I did not get around to reading this book prior to it’s publication date and it has since been archived therefore I cannot leave a review at this time.

This was really well written, and parts of the story were so vivid and heart wrenching, it's a massive achievement for a debut novellist. However I also found it quite a frustrating read. The flitting between time periods was fine by the end once I was used to it, but in the beginning I felt like we didn't know enough about the characters to do all the flipping and changing.
Essentially it shows how Durga's life mirrors her grandmother's in certain ways (friendships strained vying for a boy), and is so very different in others, the hardships her grandmother encountered through life were just unbearably sad.
None of the characters were particularly likeable, which is OK, I like flawed characters, but it did make it a bit tough to get into. It was only around 2 thirds in that the story picked up and I really became captivated.
The biggest frustration though was that we don't really know what happened to Mary's mother. There were many versions of 'truth' that were told, and although it's nice to be left wanting more from a book, and yes it's a clever reflection of life that everything wasn't tied up neatly in a bow, I feel like a character like Durga would have pressed on to find out the exact truth from records or speaking with people, and it was quite annoying that we didn't get to the finality of her journey with her.

I think this would have easily been a 4 or 5 for me if the characters had a bit more depth to draw me in initially, and if we'd got an ending. Not necessarily a happy ending, but just a solid one would do.

I was lucky enough to receive a free audio copy of this book from the publishers via Netgalley, and the narration was fabulous.

Set in Malaysia, Catherine Menon’s debut novel follows one Indian Malaysian family's story from the 1920s through to the novel’s present day. The main focus is the fractious relationship between Durga and her grandmother Mary.

Events unfold in the two time periods, the present of 1985 with Durga as first person narrator and in 1922 onward following Mary’s story
This book focuses on the stories a family can have and how the secret can damage the relationship between the generations

The book follows Doctor Durga, a mathematics professor in Canada, who is coming to her hometown Pahang, Malaysia to visit her strict grandmother, Mary or Ammuma as she calls her
Spending so much time living abroad, Durga decides to return back home for good when her grandmother's health is starting to disintegrate, as she feels like her grandmother was the only support she had in her life as a young child
Durga's mother died due to a troubled childbirth, but many secrets are starting to come up to surface as Durga spends more and more time in her grandmother's house. What will she find in one of the most preserved person alive?

First, this book gave me major Burnt Sugar Vibes, maybe because of the dysfunctional relationship between Durga and her grandmother? Maybe because Mary was sick and Durga was trying to care her the same way Antara cared for her mother, Tara in Burnt Sugar? Or is it just me who is thinking that these two books are similar?

Don't get me wrong, they are both exceptional but as I was reading, something in my mind was pairing the characters from Fragile Monsters to the ones from Burnt Sugar, even though there are significant differences between these two

I enjoyed so much the historical fiction depicted in this novel, from the WWII to Indian Culture in Malaysia, to British Colonisation of Malaysia in 1957 to Malaysian fights for Independence, which are all a topic which I haven't read before, so this book came at the right time

Fragile Monsters is a compilation of secrets, a compelling , thought-provoking one which will make you wonder up to the very last page, so this will not come as a surprise since I would totally recommend reading this one!
Many thanks to netgalley and Penguin publisher for the unabridged audiobook version of this book #fragilemonsters #netgalley

I cannot explain how much I adored this book! I’m still getting used to fiction audiobooks as I always fear I’ll zone out a bit but there was no chance of doing so during Fragile Monsters, indeed I almost wished for a longer commute so I could hear more each day! I loved the alternating perspectives and the contrasts and yet similarities between Durga and Mary. I could easily have listened to twice the number of stories. I loved how they wrapped around each other and complemented the other. Bringing Durga back to her roots after being in Canada for so long was very interesting and added a spin on the relationships she held. There are so many wonderful themes and threads running through Fragile Monsters and I find myself reflecting on aspects. Mary is such a wonderful character and I had quite a few occasions to have a little giggle from her turns of phrase - I imagine being in her life was a challenge but if she liked or respected you it was well worth it.

The narration was excellent and very pleasant to listen to (again, I always fear that I won’t like the voice for an entire book but this was unfounded).

Fragile monsters is such a magical, evocative book. Beautifully read (one of my favourite ever audiobook narrators, I will be looking out for more from this narrator). Full of ghosts and secrets, but not scary, I was fully immersed in the story. I know I’ll be thinking about this one for a long time.

The relationship between Durga and her Grandmother, Mary, is at the heart of this story. They have a complicated relationship filled with secrets and miscommunications. Both ladies have been moulded by their past decisions, and not always for the best. Mary is hard to love and critical of all that Durga does. Durga is running from a relationship with a married man which ended badly. Neither is understanding of the hardships the other face.

Alternating chapters take us into the past where we learn more about what happened to Mary's brother, her best friend and her daughter, Durga's mother. So much tragedy surrounds this family and sometimes its incredibly overwhelming, Not an easy listen but I enjoyed the narrator and the way she bought the story to life.

I just never felt drawn into this book. It felt too familiar and I didn't connect to the characters enough to care about their futures. I may come back to it another time - this may not have been the right time.

There is a real lyrical quality to Menon's writing, and the pace and confusion of the narrative took me back to my visit to Malaysia. There are some very strong female characters in the novel, and there is a depth to their personalities. I loved the multiple tellings of Durga, Francesca and Mary's stories, the feel of uncertainty and lasting consequences. I'd certainly be interested in reading more books by Catherine Menon in the future, and congratulate her on this debut novel.
Indira Varma is a great choice of narrator for this audiobook and her voice is warm and friendly, skilfully switching her tone for the different characters in the novel.

“Perhaps that’s what I’ve come back to learn; the ghosts in Malaysia are for good. They’re fragile monsters, these nothings of ours” - ‘Fragile Monsters.

My thanks to Penguin Random House U.K. Audio for an unabridged review copy via NetGalley of ‘Fragile Monsters’ by Catherine Menon. It is narrated by Indira Varma and has a running time of 9 hours, 22 minutes at 1x speed.

Set in Malaysia Catherine Menon’s debut novel follows one Indian Malaysian family's story from the 1920s through to the novel’s present day. The main focus is the fractious relationship between Durga and her grandmother Mary. Events unfold in the two time periods, the present of 1985 with Durga as first person narrator and in 1922 onward following Mary’s story.

Durga is a mathematics lecturer, who for the past ten years has been away in Canada. She returns home to rural Pahang to spend Diwali with Mary. As a result they are forced to untangle the mysteries of the past. “Stories twist through the past like hair in a plait,” Durga says.”
 
In January I read an advance copy of this novel and while I found it beautifully written, especially in terms of its descriptions of Malaysia, I failed to feel much connection to the story or characters.

However, when its unabridged audiobook became available to review I thought that given my love of audiobooks that it might prove more accessible.

Indeed this proved so, especially as the narrator, Indira Varma, is an actor whose work I have admired for years. Her voice is exquisite, very rich and melodious. She also utilises her skill with accents to great effect with the novel’s supporting characters.

As a result, I found myself much more engaged in the narrative and now consider it a 3.5 star read that I have rounded up to 4.

This book is very different from my normal choice but I thoroughly enjoyed it. The different timelines intertwining made the story interesting and rich with detail. Knowing very little about the culture and history of Malaysia I found myself really interested in the country and it’s traditions mentioned in this book. The narration was spectacular, perfectly fitting for the story being told

I enjoyed learning more about Malaysia's history and culture. The story and unreliable narrators was interesting and it was super to travel to somewhere hot and humid.
The narrator was excellent.