Fasting, Feasting
4 journalers for this copy...
Uma the plain spinster daughter of a close-knit Indian family is trapped at home, smothered by her overbearing parents and their traditions, unlike her ambitious younger sister Aruna, who brings off a "good" marriage and brother Arun, the disappointing son and heir who is studying in America. Uma, as daughter and woman, expects nothing; Arun, as son and male, is lost under the weight of expectation. (Amazon)
Parts of this were powerful, but there were pages that seemed to be going nowhere. Perhaps the lethargy of the writing was to mirror the torpid atmosphere of the character's lives: for pages though it seemed to have become just a bit too dull. I often felt I was reading a short story that with a bit to much padding had become novel. Jhumpa Lahiri did a far finer job with similar material.
Received from the First Sentence Virtual Bookbox. It looks good, thanks so much!
London-Shade, I 100% agree with your summarization of this book!.. Up to Jhumpa Lahiri having done better with a similar premise, since I have yet to read that author. There were some powerful moments but for the most part this was really incohesive and tended to drag. I'm glad I read it, though, and appreciate your sending it to me!
This will now be heading out to ApoloniaX, who selected it from her wonderful South Asian VBB. Thanks again for hosting such a great box, hope you enjoy it!
This will now be heading out to ApoloniaX, who selected it from her wonderful South Asian VBB. Thanks again for hosting such a great box, hope you enjoy it!
Journal Entry 4 by flewry at South Asian VBB, A Bookbox -- Controlled Releases on Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Released 12 yrs ago (4/27/2011 UTC) at South Asian VBB, A Bookbox -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Off it goes! Enjoy!
I haven't read it yet, but picked up another copy at a second hand bookstore in Dublin - so this one may continue its travels....
ETA: Read it in the meantime. It made me think of Anna Karenina - "Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." Brilliant descriptions of family life, the traditional role of women, family control. I loved the way Desai is able to convey the atmosphere, it's all very subtle, with a lot of detail. Recommendable.
ETA: Read it in the meantime. It made me think of Anna Karenina - "Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." Brilliant descriptions of family life, the traditional role of women, family control. I loved the way Desai is able to convey the atmosphere, it's all very subtle, with a lot of detail. Recommendable.
Released 11 yrs ago (5/18/2012 UTC) at Surprise, A RABCK -- Controlled Releases
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
Off to ETMadrid, along with a wishlist book and two other novels set in Asia.
Happy reading!
Happy reading!
Journal Entry 8 by ETMadrid at -- Somewhere in London 🤷‍♀️ , Greater London United Kingdom on Thursday, May 24, 2012
Thank you so much ApoloniaX - I'm thrilled. None of the three surprise books have I read but they all look interesting. I still haven't read anything by Anita Desai and I look forward to this one. Hope to see you when you come to England.
Journal Entry 9 by ETMadrid at -- Somewhere in London 🤷‍♀️ , Greater London United Kingdom on Sunday, March 26, 2017
I finished reading this this week. I enjoyed it... I've read a book by Kiran Desai but never Anita Desai before. ApoloniaX you've described it well. Indeed, perceptive look at the frustrations and disfunctioning of families that perhaps on the outside appear untroubled.
Journal Entry 10 by ETMadrid at Gibbon's Rent in Southwark, Greater London United Kingdom on Thursday, April 20, 2017
Released 6 yrs ago (4/19/2017 UTC) at Gibbon's Rent in Southwark, Greater London United Kingdom
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
I left this in the 'library' in this beautiful hidden oasis.