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eeclayton's review
5.0
Although it's a series of short stories, it reads very much like a novel, with characters reappearing and different aspects of the same story being slowly uncovered.
The first story takes place in Colombo in 1939, and from here we're following three generations of two Sri Lankan families in both Sri Lanka and the USA, through their studies, arranged marriages, heartaches, secrets, successes and failures. We're witnessing the clash of traditionalist and more progressive attitudes, problems in communication, and changing gender roles.
It's incredibly written, thought-provoking and heartbreaking. I loved every word.
The first story takes place in Colombo in 1939, and from here we're following three generations of two Sri Lankan families in both Sri Lanka and the USA, through their studies, arranged marriages, heartaches, secrets, successes and failures. We're witnessing the clash of traditionalist and more progressive attitudes, problems in communication, and changing gender roles.
It's incredibly written, thought-provoking and heartbreaking. I loved every word.
rockyroadrocher's review
5.0
The writing is incredible, truly. But I'm rather escapist and offer the following note: If you are escapist, too, you'll want to save this for a day when you can handle such topics as infidelity (a lot of it), gender roles, pregnancy, abortion, miscarriage, child abuse, sexual assault (not much on stage, and the character saves herself, really, by pretending to be a prostitute and turning the attack into a condom'd bj so she goes home safe), and closeted homosexuality. Queer characters take front and center early on in the book, which I love about Mohanraj's stories; they don't die (in the plot, I mean, they aren't immortals), they live life on their own terms, and one of the couples even has a fairly happy-for-now ending to their vignette (and the POV character in that one is Jewish).
Another theme that resonated throughout all the stories (which are interconnected) was the multi-generational triangle of lust, age, and children. The priorities, mistakes, and concerns of the parents are repeated by their children in different permutations. I don't often read books that show multiple generations and their commonalities; not because I don't want to, but rather because popular fiction has tended to focus on young, single, and likely orphan/small family'd characters.
Another theme that resonated throughout all the stories (which are interconnected) was the multi-generational triangle of lust, age, and children. The priorities, mistakes, and concerns of the parents are repeated by their children in different permutations. I don't often read books that show multiple generations and their commonalities; not because I don't want to, but rather because popular fiction has tended to focus on young, single, and likely orphan/small family'd characters.
ajcousins's review
4.0
I've been reading Mary Anne's blog for years now. She's a very interesting woman, born in Sri Lanka and raised in the U.S., whose writing ranges from erotica to sci-fi to literary to cookbook. I have read a bunch of the stories in this book at different times over the years on her blog, and look forward to having them put in order for me (and reading the new ones!) here.
Finished now and I definitely enjoyed it. I'm a sucker for multi-generational sagas so the wide range of stories connecting members of two families over the decades appealed very much. I also enjoyed her ability to write characters who find themselves behaving in mean or small ways without really intending to, but being unable to help themselves. It seemed very real. One of the first stories, told from the father's point of view, was one of my favorites. I felt very mentally in the space of an older paternal figure. Nicely done all around.
Finished now and I definitely enjoyed it. I'm a sucker for multi-generational sagas so the wide range of stories connecting members of two families over the decades appealed very much. I also enjoyed her ability to write characters who find themselves behaving in mean or small ways without really intending to, but being unable to help themselves. It seemed very real. One of the first stories, told from the father's point of view, was one of my favorites. I felt very mentally in the space of an older paternal figure. Nicely done all around.
stephengrahamking's review
5.0
These stories are a delicious treat. Following members of intertwining families from Sri Lanka to San Francisco, it is a joy to read about these characters and their journey through often conflicting cultures and traditions. While customs such as arranged marriages seem outdated and alien to us, Mohanraj guides us through the hearts and minds of each character,, taking us inside each individual decision to either follow what has come before or blaze a new trail into new emotional territory. Beautifully written, sensual and full of love and understanding for every twist and turn of the heart and the paths that are followed. This is a joyful, generous, tender-hearted and loving read.
v10's review
4.0
Well written short stories following a couple of families through several generations. The author flows seamlessly between first and third person, male, female, young, old. A fascinating glimpse into a culture of which I have no part.
But people: COMMUNICATION IS KEY in a marriage, or really any relationship. It seemed like every character was afraid to talk to their spouse, and I admit it can be tricky, especially if your pairing was arranged, but it's really important.
But people: COMMUNICATION IS KEY in a marriage, or really any relationship. It seemed like every character was afraid to talk to their spouse, and I admit it can be tricky, especially if your pairing was arranged, but it's really important.
lmwanak's review
4.0
Beautiful sensuous read. We get small tastes of life of several generations of Tamil families. They are small, but intense tastes: love, passion, heartache and drama revealed in the burning taste of curries. Also, I loved that there were several settings in Hyde Park, one of my favorite places in the world.
There were times when I had to refer to the genealogy chart in the front of the book, because the names and people blurred together and I couldn't tell who was the daughter of who. But I loved the stories, and loved to see who sought saftey in the marrying/baby culture, who broke out, who married outside their race, who did not married at all. My favorite were both of Mangai's stories.
Now I'm hungry for curry.
There were times when I had to refer to the genealogy chart in the front of the book, because the names and people blurred together and I couldn't tell who was the daughter of who. But I loved the stories, and loved to see who sought saftey in the marrying/baby culture, who broke out, who married outside their race, who did not married at all. My favorite were both of Mangai's stories.
Now I'm hungry for curry.
likeaduck's review
4.0
This is a collection of short stories held together by family ties. The first two pages of the book hold two (connected) family tree diagrams, and each story features characters who appear on those trees. It's a structure that's interesting in that the reader ends up seeing different characters' perspectives on the same sets of events, and some stories answer questions raised by or give context to actions in others. At the same time, the structure makes the gaps that much more obvious--there are characters whose stories I was waiting to hear who never got time in the spotlight. (Kili, Shefali, Kamala, Sushila.) Also perhaps related to the family-tree conceit, the stories have a tendency to hinge on pregnancy and marriage as plot points, which becomes somewhat repetitive after a while. The stories work best for me when they show a skill at taking the emotions in a situation, lifting and separating them and holding them up to look at all their facets. They don't always succeed, but they do often enough to be very pleasing.
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