Find out what Mumsnetters thought of The Bones of Grace by Tahmima Anam

I'm almost half way through, but am finding it both interesting and irritating. Interesting in that it's about things I know very little about and it's very descriptive; and irritating in that the author uses a lot of words to get to where she's going. I read a lot of crime novels, and am used to if the author tells you something, it's important to either the plot, or the series story arc. I'm finding this book's almost "thinking out loud" style hard to get into, and I am having to make myself pick the book up.

I would saythough, if you like this sort of thing, then it's a fantastic read.

I'm only about a third of the way through but really enjoying the story so far - mainly due to my interest being captured by the use of relationships, locations and events that I haven't read about before and are rare topics in your average fiction. The storytelling is beautifully detailed, and based on other reviews I look forward to seeing if I can keep track of the plot!

I was really looking forward to reading this one but in all honesty I am struggling somewhat with it. I suppose I am about half way through but it's losing my interest. The writing style isn't what I would normally go for and it's almost too descriptive. I'm just bored with it. I will read it to the end because I hate to leave a book unfinished but it's not one I would recommend.

I'm really sorry to say that I just could not get into this book at all. I tried a couple of times but got confused as it se med to jump forwards and backwards. I've passed it onto my mother in law as I'm sure she will enjoy it.

I've finished the book now, it did get more compelling towards the end but I have to say I didn't finish it and think I am going to recommend it to friends. I felt like all the bits of the book didn't really fit together, the whale, the horrendous shipwrecking yard and then the story of Zubaida herself with regards to her upbringing and then her decision between tradition and freedom to choose. I kind of wished the book had centred on one or two of those themes but not all of them. I didn't feel satisfied at the end but also I didn't feel like it was thought-provoking at the end. Sorry that this is negative feedback but thank you for the book because I like reading books that I wouldn't normally pick up - it broadens the mind!

Now that I have finished the 3rd book in a trilogy, I cannot wait to read the first 2 books.

I'm about 100 pages in and not reading the thread in case of spoilers! I've been drawn in and am fascinated by the different worlds Zubaida is moving between. The academic world is pretty familiar to me (albeit not archaeology), but the other parts of her life are foreign and fascinating.

I'm intrigued to know how her story and the story of the whale are going to continue to interact (and I've only just spotted the relevance of the title - doh!)

Thanks Sorcha - I have looked up the other books and I thing I might enjoy them.

I have now finished the book and I didn't like the way it ended in relation to one of the characters but to say who and why would be a spoiler!

I've only just started but am not really getting into yet. Lovely description but am feeling a bit confused so far

Normally I'm a big fan of romance books so was looking forward to reading this one but I could not get my head into it. I tried several times to sit down and have a read of the next chapter but it didn't happen. I enjoyed the idea of the choice that Zubaida had to make between an arranged marriage and a marriage of love, but as I couldn't relate well to the character it was hard to invest into the book. This is my first unread/half finished book of 2017!! So disappointed.

It's a great concept and storyline but I got lost off and didn't find it kas compelling as it could have been

I enjoyed this book took a little longer to read but all in all a good read

Thanks for my copy of the book. I'm definitely slower at reading than a lot of other people and I'm not very far into it yet. I'm really enjoying it though. The style of writing is much different to that of other books that I read, it's much more descriptive, but I am finding that I am enjoying it. I'm keen to get enough time to read more! Will post again when I'm further on in the book. x

Thank you so much for my copy of the book! It is not something I would normally choose to read and that is why I love these book give aways so much because it makes me read new and exciting things. I was not at all sure about the subject matter but was intrigued. I love the author's style of writing, very beautiful and you can completely imagine yourself in each of the settings and completely immerse yourself in this book. That said, I am finding the storyline hard-going. I don't know if it is because I just can't identify with the main character but I find some descriptions of what she is going through incredibly detailed and as soon as I feel like I am getting some way to understand her, then another part of her life is skipped over and I feel like I lose her again. Maybe this is what the author intended? I am only about half way through so it may be by the end of the book that I have a completely different opinion? I also so want her marriage to work because her husband sounds like a decent bloke and I feel like the Elijah character was only a brief encounter for her so how is she pinning all her hopes on him? Is it just complete escapism for her to imagine a completely different life with someone that she only met briefly? I'm not sure, I am reserving judgement until the end of the book but I wanted to post my comments before the deadline! If I finish the book before March 20th I will come back on and give my final opinions! Thanks again

