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Habitations
A young academic moves from India to the United States, where she navigates first love, a green card marriage, single motherhood, and more in this “delightful novel, written with immediacy, warmth, and wry humor” (Ha Jin, National Book Award-winning author of Waiting).
Vega Gopalan is adrift. Still reeling from the death of her sister years earlier, she leaves South India to attend graduate school at Columbia University. In New York, Vega straddles many different worlds, eventually moving in and out of a series of relationships that take her through the striving world of academia, the intellectual isolation of the immigrant suburbs, and, ultimately, the loneliness of single motherhood. But it is the birth of Vega’s daughter that forces the novel’s central question: What does it mean to make a home?
Written with dry humor and searing insight, Habitations is an intimate story of identity, immigration, expectation and desire, and of love lost and found. But it is also a universal story of womanhood, and the ways in which women are forced to navigate multiple loyalties: to family, to community, and to themselves.
A profound meditation on the many meanings of home and on the ways love and kinship can be found, even in the most unfamiliar of places, Habitations introduces Sheila Sundar as an electrifying new voice in literary fiction.
Vega Gopalan is adrift. Still reeling from the death of her sister years earlier, she leaves South India to attend graduate school at Columbia University. In New York, Vega straddles many different worlds, eventually moving in and out of a series of relationships that take her through the striving world of academia, the intellectual isolation of the immigrant suburbs, and, ultimately, the loneliness of single motherhood. But it is the birth of Vega’s daughter that forces the novel’s central question: What does it mean to make a home?
Written with dry humor and searing insight, Habitations is an intimate story of identity, immigration, expectation and desire, and of love lost and found. But it is also a universal story of womanhood, and the ways in which women are forced to navigate multiple loyalties: to family, to community, and to themselves.
A profound meditation on the many meanings of home and on the ways love and kinship can be found, even in the most unfamiliar of places, Habitations introduces Sheila Sundar as an electrifying new voice in literary fiction.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published April 2, 2024
33 people are currently reading
9984 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 145 reviews
April 3, 2024
Sheila Sundar is a new author for me. I decided to read this book because I was curious about people who come from another country and make their home in the United States. How they navigate cultures and find their way in a foreign environment. It has to be difficult for anyone who attempts this and I would like to find ways when I meet these people to help make them feel more comfortable.
Description:
Vega Gopalan is adrift. Still reeling from the death of her sister years earlier, she leaves South India to attend graduate school at Columbia University. In New York, Vega straddles many different worlds, eventually moving in and out of a series of relationships that take her through the striving world of academia, the intellectual isolation of the immigrant suburbs, and, ultimately, the loneliness of single motherhood. But it is the birth of Vega’s daughter that forces the novel’s central question: What does it mean to make a home?
Written with dry humor and searing insight, Habitations is an intimate story of identity, immigration, expectation and desire, and of love lost and found. But it is also a universal story of womanhood, and the ways in which women are forced to navigate multiple loyalties: to family, to community, and to themselves.
A profound meditation on the many meanings of home and on the ways love and kinship can be found, even in the most unfamiliar of places, Habitations introduces Sheila Sundar as an electrifying new voice in literary fiction.
My Thoughts:
Sundar's prose is both beautiful and heartfelt. I enjoyed reading about Vega's journey to find herself. I also enjoyed reading about how she fit in during the time she spent at different locations in America and then back in India. I felt her sister's death overshadowed Vega's life and held her back from moving forward in some ways. This book is not full of action, but is full of reflection and self-realization as Vega finds her way in her work, as a mother, and in her personal relationships with others. I feel like I am more aware of Indian customs and foods for having read this book.
Thanks to Simon & Schuster through Netgalley for an advance copy.
Description:
Vega Gopalan is adrift. Still reeling from the death of her sister years earlier, she leaves South India to attend graduate school at Columbia University. In New York, Vega straddles many different worlds, eventually moving in and out of a series of relationships that take her through the striving world of academia, the intellectual isolation of the immigrant suburbs, and, ultimately, the loneliness of single motherhood. But it is the birth of Vega’s daughter that forces the novel’s central question: What does it mean to make a home?
Written with dry humor and searing insight, Habitations is an intimate story of identity, immigration, expectation and desire, and of love lost and found. But it is also a universal story of womanhood, and the ways in which women are forced to navigate multiple loyalties: to family, to community, and to themselves.
A profound meditation on the many meanings of home and on the ways love and kinship can be found, even in the most unfamiliar of places, Habitations introduces Sheila Sundar as an electrifying new voice in literary fiction.
My Thoughts:
Sundar's prose is both beautiful and heartfelt. I enjoyed reading about Vega's journey to find herself. I also enjoyed reading about how she fit in during the time she spent at different locations in America and then back in India. I felt her sister's death overshadowed Vega's life and held her back from moving forward in some ways. This book is not full of action, but is full of reflection and self-realization as Vega finds her way in her work, as a mother, and in her personal relationships with others. I feel like I am more aware of Indian customs and foods for having read this book.
Thanks to Simon & Schuster through Netgalley for an advance copy.
September 10, 2024
So this is very much not my kind of book -- slow, character driven, slice of life type book. I read it because of an event, and never would have read it without that, but I actually was really impressed by it. This is a very strong debut novel. I felt connected to the characters and liked the story enough. Sundar had a lot to say (without being preachy) around immigration, home, family, and building a life. Again, this one isn't my thing (not a lot of plot) but it is so successful at what it set out to do. So if you like a vibey story this might be one for you.
