It took me 2.5 months to finish a book. That's disappointing. I also learned that reading definitely helps me manage mental loads. I'll try to keep up with reading and finish one book every month.
Anyway, people seemed to love this book. And I was again disappointed after reading it. I'll copy and paste one of the less favorable reviews in amazon.
"I thought this was a terribly written book. It was a Kindle First selection so at least I didn't pay for it. It was a story that has been told over and over - forbidden love and resulting pregnancy. The facts relating to Indian life in India feel more like the author awkwardly showing, "Look! I did research!" more than part of the story. On the other hand, details that were included, such as the homemade toothbrush the servant was sure the main character would like, were never mentioned again. WELL DID SHE LIKE FINALLY TRY IT? Other daily trials of living in poverty in modern day India were left out; how about going into as much detail about toilet facilities in the family home as taking a shower? Now THAT would have been culture shock coming from modern-day America. And then other things - traditional Indian women wore petticoats in the time of WWII? There's an American hospital that specializes in polio treatment in modern times, when polio has long been eradicated in the US? - don't ring true. I mourn the loss of book editors. Being able to self-publish has ruined reading for me. I guess I should stick to the classics."
So again, Americans are fantasizing about the mythic orient combined with the pornography of "third-world poverty". And oh of course they all have beautiful souls. The poorer they are, the nicer, the more generous they are. I'm not criticizing the author's condescension, but I have to say she's feeding the public ignorance. If this love story was about two white people, let's say a Nazi soldier and a Jewish girl, no one would read it, because it was told over and over and over again. It was hard for me to finish.
Anyway, people seemed to love this book. And I was again disappointed after reading it. I'll copy and paste one of the less favorable reviews in amazon.
"I thought this was a terribly written book. It was a Kindle First selection so at least I didn't pay for it. It was a story that has been told over and over - forbidden love and resulting pregnancy. The facts relating to Indian life in India feel more like the author awkwardly showing, "Look! I did research!" more than part of the story. On the other hand, details that were included, such as the homemade toothbrush the servant was sure the main character would like, were never mentioned again. WELL DID SHE LIKE FINALLY TRY IT? Other daily trials of living in poverty in modern day India were left out; how about going into as much detail about toilet facilities in the family home as taking a shower? Now THAT would have been culture shock coming from modern-day America. And then other things - traditional Indian women wore petticoats in the time of WWII? There's an American hospital that specializes in polio treatment in modern times, when polio has long been eradicated in the US? - don't ring true. I mourn the loss of book editors. Being able to self-publish has ruined reading for me. I guess I should stick to the classics."
So again, Americans are fantasizing about the mythic orient combined with the pornography of "third-world poverty". And oh of course they all have beautiful souls. The poorer they are, the nicer, the more generous they are. I'm not criticizing the author's condescension, but I have to say she's feeding the public ignorance. If this love story was about two white people, let's say a Nazi soldier and a Jewish girl, no one would read it, because it was told over and over and over again. It was hard for me to finish.
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