Krey20
15th February 2007, 06:55 PM
--------------------------------------------------------9th March 2006, 02:47 PM
Mungus
Subscriber
Family Matters
Set in Bombay/Mombai, this is the story of a family coping with an elderly father suffering from Parkinson's disease. After breaking his ankle, he moves from living with his step-children to the smaller flat belonging to his daughter and her family. The demands this places on the family tests and alters the relationships between them in different ways.
From this simple story, Rohinton Mistry tells a beautiful and moving story describing the problems that any family would experience in coping with a sick relative when space and money are limited. He combines aspects of modern life in India and the struggles and traditions of the Parsi religion and community. As with his first novel (A Fine Balance, see separate thread), Mistry's gift is in making you understand and care about his characters. It's a book low on story but high on emotion and drama.
I know Mistry has many fans already on BGO but if you haven't read any of his books yet, I urge you to do so, he's an exceptional writer.
--------------------------------------------------------9th March 2006, 03:26 PM
megustaleer
Moderator
I have copied this post by BridgetM from the BGO Bookgroup forum.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BridgetM
I'm currently reading Rohinton Mistry's Family Matters. It is well written and easy to read. The story is about a 79 year old Parsee professor who has become dependent on his family. So far I have only read up to the point where he has broken his ankle and will be forced to move from the larger home of his rather remote step son and step daughter to the very small home of his much loved daughter Roxana, her husband and two lively boys.
Other readers may know that the Parsees form a very small group in India but have a fascinating history and culture. The story is written with compassion and humour. Although it may not appeal to everyone I think it would be interesting to discuss it in the book forum both from the point of view of the cultural and geographic perspectives and from the story itself.
Has anyone else read it or have an interest in reading it??
I read this book about 18months ago, and enjoyed it very much. I then sent it round one of my postal bookgroups and was so disappointed when it returned at the end of the year to find that several people thought it was a depressing story.
I'll be pleased to find that I am not in a minority!
--------------------------------------------------------9th March 2006, 05:25 PM
Momo
Subscriber and Permanent Resident
Quote:
Originally Posted by megustaleer
I read this book about 18months ago, and enjoyed it very much. I then sent it round one of my postal bookgroups and was so disappointed when it returned at the end of the year to find that several people thought it was a depressing story.
I'll be pleased to find that I am not in a minority!
The same thing happened in our book club with his other book "A Fine Balance". I'm sure someone here will love this one. It's on my TBR pile, I'll let you know when I get to it.
--------------------------------------------------------9th March 2006, 06:52 PM
Mungus
Subscriber
Quote:
Originally Posted by megustaleer
I then sent it round one of my postal bookgroups and was so disappointed when it returned at the end of the year to find that several people thought it was a depressing story.
I'm definitely with you on this one Meg, not depressing. Not necessarily happy, but a great exploration of humanity and individual responses to misfortune. Maybe they missed the messages in the story and just saw the sadness that some of the characters has allowed to define their lives.
-------------------------------------------------------13th March 2006, 10:10 PM
tygs
Member
I haven't read it yet, so I can't comment on the book. Just they way you guys described the reaction too it brought up something I've noticed a lot recently. How unless a book has a happy ending, it must neccessarily be considered depressing to a lot of people. I was just wondering if that's because our attitudes have been changed by Hollywood, or people always felt this need for a big happy ending, or else it negates their whole enjoyment of a book and evaluation of the smaller moments?
-------------------------------------------------------13th March 2006, 10:30 PM
Momo
Subscriber and Permanent Resident
Quote:
Originally Posted by tygs
I haven't read it yet, so I can't comment on the book. Just they way you guys described the reaction too it brought up something I've noticed a lot recently. How unless a book has a happy ending, it must neccessarily be considered depressing to a lot of people. I was just wondering if that's because our attitudes have been changed by Hollywood, or people always felt this need for a big happy ending, or else it negates their whole enjoyment of a book and evaluation of the smaller moments?
You are so right. I haven't read this one either (still on my huge TBR pile). A Find Balance certainly cannot be described as a "happy" book, just look at the synopsis. But a book doesn't always have to be happy. In my opinion, a lot of the "funny" books are much more depressing if you think about some people's humour.
You might be right with the Hollywood assumption, it's the same with movies, isn't it. Whenever they turn a book into a movie, they have to change the ending if it's not a happy one.
-------------------------------------------------------14th March 2006, 06:23 PM
Mungus
Subscriber
Quote:
Originally Posted by Momo
You might be right with the Hollywood assumption, it's the same with movies, isn't it. Whenever they turn a book into a movie, they have to change the ending if it's not a happy one.
Don't they have hideous pre-release screenings to see if the audience like the ending and then change it if they don't? Imagine if authors did that - travesty!
-------------------------------------------------------15th March 2006, 05:43 PM
Momo
Subscriber and Permanent Resident
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mungus
Don't they have hideous pre-release screenings to see if the audience like the ending and then change it if they don't? Imagine if authors did that - travesty!
