It's a kind of thriller set in a climate-change ridden India, where people are fighting to survive and leave the country. The main question of the book is how far would you be willing to bend your own morals to protect those you love in a dire situation.
I just finished this book and feel so many things.
The story is about a woman in India who is about to join her husband in America with their 2-year-old daughter and her elderly father. He has a job in Michigan and has arranged for the family to immigrate to the US. Their flight is in one week.
Kolkata is going through an intense heat wave and on the brink of famine. Food is getting scarce and everyone knows what's coming, even though some try to pretend otherwise.
Ma, as she's called throughout the book, goes to the consulate to pick up their passports and visas. The next day they are stolen.
With only days to spare, she has to figure out any way to get her documents back and get on that plane. If that isn't an amazing setup for a book, I don't know what is.
The book is not really what I would call a thriller, though the setup really feels like one. It's contemplative about family bonds, survival, how cruel the world can be, etc. Climate change is a major theme, with Kolkata being unbearably hot and talk of it being reclaimed by the sea. There are also themes of the haves and the have-nots, with mention of billionaires who hoard food while people in the city are starving. It's about desperation and doing what it takes to survive and makes you question morality under those circumstances.
I really did not know where the book was going at any given moment. I'm not going to lie and say it was fun or uplifting, but I really enjoyed the writing and the originality. The characters felt real. The stakes were high and you could feel the tension. It's the kind of book that makes you think and I think it will stay with me for a long time.
I have to shout out the audiobook. The narrator was great and they used multiple voice actors for interstitial chapters that were supposed to be phone calls.
For some reason goodreads labels it science fiction. It's absolutely not science fiction in any way. Don't let that deter you.
I also listened to the audiobook and thought it was fantastic. Highly recommend the audiobook!
One thing that really struck me about this book was how well Majumdar portrayed the feeling of being in a hot and desperate city. I really felt hot while reading it even though it is cold where I live. I felt the stress of going out into the city and what it would be like to take these rickshaw journeys in very crowded places.
Nice
Loved this book. So so good
Can someone give a one sentence pitch? Oprah’s book club is not a good thing to see
It's a kind of thriller set in a climate-change ridden India, where people are fighting to survive and leave the country. The main question of the book is how far would you be willing to bend your own morals to protect those you love in a dire situation.
Thanks! It sounds excellent.
I liked it, too. Very well written.
I’m reading it now! I really like it so far, the writing is immersive.
I’m so excited for this, A Burning was incredible and I’m so glad I learned about this. Thank you for posting this!
i really loved A Burning so i'm excited to read this one!
Guess I gotta add that to my tbr because I loved this book so much!
I'm reading this now. Not too exciting but I think it's really well written which will keep me reading
I’m waiting in line for this book at my library! Can’t wait!!
I just finished this book and feel so many things.
The story is about a woman in India who is about to join her husband in America with their 2-year-old daughter and her elderly father. He has a job in Michigan and has arranged for the family to immigrate to the US. Their flight is in one week.
Kolkata is going through an intense heat wave and on the brink of famine. Food is getting scarce and everyone knows what's coming, even though some try to pretend otherwise.
Ma, as she's called throughout the book, goes to the consulate to pick up their passports and visas. The next day they are stolen.
With only days to spare, she has to figure out any way to get her documents back and get on that plane. If that isn't an amazing setup for a book, I don't know what is.
The book is not really what I would call a thriller, though the setup really feels like one. It's contemplative about family bonds, survival, how cruel the world can be, etc. Climate change is a major theme, with Kolkata being unbearably hot and talk of it being reclaimed by the sea. There are also themes of the haves and the have-nots, with mention of billionaires who hoard food while people in the city are starving. It's about desperation and doing what it takes to survive and makes you question morality under those circumstances.
I really did not know where the book was going at any given moment. I'm not going to lie and say it was fun or uplifting, but I really enjoyed the writing and the originality. The characters felt real. The stakes were high and you could feel the tension. It's the kind of book that makes you think and I think it will stay with me for a long time.
I have to shout out the audiobook. The narrator was great and they used multiple voice actors for interstitial chapters that were supposed to be phone calls.
For some reason goodreads labels it science fiction. It's absolutely not science fiction in any way. Don't let that deter you.
I also listened to the audiobook and thought it was fantastic. Highly recommend the audiobook!
One thing that really struck me about this book was how well Majumdar portrayed the feeling of being in a hot and desperate city. I really felt hot while reading it even though it is cold where I live. I felt the stress of going out into the city and what it would be like to take these rickshaw journeys in very crowded places.