The Taste of Ginger: A Novel
- Downloads：7787
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2022-01-03 11:21:08
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Mansi Shah
- ISBN：1713620618
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
Reviews
Katie Robles
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Pretty goodI liked the characters and the plot was pretty good。 3 stars because the protagonist tends to repeat herself a lot and some conversations sounded scripted。
Regina Lobree
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Loved this book。 Sometimes we don’t always understand the plight of minority groups or immigrants。 This was a wonderful read into the Indian culture and assimilating into white America。
Jonann loves book talk❤♥️❤
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Applause to Mansu Shah for her wonder debut novel "The Taste of Ginger"！Peetri Desai came with her parents to the United States from India at age 7。 She is now in her 30's and has recently broken up with her boyfriend Alex。 She is a lawyer and works for a prestigious law firm in Los Angeles， but does not feel appreciated for her effort。 Peetri receives a call that one of her close relatives is in critical condition from a terrible accident。 To her very unappreciative upper management's displeasu Applause to Mansu Shah for her wonder debut novel "The Taste of Ginger"！Peetri Desai came with her parents to the United States from India at age 7。 She is now in her 30's and has recently broken up with her boyfriend Alex。 She is a lawyer and works for a prestigious law firm in Los Angeles， but does not feel appreciated for her effort。 Peetri receives a call that one of her close relatives is in critical condition from a terrible accident。 To her very unappreciative upper management's displeasure， Peetri risks her job and goes to India to be with her family during this intense time。 While there， she is able to revisit her family culture and explore her true self。 What does Peetri really want to do with her life？ What a beautiful story！ This book is eye-opening and touching。 Life is a series of curve balls on the journey to finding happiness。 This novel is awesome！ Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for letting me review this fantastic 5 star e-book！ 。。。more
Janis Sutter
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Well written and educational A new look inside the life of a first generation American and what it is like for them。 It makes you look inside your own ideals and admit we are a long way from seeing people of color the correct way。
Barbara Switzky
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Great storyI have always loved reading about other cultures。 This book provides an enjoyable look into the lives of Indian people。 It provides insight into a way of life that was not understood before。
Maryanna Martin
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Thought provoking I really enjoyed this book！ I learned a lot from Preeti's struggles to find herself in both cultures。 Interesting story。 Really made me think about the challenges immigrants face。 Thought provoking I really enjoyed this book！ I learned a lot from Preeti's struggles to find herself in both cultures。 Interesting story。 Really made me think about the challenges immigrants face。 。。。more
Jeanne Dierkes
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Beautiful and thought-prpvokingI loved all the images this created in my mind and the amount of food for thought it gave me。 Being an immigrant to the UK myself， albeit not of different coloured skin but with a lot of friends in similar situations， it made me question a lot of mine and other people's behaviours and current day environments that immigrants face。 I also found the story itself to be captivating and came away from it with a smile on my face and plenty of reflection to be done。 Beautiful and thought-prpvokingI loved all the images this created in my mind and the amount of food for thought it gave me。 Being an immigrant to the UK myself， albeit not of different coloured skin but with a lot of friends in similar situations， it made me question a lot of mine and other people's behaviours and current day environments that immigrants face。 I also found the story itself to be captivating and came away from it with a smile on my face and plenty of reflection to be done。 。。。more
Dhuha
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3。5 stars rounded to 3。 One of the reasons I didn’t enjoy this one as much as I wanted to， was the fact that the main character was unlikeable throughout the entire thing until the end where she （thankfully） showed a bit of maturity。 I expected the scenes to be painted more vividly for a story set in a country that I have never visited， but the author focused more more explaining the smells rather than the locations and that was a bit annoying。There were a few parts whether the internal （or exte 3。5 stars rounded to 3。 One of the reasons I didn’t enjoy this one as much as I wanted to， was the fact that the main character was unlikeable throughout the entire thing until the end where she （thankfully） showed a bit of maturity。 I expected the scenes to be painted more vividly for a story set in a country that I have never visited， but the author focused more more explaining the smells rather than the locations and that was a bit annoying。There were a few parts whether the internal （or external） monologue by the main character have proved long and boring。Nevertheless， the ending was probably the best part。 A happy （more realistic） ending。 。。。more
