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mirel's review
challenging
emotional
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
I listened to the audio version, but I think this would have been better as a read.
eneubig's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book! Fascinating stories of World War II, anthropology, relationships, and child development. Our book club was able to meet with the author via zoom tonight and she was wonderful!!
veldhoenv's review against another edition
5.0
Aimee Liu's Glorious Boy takes the reader back in time to the Andaman islands during the second world war. The story comes to life through the eyes of three intriguing protagonists: Claire Durant, an anthropologist studying tribes in the Andaman islands; Claire's physician husband Shepherd; and their charge/nanny Naila, an 8-year-old native of the island. The book's title refers to Claire's son Ty, a 4-year-old child with Einstein syndrome, and for whom Claire will undertake international espionage in order to be reunited with. Impeccably researched, I felt drawn into the beauty and danger of the 1940s in the Andaman islands. For anyone who enjoys a good book this one is a treat, and the case is doubly so for lovers of historical fiction and strong, female protagonists.
allissa125's review against another edition
4.0
I found this book to be a beautiful and tug-at-the-heartstrings look at the wide reach of war. The characters and setting were pretty well developed in my opinion. I was engaged with the story and (assuming portrayals of the island tribes are close to accurate) learned a bit about a new/old culture as well.
cdubiel's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book. Still thinking about it several days later. My review will appear in Booklist.
sweetlybsquared's review against another edition
4.0
Sometimes history doesn’t have happy endings. The same goes for historical fiction. While happy endings are usually preferred, this book offered a real feeling story with beautiful closure, even when it wasn’t happy.
Shep Durant and Claire get married because they met as Shep was planning his research trip to India’s Andaman Islands, and Claire wanted to be an ethnographer and researcher too. After their brief courtship in the U.S., everything we know about them is in the primitive islands. While it didn’t appear to be planned, they’re also soon caring for their infant, far from the civilization they’re used to. Ty Babu, their baby, doesn’t know of anything besides their home in Port Blair, and his ayah Naila. Naila is a bit young to care for the baby by U.S. standards, but her parents are the Durant’s house servants, and she and Ty Babu develop a strong bond very quickly.
While the book starts with the Durant family and their servants all happily under the same roof, before long they’re each trying to make their way alone. War changing everything on their island, and they end up going in separate directions to survive. The characters each evolve in their attempts to make it alone, while they still try to get back to each other against all odds.
The prose and descriptions of the island and its people were beautiful. The Andaman Islands of India sound truly magnificent, and finding out how the natives lived deep in the jungle was fascinating. Overall, I’d give this book 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction.
https://booksithinkyoushouldread.blogspot.com/2020/05/book-review-and-giveaway-glorious-boy.html
Shep Durant and Claire get married because they met as Shep was planning his research trip to India’s Andaman Islands, and Claire wanted to be an ethnographer and researcher too. After their brief courtship in the U.S., everything we know about them is in the primitive islands. While it didn’t appear to be planned, they’re also soon caring for their infant, far from the civilization they’re used to. Ty Babu, their baby, doesn’t know of anything besides their home in Port Blair, and his ayah Naila. Naila is a bit young to care for the baby by U.S. standards, but her parents are the Durant’s house servants, and she and Ty Babu develop a strong bond very quickly.
While the book starts with the Durant family and their servants all happily under the same roof, before long they’re each trying to make their way alone. War changing everything on their island, and they end up going in separate directions to survive. The characters each evolve in their attempts to make it alone, while they still try to get back to each other against all odds.
The prose and descriptions of the island and its people were beautiful. The Andaman Islands of India sound truly magnificent, and finding out how the natives lived deep in the jungle was fascinating. Overall, I’d give this book 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction.
https://booksithinkyoushouldread.blogspot.com/2020/05/book-review-and-giveaway-glorious-boy.html
chelz286's review against another edition
3.0
Claire and Shep have found the opportunity of a life time. Newly married, they are both off headed to a remote penal colony of Andaman Islands. They are going to do field work, an opportunity Claire never thought would happen for her. She will be going there with intent to study tribes that have never really been studied before. Shep is there as a civil surgeon.
