Sara’s review of Family Matters (Vintage International) > Likes and Comments
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This came just too soon for me after Les Miserable but I will definitely get to it at some point. A book that makes you aware of life and its universal purpose to another sounds a very thought provoking experience.
Excellent review Sara! I’m so glad you loved this wonderful, full novel!
I loved that last quote you shared. How true! I read A Fine Balance in the ‘90’s and it slayed me. I have never been able to pick up another of his books for that reason. After your phenomenal review, I may just attempt it.
This one has been on the list since reading A Fine Balance. It sounds like Mistry continues to balance hope and despair and illustrate the human capacity to endure. I hope he also manages to weave in the capacity to love.
A wonderful review. I am intrigued by how we see similarities yet so many differences. I know that all books are interpretive to the reader, with many different variables affecting the reader's view. But I wonder if this one isn't more a case of women are from Venus and men are from Mars in how it affects a person.
Sara, if I hadn’t just added this after reading Kathleen’s review , I would have added it now after reading your wonderful review. I still need to read A Fine Balance.
Megan wrote: "This came just too soon for me after Les Miserable but I will definitely get to it at some point. A book that makes you aware of life and its universal purpose to another sounds a very thought prov..."
You will want to be prepared for some difficult scenes, Megan. It is very thought provoking, but not uplifting.
Ann wrote: "Excellent review Sara! I’m so glad you loved this wonderful, full novel!"
It lived up to expectations for me, Ann. Glad to see you like it as well.
Antoinette wrote: "I loved that last quote you shared. How true! I read A Fine Balance in the ‘90’s and it slayed me. I have never been able to pick up another of his books for that reason. After your phenomenal revi..."
I took a long time deciding to dive into this one, Antoinette. A Fine Balance actually made my heart hurt. He doesn't make it easy on us!
Lisa wrote: "This one has been on the list since reading A Fine Balance. It sounds like Mistry continues to balance hope and despair and illustrate the human capacity to endure. I hope he also manages to weave ..."
Mistry writes such complicated situations, with flawed human beings caught in almost impossible webs (sometimes of their own weaving). He always makes me feel as if I want to reach into the novel and show them where the door is -- Just go here! Don't go there!
For anyone who found something worthwhile in A Fine Balance, I think this could not fail to be another good read. You never want to say you "enjoyed" his books, but I am very glad to have read them. I will put his other book on the list, but I need some recovery time before I can get to it.
Bob wrote: "A wonderful review. I am intrigued by how we see similarities yet so many differences. I know that all books are interpretive to the reader, with many different variables affecting the reader's vie..."
Thanks, Bob. Reading is so individual an experience, but it is always good to have another view to bounce ideas off of. After all, Venus and Mars both have to orbit the Sun.
Angela M wrote: "Sara, if I hadn’t just added this after reading Kathleen’s review , I would have added it now after reading your wonderful review. I still need to read A Fine Balance."
If you have to choose, Angela, A Fine Balance has a tiny edge for me.
A Great book that I remember well even though I read it more years ago than I can remember exactly. Loved your review of it. Mistry is a favorite.
Thanks, Kerry. I am also drawn to his writing, although you know going in that it will not be an easy subject. The fact that you remember it well so much later is a testament to how impactful it is.
Wonderful review, Sara. I read this one a long time back and have forgotten most of it. Thanks for reminding me of this book and of the beautiful writing of Rohinton Mistry.
Such a beautiful review, Sara, topped off with that powerful quote. You have hit on what made it so fascinating for me, in your paragraph about the universal questions. So glad you knew this would be a perfect group read. 😉
Vishakha wrote: "Wonderful review, Sara. I read this one a long time back and have forgotten most of it. Thanks for reminding me of this book and of the beautiful writing of Rohinton Mistry."
Thank you, Vishakha. I agree that he is a marvelous writer.
Alessandra wrote: "Terrific review!"