December 21, 2023
New York, Newark, Chennai, and Cleveland, 1998-2008. There's a sense of melancholy, precarity, and arrested development in this main character and the world she inhabits. I'm impressed with how well the author unspools this narrative over a decade. The flow of time felt natural. On reflection of the novel as a whole, it felt that Vega, our main character, matured and achieved a sense of freedom she had never known in her young and adolescent life but had to gradually learn from others in adulthood. In this slow process of adapting to the ways of adults, Vega gets burned. She is imperfect and sometimes at fault. She takes risks before she knows what she is getting into, often because she must, and for that she is brave.
This book poses many complicated questions in subtle, artful ways: the ethics of love when it is entwined with citizenship and opportunity; how to responsibly handle the baggage of privilege; the significance of ephemeral and temporary relationships; and of course the politics of globalization at the cusp of the twenty-first century. There were some edgy moments in the scenes covering 9/11; the author briefly points to, but doesn't really explore, how the attack was deserved. I understand that the characters in this moment were hurting, and these are expressions of their pain. I can imagine these complicated expressions were widely felt in NYC immediately after the attacks, and for that reason the text came alive to me. It made me realize how remorse, pain, and guilt are at the center of this novel.
"Pleasant" is the wrong word to describe this reading experience, but I felt driven to see what Vega would do in her adulthood and what she would make of her life. This meditative, melancholy novel shows talent and promise.
This book poses many complicated questions in subtle, artful ways: the ethics of love when it is entwined with citizenship and opportunity; how to responsibly handle the baggage of privilege; the significance of ephemeral and temporary relationships; and of course the politics of globalization at the cusp of the twenty-first century. There were some edgy moments in the scenes covering 9/11; the author briefly points to, but doesn't really explore, how the attack was deserved. I understand that the characters in this moment were hurting, and these are expressions of their pain. I can imagine these complicated expressions were widely felt in NYC immediately after the attacks, and for that reason the text came alive to me. It made me realize how remorse, pain, and guilt are at the center of this novel.
"Pleasant" is the wrong word to describe this reading experience, but I felt driven to see what Vega would do in her adulthood and what she would make of her life. This meditative, melancholy novel shows talent and promise.
January 7, 2024
This is a very special novel. It’s the story of VE-GA, I put the hyphen in the middle because Vega is a woman whose life is a series of choices. She is perpetually split between decisions she must make. She must decide between every part of her life, country, career, sexuality, marriage, divorce, none of the choices easy or clear. All have complications.
Her initial split is the loss of her beloved sister, who was really a part of her. Vega is clearly a brilliant academic who ultimately makes the choice to leave India for study in America. There she is confronted with choices about friends, lovers, husbands and children.
I simply loved her character. Vega has a level of reflection and understanding that is admirable. It is the birth of her daughter that is the catalyst for future life choices. I was especially impressed by her willingness to create a non-traditional family with her ex-husband.
Going from home to home with Vega I was totally captivated by her and her choices. The writing is especially good. I often have a problem with closure in novels, but even the ending is perfect.
I must admit that I did have problems keeping track of all the names, some of which were unfamiliar to me. I highly recommend this beautiful novel to reading groups. There is so much to discuss.
Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this brilliant debut novel.
Her initial split is the loss of her beloved sister, who was really a part of her. Vega is clearly a brilliant academic who ultimately makes the choice to leave India for study in America. There she is confronted with choices about friends, lovers, husbands and children.
I simply loved her character. Vega has a level of reflection and understanding that is admirable. It is the birth of her daughter that is the catalyst for future life choices. I was especially impressed by her willingness to create a non-traditional family with her ex-husband.
Going from home to home with Vega I was totally captivated by her and her choices. The writing is especially good. I often have a problem with closure in novels, but even the ending is perfect.
I must admit that I did have problems keeping track of all the names, some of which were unfamiliar to me. I highly recommend this beautiful novel to reading groups. There is so much to discuss.
Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this brilliant debut novel.
April 26, 2024
i'm sure that i was meant to find the protagonist flawed but ultimately sympathetic...but i didn't. one of the least compelling and most annoying mcs i have read of....review to come.
April 2, 2024
Gifted by the publisher
full review:
Sometimes, a book sneaks up on you when you're least expected and hits you so hard you're at a loss for words on how to describe it to do it justice. Sometimes, a book is so close to your heart that verbalizing how it resonates with you seems impossible. HABITAIONS is one of those books, and oh my heart.
Written with a quiet and contemplative narrative reminiscent of Weike Wang sprinkled with some Sally Rooney, HABITATIONS tells the story of Vega Gopalan, an Indian woman reeling from the death of her sister and immigrants from South India to New York City for grad school. Vega finds herself adrift as she moves in and out of a series of relationships to find the meaning of home.
HABITATIONS is a poignant exploration of identity, grief, untethering, and the quest for belonging. At its core, this debut appears to follow the familiar trajectory of an immigrant story, yet it distinguishes itself through Sundar's nuanced portrayal of Vega's emotional landscape. Through meditative prose infused with searing clarity, HABITATIONS delves into the complexities of uprootedness—Vega's struggle to reconcile her sister's death, adapt to a new country, and forge connections amidst the fear of inevitable loss.
