Bianca’s review of Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens > Likes and Comments

Love your ramblings Bianca. Fab review, I'm going to look out for it. I couldn't help but smile at your "Chai Tea" advice. Spot on ☺ "Chai" is also tea in Croatian & Slovenian (though spellt "čaj") 🍵

I like chai latte and thought the book title rather charming. Who would have thought it is about a nursing home and past trauma, and more? Wonderful review, Bianca.

Great review Bianca - I agree with your comments about racism in Australia too. I dont know much about the Sri Lankan civil war either, only that - like most civil wars it was brutal.

Learnt a lot, thank you!😊. Love your review. All these cruel, inhumane wars and discrimination all over the world just shred me to pieces. I don’t want to read history anymore since the tears never seem to stop when I finish these kind of novels. Good for you for reading this novel. Love your review.

Nat wrote: "Love your ramblings Bianca. Fab review, I'm going to look out for it. I couldn't help but smile at your "Chai Tea" advice. Spot on ☺ "Chai" is also tea in Croatian & Slovenian (though spellt "čaj") 🍵"

Ha. In Romanian is spelt ceai . Google confirmed my suspicions, the Turkish word for tea is similar, I'm guessing since all those Balkanic countries have been under the Ottomans, that's where the word comes from. I'll have to investigate if there's any correlation between the Turkish and the Hindi word.

Laysee wrote: "I like chai latte and thought the book title rather charming. Who would have thought it is about a nursing home and past trauma, and more? Wonderful review, Bianca."

Thanks, Laysee. Many will be learning quite a bit from this novel. I'm a coffee drinker/lover, I haven't had chai latte, and the only tea I drink is herbal, the lemon and ginger kind and only in winter.

Mark wrote: "Great review Bianca - I agree with your comments about racism in Australia too. I dont know much about the Sri Lankan civil war either, only that - like most civil wars it was brutal."

Thanks, Mark. It still amazes me how certain things, events, and countries get so much more attention than what happens in other countries.

I like the sound of this novel - it still isn't available in the US.

Aha--chai! Thanks, Bianca, I didn't know that.

Haha, yes I did just learn something I didn’t know! Thanks.

Excellent and enlightening review Bianca, and like you, I know little about the Sri Lankan civil war. I hope this book becomes available in the US.

Lisa (NY) wrote: "I like the sound of this novel - it still isn't available in the US."

If it's winning the Miles Franklin is probably more likely to find an audience. The winner will be announced on the 25th of July.

Betsy wrote: "Aha--chai! Thanks, Bianca, I didn't know that."

Now you do, Betsy. :-)

JanB wrote: "Haha, yes I did just learn something I didn’t know! Thanks.

Excellent and enlightening review Bianca, and like you, I know little about the Sri Lankan civil war. I hope this book becomes available..."

Most people in Australia say chai tea as well. Here's hoping that this novel finds a larger audience.

I love a good ramble. Great review, Bianca. I don't know much about the Sri Lankan war either. I'll be interested to see if I can track it down here!

Jen CAN wrote: "I love a good ramble. Great review, Bianca. I don't know much about the Sri Lankan war either. I'll be interested to see if I can track it down here!"

Thanks, Jen. I hope it comes your way soonish. Have you read the Booker winner The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida?

I haven't although it's on my list. And I say this with trepidation as I'm actually not a fan of bookers....let's hope I become one!

Bianca wrote: "JanB wrote: "Haha, yes I did just learn something I didn’t know! Thanks.

Excellent and enlightening review Bianca, and like you, I know little about the Sri Lankan civil war. I hope this book beco..."

Yep, I say (but dont drink!) Chai Tea too!

Great review Bianca! Glad you liked it. The title caught my attention but I'm with you knowing little about the Sri Lankan civil war. Adding this one. And I did enjoy the part about the chai tea! :-)

We’re all learning something, Bianca! Did know much about the Sri Lankan war either . So keep rambling !

PorshaJo wrote: "Great review Bianca! Glad you liked it. The title caught my attention but I'm with you knowing little about the Sri Lankan civil war. Adding this one. And I did enjoy the part about the chai tea! :-)"

Thanks, Jen. I hope you're able to find it. The oldies in the home were cheeky and were mocking the general public asking shall we get tea tea? :-)

Angela M wrote: "We’re all learning something, Bianca! Did know much about the Sri Lankan war either . So keep rambling !"

Thanks, Angela. I can't help myself, I keep rambling. :-)

Bianca...what an erudite, scholarly review! I definitely enjoyed your ramblings! Keep them coming!👍🌹

Terrific review Bianca 💖 You are absolutely right Sri Lanka’s history is so bloody and traumatic

Fran wrote: "Bianca...what an erudite, scholarly review! I definitely enjoyed your ramblings! Keep them coming!👍🌹"

Thanks, Fran. :-) I always rumble.

Margaret M - wrote: "Terrific review Bianca 💖 You are absolutely right Sri Lanka’s history is so bloody and traumatic"

Cheers, Margaret. I blame everything on men and religion.

The winner of the 2023 Miles Franklin award Bianca!!!

Yayyyyyyy, you picked a winner 🏆

Nat wrote: "The winner of the 2023 Miles Franklin award Bianca!!!

Yayyyyyyy, you picked a winner 🏆"

I know ... TBH, I didn't expect this to win, as it felt quite accessible. I need to read the other 3 on the list.

Bianca wrote: "Nat wrote: "The winner of the 2023 Miles Franklin award Bianca!!!

Yayyyyyyy, you picked a winner 🏆"

I know ... TBH, I didn't expect this to win, as it felt quite accessible. I need to read the o..."

Enjoy!

I am glad you found this book so worthwhile, Bianca. I listened to the Book Show when they interviewed all the nominees and they discussed their books. They all sounded great, I must admit. Excellent review!

Antoinette wrote: "I am glad you found this book so worthwhile, Bianca. I listened to the Book Show when they interviewed all the nominees and they discussed their books. They all sounded great, I must admit. Excelle..."

You're listening to the Australian BC Book Show? Cool! I read Limberlost and Cold Enough for Snow, I couldn't be bothered finishing either. Lots of Aussies loved Limberlost, I was bored.

Yes, the Australian book show. I enjoy it as they focus on many Australian authors. Do you listen to Diving In? Another Aussie podcast I listen to.

Well.. I know absolutely nothing about this war 😅
Terrific review and ramble! :)

Antoinette wrote: "Yes, the Australian book show. I enjoy it as they focus on many Australian authors. Do you listen to Diving In? Another Aussie podcast I listen to."

No, I don't listen to them, I just can't fit it all in. Between listening to audiobooks and my love of music, there's not enough time to fit it all in.

Karen wrote: "Well.. I know absolutely nothing about this war 😅
Terrific review and ramble! :)"

Thanks, Karen. It was a horrific civil war as they all seem to be.