Life on the islands us unlike anything they had ever expected, or could have fathomed. They quickly learn that they are the outsiders and are somewhat at the mercy of those on the islanders. They have to prove that they are not there to harm or hurt, but to observe and understand. To help, and learn new things that are probably unknown to anyone else.
Their plans are changed, mostly for Claire when she becomes sick. But it is not sickness, as in an illness but a new birth. They welcome their son Ty into the world and couldn't be happier. But he is different. The way he observes and focuses on things. He often has what seems to be fits and tantrums, and their servant girl Naila is the only one who seems to be able to connect with him intellectually. The two form an unbreakable bond.
Claire is often the one who has to try and understand Ty, and each day there is frustration as he refuses to speak or attempt to make any sort of talk. But he seems to be able to communicate just fine through facial expressions and through Naila, it is concerning since he is four years old already and should have been babbling for years. Maybe it's just the environment they are in, the tribes. They often speak through the understanding of the earth, and not with physical voices.
One day a quake hits, and Claire and Shep have to be evacuated. Many people are killed, and lots of houses are destroyed. Not only are they are all dealing with the aftermath of this quake, there are rumors of the war nearing. The Japanese are rumored to be nearing this area for the ports.
They decide they need to leave, so they pack up and Shep gets them passage on a ship. They have to go quick, there is no time to really think things through. The morning of, Shep goes to get everything on the ship, and Claire is frantic. Ty is missing. She can't find him, and heads to the ship to let Shep know. He forces Claire onto the ship, and he stays behind to find their son. How could he do this to her? Forcing a mother to leave the place her son is missing in?
It was a simple misunderstanding - Ty was just with Naila in this secret place she wanted to show him and they fell asleep. With finding that the Japanese has invaded and taken over the island, Shep does what he can to keep Ty and Naila safe. She after all is the one who understands and knows Ty's every need. Sadly, more than it seem this own parents do. Claire is devastated and cannot sit around knowing that all access has been cut off and she has no idea what has happened to her family.
Will Naila do everything to keep Ty safe with the help of Leyo? Shep after all did tell her she has to be his mother and father to keep him safe, and that is what she will do. Still a child herself, she has to make unimaginable decisions and hope that they will be afforded protection during this war. Is Claire's decisions, a suicide mission? But how far does a mother go to save her child? Did Shep make the right decision by putting Ty in Nalia's protection or is this why he is missing, really missing this time?
Thank you to the author, and historical fiction virtual book tours for the free book to read and review. I had no idea about the Japanese invading these islands during the war. It was a very interesting, different read.
Life on the islands us unlike anything they had ever expected, or could have fathomed. They quickly learn that they are the outsiders and are somewhat at the mercy of those on the islanders. They have to prove that they are not there to harm or hurt, but to observe and understand. To help, and learn new things that are probably unknown to anyone else.
Their plans are changed, mostly for Claire when she becomes sick. But it is not sickness, as in an illness but a new birth. They welcome their son Ty into the world and couldn't be happier. But he is different. The way he observes and focuses on things. He often has what seems to be fits and tantrums, and their servant girl Naila is the only one who seems to be able to connect with him intellectually. The two form an unbreakable bond.
Claire is often the one who has to try and understand Ty, and each day there is frustration as he refuses to speak or attempt to make any sort of talk. But he seems to be able to communicate just fine through facial expressions and through Naila, it is concerning since he is four years old already and should have been babbling for years. Maybe it's just the environment they are in, the tribes. They often speak through the understanding of the earth, and not with physical voices.
One day a quake hits, and Claire and Shep have to be evacuated. Many people are killed, and lots of houses are destroyed. Not only are they are all dealing with the aftermath of this quake, there are rumors of the war nearing. The Japanese are rumored to be nearing this area for the ports.
They decide they need to leave, so they pack up and Shep gets them passage on a ship. They have to go quick, there is no time to really think things through. The morning of, Shep goes to get everything on the ship, and Claire is frantic. Ty is missing. She can't find him, and heads to the ship to let Shep know. He forces Claire onto the ship, and he stays behind to find their son. How could he do this to her? Forcing a mother to leave the place her son is missing in?