Personally resonant for many immigrants, especially those who grew up elsewhere, HABITATIONS delves into the subtle nuances of navigating cultural identity and the weight of representation as an adult. Sundar delicately addresses the experience of feeling scrutinized and judged, subtly unpacking the expectations and stereotypes imposed upon immigrants. As Vega grapples with the pressure to perform for the "white gaze," the novel prompts readers to confront their own experiences of cultural assimilation and the unspoken complexities therein.
Grief, a central theme in HABITATIONS, is explored with profound insight as Sundar navigates Vega's relationships—a tapestry woven with threads of longing, connection, and the fear of vulnerability. In Vega's journey, we witness the intricate layers of loyalty and the hesitance to establish roots, echoing the multifaceted nature of one's experiences with loss. Sundar's poignant observation that "sometimes we don't realize we still have so many options ahead of us" strikes a poignant chord, offering a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness of grief.
In its evocative portrayal of melancholy tinged with moments of love and connection, HABITATIONS evokes the spirit of works like MY FRIENDS (Hisham Matar). I wholeheartedly recommend this profound and nuanced debut to readers seeking introspective literary fiction who want to read between the lines and marinate with one's thoughts.
-
quick reading thoughts:
A quiet and contemplative novel. This story about an Indian immigrant is so close to my heart. It’s about grief and untethering, but not from overwritten assimilation tropes. As someone who immigrated to the US for grad school, I see so much of myself in Vega, and it spoke to me on so many levels, especially the aspect of watching my parents grow old from an ocean away gave me all the feels.
The writing reminds me of Weike Wang and has some Sally Rooney vibes. It’s a more vibe than plot book that’s heavily focused on Vega’s character, and I loved every moment reading it. I recommend HABITATIONS to those who want to spend time savoring a meandering, quiet, yet profound story.
full review:
Sometimes, a book sneaks up on you when you're least expected and hits you so hard you're at a loss for words on how to describe it to do it justice. Sometimes, a book is so close to your heart that verbalizing how it resonates with you seems impossible. HABITAIONS is one of those books, and oh my heart.
Written with a quiet and contemplative narrative reminiscent of Weike Wang sprinkled with some Sally Rooney, HABITATIONS tells the story of Vega Gopalan, an Indian woman reeling from the death of her sister and immigrants from South India to New York City for grad school. Vega finds herself adrift as she moves in and out of a series of relationships to find the meaning of home.
HABITATIONS is a poignant exploration of identity, grief, untethering, and the quest for belonging. At its core, this debut appears to follow the familiar trajectory of an immigrant story, yet it distinguishes itself through Sundar's nuanced portrayal of Vega's emotional landscape. Through meditative prose infused with searing clarity, HABITATIONS delves into the complexities of uprootedness—Vega's struggle to reconcile her sister's death, adapt to a new country, and forge connections amidst the fear of inevitable loss.
Personally resonant for many immigrants, especially those who grew up elsewhere, HABITATIONS delves into the subtle nuances of navigating cultural identity and the weight of representation as an adult. Sundar delicately addresses the experience of feeling scrutinized and judged, subtly unpacking the expectations and stereotypes imposed upon immigrants. As Vega grapples with the pressure to perform for the "white gaze," the novel prompts readers to confront their own experiences of cultural assimilation and the unspoken complexities therein.
Grief, a central theme in HABITATIONS, is explored with profound insight as Sundar navigates Vega's relationships—a tapestry woven with threads of longing, connection, and the fear of vulnerability. In Vega's journey, we witness the intricate layers of loyalty and the hesitance to establish roots, echoing the multifaceted nature of one's experiences with loss. Sundar's poignant observation that "sometimes we don't realize we still have so many options ahead of us" strikes a poignant chord, offering a glimmer of hope amidst the darkness of grief.
In its evocative portrayal of melancholy tinged with moments of love and connection, HABITATIONS evokes the spirit of works like MY FRIENDS (Hisham Matar). I wholeheartedly recommend this profound and nuanced debut to readers seeking introspective literary fiction who want to read between the lines and marinate with one's thoughts.
-
quick reading thoughts:
A quiet and contemplative novel. This story about an Indian immigrant is so close to my heart. It’s about grief and untethering, but not from overwritten assimilation tropes. As someone who immigrated to the US for grad school, I see so much of myself in Vega, and it spoke to me on so many levels, especially the aspect of watching my parents grow old from an ocean away gave me all the feels.
The writing reminds me of Weike Wang and has some Sally Rooney vibes. It’s a more vibe than plot book that’s heavily focused on Vega’s character, and I loved every moment reading it. I recommend HABITATIONS to those who want to spend time savoring a meandering, quiet, yet profound story.
March 31, 2024
Great story about a woman’s life and her daily struggles. Relatable in so many way and beautifully told. Thanks to Goodreads for the giveaway!