Lindsy
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So good！ Page turnerI loved this book。 I loved the characters and learning as the main character did of her culture and herself！ I hope that there is another book to this！ Great writing！❤️👍🏻
Anna Watson
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I absolutely loved this book。 I did not see the ending coming。 The language and the description made it seem like I was In India。 It seems like the author had been writing for years。 I going to say something I rarely say about a book…I need a part two because I want to know what happened to Preeti， Neel， and Dipti。
Dale Kentish
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Interesting choice featuring the challenges that migrant children face when they try to assimilate into a new world and then return to original country and have to navigate the customs， thinking and social behaviour they are no longer part of。 The main character is engaging as she faces being a single woman returning to India with her family at an age when she was expected to be married。 Included are topics such as caste system and effectiveness of arranged marriage。 The description of life in I Interesting choice featuring the challenges that migrant children face when they try to assimilate into a new world and then return to original country and have to navigate the customs， thinking and social behaviour they are no longer part of。 The main character is engaging as she faces being a single woman returning to India with her family at an age when she was expected to be married。 Included are topics such as caste system and effectiveness of arranged marriage。 The description of life in India is beautiful。 。。。more
PBurmeister
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I picked this book from among Prime's free monthly options because I was intrigued by its Indian setting。 The story moves along at a good pace， with plenty of local interest—customs， traditions， and festivals。 But I agree with those readers who lament the novel's shortcomings， and I recommend its willingness to avoid conventional resolutions。 To American readers， the reminder， sometimes too heavy-handed， of the difference between decisions motivated by individualism vs。 community and by romance I picked this book from among Prime's free monthly options because I was intrigued by its Indian setting。 The story moves along at a good pace， with plenty of local interest—customs， traditions， and festivals。 But I agree with those readers who lament the novel's shortcomings， and I recommend its willingness to avoid conventional resolutions。 To American readers， the reminder， sometimes too heavy-handed， of the difference between decisions motivated by individualism vs。 community and by romance vs。 commitment is among the book's most memorable qualities。 。。。more
Jennifer
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 This is the first book in a very long time that I've sat down and read in one day。 I felt like I had a front row seat to Preeti's personal journey and was invested all the way to the end。 I was nervous that it was going to end like a lot of books do， with her finding love， as if that's the most important thing for anyone to find。 I am glad it didn't。 I'm glad that it ended with her still having pieces of herself to find， with her still feeling kind of torn between two cultures， as it seems that This is the first book in a very long time that I've sat down and read in one day。 I felt like I had a front row seat to Preeti's personal journey and was invested all the way to the end。 I was nervous that it was going to end like a lot of books do， with her finding love， as if that's the most important thing for anyone to find。 I am glad it didn't。 I'm glad that it ended with her still having pieces of herself to find， with her still feeling kind of torn between two cultures， as it seems that that would be something that never completely goes away。 I am not sure if there will be a follow-up novel or not， but I'm definitely left rooting for Preeti as she continues her journey of self-discovery。 。。。more
James Bland
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Very interestingAs a father of half American half Japanese daughters， this book really opened my eyes on what it must have been like growing up。 For a variety of reasons， they ended up taking very different paths。 One lives in Japan and one lives in Oregon。
Le Matts
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Why is the taste of ginger important？A young woman returns to her home country for several reasons: a sense of duty to family， a need to support her brother， an escape from a serious relationship and demanding job。 What she learns explains the title and takes the reader on a quest to understand race and caste， individualism and collectivism。 And how much fun it is to fly kites competitively！
Katie Lynn
