an incandescent and lyrical writing style. I wasn't a big fan of the plot as a whole I must say; overused and underwhelming.

Migration, family and grieving. An unusual exploration of family ties across generations and continents.

🇮🇳 REVIEW 🇮🇳

A Person is a Prayer by Ammar Kalia
Publishing Date: 30th May

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

📝 - Bedi and Sushma’s marriage is arranged. When they first meet, they stumble through a faltering conversation about happiness and hope and agree to go in search of these things together. But even after their children Selena, Tara and Rohan are grown up and have their own families, Bedi and Sushma are still searching. Years later, the siblings attempt to navigate life without their parents. As they travel to the Ganges to unite their father’s ashes with the opaque water, it becomes clear that each of them has inherited the same desire to understand what makes a life happy, the same confusion about this question and the same enduring hope.

💭 - I had really high hopes for this one as a family drama spanning generations and countries sounds exactly like my cup of tea, but unfortunately it just didn’t quite hit the mark. The characters were all very unlikeable, and self centred, so I really struggled to connect with them. While I was interested in the story of Bedi and Sushma getting together, I felt that there wasn’t enough about their actual life together, as it skipped from their first meeting straight to having adult children, therefore losing some important context. Unfortunately not for me, but oh well!

#bookreview #boosbookishchallenge2024 #bookrecommendation #india #fiction #literaryfiction #literature #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #readdiverse #readdiversely #readaroundtheworld

The book covers 3 days, one in the 50s, when two young people meet in India, another in the 90s, when we see the couple and their kids (now living in the UK), and, a last one, in the 2010s, when explore an emotional via the perspectives of each of three children of the couple, learning about their lives and desires. The book explores, once again, the immigrant experience across generations, and how the fact of immigration creates even more boundaries between parents and children. It also delves into the tension between perception and reality, created by the reluctance to communicate honestly within families, and across generations.

What I liked about the book is the vividness of characters - each of our protagonists (the two parents, and their three children) elicit sympathy, and are easy to imagine meeting in the street. They all carry emotional baggage, struggle to find anyone to fully share it with, and try to make the best of things, for their own sake as well as that of their family. The book was also well written - while nothing really happens in the book, the writing is so dynamic that it doesn't really feel tiring or boring. Tara's story really stands out in this regard - even on its own it's a towering achievement of the craft of realistic fiction.

There were a few aspects of the book, though, that I liked less. While the book talks about a family that has Indian origins (with the father coming to the UK via Kenya), this aspect feels rather under-developed. This story could have been easily told about any other immigrant family, making the India/Kenya background somewhat superfluous. I also felt that the book was a bit on the dull side - there was no driving force within, and no message that needed telling. It was an interesting glimpse into the lives of this family's members, but that where it ended. Nothing bad in this per se - it just made the book less exciting than it could have been.

Recommend it to folks interested in family dramas, and how communication (or lack thereof) can affect families' happiness. That being said, it's probably a miss - nothing really stands out in this book, and it will disappear into my memory's oblivion within a few days.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me early access to this book in return for an honest review.

3.75 stars

I enjoyed this book - the descriptions were immersive and the writing was really lovely. I loved having the different perspectives of each character, all of them had their own unique voice. I also think it explored familial relationships really well and how these affected each character and their identity. I would have liked more on Sushma, as well as for the ending to have tied things up a little more.

A gorgeous and beautifully written book covering great topics.
A really enjoyable read that's a must for fans of literary fiction and family/generational stories.

A Person is a Prayer by Ammar Kalia is an increibly poignant and moving novel that will resonate with many people on many different levels. The story folllows the human experience of being, growing, seeking meaning in it all, yet all the while navigating interactions with others, both from afar and immediate family. This is even more difficult in migration and relocating to a place far removed from your culture and family

Beautifully written, lyrical, personal and with great empathy and understanding of the human experience, a wonderful read

Thank you to Netgalley, Oldcastle Books and the author Ammar Kalia for this compelling ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

After reading 'A Person is a Prayer,' I'm left with mixed feelings. The story kicks off with Bedi, who travels from Nairobi to India, hoping to meet his future wife, Sushma. Their journey from there is both geographical and emotional, with Sushma seeking freedom and a new start in Africa. Fast forward through the decades, and we see their children grappling with their own complex lives back in Delhi after their father's passing. While the novel begins engagingly, the pace slows considerably in the middle, and the abrupt ending leaves too many questions unanswered. Tara's story stood out the most to me—her narrative was compelling, and I found myself wishing she had a larger role throughout the book. Overall, I'd give this a three-star rating. It has its moments, but it might leave you wanting more clarity and depth in its exploration of family dynamics and personal identity.

