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lsparrow's review
2.0
I listened to the audio book. I really did not like the reader - they mis pronounced so many words and the way they read the dialogue would not have fit with the way that those characters would have spoken. I also found it so unrealistic that a 12 year old boy who had lived as an indentured servant would have been able to read and write. I did like the ending and the look at family.
carolineroche's review
4.0
A good read about what it is like to grow up and work in the slums of Mumbai. Years 6-8 should enjoy this.
bookerage's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
When a note in a tiffin got lost, Kunal got separated from his birth mother and ended up livin with his cruel foster parents. He turns to his friend, Vinayak, for help. Vinayak is a dabbawalla - a tiffin deliverymen - and shows him his work as a carrier. Soon Kunal finds himself on a quest not only to become a dabbawalla himself but also to locate his mother. A great story about friendship, hope and why we're not always need what we were looking for.
evaosterlee's review
adventurous
emotional
tense
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? Yes
4.0
janebranson's review
2.0
I enjoyed this in parts - the writing is clunky in places and the time frame a little unsettling, but the city setting is well-wrought and the central plot element of notes being sent out across Mumbai in lunchbox tins through the tiffin delivery service (only one box in 6 million goes astray!) is delightful. It's not marketed as such but I think it would work well as a novel for youngsters (11-14).
mobyskine's review
3.0
I first saw this book on the shelf at Sun@Mag bookstore but was reluctant to pick it up. I went home and googled about it that later I came again and decided to buy it. This book reminds me of The Lunchbox film, well not that really but the part of dabbawalla got me interested.
The journey of Kunal was honestly depressing. Being left out to his mom's friend since baby and got himself worked as 'slave' at the dabba gave me heartache. That sweet 12 years old with green eyes-- the only thing he wanted just a family. And he searched crazily for it.
I love the frienship between all the dabbawallas, it was overwhelming to read about how they helped him with the notes. And Vinayak was so nice and having his own sad past tortured me a bit.
I knew that Kunal won't get what he wanted. All the negative remarks from Vinayak about him finding his mom was true-- if she wants him, she would come within that 12 years.
Story telling was good and plot was fast-paced. Kunal's character did annoyed me a bit-- being all dramatic and impatient, that longing feeling and hope sometimes bothering me a lot. But knowing Kunal just a 12 years old boy and he needed to learn life the hard way like this, I digressed.
I enjoyed the read nevertheless. Love and friendship when you least expected. I was glad when Kunal decided to stay. He was all grown up at last.
The journey of Kunal was honestly depressing. Being left out to his mom's friend since baby and got himself worked as 'slave' at the dabba gave me heartache. That sweet 12 years old with green eyes-- the only thing he wanted just a family. And he searched crazily for it.
I love the frienship between all the dabbawallas, it was overwhelming to read about how they helped him with the notes. And Vinayak was so nice and having his own sad past tortured me a bit.
I knew that Kunal won't get what he wanted. All the negative remarks from Vinayak about him finding his mom was true-- if she wants him, she would come within that 12 years.
Story telling was good and plot was fast-paced. Kunal's character did annoyed me a bit-- being all dramatic and impatient, that longing feeling and hope sometimes bothering me a lot. But knowing Kunal just a 12 years old boy and he needed to learn life the hard way like this, I digressed.
I enjoyed the read nevertheless. Love and friendship when you least expected. I was glad when Kunal decided to stay. He was all grown up at last.
kathoha's review
3.0
The Tiffin is set in Mumbai, crafted around the dabbawallas – delivery men who take tiffins, hot boxed lunches, to office workers all over the city. It’s a highly organised operation, and the dabbawallas take much pride in its high delivery success rate: only one in six million tiffins never makes its intended destination. 13 years after a Tiffin with a note tucked inside it goes missing, Kunal is reaping the consequences.
The Tiffin is a quick read, all of 162 pages long. This is certainly frustrating at points because lots of plot points are introduced but never developed and followed through despite the potential and I think led to me finding the story dull at times. Kunal goes through a lot of growth to get to where he is at by the end of the novel, but it is demonstrated somewhat suddenly at the very end of the story. In my opinion, I would have preferred his growth to be more obviously wound into the story and not so out of nowhere.
...
**Full review available on my blog: Sensitivity&Flair**
The Tiffin is a quick read, all of 162 pages long. This is certainly frustrating at points because lots of plot points are introduced but never developed and followed through despite the potential and I think led to me finding the story dull at times. Kunal goes through a lot of growth to get to where he is at by the end of the novel, but it is demonstrated somewhat suddenly at the very end of the story. In my opinion, I would have preferred his growth to be more obviously wound into the story and not so out of nowhere.
...
**Full review available on my blog: Sensitivity&Flair**
midnightfogs's review
3.0
I read this book because it's the pick this month for my bookshop's children's book club, which I will be running tomorrow. Unfortunately, it left a bit to be desired. It was well-written, and there were some touching moments, but for the most part I felt quite frustrated at the lack of real story going on, and sometimes even a little bored. Although you feel sorry for Kunal, the main character, his dramatic behaviour was tiring at times. These letdowns with the plot are a shame, because as mentioned, the writing is lovely and the description of Kunal's life in Bombay/Mumbai is vivid and eye-opening.
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