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Great BookWould recommend to anyone！ I couldn't put this book down！ The story line is fantastic！ I don't come from an Indian background but this book in my opinion is great for anyone who has an open mind to different cultures and looking into how Americans often treat immigrant families。 It's relatable in may different spheres！ Highly highly recommend this book！！！！！ Great BookWould recommend to anyone！ I couldn't put this book down！ The story line is fantastic！ I don't come from an Indian background but this book in my opinion is great for anyone who has an open mind to different cultures and looking into how Americans often treat immigrant families。 It's relatable in may different spheres！ Highly highly recommend this book！！！！！ 。。。more
Janet
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I enjoyed the book overall。 I cringed at the constant use of the word “biodata” and rolled my eyes at some of the main character’s inner debates mainly because there were so many。 The style drifts at times into YA mode with moral and life lessons and then heads back into the story。 And of course we all should have a friend like Carrie who is able to jet 30 hours to spend time with us。 She excels， however in the wonderful immersive trip to the city， Ahmedabad in Gujarat with the food， spices and I enjoyed the book overall。 I cringed at the constant use of the word “biodata” and rolled my eyes at some of the main character’s inner debates mainly because there were so many。 The style drifts at times into YA mode with moral and life lessons and then heads back into the story。 And of course we all should have a friend like Carrie who is able to jet 30 hours to spend time with us。 She excels， however in the wonderful immersive trip to the city， Ahmedabad in Gujarat with the food， spices and kites。 It presents as a village although it is quite large by US standards。 Her descriptions are vivid and realistic so that I almost had a visual map of her section of the city。 It is worth a read for that and for an introduction to castes and Indian life。 。。。more
Karen
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Well written This is an enjoyable first book for Mansi Shah。 It is the story of Preeti， an “Americanized” Indian immigrant who is trying very hard to succeed in a white world。 When she has an opportunity to spend time in India with her immediate and extended family， she learns much about the culture and the people and begins to look at the vastly different customs she has shunned with new eyes。 The ending was very heartwarming and satisfying but could easily allow for a new chapter in Preeti’s l Well written This is an enjoyable first book for Mansi Shah。 It is the story of Preeti， an “Americanized” Indian immigrant who is trying very hard to succeed in a white world。 When she has an opportunity to spend time in India with her immediate and extended family， she learns much about the culture and the people and begins to look at the vastly different customs she has shunned with new eyes。 The ending was very heartwarming and satisfying but could easily allow for a new chapter in Preeti’s life。 I enjoyed learning more about Indian culture and having my eyes opened to what it feels like to be an immigrant in America。 。。。more
Kim Olsson
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I could hardly put this down。 It was a modern love story about discovering who you really are and how being part of 2 cultures can be positive and negative。 I thought it gave really insightful perspective and highly recommend reading it！
Cindy Crocker
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Wonderful InsightMansi Shah provides such great insight into the lives of immigrants。 You sometimes have no idea what you take for granted。
Min
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I loved the premise of this book and especially learning more about Gujarat culture。 That said， the author went in too many different directions & themes about midway through - felt like she was trying to pack too much in， rather than focus on 2-3 solid storylines。 Overall I enjoyed reading it， but wouldn't strongly recommend to anyone。 I loved the premise of this book and especially learning more about Gujarat culture。 That said， the author went in too many different directions & themes about midway through - felt like she was trying to pack too much in， rather than focus on 2-3 solid storylines。 Overall I enjoyed reading it， but wouldn't strongly recommend to anyone。 。。。more
Stacey
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3。5
Deanne
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I loved that I got to pick a book through Amazon！ I chose this book because I thought it would challenge me to think beyond what I know。 I felt for Preeti often， but found her inner monologue repetitive。 I appreciated how the author tied in so much culture and provided the reader with sayings and thoughts on privilege， choices， and class。 It's difficult to say that I don't care for many of the characters but that's because my cultural norms are very different。 This is why I appreciate books like I loved that I got to pick a book through Amazon！ I chose this book because I thought it would challenge me to think beyond what I know。 I felt for Preeti often， but found her inner monologue repetitive。 I appreciated how the author tied in so much culture and provided the reader with sayings and thoughts on privilege， choices， and class。 It's difficult to say that I don't care for many of the characters but that's because my cultural norms are very different。 This is why I appreciate books like this because I don't dislike the characters。 They live in a different society than mine and it makes me look inward at how alike and different everybody is。 。。。more