Thank you!
Kathleen wrote: "Such a beautiful review, Sara, topped off with that powerful quote. You have hit on what made it so fascinating for me, in your paragraph about the universal questions. So glad you knew this would ..."
Lucky guess...I liked A Fine Balance so much, and felt it added to my understanding of both the specific culture and people in general, that I thought Mistry would be worth the gamble. I will be thinking about this one for a while. Such a joy to read with you, always!
Beautiful review , Sara , of what seems to me to be a very powerfully written and thought provoking book ! If another Group Read or Buddy Read happens, I'll grab the chance to read it . Reading alone is not that much fun 😕 .
I hope you do get to it eventually, Savita. I think it would be interesting to you, as you know India and can make some judgments that are impossible for me.
Sara wrote: "I hope you do get to it eventually, Savita. I think it would be interesting to you, as you know India and can make some judgments that are impossible for me."
True , Sara ! We have so many religions and cultures here , requires maturity and fairness to handle : Parsis , Buddhists, Jains , Christians, Muslims, Sikhs and Hindus . But , we are told repeatedly on different medias : we are first .. Indians. I agree . Jai Hind ( Salute my Motherland ) 🇮🇳
A superb review, Sara. Like others here, I was also a fan of A Fine Balance. I'm dealing with some family matters of my own at the moment, so your question about how much we owe our elder and failing family members is one that resonates. I own this one so will certainly read it one day.
I am also dealing with family matters, Candi. I suspect that you reach a certain age in life and, if you have a family, that is pretty much what you do from then on. I dread the day when the person being "dealt with" is me.
I would really love to know your thoughts on this one!
The passage you shared is beautiful and I love novels that convey this sentiment. I loved A Fine Balance, but I have somehow let this one slip by me. Thank you for bringing it to my attention again. Excellent review, Sara!
Since you loved A Fine Balance, I feel sure you will appreciate this one, K. Mistry tackles the hard part of life unflinchingly, but that is what makes him a great writer for me.
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Feb 09, 2026 12:36AM
This came just too soon for me after Les Miserable but I will definitely get to it at some point. A book that makes you aware of life and its universal purpose to another sounds a very thought provoking experience.
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Excellent review Sara! I’m so glad you loved this wonderful, full novel!
I loved that last quote you shared. How true! I read A Fine Balance in the ‘90’s and it slayed me. I have never been able to pick up another of his books for that reason. After your phenomenal review, I may just attempt it.
This one has been on the list since reading A Fine Balance. It sounds like Mistry continues to balance hope and despair and illustrate the human capacity to endure. I hope he also manages to weave in the capacity to love.
A wonderful review. I am intrigued by how we see similarities yet so many differences. I know that all books are interpretive to the reader, with many different variables affecting the reader's view. But I wonder if this one isn't more a case of women are from Venus and men are from Mars in how it affects a person.
Sara, if I hadn’t just added this after reading Kathleen’s review , I would have added it now after reading your wonderful review. I still need to read A Fine Balance.
Megan wrote: "This came just too soon for me after Les Miserable but I will definitely get to it at some point. A book that makes you aware of life and its universal purpose to another sounds a very thought prov..."You will want to be prepared for some difficult scenes, Megan. It is very thought provoking, but not uplifting.
Ann wrote: "Excellent review Sara! I’m so glad you loved this wonderful, full novel!"It lived up to expectations for me, Ann. Glad to see you like it as well.
Antoinette wrote: "I loved that last quote you shared. How true! I read A Fine Balance in the ‘90’s and it slayed me. I have never been able to pick up another of his books for that reason. After your phenomenal revi..."I took a long time deciding to dive into this one, Antoinette. A Fine Balance actually made my heart hurt. He doesn't make it easy on us!
