Oleander Girl by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni -304 pages
Book Blurb:
Orphaned at birth, seventeen-year-old Korobi Roy is the scion of a distinguished Kolkata family and has enjoyed a privileged, sheltered childhood with her adoring grandparents. But she is troubled by the silence that surrounds her parents’ death and clings fiercely to her only inheritance from them: the love note she found hidden in her mother’s book of poetry. Korobi dreams of one day finding a love as powerful as her parents’, and it seems her wish has come true when she meets the charming Rajat, the only son of a high-profile business family.
But shortly after their engagement, a heart attack kills Korobi’s grandfather, revealing serious financial problems and a devastating secret about Korobi’s past. Shattered by this discovery and by her grandparents’ betrayal, Korobi undertakes a courageous search across post 9/11 America to find her true identity. Her dramatic, often startling journey will, ultimately, thrust her into the most difficult decision of her life.
My Review: 3.5 stars
I hold much too high expectations for this author as since Sister of My Heart, nothing she writes can compare. I know that’s not really fair of me, but that this older book was seeped in character development and richness of culture. This newest novel is still a good story with some interesting plot twists, but I didn’t have the same connections with the characters. I think there was more telling us about how the characters felt rather than showing us. I didn’t like Korobi’s “true love” nor did I believe in their relationship. I adored the grandma and Pia-Missy. Both were head-strong and vocal and I’d like to know more about them.
I will continue to read this author’s works as in the end they all are goodreads, yet some are more satisfying than others.
Quotes I liked:
That’s the best kind of silent, when you’re with someone you love so much that you don’t need to talk to them.”
Review:The Measure by Nikki Erlick was a book I waited far too long to read. I just couldn’t stomach the idea that everyone in the world would find out their relative life span. The whole idea of this scared me but when my book club chose to read it, I dug in with enthusiasm.I’m so glad I did. This book is more about life and how we live it, rather than about dying. It’s told by a cast of eight characters who are deeply affected by the strings they received. The length of the string parallels the length of your life. All the characters are struggling with their results because even if he or she gets a long string, there will still be people they know will be gone soon.How the world at large handles the strings was so well done. People are switching boxes hoping it could change their destiny. Support groups are offered. Protests occur. The world is in a very different place. Much of this book made me think about the differences between fate and destiny. This story offers many intertwined connections between the characters that makes for a powerful and meaningful ending. I’m so looking forward to what’s next from this author. @nikkierlick @williammorrowbooks William Morrow 📘 Would you open a box that told you how long your lifespan is?#themeasure #scifilight#bookreader#bookclubpick#goodbookfairy... See MoreSee Less