A sad story in many ways about how life can seem lonely and disappointing and with a constant need to find a deeper meaning and truth. But a gently told story about families, what we want and need from them and a recognition that being part of a family defines us and gives us a sense of belonging.

Thank You to NetGalley and Oldcastle Books for the ARC.
A stunning debut that I would expect to see front and centre in a Waterstones. The prose was engaging and the narrative kept me hooked, so much so that I read this within two days.
The exploration of life and death is one that I feel many may reflect upon, and enjoy seeing the many different perspectives offered within this book.

There are some issues I have with the writing, reading under the assumption that this is to be sold in the UK, readers are confronted with this questionable anti-white person sentiment that is repeated throughout the book through all of the characters perspectives. The anti-polish sentiment stood out the most as it was prominent at the start of the book and used for jokes within the chapter. Not to say the exploration of racism isn't welcomed, but it may put readers off of reading a book that is calling all white people lazy, racist, job-stealing, repeatedly throughout the book. There is also internalized racism towards Indian people which may put them off of reading as they are called dirty, untrustworthy, scammers, quite often in this book.
There is also a short segment about homosexuality and how one of the characters may not be able to forgive his son if he came out to him, whilst also knowing about the suspected homosexuality of a relative. This could have been left out as it just makes the character seem like a racist, homophobic, cheating man with little redeeming qualities.

I wish I got to know the female characters a little more in depth as Sushma feels underdeveloped despite being a major character within the narrative. If there was less narrative changes and more focus on 1 or 2 characters the book may have felt more fleshed out.

I was so excited for this when I first heard about it. A Person is a Prayer is a multi-generational story spanning 6 decades and 3 generations of the Bedi family. It starts when Bedi and Sushma first meet, through when they move from Asia to Africa to settling in the U.K., and then to when their children are spreading their father’s ashes in the Ganges.

I adore stories that follow multiple generations and explore what is this life for and how/where can you find happiness. This is definitely that type of story. It was very interesting to first get the parents perspective and then get each of the children’s perspectives of the same day when they’re spreading their dad’s ashes. Each had a realistic perspective on their growing up and it was interesting to see how they viewed this person who you had just been reading the perspective of. The final section and perspective was a beautiful ending as well, where we finally get the mother’s perspective and it wonderfully ended the novel and what it wanted to convey.

I enjoyed the characters a lot and I think we got a glimmer of getting close to them. Each perspective had a similar theme of trying to find what makes themselves happy, and also an undercurrent of how they can lead a meaningful life and what that means to them. The exploration of cultural identity and how that is defined, especially when your ancestors have come from multiple places or from a different culture to the one you grew up in, was another aspect that added further depth and was very insightful.

Personally, I wanted a little bit more though. We could have dug a bit deeper into it perhaps and it would have been interesting to see a bit more of the parent’s relationship, and see more reflections from the parents too.

Overall though it was a fantastic read and I already want to read it again to really pick out and analyse the themes the author was exploring.

A Person is A Prayer delves into the intricate tapestry of a multicultural family with roots in Kenya and India, now residing in Britain. Through a blend of themes including identity, loss, and dreams, the narrative explores the complexities of familial relationships and the quest for understanding. It's a poignant journey that culminates in a return to India following a death, prompting reflection on the true meaning of home and heritage.

The author skillfully allows different family members to share their perspectives, providing insight into their struggles and aspirations. While this approach may make it challenging to fully connect with each character's story, the beautiful prose and evocative descriptions create immersive scenes that resonate with readers. Ammar Kalia's vivid portrayal of sensory experiences, from the aromas of food to the textures of clothing, adds depth to the narrative, capturing the essence of cultural identity.

Despite grappling with difficult themes, the book ultimately celebrates the bonds of family and the importance of meaningful conversations. It serves as a tribute to the shared experiences that shape our lives and the hope for a better future for the next generation.

The E-Book could be improved and more user-friendly, such as links to the chapters, no significant gaps between words and a cover for the book would be better. It is very document-like instead of a book. A star has been deducted because of this.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

A beautiful novel following the lives of an Indian family over several generations & what happens at the end of their lives, & the immigrant experience in the UK. It was emotional, sometimes funny, & extremely moving. I felt however some of the plot could have been fleshed out a little more, but overall an enjoyable, insightful read.

