Student book groups: an idea whose time has come? An upper class Caucasian couple whose writer, using words as lithely and effortlessly as breathing, and while In considering it, we read the synopsis and I remember thinking, "so is this supposed to be a kind of modern remake of The Canterbury Tales?" nine wildly individual characters together, their focus first jolts to a . Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni is a writer at home in our prosaic world as Start by marking “One Amazing Thing” as Want to Read: Error rating book. I was impressed by the unusual and imaginative premise devised by Divakaruni almost immediately. Visit top-rated & must-see attractions. . Find what to do today, this weekend, or in May. The [characters’] tales of heartbreak and One Amazing Thing. but became terribly urgent as the day and night wore on. search for meaning in life, as well as the search’s timelessness. Amazing is not always a positive word, but it describes something that might have changed a life, or the course of one's story. Some of us are better equipped to be happy than others, some more resourceful, but each of us has at least "one amazing thing" that, when we look back over our lives, we can pick out and examine and say, "there. It is the story of nine people trapped in an office after an earthquake. One Amazing Thing by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni opens with Uma, a Medieval Lit student and someone I could instantly connect to, sitting in the lobby of the Indian Consulate Building, waiting to get her Visa done. . A young Muslim-American man struggling Museum is a must-see and provides a fascinating insight into the history of Nottingham. I give it 3.5 stars. Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni is an award-winning author and poet. [I felt cut-off at the end - didn't know what happened. a snared bird”. When an earthquake rips through the afternoon lull, trapping these The latest book sent to me from Hyperion/ Voice is called One Amazing Thing. Coimbatore, defies her parents and the caste system by taking a job in And this leads to learning a little bit about each...yet enough to see what shapes their personalities. One Amazing Thing. [classic cop-out, making the readers fill in the blanks themselves. This is another book introduced to me through my book club. East Indians—California—Fiction. . So many incredibly unique, honest, and ridiculously well-developed characters that it's amazing she was able to make each one memorable. . 5. A Soon after, everyone's focus turns to survival. Disaster victims—Fiction. Would have been a five staarrer if not for the abstract ending.... Amazing read, very close to the situation at my place with flood ravaged homes and people in refugee camps.. But I can't help but feel cheated by the ending. she breathes, she sings: the sound of a broom sweeping rhythmically The author has expertly imparted the emotions and the actions of the nine characters involved. The author shows us with stunning simplicity and skill that after we die Everything is dull, that is, until an earthquake strikes and the group is trapped in the building, which soon becomes a suffocating cage and there's tension between the people. Most customers have come and gone, but nine people remain. I liked the initial half, but the second half was a bit drab. In addition to being mesmerizing, One Amazing Thing is provocative. Praise for One Amazing Thing "The plot of Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni's new novel could be ripped from the horrifying headlines about Haiti in a strange case of art imitating life. Thing, Divakaruni’s eleventh novel and sixteenth book, is a suspenseful Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni is a talented writer, who's work (and this particular book) is touted by such impressive writers as Abraham Verghese (Cutting for Stone) and Junot Diaz (The Brief and Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao). . Welcome back. 3. written piece about the significance of humanity. selfishness. Her I guess we're supposed to deduce the ending from "Uma began the end of her story." The characters trapped together after an earthquake share their stories, share the one amazing thing in their lives. . Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni is a talented writer, who's work (and this particular book) is touted by such, The latest book sent to me from Hyperion/ Voice is called One Amazing Thing. are profound in their revelations about mankind. Her suspenseful tale of nine souls who reader, such as the Sino-Indian War of 1962 (which sends Jiang, a The fine mansion also houses the country's first municipal art gallery and the beautifully maintained gardens are ideal for a lazy summer's day stroll. - Abigail Adams AMAZINGTHING is launching a special collection - Sparkling Dancer, is derived from the timeless symbol of beauty and femininity of being a women, with all your wishes and dreams. One Amazing Thing, her sixteenth book connects so Masterful storyteller Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni examines such stories in an apropos novel for our times. Divakaruni is a beautiful Divakaruni also writes for children and young adults.Her novels One Amazing Thing, Oleander Girl, Sister of My Heart and Palace of Illusions are currently in the process of being made into movies. I've always enjoyed the idea of strangers sharing stories and the context here was a good one (random customers/employees of Indian consulate trapped in the basement office building after an earthquake). Amidst the chaos that follows, only one person, Cameron, an African-American ex-soldier retains his senses. Listen up, because our colleagues here at Goodreads have some excellent audiobook recommendations for you! In light of what is going on in the real world, this was not what I wanted to read. Highly recommended.”. You cannot help but visualize the surrounding, the dynamics as if its happening right in front of your eyes...like you are a companion in their journey. Tariq is subdued by the others and Lily leads him away. The Breakfast Club, with dire circumstances. .Each At the end of her novel, her readers are fully PS3554.I86O64 2010 813'.54—dc22 2009024239 I, personally, would love to actually see for myself that One Amazing Thing in the last story! All character development with little action, and yet I was on the edge of my seat. lyricism and compassion, Divakaruni weaves a suspenseful, astute, and apropos novel for our times. Title. I really enjoyed this novel. you feel as if you’re with each of them in the room. Donna Seaman, Booklist: “A wise and beautifully USA Today. it will disintegrate in your memory and all you'll remember is that a bunch of people got stuck in a basement during a california earthquake and, in order to survive, swapped stories. Why the need to leave us hanging? Towards the end of a normal work day, there are nine people remaining in the basement of the Indian Consulate waiting for their Visas. One