May 23, 2024
i’m still not sure how to accurately verbalize my thoughts and feelings about this book. it’s beautifully written. the author imbues her work with nuanced observations and commentary about immigration, race, caste, class, and sexuality, particularly related to motherhood and academia. as someone who grew up in new jersey, attended graduate school at columbia, and earned an undergraduate degree in sociology, i appreciated all the references and details - there was much i could connect to, even more that i couldn’t (and i like this when i’m reading). i disagree with some reviews mentioning how readers hoped the author expanded upon or explained cultural factors, specifically those related to india and hinduism; white audiences should be willing to put the extra time and work in to look things up (do we ask american or white authors do the same for non-white or non-american audiences?? no.) that said, i do agree that the pace of the book felt slow and vega’s character development seemed marginal or often stunted (though she’s flawed, which i love - but the growth felt minimal… complicated grief is very real). the book may have shone more if written in first-person. this read to me like a work of literature assigned in an honors high school english class or university literature course, a novel layered with lots that could be drawn upon for close readings, commentaries, and analyses — especially related to migration and the indian diaspora, globalization, acculturation and assimilation, how we define “home” (is/was it ashwini and/or asha for vega?), grief in its many forms, and intersectionality. i liked but didn’t love it, and i’d say the ideal audience probably skews more intellectual than not. i’m glad i read it, but there won’t be a reread.
May 13, 2024
Fascinating look into academia through the eyes of a young Indian woman, along with her roller coaster life!
June 20, 2024
My half baked thoughts: i really liked some of the themes here. motherhood, loss & connection with family, struggling with social norms around relationships & fulfillment and balance. i had the most fun reading the Naomi/ Columbia Masters era of Vega’s life. I was sooooo excited to see how the friendships of this era fed her (did they…?), and later was excited to see what motherhood would do to her (Sundar seems to SAY it fulfills her, but.. does it? does she even successfully convince herself that it does? open question for the girlies….)
overall this went on too long for me. I felt like I sped thru the first half, but every chapter in the second felt like one (boring, random) vignette after another in Vega’s life, each one pretty disconnected from the previous, barreling us forward until she’s in her mid-thirties and has learned… what? The scenes take place over some 15 years but Vega seems like the same age in all of them. where is her growth?
sure life is unsatisfying and the minutiae mundane ….. you can contend with the same thoughts your entire life and never feel quite resolved about it, and end your novel washing some dishes…. but where is the core of the book then, if you dont have some reflections about all that? things just kept happening and I think Vega did feel some type of way, but something about the writing here created a wall between her thoughts & me the reader, thus I felt no development in her character, which frustrates
overall this went on too long for me. I felt like I sped thru the first half, but every chapter in the second felt like one (boring, random) vignette after another in Vega’s life, each one pretty disconnected from the previous, barreling us forward until she’s in her mid-thirties and has learned… what? The scenes take place over some 15 years but Vega seems like the same age in all of them. where is her growth?
sure life is unsatisfying and the minutiae mundane ….. you can contend with the same thoughts your entire life and never feel quite resolved about it, and end your novel washing some dishes…. but where is the core of the book then, if you dont have some reflections about all that? things just kept happening and I think Vega did feel some type of way, but something about the writing here created a wall between her thoughts & me the reader, thus I felt no development in her character, which frustrates
March 5, 2024
4.5 stars, rounded up.
This novel is an exceptionally quiet, intimate, and meditative character study of a woman navigating loss, longing, grief, and desire against the backdrop of her post-graduate and academic journey as she moves to the States from India, begins her career, and starts a family.
It’s a beautiful but difficult novel to summarize because it’s about things easily overlooked—all of the daily interactions, small choices, and interpersonal relationships that, when added together, end up defining our lives. It’s gorgeous, and I loved it.
This novel is an exceptionally quiet, intimate, and meditative character study of a woman navigating loss, longing, grief, and desire against the backdrop of her post-graduate and academic journey as she moves to the States from India, begins her career, and starts a family.
It’s a beautiful but difficult novel to summarize because it’s about things easily overlooked—all of the daily interactions, small choices, and interpersonal relationships that, when added together, end up defining our lives. It’s gorgeous, and I loved it.
June 11, 2024
This is one of the rare instances—if not the singular instance—where I've generally enjoyed a book, except for its protagonist, Vega.
Starting off with the positives, there are a lot of really great discussions about social issues from a pretty contemporary and intersectional perspective. In particular, I found the examination of downward social mobility through immigration to be interesting, because while Vega can be an immigrant and struggling graduate student in the States, this doesn't erase her upbringing as a wealthy and privileged upper-caste girl in India. I also liked the conversations around theoretical vs. practical solutions to the systemic inequities in the world, since it reflects a lot of the discourse we see today about the ideal way to provide aid or address disparities and whether or not our actions are leading to more harm or if inaction itself is the more dangerous option. As a whole, Sundar represents a diversity of immigrant experiences. Most of the characters in the novel come from the "Global South," and Sundar takes care to draw distinctions and highlight the differences of the many cultures and histories that are often stereotyped as homogenous due to belonging to geographical regions that have been taken advantage of or looked down upon by the North. Even among the immigrants from India, I appreciated how Sundar highlights that assimilation is very much a spectrum, with each immigrant holding their own unique mixture of values from various cultures. On a personal level, the sense of community among the many people in Vega's life reminded me a lot of the way I was brought up and my own family's first few years after immigrating to North America, and if nothing else, Habitations is an ode to the villages that support us in surviving life.
