Losing Gemma

A backpacker thriller with a twist I didn't expect. Not as engaging as "The Beach" or as funny as "Are you experienced?", but good enough to convince me not to go to India until I can afford to do it first class. ( )

This book was badly written and at times barely believable in regard to the characters' actions and thoughts. As a reader, I felt the characters were immature and frustrating, and so had little to no sympathy for them. The story never really managed to draw me in, and was told rather awkwardly. I was interested in the subject and looked forward to reading the book, but in the end it seemed rather an amateurish attempt that needed a great deal more time in terms of character, detail, and editing. ( )

interesting book, though I didn't really like the ending (solution). ( )

This novel tells the story of two young British women who go to India to backpack around the country. Friends since childhood, they have grown apart over the years and the main character, Esther, is hoping the trip will help reconnect them. On their journey, her friend Gemma befriends an odd woman named Coral who is part of an obscure religious sect. Suspense builds slowly and deliberately as Esther finds herself in the role of third wheel and the gap between the two lifelong friends widens into a suddenly uncrossable chasm.

Gardener is a good storyteller and draws you deeply into the adventure of these two young women. But it was the ending that got to me the most. It is a stark reminder of how profoundly our lives can be affected by beliefs about reality that, once held up to the light of scrutiny, are not even true.
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