Dimple doesn't know what to think. Her parents are from India, and she's spent years rebelling against their traditions. Now everything Indian is suddenly hip - even her best friend Gwyn has a bindi as an accessory. Dimple doesn't feel either Indian or American, she feels both. Mainly, she just feels confused...To make matters worse, Dimple's parents are trying to set her up with a "suitable boy." Their first meeting is a disaster, but then she bumps into him again at a club - where he's the DJ. Suddenly he becomes ...
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Dimple doesn't know what to think. Her parents are from India, and she's spent years rebelling against their traditions. Now everything Indian is suddenly hip - even her best friend Gwyn has a bindi as an accessory. Dimple doesn't feel either Indian or American, she feels both. Mainly, she just feels confused...To make matters worse, Dimple's parents are trying to set her up with a "suitable boy." Their first meeting is a disaster, but then she bumps into him again at a club - where he's the DJ. Suddenly he becomes suitable because of his sheer unsuitability. Trouble is, Gwyn seems to think so too...Born Confused is a touching and funny novel about family, friendship and love, and about bringing together two cultures without falling apart yourself in the process.
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Identity struggle-- the two words that define the era between middle school and high school of the average American kid's life. Though this book's protagonist is an Indian-American struggling to find herself between a culture clash, it also has this universal appeal that many young adults/ teens can relate to.
Many American born kids born to immigrants or parents from a traditional background find themselves yearning to be accepted. In this case, the Americans don't see Dimple as totally American (she's the Indian girl) and the Indians see her as American (or too Americanized to be Indian). Traditional cultures can be strict or just plain have different views on certain things, and in this case, dating/marriage is an issue. Having been raised in America, Dimple has yearned to be the American beauty... blond hair/blue eyes/skinny, like her best friend. Anything too Indian makes her feel even more far away from this typical ideal so she tries harder.
It's the type of book, that is not only real in terms of depicting what growing up is like down to the dialogue, but makes one appreciate what he/she is. They say one person's trash is another person's treasure...and it's the same case for how you may see another person as perfect or what to strive for, but the other people yearn for what you already have. You always want what you don't have sort of deal.
It gets to drag at points, but it is a warming read.
BugEyeMidnight
Aug 8, 2007
Fantastic
I was surprised by how taken I was with this book. It deals with relationships, growing up, making mistakes, feeling different, being wrong, and finding out who you are. Although it was written from the perspective of an American girl with Indian parents, anyone who has ever felt different or confused during adolescence (or at any other time of life) can relate to the main characters.
All of the characters felt real. The love interest is completely dreamy. The cool, older cousin is really great. I was dumbfounded by the fabulousness of some of these characters (not to mention the setting!). I have a strong dislike of teenage girls, but I absolutely loved Dimple, and even Gwen. I like that even the characters who are supposed to be rivals to our heroine are sympathetic. They?re not bad, just flawed, and the heroine is flawed herself. Meanwhile, the characters you?re not supposed to like felt real enough to hate.
I really love this book.
Josephina
Jun 17, 2007
I've read it over and over and over....
I first read this when I was 14. Now, at 19, I've just finished it again. I've probably read it about 5 times total. Every time- I love it. It's one of those rare coming of age stories that gets it. The first person narrative is realistic, the dialogue is realistic, the plot is realistic. I would recommend this book to any girl, from middle-school-age to college-age and up.