This book is a difficult three stars, because I feel very rewarded by the book but even more disappointed by the larger story. Set in Malaysia, this spellbinding and already internationally acclaimed debut introduces us to the prosperous Rajasekharan family as its closely guarded secrets are slowly peeled away. A book of this size should take 3-4 days to read, yet I've struggled for over 2 weeks because it's so poignant. “Evening is the Whole Day” by Preeta Samarasan Reading 20 April 2011 7 Comments Update: I interviewed Preeta Samarasan about this book and her writing in general – to listen to the interview, click here . Nicola Barr. I'm going to go ahead and call this my favorite novel of the decade. If you're emotionally exhausted you'll need more energy to get through this. Reviewed, Salil Tripathi. PREETA SAMARASAN was born and raised in Malaysia, but moved to the United States in high-school. But oh for the writer to be able to write like this! We work hard to protect your security and privacy. This deserves 5 stars without any doubt. Exceptional story detailing a world that is 'foreign' to me, told in a way that successfully let me in. After reading rave reviews of this novel, I was just sure it was going to be fantastic. Sweeping in scope, sumptuously lyrical, and masterfully constructed, Evening Is the Whole Day offers an unflinching look at relationships between parents and children, brothers and sisters, the wealthy and the poor, a country and its citizens--and the ways in which each sometimes fails the other. It was painful to look at the meanness and unkindness of people from such close quarters. I'm a littled tired of morbid exceptionally complex books , just for now, and I am reading Wonder Boys, but for future reference, how does this compare to The Lives of Others, by Neel Mukherjee, just in terms of the emotion, complexity, and beautiful prose? The setting is in Malaysia, at about the time she gained independence from the British in 1957. I chose this novel as my “Malaysia” book in the 52 Books Around the World Challenge. I did have questions when the story was over, but I'd say that having some loose ends was part of the point of the story--in life, we never really have all the answers. This is as good a novel as I know of, and as intimate and moving a reading experience as I've had, and as rich and vivid a world as I’ve ever read my way into. Evening Is the Whole Day by Preeta Samarasan, 9780007271894, available at Book Depository with free delivery worldwide. Set in Malaysia, this spellbinding and already internationally acclaimed debut introduces us to the prosperous Rajasekharan family as its closely guarded secrets are slowly peeled away. By the end, I thought it was one of the best books I’ve read in quite a long time. Just when some thought it was impossible to please me...along comes this book. What I didn't love was that all of the characters were so miserable in their lives. This is a fascinating tale which takes place in the 'Big House' of an idealistic hot shot lawyer. Holy cow. just to get away from them. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. A bitter, bitter-sweet book, this drew me in slowlyslowly, and engulfed me, leaving a sad taste in me that I’m not sure I’ll shake in a while. And Preeta Samarasan does just that which is why I am going to be a fan forever and ever. By the end of the book, the nuances and personalities of each of the main characters shone through, providing an explanation of their motivations. Please try your request again later. So he went in to stay with them. This deserves 5 stars without any doubt. Goodreads helps you keep track of books you want to read. If there is such a thing as a romp without the romping, this is it. You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition. The Sympathizer: A Novel (Pulitzer Prize for Fiction), In the Dragon's Shadow: Southeast Asia in the Chinese Century, .,." I wanted to steal my galley and write notes all over its margins. They are never black or white, but are perfectly three-dimensional with all the gradations of grey. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. Fascinating story of a three generational Indian family living in Ipoh, Malaysia during the middle of the 20th century and focuses on their relationship with a young servant girl of lowly birth and class. Start by marking “Evening Is the Whole Day” as Want to Read: Error rating book. This is as good a novel as I know of, and as intimate and moving a reading experience as I've had, and as rich and vivid a world as I’ve ever read my way into. Let us know what’s wrong with this preview of, Published It was engaging, descriptive, and really transported me to another place and time. A family unravels through the eyes of the youngest daughter who hides and spies in the shadows. The oldest daughter has fled the nest, to pursue an education at Columbia University in New York. From the first sentence (oh, that gorgeous sentence!) Merry Christmas. While the book particularly il. I tried. Brief content visible, double tap to read full content. Oh, I just loved it so so much. We’d love your help. What is the good in having simultaneous Nabokovs. Most only do one or the other. When I closed Preeta Samarasan’s first book, Evening Is the Whole Day, I sat for a time, watching my tea grow cold and watching my son chew on a polished bit of cedar wood, and tried to figure out what I was feeling.After a time (and rescuing of small black cat from being bonked by said cedar wood), the word floated by: gratitude. from the University of Michigan and was the recipient of the Asian American Writer’s Workshop/Hyphen Magazine short-story award. If there is such a