We’re loving receiving and reading everyone’s book reviews, and it’s great to hear that people are still doing amazingly well with the Mid Sussex Reading Challenge! Last month’s challenge was to read a book set in another country, and some of you have loved your latest reads, while others have been keen to move onto the April challenge – to read a children’s classic.
Claire from Hassocks read Amnesty by Aravind Adiga in March, and while she was excited about its premise, felt disappointed with the book, rating it 2 out of 5.
Having read and enjoyed Adiga’s The White Tiger, I was delighted when his new book fulfilled the March brief – a book set in another country – in this case Australia. In a sense we had two foreignnesses for the price of one since the central character is an illegal Tamil immigrant and we see Australia through his eyes; longing, despairing and critical.
Like Ulysses and Under the Volcano the action takes place within a single day as the protagonist battles with the conflicting urges to report to the police his information regarding a murder and his desire to keep below the radar lest he risk deportation.
I thought the premise really interesting, but alas its development (or rather, I felt, non-development) was tedious and repetitious. The relationship between Danny, the protagonist, and his two clients (he cleans their flats) I found highly improbable, and the to-fro struggles in Danny’s mind quite soon become simply irritating. Danny’s views of the Sydney he fears he will never be a legal part of are at times interesting, but not enough to save the book for this reader. To be frank, I thought Danny’s day would never end.
Do you agree with Claire’s review? Perhaps you read and enjoyed Amnesty? The great thing about the Mid Sussex Reading Challenge is that it challenges us to read something different – but the downside of this is you might not enjoy every book you pick up! However, if you’re not enjoying your latest read, it’s perfectly fine to move straight onto the next month or reach for your wildcard instead – to reread your favourite book.
How did you get on with your March read? Let us know by posting in our Facebook group, tweeting us @WSCCLibraries using the hashtag #MidSussexReadingChallenge or submitting your own review.
If you’re looking for your next read, you can download eBooks, eAudiobooks, eMagazines, eNewspapers and eComics for free through our eLibrary. Just download the RB Digital app on your smartphone or tablet (or access it from your computer) and register using your library card number. And if you’re not registered with us, you can join West Sussex Libraries for free online!
The views expressed in this review are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of West Sussex Libraries.
Mid Sussex Reading Challenge 2020 