Probably.
Mungus
Subscriber
Family Matters
Set in Bombay/Mombai, this is the story of a family coping with an elderly father suffering from Parkinson's disease. After breaking his ankle, he moves from living with his step-children to the smaller flat belonging to his daughter and her family. The demands this places on the family tests and alters the relationships between them in different ways.
From this simple story, Rohinton Mistry tells a beautiful and moving story describing the problems that any family would experience in coping with a sick relative when space and money are limited. He combines aspects of modern life in India and the struggles and traditions of the Parsi religion and community. As with his first novel (A Fine Balance, see separate thread), Mistry's gift is in making you understand and care about his characters. It's a book low on story but high on emotion and drama.
I know Mistry has many fans already on BGO but if you haven't read any of his books yet, I urge you to do so, he's an exceptional writer.
--------------------------------------------------------9th March 2006, 03:26 PM
megustaleer
Moderator
I have copied this post by BridgetM from the BGO Bookgroup forum.
Quote:
Originally Posted by BridgetM
I'm currently reading Rohinton Mistry's Family Matters. It is well written and easy to read. The story is about a 79 year old Parsee professor who has become dependent on his family. So far I have only read up to the point where he has broken his ankle and will be forced to move from the larger home of his rather remote step son and step daughter to the very small home of his much loved daughter Roxana, her husband and two lively boys.
Other readers may know that the Parsees form a very small group in India but have a fascinating history and culture. The story is written with compassion and humour. Although it may not appeal to everyone I think it would be interesting to discuss it in the book forum both from the point of view of the cultural and geographic perspectives and from the story itself.
Has anyone else read it or have an interest in reading it??
I read this book about 18months ago, and enjoyed it very much. I then sent it round one of my postal bookgroups and was so disappointed when it returned at the end of the year to find that several people thought it was a depressing story.
I'll be pleased to find that I am not in a minority!
--------------------------------------------------------9th March 2006, 05:25 PM
Momo
Subscriber and Permanent Resident
Quote:
Originally Posted by megustaleer
I read this book about 18months ago, and enjoyed it very much. I then sent it round one of my postal bookgroups and was so disappointed when it returned at the end of the year to find that several people thought it was a depressing story.
I'll be pleased to find that I am not in a minority!
The same thing happened in our book club with his other book "A Fine Balance". I'm sure someone here will love this one. It's on my TBR pile, I'll let you know when I get to it.
--------------------------------------------------------9th March 2006, 06:52 PM
Mungus
Subscriber
Quote:
Originally Posted by megustaleer
I then sent it round one of my postal bookgroups and was so disappointed when it returned at the end of the year to find that several people thought it was a depressing story.
I'm definitely with you on this one Meg, not depressing. Not necessarily happy, but a great exploration of humanity and individual responses to misfortune. Maybe they missed the messages in the story and just saw the sadness that some of the characters has allowed to define their lives.
-------------------------------------------------------13th March 2006, 10:10 PM
tygs
Member
I haven't read it yet, so I can't comment on the book. Just they way you guys described the reaction too it brought up something I've noticed a lot recently. How unless a book has a happy ending, it must neccessarily be considered depressing to a lot of people. I was just wondering if that's because our attitudes have been changed by Hollywood, or people always felt this need for a big happy ending, or else it negates their whole enjoyment of a book and evaluation of the smaller moments?
-------------------------------------------------------13th March 2006, 10:30 PM
Momo
Subscriber and Permanent Resident
Quote:
Originally Posted by tygs
I haven't read it yet, so I can't comment on the book. Just they way you guys described the reaction too it brought up something I've noticed a lot recently. How unless a book has a happy ending, it must neccessarily be considered depressing to a lot of people. I was just wondering if that's because our attitudes have been changed by Hollywood, or people always felt this need for a big happy ending, or else it negates their whole enjoyment of a book and evaluation of the smaller moments?
You are so right. I haven't read this one either (still on my huge TBR pile). A Find Balance certainly cannot be described as a "happy" book, just look at the synopsis. But a book doesn't always have to be happy. In my opinion, a lot of the "funny" books are much more depressing if you think about some people's humour.
You might be right with the Hollywood assumption, it's the same with movies, isn't it. Whenever they turn a book into a movie, they have to change the ending if it's not a happy one.
-------------------------------------------------------14th March 2006, 06:23 PM
Mungus
Subscriber
Quote:
Originally Posted by Momo
You might be right with the Hollywood assumption, it's the same with movies, isn't it. Whenever they turn a book into a movie, they have to change the ending if it's not a happy one.
Don't they have hideous pre-release screenings to see if the audience like the ending and then change it if they don't? Imagine if authors did that - travesty!
-------------------------------------------------------15th March 2006, 05:43 PM
Momo
Subscriber and Permanent Resident
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mungus
Don't they have hideous pre-release screenings to see if the audience like the ending and then change it if they don't? Imagine if authors did that - travesty!
Probably.