Despite Habitations' many solid strengths, Vega has to be one of the most insufferable and grating protagonists I've ever had the misfortune to come across. She's insanely hypocritical, adopting a "holier than thou" attitude when judging others for "thinking too small" all while being discontent with her own life and unable to dream bigger, making herself miserable and more importantly, making ME miserable. She's also just incredibly nasty for no reason and will make these damning snap judgments of people she barely knows, then completely writing them out of her life. She's picks fights and flies into anger over tiny comments and minor inconveniences. Basically, she's a huge bitch! Vega would probably call me a woman-hater for using the term "bitch" and she'd be right because she sure is a woman I hate. All Vega does is take and take, giving nothing but her shitty attitude in return. I understand she's experienced trauma and loss but no shit, so have millions of other people in the world but if everyone acted like that, we'd all just be duking it out on the street. Also, the first thoughts Vega ever has about anyone, especially men, are related to the presence or absence of her physical attraction to them and any real conversation about her past is cut off by sex. At first, I had read a lot of these thoughts and interactions as a response to the unresolved trauma from her history of sexual assault, but the fact that this behavior persists unchanged and without reflection or questioning up until the end of the novel makes me interpret otherwise. I'm all for sex positivity, especially among women of color, but someone needs to call Sundar and tell her that acting like the female version of Murakami is NOT going to win us liberation.
Beyond Vega, I found certain plot points to be predictable, unnecessary, or just wholly unrealistic. At the risk of sounding like an elitist asshole, I really struggle to believe that anyone would be able to land a tenure-track professorship at LSU, in sociology of all disciplines, at the ripe age of like 30 and before even graduating their PhD program. Also, what was the point of mentioning 9/11, only to discuss it for 5 pages and then act like there were no ramifications? Either commit or cut it out! We do not strive for mediocrity! It's also really ironic that while I found this book to have strong social commentary, the actual parts of the book focused on Vega's academic career in sociology felt extremely heavy-handed and stilted. I'm begging Sudar to stop name-dropping references; I, too, can run a Google Scholar search. There was also some kind of weird shade toward The God of Small Things but only one of these two books has a Booker and it sure isn't Habitations. More minor grievances I have include the reveal of Ashwini's diagnosis, which I felt was so silly given the amount of lead-up and all the hints at her disease progression because the clinical picture just seemed really incongruent. It's like Sundar just picked the first rare and fatal congenital disease she could find and called it a day. There were also small contradictions here and there, like how Sundar will sometimes introduce minor characters twice if there's a long span of distance between their two appearances, almost like she forgot she already introduced them. And because I always have complaints about how books are publicized, I feel like the highlighting of single motherhood in the blurb is almost disrespectful given how much help Vega has throughout the book, especially after her daughter is born and raised by an entire village, in all senses of the phrase. Like Vega is actually never alone or without options, and she basically never comes across a truly bad person. If anything, she's the worst person in this book.
Despite my ranting, I do think Habitations is worth the read, especially if you're driven by spite because Vega will inspire a lot of that.
Starting off with the positives, there are a lot of really great discussions about social issues from a pretty contemporary and intersectional perspective. In particular, I found the examination of downward social mobility through immigration to be interesting, because while Vega can be an immigrant and struggling graduate student in the States, this doesn't erase her upbringing as a wealthy and privileged upper-caste girl in India. I also liked the conversations around theoretical vs. practical solutions to the systemic inequities in the world, since it reflects a lot of the discourse we see today about the ideal way to provide aid or address disparities and whether or not our actions are leading to more harm or if inaction itself is the more dangerous option. As a whole, Sundar represents a diversity of immigrant experiences. Most of the characters in the novel come from the "Global South," and Sundar takes care to draw distinctions and highlight the differences of the many cultures and histories that are often stereotyped as homogenous due to belonging to geographical regions that have been taken advantage of or looked down upon by the North. Even among the immigrants from India, I appreciated how Sundar highlights that assimilation is very much a spectrum, with each immigrant holding their own unique mixture of values from various cultures. On a personal level, the sense of community among the many people in Vega's life reminded me a lot of the way I was brought up and my own family's first few years after immigrating to North America, and if nothing else, Habitations is an ode to the villages that support us in surviving life.
Despite Habitations' many solid strengths, Vega has to be one of the most insufferable and grating protagonists I've ever had the misfortune to come across. She's insanely hypocritical, adopting a "holier than thou" attitude when judging others for "thinking too small" all while being discontent with her own life and unable to dream bigger, making herself miserable and more importantly, making ME miserable. She's also just incredibly nasty for no reason and will make these damning snap judgments of people she barely knows, then completely writing them out of her life. She's picks fights and flies into anger over tiny comments and minor inconveniences. Basically, she's a huge bitch! Vega would probably call me a woman-hater for using the term "bitch" and she'd be right because she sure is a woman I hate. All Vega does is take and take, giving nothing but her shitty attitude in return. I understand she's experienced trauma and loss but no shit, so have millions of other people in the world but if everyone acted like that, we'd all just be duking it out on the street. Also, the first thoughts Vega ever has about anyone, especially men, are related to the presence or absence of her physical attraction to them and any real conversation about her past is cut off by sex. At first, I had read a lot of these thoughts and interactions as a response to the unresolved trauma from her history of sexual assault, but the fact that this behavior persists unchanged and without reflection or questioning up until the end of the novel makes me interpret otherwise. I'm all for sex positivity, especially among women of color, but someone needs to call Sundar and tell her that acting like the female version of Murakami is NOT going to win us liberation.
