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cjetty's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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? No
5.0
npd123's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Following a girl’s journey through childhood, school, marriage, and motherhood.
maralyons's review
3.0
The Archer by Shruti Swami is a lyrically written novel about a rebellious young woman who breaks from traditional expectations in the 1960s-70s in India to pursue Kathak dancing. We first meet Vidya as a child, her mother is aloof and taken from her at an early age. She ends up taking care of her younger brother and household duties. Despite these responsibilities, Vidya begins learning independence and takes advantage of opportunities including higher education and Kathak dancing. The tone shift and skips in time made it a little hard to follow, but I was invested in Vidya’s story.
I really enjoyed Vidya’s journey and her rebellious streak and devotion to Kathak. What I found especially fascinating was the the social commentary that was peppered in, from the traditional expectations for women and treatment due to class differences and colorism. It was interesting to see how these elements effected the course of her life and isolation she felt. I listened to the audiobook which was masterfully narrated by Sneha Mathan.
Thank you Algonquin Books and NetGalley for providing this ARC.
I really enjoyed Vidya’s journey and her rebellious streak and devotion to Kathak. What I found especially fascinating was the the social commentary that was peppered in, from the traditional expectations for women and treatment due to class differences and colorism. It was interesting to see how these elements effected the course of her life and isolation she felt. I listened to the audiobook which was masterfully narrated by Sneha Mathan.
Thank you Algonquin Books and NetGalley for providing this ARC.
annieb123's review
4.0
Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.
The Archer is a beautifully lyrical and gently written coming of age story set in the 1960s and '70s in Bombay/Mumbai. Originally released in 2021, this reformat which coincides with the paperback release came out 9th Aug. It's 320 pages, and is also available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats from the Algonquin Press.
The author, Shruti Swamy, is a gifted wordsmith. There's a precise and conscious use of language which sometimes felt a tiny bit overwrought. She also has something worthwhile to say, so the writing is absolutely not window dressing in this case; there's a substantial story conveyed in the prose.
There was a pervasive sense of sadness and wistfulness about the limits imposed on the main character by her family situation and to a larger degree, her culture. The metaphor of a type of dance with a still center and wildly whirling and kinetic outside movement are aptly used to mirror the realities of Vidya's existence.
I enjoyed the descriptions of the settings as well as the minutiae of the dance included in the story. Highly recommended for fans of slice-of-life stories and family sagas. Competently written.
Four stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
The Archer is a beautifully lyrical and gently written coming of age story set in the 1960s and '70s in Bombay/Mumbai. Originally released in 2021, this reformat which coincides with the paperback release came out 9th Aug. It's 320 pages, and is also available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats from the Algonquin Press.
The author, Shruti Swamy, is a gifted wordsmith. There's a precise and conscious use of language which sometimes felt a tiny bit overwrought. She also has something worthwhile to say, so the writing is absolutely not window dressing in this case; there's a substantial story conveyed in the prose.
There was a pervasive sense of sadness and wistfulness about the limits imposed on the main character by her family situation and to a larger degree, her culture. The metaphor of a type of dance with a still center and wildly whirling and kinetic outside movement are aptly used to mirror the realities of Vidya's existence.
I enjoyed the descriptions of the settings as well as the minutiae of the dance included in the story. Highly recommended for fans of slice-of-life stories and family sagas. Competently written.
Four stars.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
lizshayne's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I have a lot of feelings about this book (once again we rate on vibes), although they range primarily between kinship and frustration because it is, at its heart, a book about carving glorious bas reliefs into the walls that confine you. Or, more precisely, an attempt to understand how one can. And I do think that one of the most unknowable things in the world is the peace that others find in the compromises of their life.
And I'm struck in so many ways by the narrative Swamy constructs to seek that meaning and also the unbridgeable gulf remains.
Also I get very weird about people attempting to convey through style the experience of being a child with a child's thoughts and this was no exception so this book took me significantly longer to get into than I expected.
And I'm struck in so many ways by the narrative Swamy constructs to seek that meaning and also the unbridgeable gulf remains.
Also I get very weird about people attempting to convey through style the experience of being a child with a child's thoughts and this was no exception so this book took me significantly longer to get into than I expected.
hekate24's review
4.0
Popsugar 2022 reading challenge: Two books set in twin towns, aka "sister cities" (Mumbai - Although it would have been called Bombay during the time period covered in this book)
The choice of Los Angeles and Mumbai felt natural for this particular category. They're two cities that circumstances have had me feeling tied to over the years despite rarely visiting them. They're also relatively young cities on the world stage (particularly when you look at their founding dates and compare it to this list.) As the sites of Hollywood and Bollywood, though, their impact on world culture is outsized when compared to their youth. Not that these books deal all that much with the film industries. I made that choice deliberately.
