A review by sabs98
The Unlikely Adventures of the Shergill Sisters by Balli Kaur Jaswal

adventurous emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

This book was so wonderfully written. The author's skillfulness in painting a portrait of each character is amazing; she does this by switching points of view to show the sisters from all perspectives and by describing memories of their pasts that arise as they are navigating new and uncomfortable situations on the pilgrimage together. The most compelling thing about this story is how real and relatable everything is to me as a child of immigrants: everything including their experiences of their ancestral land after having grown up in the West, the pressure and guilt unintentionally imposed on second-generation kids when they fail to meet even the smallest of their parents expectations, the anger and shock at the harmful and unjust patriarchal ways that pervade every part of life. Each sister carries childhood trauma, and the ways in which it plays out in their adult lives makes sense. The author is able to connect everything together so well, every character and every minor plot point has a sensible purpose. Balli Kaur Jaswal might just be my favorite author.
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