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A Great Country
A Great Country: A Novel | Shilpi Somaya Gowda
4 posts | 3 read | 7 to read
From the New York Times bestselling author, a novel in the tradition of Celeste Ngs Little Fires Everywhere, exploring the ties and fractures of a close-knit Indian-American family in the aftermath of a violent encounter with the police. 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 members 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? For readers of The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett and Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid, A Great Country explores themes of immigration, generational conflict, social class and privilege as it reconsiders the myth of the model minority and questions the price of the American dream.
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mcctrish
A Great Country: A Novel | Shilpi Somaya Gowda
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Pickpick


Told over 2 weeks, an immigrant family faces off against the American dream and learns the cost in real time. I fluctuated between wanting to scream and wanting to cry, I was crying by the end.

Leftcoastzen Sounds good though! 4d
AlaMich Yes, the screaming/crying pretty much sums up the mood of many here in the US. 😞 3d
mcctrish @Leftcoastzen it really is a great story! Totally presents different perspectives ( recent immigrants, police, parents, children) in completely empathetic ways. 3d
mcctrish @AlaMich it was not a relaxing read based on subject matter and current climate but important for those reasons 3d
kspenmoll Stacked. 3d
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mcctrish
A Great Country: A Novel | Shilpi Somaya Gowda
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Reading in bed all day. Probably. I don‘t know whether I want to rage or cry at this book.

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MysticFaerie
A Great Country: A Novel | Shilpi Somaya Gowda
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Pickpick

4⭐️/5⭐️

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Mpcacher
A Great Country: A Novel | Shilpi Somaya Gowda
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Pickpick

I have read and enjoyed two previous books by this author and, while not my favorite of hers, this one was still quite good. When a family of immigrants have to deal with the arrest of their 12 year old son, they are forced to confront the fact that the 'American Dream' comes with some pitfalls. It is a thought provoking look at class, culture, racism and the desire for upward mobility. Thanks to Edelweiss+ for the digital ARC. 3.75/5 stars.