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ian mcewan is a genius - witty metatextuality permeates every line with a spring in its step. eloquent, gripping, and funny. but beyond that, also bold and acute. an undeniably unique read.
While grappling with important themes, perspectives, and emotions, it is executed rather flimsily, with an attempt at a style that feels glossy but imported. Hamid's desire to crystallise his life is genuine, the thoughts resonate with an educational immigrant like me, and so does the desire to "make it" in the big city, while feeling irrevocably nostalgic. But the attempts at depth and philosophical examination are merely transient and feel unexplored.
A very captivating and smart plot, yet I was disappointed with the quality of writing and the lack of vivid imagery as well as the few grammatical mistakes I spotted.
Roy is undeniably a genius - her mastery intertwining the themes of Identity, Womanhood, Family and Death in such a fluid but eloquent manner is rare. The imagery is rich, colourful and odoriferous; reading the book shifts you from reality and wraps you in a cocoon full of the smells, culture and images of India. Despite the setting, the universality and timelessness of the narrative is certain, with Roy's extraordinary skills making us subconsciously question what makes our identity us humans.