Beyond Vega, I found certain plot points to be predictable, unnecessary, or just wholly unrealistic. At the risk of sounding like an elitist asshole, I really struggle to believe that anyone would be able to land a tenure-track professorship at LSU, in sociology of all disciplines, at the ripe age of like 30 and before even graduating their PhD program. Also, what was the point of mentioning 9/11, only to discuss it for 5 pages and then act like there were no ramifications? Either commit or cut it out! We do not strive for mediocrity! It's also really ironic that while I found this book to have strong social commentary, the actual parts of the book focused on Vega's academic career in sociology felt extremely heavy-handed and stilted. I'm begging Sudar to stop name-dropping references; I, too, can run a Google Scholar search. There was also some kind of weird shade toward The God of Small Things but only one of these two books has a Booker and it sure isn't Habitations. More minor grievances I have include the reveal of Ashwini's diagnosis, which I felt was so silly given the amount of lead-up and all the hints at her disease progression because the clinical picture just seemed really incongruent. It's like Sundar just picked the first rare and fatal congenital disease she could find and called it a day. There were also small contradictions here and there, like how Sundar will sometimes introduce minor characters twice if there's a long span of distance between their two appearances, almost like she forgot she already introduced them. And because I always have complaints about how books are publicized, I feel like the highlighting of single motherhood in the blurb is almost disrespectful given how much help Vega has throughout the book, especially after her daughter is born and raised by an entire village, in all senses of the phrase. Like Vega is actually never alone or without options, and she basically never comes across a truly bad person. If anything, she's the worst person in this book.
Despite my ranting, I do think Habitations is worth the read, especially if you're driven by spite because Vega will inspire a lot of that.
April 4, 2024
Thank you BooksSparks, Simon and Schuster and Sheila Sundar for my #gifted copy of Habitations! #SheilaSundar #Habitations #SPRC2024 #TheNewClassic
𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐇𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐥𝐚 𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟐, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒
4.5★
I am a sucker for a good coming of age novel so when I read this description, I knew I was going to love this one. This book exceeded my expectations and I fell in love with Vega and her journey. I found it hard to believe that this was a debut novel. I can’t wait to read what Sheila Sundar writes next!
This is such a difficult book to summarize. It’s one where it is honestly best to just read it. I promise you will not be disappointed. It’s a perfect coming of age novel and the perfect debut. I loved Vega. Her character was so likable and I found myself so drawn to her. I loved the explorations of a sense of home and family and how they were paramount to Vega. I also really enjoyed the theme of grief and loss and how that was woven into the book.
This book was a complete surprise to me and one I would definitely recommend!
𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐇𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐥𝐚 𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟐, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒
4.5★
I am a sucker for a good coming of age novel so when I read this description, I knew I was going to love this one. This book exceeded my expectations and I fell in love with Vega and her journey. I found it hard to believe that this was a debut novel. I can’t wait to read what Sheila Sundar writes next!
This is such a difficult book to summarize. It’s one where it is honestly best to just read it. I promise you will not be disappointed. It’s a perfect coming of age novel and the perfect debut. I loved Vega. Her character was so likable and I found myself so drawn to her. I loved the explorations of a sense of home and family and how they were paramount to Vega. I also really enjoyed the theme of grief and loss and how that was woven into the book.
This book was a complete surprise to me and one I would definitely recommend!
April 13, 2024
Habitations by Sheila Sundar
Thank you so much @booksparks for my gifted copy.
Blurb:
A young academic moves from India to the United States, where she navigates first love, a green card marriage, single motherhood and more.
✨ My thoughts:
I found this story to be relatable and mostly enjoyable. The story held my interest but I did finish the story with questions unanswered. I’d recommend this book to readers that enjoy prolonged stories as this is more of a slow burn. I enjoyed putting myself in Vega’s shoes and going on her journey with her. Sheila Sundar has a beautiful way of writing and I would love to read more of this author’s books in the future. Habitations is out now!
Happy reading 📖
Thank you so much @booksparks for my gifted copy.
Blurb:
A young academic moves from India to the United States, where she navigates first love, a green card marriage, single motherhood and more.
✨ My thoughts:
I found this story to be relatable and mostly enjoyable. The story held my interest but I did finish the story with questions unanswered. I’d recommend this book to readers that enjoy prolonged stories as this is more of a slow burn. I enjoyed putting myself in Vega’s shoes and going on her journey with her. Sheila Sundar has a beautiful way of writing and I would love to read more of this author’s books in the future. Habitations is out now!
Happy reading 📖
December 23, 2023
Thank you to Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book for my honest review.
This was not a normal read for me, and at times I found it a bit slow, but all of the cultural aspects of this book were very interesting. Ms. Sundar, with her writing, made it easier to relate to Vega despite our differences throughout the book. It was interesting to hear her take on poverty in the US versus poverty in India.
I’ve never felt so different from a main character, however it was easy to empathize with everything she was thinking and feeling. I did however find Vega’s choices to be frustrating at times.
It was a pleasure to follow Vega on the journey of finding herself, and how she learned that relationships have different meanings and take-aways. It was also interesting to see how grief can be so interwoven into the lives of the people left behind, even many years after the death occurred. I found this aspect highly relatable.
This was not a normal read for me, and at times I found it a bit slow, but all of the cultural aspects of this book were very interesting. Ms. Sundar, with her writing, made it easier to relate to Vega despite our differences throughout the book. It was interesting to hear her take on poverty in the US versus poverty in India.