It was a simple misunderstanding - Ty was just with Naila in this secret place she wanted to show him and they fell asleep. With finding that the Japanese has invaded and taken over the island, Shep does what he can to keep Ty and Naila safe. She after all is the one who understands and knows Ty's every need. Sadly, more than it seem this own parents do. Claire is devastated and cannot sit around knowing that all access has been cut off and she has no idea what has happened to her family.
Will Naila do everything to keep Ty safe with the help of Leyo? Shep after all did tell her she has to be his mother and father to keep him safe, and that is what she will do. Still a child herself, she has to make unimaginable decisions and hope that they will be afforded protection during this war. Is Claire's decisions, a suicide mission? But how far does a mother go to save her child? Did Shep make the right decision by putting Ty in Nalia's protection or is this why he is missing, really missing this time?
Thank you to the author, and historical fiction virtual book tours for the free book to read and review. I had no idea about the Japanese invading these islands during the war. It was a very interesting, different read.
momadvice's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to the publishing house for providing a review copy of this novel. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Looking for a historical fiction book to sink your teeth into? You will definitely want to add this incredibly well-researched novel to your stack.
This story takes place just prior to World War II, in the Andaman Islands (in the Bay of Bengal). Claire is an aspiring anthropologist and her husband, Shep, is a physician and they decide to head to the Andaman Islands for their work.
They arrive in archipelago in 1937, where Claire documents and studies the Andamans' indigenous tribe and Shep practices as a surgeon.
Shortly upon arriving, Claire becomes pregnant and ends up giving birth to her son, Ty. Ty doesn't meet the typical milestones and is unable to communicate with her. Luckily, he finds a special friend on the island who he finds a deep friendship with.
Unfortunately, the approach of Japanese forces means that they must evacuate the island and their world is dramatically changed. Tragic consequences begin to unfold and beg us to examine these ramifications of the separation of this family.
This story is absolutely fascinating and grapples with such big issues that will keep you flipping the pages until way past your bedtime.
If you are looking for a pandemic escape into a different world, you will find it tucked in this phenomenally told story.
Lucky Boy
Green Island
Shtum
HEAD to MomAdvice for ALL my book reviews and feel free to join our FREE Book Club for some virtual reading fun!
Looking for a historical fiction book to sink your teeth into? You will definitely want to add this incredibly well-researched novel to your stack.
This story takes place just prior to World War II, in the Andaman Islands (in the Bay of Bengal). Claire is an aspiring anthropologist and her husband, Shep, is a physician and they decide to head to the Andaman Islands for their work.
They arrive in archipelago in 1937, where Claire documents and studies the Andamans' indigenous tribe and Shep practices as a surgeon.
Shortly upon arriving, Claire becomes pregnant and ends up giving birth to her son, Ty. Ty doesn't meet the typical milestones and is unable to communicate with her. Luckily, he finds a special friend on the island who he finds a deep friendship with.
Unfortunately, the approach of Japanese forces means that they must evacuate the island and their world is dramatically changed. Tragic consequences begin to unfold and beg us to examine these ramifications of the separation of this family.
This story is absolutely fascinating and grapples with such big issues that will keep you flipping the pages until way past your bedtime.
If you are looking for a pandemic escape into a different world, you will find it tucked in this phenomenally told story.
4 out of 5 Stars
If you like Glorious Boy you might like these titles:
Lucky Boy
Green Island
Shtum
HEAD to MomAdvice for ALL my book reviews and feel free to join our FREE Book Club for some virtual reading fun!
willwrite4chocolate's review
5.0
It's been a long time since I stayed up (nearly) all night to finish a book, but Aimee Liu's Glorious Boy casts that kind of spell. This work of historical fiction set in WWII on the Andaman Islands is brutal, but lovely, and so well written. The imagery, the characters, and the story all mesmerized me. I just couldn't put it down. I can't imagine how much research went into it. She got every detail right. And the way she treats the characters, even the horrible ones, with such tenderness, made me weep. Even if historical fiction isn't your thing, this book will entrance you. It's destined to become a classic.
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