Selection Day | 
so-soUsually, I like the books by Aravind Adiga, but this obe couldn't fully convince me. Maybe, because I have absolutely no clue about cricket... 😅
After a slow start it gets a little more interesting when Javed appears. But I still didn't get into the story... 🤷♀️
There were a lot of important topics about modern day India, though. Those parts were still worth reading.
so-soI really wanted to like this one more than I did. It‘s another book with strong writing (I‘ll definitely read more by this author) but rather unsatisfying plot & characters. Domineering father of two brothers who are being raised, particularly the older, to be two of India‘s next great cricket players. Things are complicated—poverty, exploitation, friendship, sexuality, & survival are some prominent themes. A good but not great read for me.
Thank you for offering this fun #shelfspacegiveaway @Cinfhen
I think I‘m going to play square #2 because I don‘t know much about any of those books! ❤️
Good luck to all the Littens who are entering!
pickIt took me a bit to get into this book, but once I did... I was hooked.
On the surface, this book is about Selection Day - perhaps the most important day in the life of a hopeful, young cricket player. But underneath, it's a book about choices. Both those we make for ourselves and those that are made for us. And the outcomes of these choices often differ from what we've ever imagined.
bailedI enjoyed White Tiger and Between the Assassinations, so I was looking forward to this. The #audiobook narrator Sartaj Garewal is fine; between the incessant talk of cricket, and two brothers being abused by their father, this story is not for me right now and I'm bailing after 45 minutes.
What a quote:
Guided by their father, who warns them of "three principal dangers on their path to glory-premature shaving, pornography, and car driving"
???
I finally get to start a new book! Loved White Tiger so I'm really looking forward to this.
panNah. Hard pass. It sounds good on its face: it's the story of a young man going up against his family who longs to play cricket and be comfortable with his homosexuality, but it has some major problems. Homophobia, sexism, classism, and racism run rampant throughout the book and aren't addressed constructively, if at all. I don't think they're the personal views of the author, but it's far out of line in this book. It's also sloppily written. 👎🏼
No. Just no. This kind of joke is not acceptable. This book is full of rampant sexism, homophobia, classism, and racism that goes unchallenged. I'm past the 60% mark in the book so I am going to finish, but I can't accept this type of casual commentary.
so-soProtagonist Manju struggles with familial & societal expectations regarding a possible cricket career (a way out of the slum) and heterosexuality. He longs to go to college but he also longs to play cricket. He smashes against his abusive father's expectations, his rebellious older brother, and his-love hate relationship with a privileged young man he desires. Homophobia runs through the book and remains unaddressed; the characters don't grow. Meh
Library haul! I'm really trying not to buy any more books for awhile, but I have no problem with library books! 📚 I loved Aravind Adiga's The White Tiger, so I have high hopes for his new novel. I'm hopeful that I can work these into my challenge reading somehow 😬
Relaxing after family Christmas part 2. Getting a head start on some new releases for next week. 🎄🎁
Toddler's in bed, spouse is at rehearsal, and I'm about to dig in to a book and some GF cookie dough. It's okay, the container gave me permission.
bailedI really hated this book. I hoped to like it, but there's so much homophobia and abuse in this book that I can't recommend it at all.
so-soTwo brothers try to escape their slum in Mumbai by becoming professional Cricket players. A biting look as social class. Might have been able to get more out of this if I knew more about the game. #HelloOctober #readathon