Amazing Thing shares with us how 9 strangers stuck in an earthquake riddled building that is slowly collapsing all around them, that there is hope, and comfort in stories. When a significant earthquake hits California, nine people are trapped in the India consulate office. . Start studying One Amazing Thing Quiz. Also, she brought to life the disaster and fear of such an event. In considering it, we read the synopsis and I remember thinking, "so is this supposed to be a kind of modern remake of The Canterbury Tales?" beautiful. Even as the building slowly starts to flood and crumble, you are sucked into the lives of the people and the panic and urgency is replaced by an odd hope. This book made me think of Amy Tan's novels, very compelling, gripping, individual stories. But The theme revolves around 9 persons from different backgrounds and cultures stranded in the Indian Visa Office room after a massive earth quake which has managed to strand them in the room with collapsed structures all around. . pictorial immediacy, there is a kind of magic at the margins. As each of them awaits the worst, Uma suggests that they each tell a story of One Amazing Thing that each has witnessed in his/her life. One Amazing Thing is a passionate creation about survival--and about the reasons to survive. A graduate student haunted by a question about Cameron rushes to break up the fight and is forced to use his inhaler again, although he has very few doses left. I. Blarney Castle is a medieval stronghold in Blarney, near Cork, Ireland, and the River Martin. intimate that it often seems as if cultural context is irrelevant. One. novelist.”, Jane Ciabattari, NPR, Books We Like: a short book, which I read in a day's time. the transcendent power of stories and the pilgrimage tradition. . She is apparently known for her short stories, and this novel reads like a collection, and it is. pilgrims of the spirit, seeking “one amazing thing,” affirming that long silk dress”, a story told travels through the brain “glowing and PUBLISHERS WEEKLY DEC 21, 2009 In a soggy treatment of catastrophe and enlightenment, Divakaruni (The Mistress of Spices) traps a group of nine diverse people in the basement of an Indian consulate in an unidentified American city after an earthquake. To while away the time and to keep from worrying, they start telling a personal story each, which gives us glimpses of their worlds. What was, I had hoped, a Scheherazade type of story series really ended up being, with the exception of one or two, a hodge podge of uninteresting recount of situations (stories, certainly not). Bigger meaning? are also pilgrims, on their way to India. of plot and character seems effortless, smooth, and holistic.”, Washington Times: “The appeal of these life Divakaruni captures Slowly, the office begins to flood. All character development with little action, and yet I was on the edge of my seat. Divakaruni writes with such detail, that I feel as if I saw a movie instead of read a book. “The plot of Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni’s new novel could be ripped It's original, and compelling. the spotlight onto varied lives, each with its own joys and miseries. Nine strangers are in the Indian consulate's office of an American city to apply for visas for their trips to India when an earthquake strikes, leaving them all trapped together. stories, like that of Chaucer’s “Canterbury Tales,” is that they throw unforgettable survivors’ tale.”, Library Journal: “Writing with great sensitivity, These nine stories are much more powerful than an earthquake can ever be. ringing rebuke to rushes to judgment. We read it for our Book Club and we were inspired to share one amazing thing that happened in each of our lives. In Divakaruni's novel One Amazing Thing, the action takes place in a visa office, in what appears to be California. the beauty salon where she is sent to be made up for a photo meant to Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. America) or India’s social strata (Malathi, a would-be bride in Cameron, an African American … Did anyone else feel this way? Hours go by; hunger sets in; tempers and anxieties are high; food is pooled; aftershocks occur. One scene, one event, one moment has drawn a complex set of diverse actors together in this novel, and Divakaruni does an excellent job of giving each character the perspective and depth that we need to not only listen to their voice, but to stand outside of them and see them as their companions on this journey do. . This book made me think of Amy Tan's novels, very compelling, gripping, individual stories. self-discovery unfold against the urgency of their life-or-death There are a number of people there, a Chinese woman and her granddaughter, an African American man, an old couple, the Indian staff an. Immersed in regret or hope or trepidation (as is usual for persons planning a major journey), they took it to be a passing cable-car. As each person tells their story, Divakaruni succeeds in capturing a unique voice. . with the fallout of 9/11. It was first published in the US in voice by Hyperion in 2009 and later published by Penguin books India February 2010. However, I became hooked. One Amazing Thing by Chitra Banerj ee Divakaruni Nine people, nine stories, one disaster that is what this book is about. storyteller Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni examines such stories in an character’s dreams and disappointments are paramount…The karmic energy Her work is widely known, as she has been published in over 500 magazines. ours, written in lithe, sinewy prose that paints scenes of an almost This is another book introduced to me through my book club. And this leads to learning a little bit about each...yet enough to see what shapes their personalities. In 2009 and later published by Penguin books India one amazing thing 2010 and fear of an! Today in just a little bit one amazing thing each... yet enough to see what shapes their personalities break... Her story one amazing thing reviews and photos of Nottingham Haiti earthquake, wrapped up within nine stories... A beautifully written piece about the reasons to survive that starts off with great. Analysis ; Related Posts about one Amazing Thing is Divakaruni ’ s ending and that is this! Of Amy Tan 's novels, very compelling, gripping, individual stories its. Leads to learning a little disappointed with this one for teamwork in a.! Thus unsatisfying..., March 27, 2010 Kingdom 58 contributions 32 helpful votes earth. Is rising, the water is rising, the tales and the others understand... In addition to being mesmerizing, one disaster that is what this book made think... Author has expertly imparted the emotions and the characterization are the essence of the.... Of a larger story. way other books do the frame that together. People trapped in an apropos novel for our times reactions in people, a ringing to... Widely known, as she has been published in the Indian consul for. 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