I finally finished it. It pained me to see the pages run out rapidly. I tried to slow down but could not. Everyday I would impatiently wait for some 'my time' (which is never enough) to read the book. The book had taken over my life. I tell you, it is painful when you begin living with a book, which sucks you into it and makes you emotionally invest in the lives of its characters. This one left me dazed and haunted for days after it was done with.
Hosseini's second one pulls at your heart strings as does his 'Kite Runner'. A haunting tale of two women in Afghanistan - a saga of misery, abuse, violence enmeshed in daily existence in the backdrop of dark political changes- in a completely different setting from my urban existence in world’s largest democracy - yet so relatable through the common cord of sisterhood. (I was reminded of Tagore story "Kabuliwalla' where the author's empathy for the misfortunate trader from Kabul was echoed in the words: 'I am a father and he is also a father'.)
I did not realize how deeply the book had affected me till about a week after I had finished it. I was aware of the fact that the book was wrecking havoc with my emotions – and I was generally a bit low but It was only after I started upon a lighter read – something I need do to clear my head- that I could related my depression to my relationship with this book. I have not been this affected after a long time.
What makes the story palpable is the mastery of the storyteller to create coherent and believable characters and finely weave a story of suffering, misery, pain, interpersonal violence and abuse in everyday lives with the ravaging political changes of the country. The parallel movement of life histories of the protagonists and the politico - historical events; the shaping of their everyday lives by the reigning political diktat was simply fascinating. An ordinary story made extraordinary.
Synopsis : Born a generation apart and with very different ideas about love and family, Mariam and Laila are two women brought jarringly together by war, by loss and by fate. As they endure the ever escalating dangers around them — in their home as well as in the streets of Kabul — they come to form a bond that makes them both sisters and mother-daughter to each other, and that will ultimately alter the course not just of their own lives but of the next generation.
Ps : In this world, across cultures, there may be some Mariams, many Lailas bonded to Rasheeds missing their Tariques while loving their Zalmais.
Hosseini's second one pulls at your heart strings as does his 'Kite Runner'. A haunting tale of two women in Afghanistan - a saga of misery, abuse, violence enmeshed in daily existence in the backdrop of dark political changes- in a completely different setting from my urban existence in world’s largest democracy - yet so relatable through the common cord of sisterhood. (I was reminded of Tagore story "Kabuliwalla' where the author's empathy for the misfortunate trader from Kabul was echoed in the words: 'I am a father and he is also a father'.)
I did not realize how deeply the book had affected me till about a week after I had finished it. I was aware of the fact that the book was wrecking havoc with my emotions – and I was generally a bit low but It was only after I started upon a lighter read – something I need do to clear my head- that I could related my depression to my relationship with this book. I have not been this affected after a long time.
What makes the story palpable is the mastery of the storyteller to create coherent and believable characters and finely weave a story of suffering, misery, pain, interpersonal violence and abuse in everyday lives with the ravaging political changes of the country. The parallel movement of life histories of the protagonists and the politico - historical events; the shaping of their everyday lives by the reigning political diktat was simply fascinating. An ordinary story made extraordinary.
Synopsis : Born a generation apart and with very different ideas about love and family, Mariam and Laila are two women brought jarringly together by war, by loss and by fate. As they endure the ever escalating dangers around them — in their home as well as in the streets of Kabul — they come to form a bond that makes them both sisters and mother-daughter to each other, and that will ultimately alter the course not just of their own lives but of the next generation.
Ps : In this world, across cultures, there may be some Mariams, many Lailas bonded to Rasheeds missing their Tariques while loving their Zalmais.
Posts