What an incredible setting!
Very descriptive style that wanders gently through the story. However the jumps in time and place can be a little confusing if you have poor concentration

Finally finished the book I was reading and can start this but a bit concerned that it's part of a trilogy. For those who have read all three are they each stand alone novels or will I miss things as I have not read the firs two?

I may be reading this a bit slower than the other reviewers. I have just got to the part where Zubaida has arrived at the dig. I am finding it very word heavy and descriptive, just a style I am not used to. This is not a bad thing though and Tamima is obviously a very talented author. Will up date review as I get further into the book.

I'll be honest and say that I struggled with this to start with - I felt like I had read an awful lot without anything really happening. The style of writing is not my usual kind of read and it was a little over flowery and long winded at times.
That said I'm glad I stuck with it. Zubaida is a character without anchor. A lifetime of expectation is on her shoulders and she follows the path expected by her family, even though it is clearly not where her heart lies. An archaeological dig is cut short and she returns to marry her childhood sweetheart (although she has met and instantly fallen in love with Elijah shortly before leaving for the expedition)
Meanwhile, midway through the book we suddenly start following the story of Anwar who has walked away from his pregnant love Megna. He is now married but full of regrets and trying to re-trace his old love.
It is obvious that the two tales are connected but how is a mystery until almost the very end of the book.
The pair run into each other at a ship dismantling town but don't realise their significance to each other at the time. It is only later when Zubaida, desperately trying to piece together the story of her adoption, is made aware of a big family secret and suddenly the connections become clear.
The book is full of rich description (perhaps overly so at times) and a poignant picture is painted of a poor nation of exploited people where the divide between rich and poor is not just a line but a chasm.
The personal tale of the main characters is wrapped up in a happy(ish) ending but even this is left to interpretation.
If you like your books to be meandering, descriptive and slow builders you will probably enjoy this. I just felt a little flat at the end of it, possibly because I'm not sure I really liked any of the main characters. They all seemed just a bit too self absorbed for my taste!

Thank you Canongate and Mumsnet for my copy of this book - not my usual sort of read and I've not read anything by this author before. Very impressive, descriptive language although quite tricky & complicated to read. I felt for quite a while into the story that it wasn't flowing and was different stories - however, with perseverance everything clicked and came into place. In the end I decided that this actually was quite a deep & thought provoking book - a modern love story, caught between different countries and cultures. Not the easiest book I've ever read, you do need to be prepared to think (so perhaps not a relaxed, lying on a sun lounger, detached from the world sort of book) but am I glad to have read it - yes. Would I talk about it to other bookish people - yes. 3.5/5 from me.

I had no idea this was part of a trilogy!

Does it consist of three books of a similar theme but unrelated or are the first two the beginning of this story?

The Bones of Grace is the 3rd book in a trilogy. I read it a few months ago and found that although I quite liked the first two books, this one left me disappointed, bored and frustrated with Zubaida.

I slowed down my reading of this book in the last few pages because I didn't want it to end. From the moment you start reading you know there can be no happy ending - there is just too much 'human' in this book for any convenient, Hollywood resolution.

Great story. Thoroughly enjoying it

I am about a quarter of the way through and although I am enjoying the story I don't like that the storytelling jumps around in time and place a lot and I am sometimes unsure as to how it fits into the timeline.

I haven't got to the shipyard part of the book yet but the different parts of the plot are slowly coming together.

I am interested in the walking whale that features in the book and I am going to do some research about it to see how much is based on truth.

I am looking forward to seeing how the stories come together and the characters develop.