Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
EVENING IS THE WHOLE DAY
EVENING IS THE WHOLE DAY | Preeta Samarasan
10 posts | 5 read | 14 to read
Set in Malaysia, this spellbinding first novel introduces us to a prosperous Indian immigrant family, as it slowly peels away its closely guarded secrets.When the familys servant girl, Chellam, is dismissed from the big house for unnamed crimes, it is only the latest in a series of losses that have shaken six-year-old Aashas life. Her grandmother has passed away under mysterious circumstances and her older sister has disappeared for a new life abroad, with no plans to return. Her parents, meanwhile, seem to hiding something away from themselves, and from one another.As the novel tells us the story of the years leading up to these events, we learn what has happened to the hopes and dreams of a family caught up in Malaysias troubled post-colonial history. What bought the Rajashekharan family to the Big House in Malaysia? What was Chellams unforgivable crime? Why did the eldest daughter leave the country under strained circumstances? And what is Appa the respectable family patriarch hiding from his wife and his children?Through this vibrant cast of characters, and through a masterful evocation of the clashes and strains in a country where Malay, Indian and Chinese inhabitants vie for their positions in society, Preeta Samarasan brings us an enthralling saga of one household and the world beyond it.
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
blurb
juliegumdrop
post image

Since the library I work at is closed right now I‘ve been reading from the books on my bookshelves, some of which have been there quite awhile. I‘ve been meaning to read this one for the past decade. (It was published in 2008.) It‘s a family saga that takes place in Malaysia. Stunning. #asianreadathon

18 likes2 stack adds
blurb
rebeccarvincent
post image

See the world from a different perspective: read a book. Happy #WorldBookDay!

10 likes2 comments
quote
rayna
post image

I finished this novel a week ago and am still thinking about it. Such gorgeous writing.

magictoyshop This has been on my South East Asian reading list for a few months now. What a gorgeous opening. 😍 7y
rayna It's so good! Hope you enjoy it! 7y
17 likes1 stack add2 comments
blurb
rayna
post image

Still reading this, but only about 90 pages left. It's wonderful but very densely written. I took the doggo on a long walk and had a bit of a nap... #readathon-ing is tiring!

blurb
rayna
post image

Breakfast time! I listened to to my current audiobook, The Association of Small Bombs, while cooking. #readathon

blurb
rayna
post image

I didn't think I was going to be able to participate in the #readathon but my plans for the day got cancelled! To start I'm going to finish Evening Is the Whole Day, which I have about 200 pages left in.

RealLifeReading Hooray! 7y
23 likes1 comment
blurb
batsy
post image

Fiction #setinsoutheastasia. All of these books are by Malaysian/Singaporean authors (and largely set in Malaysia, though Blue Moon is also about Singapore). #AprilBookShowers

16 likes1 stack add
review
ramyasbookshelf
post image
Pickpick

When @Liberty asked us to post about our favorite book that takes place in a hot place, I didn't even have to think for a minute. Even though there are plenty of books from India, the first book that came to mind was this wonderful piece of literary fiction set in Malaysia.. where the hot tropical climate is almost a character in the story. And hey! The cover also has a #bigyellowball . isn't the cover just gorgeous?

LeahBergen This sounds great! 7y
ramyasbookshelf @LeahBergen it's an amazing book! For some odd reason, I never hear much about it! 7y
39 likes5 stack adds2 comments
blurb
izah.ahmad
post image

When your outfit and coffee match with your current reading 😂

blurb
izah.ahmad
post image

Since The Tales From The Arabian Nights is too heavy for me to carry, I decided to start reading this one for outdoor purposes. #cassmeoutsidehowbowdah