A very intimate book about societal expectations, the push and pull between artistic ambitions and practicality, and - above all - intergenerational trauma. It shares that last theme in common with [b:Your House Will Pay|43615778|Your House Will Pay|Steph Cha|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1552926170l/43615778._SY75_.jpg|67871455] despite being stylistic very different. Furthermore (spoilers for both book)
On its own, this book is a mixed bag although I'm leaning more towards positive feelings towards it. At times it feels very awkward and self-conscious, not unlike someone learning how to dance for the first time. I don't know why so many literary fiction novels need a seemingly random description of genitalia, for example. When this book shines, though, it shines. There were a couple moments that made my heart race and made me tear up a little due to how real they felt. There's so much to resonate with here if you've ever been an eldest sibling, or didn't have a term for the things that ailed you, or if you've felt pulled along by fate, or if you struggled with how much you want to devote yourself to your art.
I'm seriously impressed by how this book conveyed things that are very hard to commit to writing. Case in point, Vidya's dance performance during a play put on by her college. I could see the dance so vividly in my mind. Truly remarkable!
The choice of Los Angeles and Mumbai felt natural for this particular category. They're two cities that circumstances have had me feeling tied to over the years despite rarely visiting them. They're also relatively young cities on the world stage (particularly when you look at their founding dates and compare it to this list.) As the sites of Hollywood and Bollywood, though, their impact on world culture is outsized when compared to their youth. Not that these books deal all that much with the film industries. I made that choice deliberately.
A very intimate book about societal expectations, the push and pull between artistic ambitions and practicality, and - above all - intergenerational trauma. It shares that last theme in common with [b:Your House Will Pay|43615778|Your House Will Pay|Steph Cha|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1552926170l/43615778._SY75_.jpg|67871455] despite being stylistic very different. Furthermore (spoilers for both book)
Spoiler
Vidya and Grace were both united in wanting to understand their very flawed, haunted mothers.On its own, this book is a mixed bag although I'm leaning more towards positive feelings towards it. At times it feels very awkward and self-conscious, not unlike someone learning how to dance for the first time. I don't know why so many literary fiction novels need a seemingly random description of genitalia, for example. When this book shines, though, it shines. There were a couple moments that made my heart race and made me tear up a little due to how real they felt. There's so much to resonate with here if you've ever been an eldest sibling, or didn't have a term for the things that ailed you, or if you've felt pulled along by fate, or if you struggled with how much you want to devote yourself to your art.
I'm seriously impressed by how this book conveyed things that are very hard to commit to writing. Case in point, Vidya's dance performance during a play put on by her college. I could see the dance so vividly in my mind. Truly remarkable!
kbaj's review
4.0
I didn't warm up to this book until the narrative switched from third to first person, but after that I realized how clever it was. The book starts with the protagonist in third person, who occasionally slides into first person while she dances. Then, as a young woman, she is in first person. And yeah, as a child, "I" is amorphous, and kids may not fully come into their "I" until later in life. I had thought that children would experience life even more fully in the first person, because they have so little perspective on the world around them, and most of their concerns revolve very strongly around "I"- their immediate needs that they can't provide for themselves. And while that was my experience, at least, it's probably not every child's. Particularly for little girls such as the protagonist, who grew up more as a mother/wife than a child, being expected to care for her little brother, cook for the family, and always put herself last. And, even for more privileged children like I was, personal needs may be pressing but identity, "I," is still vague. I really appreciated how Swamy changed the fabric of her story to express this incipient identity, which comes more sharply into focus when the protagonist dances, her passion. Even the writing style, which I disliked in the beginning because it felt too jumbled and confusing, changed into more organized writing when she became an adult. So even what I disliked about the book was a deliberate choice meant to reflect the protagonist's changing modes of thought. It was brilliant.
sydneyraereads's review
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Set in 1970s Bombay, we follow Vidya through multiple periods of her life as she navigates gender roles, mental health, class, dance, and romance.
This is a searing critique of the patriarchy, including a nuanced portrayal of the ways that it also limits men in their choices and expressions. This is a book full of visceral sensations. It is so easy to just *get* Vidya and stick with her. She is not portrayed as a perfect person, but rather her faults are an inner strength and a complication to achieving her goals.
This is a searing critique of the patriarchy, including a nuanced portrayal of the ways that it also limits men in their choices and expressions. This is a book full of visceral sensations. It is so easy to just *get* Vidya and stick with her. She is not portrayed as a perfect person, but rather her faults are an inner strength and a complication to achieving her goals.