Rated of 5
by Linda Evening Is The Whole Day
Set in Malaysia, the novel revolves around one immigrant Indian family and yet includes so much more--history, politics, race, class, and gender issues. Samarasan's creative imagery paints vivid pictures. In the scene where Amma discovers her suitor is missing the sense of smell because he is blithely unaware of the horrendous odor permeating the dining room, Samarasan writes "In the heavens a chorus of angels with clothes pegs on their ethereal noses began to sing..." Telling the story "in reverse" is akin to visiting a psychiatrist, as we begin to see how and why things are the way they are. Containing a touch of magical realism, this book is a wonderful, fascinating read.
Rated of 5
by Kate Evening Is the Whole Day
Reading this novel was enjoyable and frustrating at the same time. The author had magical and poetic moments but much of the novel was seeped in extraneous detail that did not relate to, or help the story. It shows the true side of human nature but failed to acknowledge my belief that every person has "good" in them. Without that balance, the characters had no appeal or reason for me to care about them. I believe this author shows promise as a writer but I was a bit disappointed with this novel.
Rated of 5
by Marcia Evening Is The Whole Day
It took me about 90 very slowly read pages to get into this book. I had trouble keeping the characters straight. However, after making a list of each, who they were, etc., I finally got into the novel. I totally loved her descriptions and began to feel as though I were in Malaysia, a country of which I know little. I enjoyed Samarasan's style of back-tracking which I found was never confusing. My one real criticism was her continual use of Malay words with no given translations. Overall, I enjoyed the book and would not hesitate to recommend it to my book club. I look forward to reading her next novel.
Rated of 5
by Mary Evening is the Whole Day
Preeta Samarasan's debut book is an energizing and colorful painting of a family's complex web of lies and secrets. Personally, the reason I read fiction is to escape and become a part of someone else's reality. Here I found myself so taken in by Malaysia, the place, the people and utterly caught in the "high drama" of the family history of the Rajasekharan's. Her story comes to life in each of the characters with a refreshing sense of humor. I couldn't wait to read each page!
Rated of 5
by Ruth A spellbinding story
Preeta Samarasan weaves language, time and characters in such a way as to carry the reader into a different culture and history. She creates an even web, teaching and enchanting even as each event and person come to life, showing that what one sees at a given moment in time is really a layered reality that can never be known without all the normally imperceptible small daily realities. Malaysia, its turbulent history and peoples, comes alive in minuscule happenings as they unfold in Samarasan’s impeccable arrangement of time and people. Her people live and breathe, carrying us into their tumultuous yet somnolent life in a spellbinding story that one hates to finish.
Rated of 5
by Julie Immerse yourself. Evening is The Whole Day takes place almost entirely inside of one house, and yet it feels like it contains a whole world. As the story begins, the household is in turmoil. We know something terrible has happened, but exactly what took place is unclear. Samarasan takes us deep inside of many characters, and back in time, until we can see the whole, inevitable conclusion. Although the setting was far away and long ago - Malaysia in the 1970's - the family dramas, the generational conflicts, the societal differences, felt universal. Absorbing and compelling, the language was so vivid, so sharp, that I didn't mind the slow pace of the action. A masterful first novel.
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