This story is important and impactful. The writing was simple, but strong, though it did tell more than show. I found almost all the character's annoying or a bit much, and would usually know a star off for it, but somehow, I think it still deserves the stars, because I can maybe understand why they were presented that way. While the story was complex, it did wrap up too nicely, which I don't believe is a true reflection of reality. At times I felt there was too much going on, and not enough detail to buy in to some parts. Overall, it tells an important story that is timely.

 The Aspen Words Literary Prize longlist has delivered another winner. Priya and Ashok Shah migrated to America 20 years ago. They had their struggles, but now their business is successful, and they and their three American born children have just moved into an exclusive and expensive gated community. But any feelings of belonging and having "made it" are soon torn away when their 12 year old son is arrested and suspected of terrorism. This book explores issues of racism, class, immigration, police brutality, and neurodivergence. It's also a family story where coming of age issues, a generational divide, ableism, and the lingering impact of child sexual abuse affect the family dynamics and relationships. This book did a good job highlighting the lack of care and protection given to children in the US justice system. A 12 year old can be held in an adult jail, in a cell with adult prisoners, and interviewed without access to parents or a lawyer? It also clearly depicted the lack of power and agency Ashok and Priya felt, and how quickly this experience tore away their sense of belonging in and acceptance by US society. Being part of the model minority, an immigration success story, was not enough to protect them. I was impressed by the nuanced way the issue of discrimination was handled. The Shahs experienced racism and other forms of discrimination, but the adults were shown to hold prejudiced views of their own, particularly against Blacks and Muslims. The influence of caste in the hiring decisions of Indian owned firms was a minor plot point that added another layer to the exploration of discrimination and prejudice. Finally, I loved that this book included an example of true friendship. Oh, that everyone could have an Archie and Ricky to support them through tough times. The fast pace and tension kept me turning the pages. The ending felt a little too quick and anti-climactic, but that didn't markedly affect my enjoyment. 

Title: A Great Country
Author: Shilpi Somaya Gowda
Genre: Contemporary
Rating: 4.00
Pub Date: March 26, 2024

I received a complimentary eARC from Penguin Random House Canada via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted

T H R E E • W O R D S

Timely • Accessible • Realistic

📖 S Y N O P S I S

Pacific Hills, California: Gated communities, ocean views, well-tended lawns, serene pools, and now the new home of the Shah family. For the Shah parents, who came to America twenty years earlier with little more than an education and their new marriage, this move represents the culmination of years of hard work and dreaming. For their children, born and raised in America, success is not so simple.

For the most part, these differences among the five members of the Shah family are minor irritants, arguments between parents and children, older and younger siblings. But one Saturday night, the twelve-year-old son is arrested. The fallout from that event will shake each family member's perception of themselves as individuals, as community members, as Americans, and will lead each to consider: how do we define success? At what cost comes ambition? And what is our role and responsibility in the cultural mosaic of modern America?

💭 T H O U G H T S

I have previously read another book by Shilpi Somaya Gowda and also have another one on my TBR, so adding A Great Country to my list of anticipated 2024 releases was a no-brainer. I chose to go in blind without having read the synopsis because that has been working for me over the past few months.

This narrative dives deep into themes of immigration, generational conflict, social class, privilege, and the American Dream. It unpacks a lot of current events in a fictional manner and requires the reader to suspend their own personal biases. With such vivid development, the characters really come to life and each character's perspective serves a purpose.

One of the things I really appreciated about how this story unfolds is getting to see how each of the family members handles the crisis differently. There's also neurodiverse representation that plays an important role in the story and shows showcases how there are systemic issues in how police handle differences. It also shows how small incidents can lead to monumental consequences and get blown out of proportion when more and more people get involved.

A Great Country is a thought provoking and timely novel with great pacing and character development. There could easily be a little more depth, which is what kept it from being a standout. There is no doubt this would definitely be a great option for bookclub discussion.

📚 R E A D • I F • Y O U • L I K E
• family dramas
• bookclub fiction
• Celeste Ng

⚠️ CW: xenophobia, racism, Islamophobia, police brutality, physical abuse, violence, sexual assault, classism, injury/injury detail, bullying

🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S

"An immigrant-rich country like ours makes for a complex fabric." 

I’m trying to read more fiction this year. I really enjoyed this book, I thought it was very relatable and hit close to home since my family are immigrants and I have family members who are POC and on the spectrum. I was tense throughout reading this and shed many tears. It is thought provoking, making you think about the current events that are happening in your communities. I felt that the narrator for the audiobook, Vikas Adam, really brought the story to life and did an amazing job. I will keep a lookout for any other titles written by Shilpi Somaya Gowda 😋