The Lowland discussion

I have been waiting what seems like forever for JL to write/release a new book. I pre-ordered this and it should arrive in 2 weeks. I am beyond at-the-edge-of-my-seat for it to get into my greedy little hands.

It was a good book but defintely not her best. she is a better short story writer than a novel writer.

I actually agree completely. However, what made this book so special for me was it's setting. As a former Rhode Islander and URI grad, I felt like she took me along for the ride.

Ericgr wrote: "It was a good book but defintely not her best..."
I listened to the book after hearing it discussed on NPR. I enjoyed it, an yet, at times it was like I was reading some ordinary soap opera. The specifics of the characters and the connection between the one brother in the US and the other brother in India kept me going through the whole story. Has she written any other novels, or just short stories?

Ericgr wrote: "It was a good book but defintely not her best. she is a better short story writer than a novel writer."

Apart from The Namesake I prefer her short stories. This book had some beautiful prose, but it didn't grab me all that much. Of course, I don't know Rhode Island at all so I didn't have the connection that Mandy did.

I thought the book was well-written and engaging but very sad.

I thought book is very well written.. It left me with variety of emotions. Each writer has its unique style and I love the way Lahiri is able to show human emotions.

I was excited to read this as I have enjoyed all her other books. It took a while to get into, but once I did, I had high hopes for where she was going with the characters. I feel like whatever I was hoping for never happened. It didn't live up to it's promise, for me.

In the beginning I just wanted to finish the book, yet I realize she wrote the story in a different style than what I was used to. I wanted more details, yet by the middle I saw it was just right amount of details and I enjoyed the story.

Like so many others, I just wanted to finish the book. It took me a while to get into it, too. I wasn't looking for more details, but did feel an emptiness to the characters in the beginning. By the end, though, I did care about them. If I recommend this book, I will add the caveat that it is different than most of her writing.

A gripping novel brilliantly presenting the different facets of the human lives on different socio-economic perspectives having different values and attitudes though Gauri seems to be over-courageous. Every ingredient of a spicy novel is present – romance, politics, melodrama, suspense, thrill, murder etc. Although The Lowland is written in English; but it certainly has a flavor of a generic Bengali novel. The ending of the novel could have been better

Here is The Lowland Quiz on goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/quizzes/sea...

I really enjoyed this book... I had read The Namesake a few years ago but didn't connect the name until I was almost done. I love a good story that covers the characters lives and gives a glimpse of another culture without being too heavy handed. I loved how so much was revealed in the last chapters.

I loved the book as I have loved all of Lahiri's work to date. What made it special for me was that she ventured into the realm of historical fiction, and I realized how little I actually know about India's history! So I turned to the internet and read a bit about the revolutionary actions that took place before the separation of Pakistan from India. Every time a novelist can inspire me to do a little research I am happy!

Mandy wrote: "I have been waiting what seems like forever for JL to write/release a new book. I pre-ordered this and it should arrive in 2 weeks. I am beyond at-the-edge-of-my-seat for it to get into my greedy l..."

I too was waiting for her next novel ~ this is a good one, well worth the wait!

Prior to this book I haven't read any of her writings. I really enjoyed the book. It took awhile to get into, but once I got to know the characters and their history I was really into it. I was really disapointed with the ending though, that could have been better