A heart rending tale about a young widow, Rahana Haque, who loses her husband and is forced to deal with life headlong and protect her children when war erupts.
The book begins with the words” Dear Husband, I lost our children today.” And no her children are not dead but rather her children have been snatched from her and given to her brother and sister-in-law , as she is deemed unfit to raise them because she took them out to watch Cleopatra at the movies. Eventually she does get her children back but this event traumatizes her and she spends most of her life fearing for their lives.
Written by Bangladeshi native,Tahmima Anam, this moving debut novel, is set in Dhaka, East Pakistan in the 1970’s, a city simmering at the center of the Bangladeshi war of Independence. I must admit that although Bangladesh is close to home and the 1970 civil war was closely associated to India, I did have to do more reading into the history of the war.
Rehana, the protagonist is willing to go to any lengths to protect her children, Maya and Sohail but finds herself unable to shied her children from being sucked into the war. Before long the entire Haque household as well as neighbors are in one way or another affected by the war.
At the heart of the novel is a mother’s love for her children but also how one’s personal struggles are indivisibly related to the struggles of their nation. I enjoyed reading this book not only because it was a moving story of love,heartbreak, hope and war, but also because I was impressed with Tahmima’s ability to scale the war and all its accompanying horrors down to a level I could relate to.
Maya
/ August 17, 2010I just finished reading this book last week!! I loved it
Abhilash
/ August 3, 2010Think should give it a try… nice review.
s
/ August 4, 2010Thanks abhilash
Aparna
/ August 3, 2010Sounds like an excellent read. Right now I’m trying to get back into my bedtime reading habit. Half way through Erma Bombeck!
Its funny how Bangladesh is just across W. Bengal and yet so different from India.
My husband was there on work sometime back and says its unbelievable to see the stark difference between those who have it all (very few) and those who don’t.
s
/ August 4, 2010Hey Aparna, yes it was a good read. He’s been to Bangladesh? Wow!!! We almost went thr, but didnt as M wasnt too keen….
Kamalika
/ August 2, 2010Good to know about the book…will try to find it and read it..the sotry sounds very touchy….
Carrie at In the Hammock Blog
/ August 2, 2010This sounds so intense!! I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Vishy
/ August 2, 2010Nice review, Sheba! The story looks quite interesting and the time period in which it is set is fascinating. Tahmima Anam looks like a fascinating new writer.