his story and thoroughly enjoyed it. I found myself sympathizing with Raj and the predicament he finds himself in. If you like contemporary character-driven stories, Members Only is a book for you.
Thank you to Mariner Books and BookishFirst for my review copy. All opinions are my own.
_lj_'s review against another edition
4.0
Would have been 5 but the overly sentimental ending undermined the book's power and humor for me.
ally_clare's review against another edition
5.0
SUCH AN AMAZING BOOK! Laugh out loud funny, but also quite the thinker. It was playful and thoughtful, exciting and meditative. 10/10 would reread
brooklyn_book_girl's review against another edition
5.0
I read this book on a whim without knowing much about it. And oh my heart. Well written. It made me laugh and cry. A book about race, relationships, higher education, society, family. It’s witty. It’s honest. It’s timely. It’s thought provoking. It’s a good one. And oh do I love a book with a killer final line: “And with the recognition that, of all the places I had been, right here was exactly where I wanted to be, standing in perfect, unsullied silence”
kenz_randall's review against another edition
3.0
This is a smart book and I really felt for the main character, Raj. It brings up a lot of interesting points about race, belonging, and community. The writing (mostly the flashbacks to Raj’s past) was sometimes clunky, and I wanted a stronger ending, but overall I enjoyed it!
thislibrarianisreading's review
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
shannanhicks's review against another edition
5.0
Rarely do I sink into a novel like I did this one. Raj is a professor born in India, but raised largely i the States. He has settled in to a nice life with his wife and two sons. They even belong to a country club. But Raj's struggle to figure out just who he is in the world results in an unintended racial slur to a couple looking to join the club. We then see the next week in his life unfold in some dramatic ways.
I really liked Sameer Pandya's writing style. It's easy to visualize the characters, settings and situations. I can't wait to see what's next from this author.
I really liked Sameer Pandya's writing style. It's easy to visualize the characters, settings and situations. I can't wait to see what's next from this author.