I’ve never felt so different from a main character, however it was easy to empathize with everything she was thinking and feeling. I did however find Vega’s choices to be frustrating at times.
It was a pleasure to follow Vega on the journey of finding herself, and how she learned that relationships have different meanings and take-aways. It was also interesting to see how grief can be so interwoven into the lives of the people left behind, even many years after the death occurred. I found this aspect highly relatable.
April 19, 2025
talk about slow and invisible character development! true to life but frustrating to read. i appreciate the vision but i'm not convinced every single detail was necessary (very detail oriented narration! very mfa!)
i think i would have liked it more if the meanderingly apathetic prose was more remarkable, but it was just bland. also did not love all the social commentary ''mic drop" moments that didn't actually say anything. which maybe is also the Point... alas
i think i would have liked it more if the meanderingly apathetic prose was more remarkable, but it was just bland. also did not love all the social commentary ''mic drop" moments that didn't actually say anything. which maybe is also the Point... alas
April 9, 2024
An absorbing read covering lots of different topics: bereavement, immigration, relationships and motherhood. However, I just couldn’t understand the main character. I felt like I never knew enough about her and what motivated her actions - we just get small flashbacks throughout the book. The story ends rather suddenly and I was left wondering about her and wanting to know more about her past.
June 23, 2025
The first part reminded me of Elif Batuman’s The Idiot, but Vega lacks the openness and charm of Selin. I grew a little bored halfway through, but was able to come back to it and get semi-absorbed. But Vega???? I don’t think we share any values. I don’t even know what her values are!
March 1, 2024
i have not loved a book this much in ages cannot recommend enough !! go preorder it :)
December 30, 2023
This book left me with mixed feelings. I enjoyed the story, and the story kept me interested to keep reading. I enjoyed the diversity of the characters and the diverse ethnic backgrounds. I also enjoyed how the story took us through the main character's life. As a whole, I enjoyed the writing style of the author. I enjoy reading books written by authors where the characters share their ethnic backgrounds. However, the character development and sharing of the Indian culture with the reader could have been so much more and would have made this book a much better read. I felt like the lack of character development of the main character was what took away from making this book more enjoyable. I don't know why she made the decisions she did, we know very little about her, other than the one tragic event in her life. There was also a lack of effort to bring the reader into the Indian foods, culture, and events described in the book, basically because of a lack of description. Nor was there any effort to explain, the Indian places or words to the reader who may be unfamiliar with the reference (even dropping a footnote would have been helpful). I ended up looking up a lot of the words and places so I could better understand. But there could have been more of an effort to be descriptive so that at least the reader could use contextual clues. While I found the story interesting, there were times when conversations or scenes felt cut short. The ending was disappointing and felt unfinished.
July 3, 2024
I received an eARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This isn't the "humorous" novel that it's marketed as (though it has its wry moments), but I still enjoyed Vega's meditative, often melancholy journey through the years. It's an impressive undertaking that spans continents and decades and is full of observations about culture, identity, and loss. The insights on motherhood are also insightful and relatable. Though we read about a decent number of Vega's romantic entanglements, my favorite relationships are the ones between her and her friends--and ex-husband--that end up revealing more aspects of Vega's character.
This isn't the "humorous" novel that it's marketed as (though it has its wry moments), but I still enjoyed Vega's meditative, often melancholy journey through the years. It's an impressive undertaking that spans continents and decades and is full of observations about culture, identity, and loss. The insights on motherhood are also insightful and relatable. Though we read about a decent number of Vega's romantic entanglements, my favorite relationships are the ones between her and her friends--and ex-husband--that end up revealing more aspects of Vega's character.
March 7, 2024
I took a month to read this advanced readers copy I was able to get my hands on a few months ago, between finishing other books more rapidly. This is certainly a slow burn that I wouldn’t recommend for the average reader, but as someone who enjoy speculative women’s fiction, I found this introspective novel delightful.
The plot follows main character Vega from her early 20s into her early 40s as she continues to grapple with the sudden, early death of her sister while trying to find her place in the world. The setting of the novel shifts from NYC to Chennai, India, to Louisiana, to New Jersey. Vega explores the topics of foreign study, green card marriages, and single motherhood in this novel that examines the intimacies of identity, immigration, expectation and desire, and the meaning of family.
Vega is a complex protagonist in her self critical nature and her desire to form close bonds with others and inability to do so due to her lasting trauma and grief from her sister’s passing. The author did an excellent job honestly and intimately portraying the phases of identity discovery through Vega’s fraught relationship with Naomi. Unlike many fiction books, the characters in this novel were not idealized and Vega towards the end of the novel was even able to acknowledge her early faults in her relationship with Suresh, her ex-husband.
This book was quite long and drawn out, which is why I had to take a star off, but I appreciate books that end up as a sort of rumination on modern womanhood, which is think this broadly falls in to. This also had an expanded focus on what it means to be an immigrant woman inhabiting predominantly white spaces, which added an additional, thoughtful layer of complexity to all the character POVs. Overall, I really enjoyed rolling this around in my brain and putting myself in the shoes of all the characters! This book publishes on April 2, 2024. Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.