thing as a romp without the romping, this is it. The satisfyingly complex narrative flashes back and forward through three generations to keep you guessing until the end. Love though, is not all I feel for this book – and this, I think, is what makes it so seriously, truly, utterly great: it's also unrelentingly painful. I don't know if I've ever loved a character as much as I love Aasha. Most only do one or the other. Evening is the Whole Day- read every word! Kazuo Ishiguro insists he’s an optimist about technology. The style of writing is interesting, the story weaves back and forward and up and down with each weft and warp adding a little more density to the story. "And it was evening and it was morning, one day" (Genesis 1:5). I'm not certain how she feels about Malaysia, but the desire to escape (rather than reform) makes the satire difficult to handle - I mean, really, do we need to Rushdies at once? Unable to add item to List. Reviving the true art of storytelling, it manages to be gripping, enthralling, and captivating. It's a miracle of point-of-view, that I could get to know all of the characters so well as I did and from one author. She received her M.F.A. The achronological str. Mariner Books; First edition (May 12, 2009). Please try again. And it did. This is a fascinating tale which takes place in the 'Big House' of an idealistic hot shot lawyer. The novel reveals itself slowly as if we were peeling an onion, uncovering one thin layer after another. I really really tried. The story line tends to stall occasionally though, in a kind of circular telling amidst all the energy and description -- but that's my only criticism. It is a gripping and well-crafted story by Samarasan with an incredibly well-developed dimensionality to the characters. It is sad, and often times a darkly comical tale told with sensitivity and wit, and well controlled tautness. On the day Paati dies, a black butterfly finds its way into the Big House. What caused the previously close relationship between a father and daughter to disintegrate into a situation where they can no longer look each other in the eye? I’ve mentioned this a bunch in the past. "When evening approaches and the day is already far spent, evening prayer is celebrated in order that 'we may give thanks for what has been given us, or what we have done well, during the day.' Rich and sad and confusing and rewarding. And ghosts! If you’re a Bible reader (and I hope you are), then when you see those words, they are so common you don’t even hesitate to question what they might mean. What did the previously beloved wayward 'Uncle Ballroom' do to cause him to no longer be welcome in the Big House? New Heart English Bible They urged him, saying, "Stay with us, for it is almost evening, and the day is almost over." Call me old-school but I still believe writers should truly master the language, have a vast vocabulary, use synonyms, create metaphors that would strike you with their originality and appropriacy, and just take you on a journey. Read this book using Google Play Books app on your PC, android, iOS devices. A wealthy, dysfunctional family, with each member fighting their own demons. It is lush without being overwritten, rich but still delicate and light. I've never, ever, EVER, believed in characters as deeply as I believe in the inhabitants of The Big House. Everything is not as it seems in this epic family saga and Samarasan utilizes rich prose and well-developed characters in unveiling the many layers of the families dark secrets. Fri 26 Jun 2009 19.01 EDT. I didn't feel forced to identify or sympathize with anyone in particular. Rich and sad and confusing and rewarding. The author, Preeta Samarasan, was born and raised in Malaysia, but came to America in her teens and never looked back. In her debut novel, Preeta Samarasan tells the story of both one ethnic Indian family and the whole country of Malaysia, reminding us that History is the individual people it happens to. In the colloquial language of Israel evening and morning together were "one day". by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Staying behind are her eleven-year-old brother, Suresh, who is a bit of a prankster, and six-year-old sister, Aasha, who chirpily communes with the household ghosts--including that of their newly departed grandmother. Evening Is the Whole Day Preeta Samarasan, Author Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH) $24 (352p) ISBN 978-0-618-87447-7. Excerpt from Chapter 8: What Aasha Saw. The evening was the beginning of the night and the morning was the beginning of the day. See 1 question about Evening Is the Whole Day…, Combine Editions - "Evening Is The Whole Day" by Preeta Samarasan. Wherever you are in the world, one of those periods is on you. This is emphatically not one of those cases. This is the choice for May from Mel's Bookland Adventures around the world reading choice. Evening is a Whole day is the stifling story of an unhappy wealthy Tamil family in Malaysia with one very unfortunate servant. Available at book Depository with free delivery worldwide me, told in a way that successfully let me in the! Novel and a very successful one unfolds in a way that successfully let me in with the fascination to... Are points in this debut novel, I just loved it so so much to... ” book in the United States in high-school with an incredibly deft handling of tone the writing style in debut! It gave me when we dig deeper into Biblical Hebrew and more first novel and very. Am sure must have disappointed her some 've ever loved a character as much I! You, well done, and thought the pace was too slow surprise we. 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