An incredible debut. The descriptions were so vivid, you are immediately immersed entirely in the lives of the characters. It follows multi generations of the same family and yet each character had a distinct voice and clear motivations in their own dedicated narratives. I hope this book gets the attention it deserves.

I absolutely loved this book. It was so emotional throughout. Very beautifully written, raw with emotion and beautifully painted pictures of settings. I felt every emotion the author tried to put access throughout.

Unfortunately didn’t love this title. It just didn’t speak to me personally and I felt like I couldn’t’t get into it. Writing was great but just not a read read for me.

Unfortunately I found this to be quite depressing... The characters' lives felt unfulfilled and full of regrets/issues. And that seemed to be the same for all of them- there wasn't really much redemption! I wondered if that was supposed to be a reflection of life and how it can be hard, but I hope that isn't what life is! I feel like I read books for the emotion but also to partake in a story that is fulfilling in some way and for me this just wasn't.

One thing I thought was interesting was the use of phones/technology- which feature prominently in some of the characters' perspectives, and I think phone use/addiction is something not often mentioned/addressed in fiction.

Maybe this just want the right time for me to read this book but I found it overly negative and depressing. 2.75/5

Unfortunately, this one just didn't work for me. I got about 50% through and felt like everything I'd read so far had been negative: whether that was our characters' perceptions of visiting India, of the way they talked about their family and friends, their outlooks on life. And sure, life is really tough - suffering is undoubtedly a part of life, but when I pick up a novel that's not quite what I'm looking for. I continued on to the end of the book, and found that I enjoyed the last perspective (Tara) the most, as she talked about her art and the way she used it to self-regulate.
Not my cup of tea, but I'm sure others will enjoy it a lot more.

I wanted to read this book, purely based on the title and cover alone, so I went in blind, not knowing what to expect.
When I saw the family tree, I knew I was going to delve into the different characters and love some, while not enjoying others, and this certainly was the case.

We start with Bedi, who, if I'm being honest, I really struggled to read. I think this was the point but I just found myself bored and uninterested in him. It took me almost a week to just read those chapters as I wasn't interested in finding out more about him. However, when we moved on to the other family members, I warmed to the book and found myself invested in what was going on and how their lives had changed.

The siblings section was clever. I very rarely read a book, written multi-generational, where the characters narration is set at the same period. Sel, felt like most middle siblings, having a lot of feelings and emotions, feeling like she was missing out but also like she was hard done by. Rohan sort of lost me slightly, but I don't know if that was due to him being the only son and focusing on his position as being the one who should be leading the family, but feeling useless and unable to step forward. However, Tara was a woman I wanted to keep reading about! How her career and life was focused around art, and the way Ammar Kalai made her section poetic and beautiful just emphasised how creative she is and her way of seeing things.

I enjoyed the end chapters, coming back round to Sushma, but felt I was missing something with the abrupt ending. I thought it may end when she had meant and walked with Bedi in her garden. But the bond between mother and child shone through out the book, and rounding it off with that, did create a sort of clean finish, if I'm not contradicting myself too much.

Overall, I loved the strong imagery throughout, the family bond and the traditions that are commonly found in certain cultures, and how moving through out generations can play huge affects on how they change; being among 'their people' in India, but feeling like outsiders and having no bond to them or their lives, I thought was beautiful. They forever felt like the outsiders, but more so among their people!
Just a beautiful book. Thank you for letting me read it

I saw this book described as 'a family photo album, but with words' and think this description is spot-on. It's a vivid portrayal of a family's migration from Kenya and India to England, told over three separate days and spanning six decades. The book examines what it means to be a family, how families are tied together but also questions whether we can ever fully understand what someone may be experiencing - even someone that we love and are close to. Although the novel has strong themes of loss and grief, it also has moments of hope, and examines what it means to live a life within the everyday chaos of a family unit, and how what it means to be happy and content. I think what I enjoyed most about the novel is how the author managed to make me feel quite intense emotions towards each of the characters, often at the extreme ends of the scale - I felt so full of optimism and hope for Bedi and Sushma's marriage to begin with, despair for one of the siblings and their challenges ahead, but then there were other characters that I felt quite pessimistic and frustrated towards. I think, though, that all families have these types of characters, those that have the power to stir up quite strong emotions, and it was interesting to read a novel that didn't shy away from examining these family dynamics.