The book contains many strong elements—rich historical background, vibrant characters, and clear central ideas. However, each aspect feels too shallow to form meaningful connections. The only character I truly connected with was Tuptim, whose life I found myself wishing the best for. Beyond her, the other characters never provided enough depth or backstory. Sometimes, when I read the characters, they feel either completely “black” or completely “white,” with no in-between. Because of that, they don’t feel deep or real.
But the story itself is good, and I understood the message the author wanted to convey: the greatest asset isn’t money, gold, or property—it’s knowledge. It feels like the kind of book a mother should truly read to her daughter, because it teaches such an important lesson.