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lriopel's review against another edition
5.0
I really loved this book. I am not even sure why, particularly, but I just thought it was beautifully written, the pacing was good for a relatively long novel, and the characters were vivid and interesting. I thought it was a complex, thoughtful story of an immigrant family, not just what you would expect from that "genre". It was also a really wonderful, gentle story about terribly sad things happening within a family, and what the members of that family do in the aftermath of those events. Though there was quite a bit of tragedy in this book, it didn't seem out of proportion to what a real family might face, and the way the characters behaved seemed so natural - I found myself thinking that of course that character would do exactly that. It was truthful and tender and sad, and I really enjoyed the whole thing. Definitely would recommend.
sidnarwhal's review against another edition
5.0
I devoured this book in one sitting. The poor German family next to me must have thought I was crazy, sobbing one minute, laughing out loud another. It's an emotional rollercoaster, loved every minute of it.
kpierce94010's review against another edition
5.0
I received this book as part of the GoodReads first reads program
I am biased because I grew up in the same small town as Mira and we overlapped in high school. So many of the places referenced in the book bring up many memories.
Although the book is 500+ pages, I read it in a single weekend. When I woke up in the middle of the night thinking of the book, I just had to finish it right then.
I found both the plot and the characters quite compelling. In particular,the way the challenges facing the family who stayed in India were juxtaposed with the challenges that the narrator's (Amina) family faced in moving to New Mexico.
I am biased because I grew up in the same small town as Mira and we overlapped in high school. So many of the places referenced in the book bring up many memories.
Although the book is 500+ pages, I read it in a single weekend. When I woke up in the middle of the night thinking of the book, I just had to finish it right then.
I found both the plot and the characters quite compelling. In particular,the way the challenges facing the family who stayed in India were juxtaposed with the challenges that the narrator's (Amina) family faced in moving to New Mexico.
90sinmyheart's review against another edition
5.0
This was fantastic - a slow burning, enthralling read. The characters had depth and I really enjoyed the family, friend, and romantic relationships. Don't judge it by its title and cover - it's way more interesting than they let on.
booksaremyfavorite's review against another edition
5.0
I laughed out loud for 3 minutes only a few pages into this book at the description of the mother, "she could and did believe anything she wanted to." five stars for the first novel in a long time to make me laugh so hard.
Halfway in and I have to gush. This book is fantastic. It is consistently funny and consistently sharp. The dialogue is the real thing, whether it's awkward teenagers or goofy aunts. The characters are so well wrought I imagine them as real people in my head. Read. This. Book.
Finished the last pages of this book laughing as hard as when I first started it. Best book I've read in a long, long time. I loved that there was a tiny hint of the supernatural that was doubted but never entirely dismissed. The author lets the characters believe what they want, and it is a gift.
Halfway in and I have to gush. This book is fantastic. It is consistently funny and consistently sharp. The dialogue is the real thing, whether it's awkward teenagers or goofy aunts. The characters are so well wrought I imagine them as real people in my head. Read. This. Book.
Finished the last pages of this book laughing as hard as when I first started it. Best book I've read in a long, long time. I loved that there was a tiny hint of the supernatural that was doubted but never entirely dismissed. The author lets the characters believe what they want, and it is a gift.
booklover1974's review against another edition
3.0
It started out good and I was interested but then it lost it’s pace. The writing was good though.
leahreadsalot's review against another edition
4.0
The description over-simplifies this beautiful book. Wept for the entire last 40 pages. Weirdly magical, heart-wrenching, and one of those reads where I come up for air blinking and wondering where I am.
sofiamarielg's review against another edition
4.0
I've had a hard time with this one. I love Mira Jacob and was so excited to read it, but throughout my reading experience I found it very hard to connect with the characters and see them as real people, and the events as real things that could happen. However, since finishing it a couple of days ago, I've begun to see it through the lens of "what if?" - what if loved ones really did come back, in a way? How much would I be willing to pay or sacrifice for that? At first, the suggestion of loved ones coming back made me angry. But entertaining those "what if" thoughts has opened up some interesting lines of thinking. So, in short - purely as a novel, eh, not the best nor worst. The concept and subsequent reflections - worth it.