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A Rising Man
A Rising Man
Abir Mukherjee | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry
9
9.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Fantastic historical crime thriller
It's a rarity to find a historical crime thriller based in a country other than the US, UK or Australia so this was a refreshing welcome. Abir Mukherjee does a fabulous job of bringing Kolkata to life and bringing in a protagonist who is sympathetic to the 'natives'.

As someone with roots in Kolkata and having lived there for many years, it was wonderful to remember the humdrum of India. And more importantly weaving in some of the hypocrisy found during colonialism to make it a realistic account.
  
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David McK (3422 KP) rated Around the World in 80 Days in Books

Jan 30, 2019 (Updated Oct 16, 2020)  
Around the World in 80 Days
Around the World in 80 Days
Jules Verne, Henry C. Kiefer | 2016 | Children
8
7.0 (7 Ratings)
Book Rating
Jules Verne's classic which, I have to say, I could not help but think of the 80's cartoon while reading.

In case you've been living in a cave: late 19th century (1870s, I think) adventure, in which Phileas (or Willie, in the cartoon) Fogg makes a bet that he can travel around the world in 80 days - it's all there in the title! - accompanied by his valet Passepartout.

Set aside the colonialism of the time, the (sometimes) cringe-worthy racial stereotypes, and just enjoy the travel! Mind, there's no hot-air balloons involved ...
  
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Suswatibasu (1701 KP) rated Homegoing in Books

Jul 24, 2017  
Homegoing
Homegoing
Yaa Gyasi | 2017 | Fiction & Poetry
9
9.6 (5 Ratings)
Book Rating
Extraordinary novel spanning seas and generations
A rather melancholic and at times bitterweet read, describing the journey of one family split into two lineages as a result of colonialism and slavery. It is rather horrific read to tales of rape and torture, but there is no way of skirting around the issue. What is more telling is the effects that eight generations of brutality has on a modern generation and how easy it is to dismiss today's problems without looking at the context.

Yaa Gyasi has really excelled in bringing the narratives together coherently. An important piece of literature worth putting as part of the school curriculum.