The plot follows main character Vega from her early 20s into her early 40s as she continues to grapple with the sudden, early death of her sister while trying to find her place in the world. The setting of the novel shifts from NYC to Chennai, India, to Louisiana, to New Jersey. Vega explores the topics of foreign study, green card marriages, and single motherhood in this novel that examines the intimacies of identity, immigration, expectation and desire, and the meaning of family.
Vega is a complex protagonist in her self critical nature and her desire to form close bonds with others and inability to do so due to her lasting trauma and grief from her sister’s passing. The author did an excellent job honestly and intimately portraying the phases of identity discovery through Vega’s fraught relationship with Naomi. Unlike many fiction books, the characters in this novel were not idealized and Vega towards the end of the novel was even able to acknowledge her early faults in her relationship with Suresh, her ex-husband.
This book was quite long and drawn out, which is why I had to take a star off, but I appreciate books that end up as a sort of rumination on modern womanhood, which is think this broadly falls in to. This also had an expanded focus on what it means to be an immigrant woman inhabiting predominantly white spaces, which added an additional, thoughtful layer of complexity to all the character POVs. Overall, I really enjoyed rolling this around in my brain and putting myself in the shoes of all the characters! This book publishes on April 2, 2024. Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 15, 2025
There’s a ton of interesting ideas here…too bad they come and go—often too quickly—as part of the dreary and drawn-out story of the novel’s vapid protagonist, who seems in her thoughts and actions mostly unchanged over the 15+ years of her life that we are spectators to. Oh, she reflects, and ruminates, and ponders galore about all her life experiences…it’s just that she doesn’t seem to learn very much from them (or from all the education she receives along the way). I enjoyed almost everything about the novel except its central narrative…which admittedly for some readers might be a fatal flaw…and the author really does explore some fascinating ideas and themes. For me, that’s enough for an engaging and thought-provoking reading experience…but that might not work for everyone.
June 8, 2024
This book was well-written enough, and the characters compelling enough, for me to want to keep reading.
That being said, this was one of the most existentially depressing books I have ever read, with one of the most frustrating main characters I have ever read. Every time I started to become vested in Vega, to really root for her, she made another terrible choice. Her selfishness and insecurities drive maybe 80% of her decisions. Family, friends, and partners grant her grace after grace, which somehow makes it all even more frustrating.
What I enjoyed: the portrayals of extended family and community, the transitory and sometimes rootless nature of academia, the nuanced picture of parenthood.
I feel like I could have loved this book, if I had been allowed to love the main character.
That being said, this was one of the most existentially depressing books I have ever read, with one of the most frustrating main characters I have ever read. Every time I started to become vested in Vega, to really root for her, she made another terrible choice. Her selfishness and insecurities drive maybe 80% of her decisions. Family, friends, and partners grant her grace after grace, which somehow makes it all even more frustrating.
What I enjoyed: the portrayals of extended family and community, the transitory and sometimes rootless nature of academia, the nuanced picture of parenthood.
I feel like I could have loved this book, if I had been allowed to love the main character.
April 25, 2024
This was a very different book than what I usually read. A slow, reflective, character studying novel. The book started a little slow and there were a lot of characters introduced. Vega was not a sympathetic person to me at first. I don’t think I’d even like her. Cold and unwilling to share her life with others. While I did understand her more at the end, she almost read as someone who didn’t really understand social cues. I do feel she had a lot of growth. The book ends hopeful but nothing is tied up in a pretty bow. Overall, I liked it but it was definitely not a quick and easy read.
August 29, 2024
Thank you to the publisher for the free book. These opinions are my own.
I found this story so deeply emotional. But I also found it incredibly difficult to read. I appreciated how it explored Vega's life moving from India to the United States. And I found the discussion of race, gender, and motherhood so thought-provoking. But the book also incorporate more infidelity and unexamined infidelity than I prefer. And ultimately, it's hard to some up my thoughts. I'm glad I read it but can't see myself reading it again.
3.5 stars rounded up
I found this story so deeply emotional. But I also found it incredibly difficult to read. I appreciated how it explored Vega's life moving from India to the United States. And I found the discussion of race, gender, and motherhood so thought-provoking. But the book also incorporate more infidelity and unexamined infidelity than I prefer. And ultimately, it's hard to some up my thoughts. I'm glad I read it but can't see myself reading it again.
3.5 stars rounded up
September 7, 2024
took me very long to finish this up as we’re back to school but was an enjoyable process. of all the through lines in this book, my favourite one was vega’s journey as an academic. i think it was in some ways a perspective i had been seeking but had yet to find. glad i got with this! 4 stars 🗣️🏡🧑🧒
April 6, 2024
Thank you to Simon & Schuster for a free copy of this book to read and review. I absolutely adored this book, it’s easily one of my favorites I’ve read this year.
Longer review to come.
Longer review to come.
April 19, 2024
Vega, a woman from India comes to the U.S. to study sociology and become a university professor. She has a few relationships then finally marries and has one child. Her struggles and achievements are told in an insightful way. I felt like I really knew her by the end of the book.
dnf
August 12, 2024I really expected to like this more than I actually did. I like character driven novels. I like reading about immigrant experiences. I don’t need a fast moving plot. I think what I did not enjoy about this particular work of literary fiction was the academic and intellectual aspect. It mostly went over my head and I found it boring. There were also a lot of characters who weren’t part of the story for very long so I couldn’t get invested in them or even keep track of them after awhile.
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