Sara
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Very eye opening。 This book helps you understand more about the Indian culture。 I can’t help but wonder how many of my students deal with similar struggles as Preeti in this story。 Grateful to have read this。
Mary
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Preeti is a work-obsessed Indian-American lawyer estranged from her parents over her white American boyfriend Alex， with whom she has recently broken up， when she is called to India following an accident involving her brother Neel and his pregnant wife。 Returning to Ahmedabad for the first time since childhood summers， she is forced to confront her conflicting Indian and American values， and question her own and others' motivations and decisions。 This is an interesting exploration of the immigra Preeti is a work-obsessed Indian-American lawyer estranged from her parents over her white American boyfriend Alex， with whom she has recently broken up， when she is called to India following an accident involving her brother Neel and his pregnant wife。 Returning to Ahmedabad for the first time since childhood summers， she is forced to confront her conflicting Indian and American values， and question her own and others' motivations and decisions。 This is an interesting exploration of the immigrant experience in America， choices that must be made， limitations inherent in being different， and losses as well as gains。 Preeti's interactions with her mother and brother show how family relationship tensions can be complicated by immigration and the need to inhabit two cultures simultaneously。 。。。more
Paula Harris
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It was an interesting look at an Indian woman finding part of herself on the US and then finding her family in India！
Katie Prater
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The book that tried to do too muchWhile I appreciate the things that the main character was struggling with， it was easy to drown in the introspection。 The story was angst driven rather than plot driven， and the second half of the book dragged is it tried to tackle too many social issues for one book。 I get that these are things that individuals all have to deal with， and we get exhausted dealing with them on our own – – it’s just not entertaining to watch somebody else wrestle with the same thi The book that tried to do too muchWhile I appreciate the things that the main character was struggling with， it was easy to drown in the introspection。 The story was angst driven rather than plot driven， and the second half of the book dragged is it tried to tackle too many social issues for one book。 I get that these are things that individuals all have to deal with， and we get exhausted dealing with them on our own – – it’s just not entertaining to watch somebody else wrestle with the same things you’re wrestling with yourself your whole life all over the span of a month。 。。。more
Tasha Medellin
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Enjoyable and informative I enjoyed reading The Taste of Ginger。 I was very intrigued by Preeti’s emotional journey—So many deep concepts were explored throughout the book。 I felt like I had been to India and been immersed in the culture myself。 Well done！
Nursebookie
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Shah captured the quintessential Indian family from the very first paragraph， with the large extended family， and the noise when everyone gathers， complete with gossips and judgements that only the beloved aunties can dish out。 I found the writing immersive and moving about first generation immigrants torn between two worlds of the East and West。 Through Preeti Desai’s character （first generation immigrant working in a law firm in Los Angeles living with a white boyfriend）， Shah intricately wrot Shah captured the quintessential Indian family from the very first paragraph， with the large extended family， and the noise when everyone gathers， complete with gossips and judgements that only the beloved aunties can dish out。 I found the writing immersive and moving about first generation immigrants torn between two worlds of the East and West。 Through Preeti Desai’s character （first generation immigrant working in a law firm in Los Angeles living with a white boyfriend）， Shah intricately wrote what it’s like to be torn between two cultures - the duality immigrants are forced to adapt， in order to survive the new world they are suddenly in the midst of for fear of bullying， while also preserving the culture to prevent being shunned and shamed by family。The Taste of Ginger is a compelling read that deftly tackles themes of identity， family， caste， expectations familial and societal， in a thoughtful and eye opening exploration of the American Indian experience。 I highly recommend！ 。。。more
Mariola Vasquez
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