Lisa wrote: "This one has been on the list since reading A Fine Balance. It sounds like Mistry continues to balance hope and despair and illustrate the human capacity to endure. I hope he also manages to weave ..."Mistry writes such complicated situations, with flawed human beings caught in almost impossible webs (sometimes of their own weaving). He always makes me feel as if I want to reach into the novel and show them where the door is -- Just go here! Don't go there!
For anyone who found something worthwhile in A Fine Balance, I think this could not fail to be another good read. You never want to say you "enjoyed" his books, but I am very glad to have read them. I will put his other book on the list, but I need some recovery time before I can get to it.
Bob wrote: "A wonderful review. I am intrigued by how we see similarities yet so many differences. I know that all books are interpretive to the reader, with many different variables affecting the reader's vie..."Thanks, Bob. Reading is so individual an experience, but it is always good to have another view to bounce ideas off of. After all, Venus and Mars both have to orbit the Sun.
Angela M wrote: "Sara, if I hadn’t just added this after reading Kathleen’s review , I would have added it now after reading your wonderful review. I still need to read A Fine Balance."If you have to choose, Angela, A Fine Balance has a tiny edge for me.
A Great book that I remember well even though I read it more years ago than I can remember exactly. Loved your review of it. Mistry is a favorite.
Thanks, Kerry. I am also drawn to his writing, although you know going in that it will not be an easy subject. The fact that you remember it well so much later is a testament to how impactful it is.
Wonderful review, Sara. I read this one a long time back and have forgotten most of it. Thanks for reminding me of this book and of the beautiful writing of Rohinton Mistry.
Such a beautiful review, Sara, topped off with that powerful quote. You have hit on what made it so fascinating for me, in your paragraph about the universal questions. So glad you knew this would be a perfect group read. 😉
Vishakha wrote: "Wonderful review, Sara. I read this one a long time back and have forgotten most of it. Thanks for reminding me of this book and of the beautiful writing of Rohinton Mistry."Thank you, Vishakha. I agree that he is a marvelous writer.
Alessandra wrote: "Terrific review!"Thank you!
Kathleen wrote: "Such a beautiful review, Sara, topped off with that powerful quote. You have hit on what made it so fascinating for me, in your paragraph about the universal questions. So glad you knew this would ..."Lucky guess...I liked A Fine Balance so much, and felt it added to my understanding of both the specific culture and people in general, that I thought Mistry would be worth the gamble. I will be thinking about this one for a while. Such a joy to read with you, always!
Beautiful review , Sara , of what seems to me to be a very powerfully written and thought provoking book ! If another Group Read or Buddy Read happens, I'll grab the chance to read it . Reading alone is not that much fun 😕 .
I hope you do get to it eventually, Savita. I think it would be interesting to you, as you know India and can make some judgments that are impossible for me.
Sara wrote: "I hope you do get to it eventually, Savita. I think it would be interesting to you, as you know India and can make some judgments that are impossible for me."True , Sara ! We have so many religions and cultures here , requires maturity and fairness to handle : Parsis , Buddhists, Jains , Christians, Muslims, Sikhs and Hindus . But , we are told repeatedly on different medias : we are first .. Indians. I agree . Jai Hind ( Salute my Motherland ) 🇮🇳
A superb review, Sara. Like others here, I was also a fan of A Fine Balance. I'm dealing with some family matters of my own at the moment, so your question about how much we owe our elder and failing family members is one that resonates. I own this one so will certainly read it one day.
I am also dealing with family matters, Candi. I suspect that you reach a certain age in life and, if you have a family, that is pretty much what you do from then on. I dread the day when the person being "dealt with" is me.I would really love to know your thoughts on this one!
The passage you shared is beautiful and I love novels that convey this sentiment. I loved A Fine Balance, but I have somehow let this one slip by me. Thank you for bringing it to my attention again. Excellent review, Sara!
Since you loved A Fine Balance, I feel sure you will appreciate this one, K. Mistry tackles the hard part of life unflinchingly, but that is what makes him a great writer for me.
