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lalawoman416's review
5.0
Loved. Loved. Loved this book. ***SPOILERS*** This book jumps back and forth between 1972 and 1981. This is the story of 2 siblings, Sohail and Maya, and their very different reactions to post-war life in Bangladesh. Maya and Sohail both suffer the indignities of war in very different ways. During the war, Maya, a doctor, helps women recover from the atrocities of war. Sohail goes to the frontline and does terrible things. When he returns, he is a changed man and one that Maya struggles to understand. He is lost, haunted by the ghosts of his friends who tortured and/or killed. He also carries a dark secret. He finds solace in helping a lost soul, Piya. Piya is a woman broken by war and Sohail wants nothing more than to help her heal. She ends up leaving him because he is too good for her and it leaves him devastated. He starts to find comfort in his religion and turns more and more to Allah. This angers Maya who has never been very religious to begin with. She sees this as a rejection of everything she is - a modern woman. She feels anger at his faith and leaves when he marries the local pious woman. Maya travels to the other side of the country and practices medicine for 7 years before finally returning home after a disastrous turn with a patient and a deeply religious town. She comes home to find her brother almost unrecognizable. He is a widowed father but is neglectful of his son. He spends his time preaching on the roof to his faithful followers. Maya spends her time pleading with him to be more attentive to his son's needs.She begs for him to be more attentive to his mother. The gulf between them seems insurmountable now but Maya won't stop trying to find the brother she lost. The beauty of this novel is that the characters are so complex that Sohail isn't a parody of a holy man, nor is Maya a parody of a modern woman. They both have faults, but they also both have beautiful traits. In a way, reading this book, I felt like Sohail and Maya's mother. Torn between the two and seeing the beauty in both. It was a sad but wonderful read.
nellien's review
The book wasn’t relatable & I wasn’t connecting with the characters nor the story line.
readingwithathena's review against another edition
4.0
4/5
I first tried reading "The Good Muslim" a few years ago, unaware that it was a sequel to "A Golden Age". I put the book down and didn't give it much of a thought until I read and loved its predecessor. Theoretically one could read this without reading "A Golden Age" (there's some recapping throughout the book), but the first book really adds complexity to this one.
This was a heavy read, y'all. There are many characters and storylines, all struggling in the aftermath of the war of liberation. Characters that I loved in the first book were almost unrecognizable in the second, and we spend a lot of the book reconciling the two. There is a lot of sadness and a lot of pain. The ending left me reeling. As the last chapter draws to a close, your head is spinning and you want to cry.
Did I like this as much as "A Golden Age"? No. But I still enjoyed the continuation of the Haques and their story. I plan to finish the Bangla Desh trilogy sometime soon. I'd recommend this but bring some tissues.
I first tried reading "The Good Muslim" a few years ago, unaware that it was a sequel to "A Golden Age". I put the book down and didn't give it much of a thought until I read and loved its predecessor. Theoretically one could read this without reading "A Golden Age" (there's some recapping throughout the book), but the first book really adds complexity to this one.
This was a heavy read, y'all. There are many characters and storylines, all struggling in the aftermath of the war of liberation. Characters that I loved in the first book were almost unrecognizable in the second, and we spend a lot of the book reconciling the two. There is a lot of sadness and a lot of pain. The ending left me reeling. As the last chapter draws to a close, your head is spinning and you want to cry.
Did I like this as much as "A Golden Age"? No. But I still enjoyed the continuation of the Haques and their story. I plan to finish the Bangla Desh trilogy sometime soon. I'd recommend this but bring some tissues.
booksadaisyes's review
5.0
I could not put this book down. It was a fascinating read, which left me feeling heavy hearted. Set in Bangladesh, a country I should know more about - it provided a glimpse of the history and culture. A story of one family but probably many families' story. I felt like I had met the characters of the book in person - they got inside my head and my heart. Amazing book and now want to read the prequel which I didn't realise there was until I read about the author.
biblio_plus_plus's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Tahmima Anam's "The Good Muslim" takes readers on a poignant journey through post-war Bangladesh, where the clash between religious fervor and secular ideals unfolds against a backdrop of personal and societal upheaval.
Anam’s prose vividly captures the essence of a nation grappling with its identity after independence. The characters, especially Sohail’s transformation and Maya’s steadfastness, are deeply explored, offering a profound look into the complexities of faith and family ties.
While the novel’s introspective nature lends depth to its themes, the pacing occasionally felt slow, making it challenging to maintain engagement. Additionally, some plot twists were foreseeable, which detracted from the suspense I typically crave in a novel.
Despite its slower moments, "The Good Muslim" remains a compelling read for its nuanced portrayal of post-war struggles and the enduring quest for identity. Anam’s storytelling resonates with emotional depth, offering a thought-provoking narrative that lingers long after the final page.
Recommended for the readers interested in exploring the complexities of faith, family dynamics, and societal change in a richly depicted cultural setting.
Anam’s prose vividly captures the essence of a nation grappling with its identity after independence. The characters, especially Sohail’s transformation and Maya’s steadfastness, are deeply explored, offering a profound look into the complexities of faith and family ties.
While the novel’s introspective nature lends depth to its themes, the pacing occasionally felt slow, making it challenging to maintain engagement. Additionally, some plot twists were foreseeable, which detracted from the suspense I typically crave in a novel.
Despite its slower moments, "The Good Muslim" remains a compelling read for its nuanced portrayal of post-war struggles and the enduring quest for identity. Anam’s storytelling resonates with emotional depth, offering a thought-provoking narrative that lingers long after the final page.
Recommended for the readers interested in exploring the complexities of faith, family dynamics, and societal change in a richly depicted cultural setting.
whimsicalmeerkat's review
3.0
I have not read [b:A Golden Age|823815|A Golden Age|Tahmima Anam|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61k0OPLDFvL._SL75_.jpg|1387754] and I know nothing about the Bangadeshi war against Pakistan. Both of these facts most likely decreased my appreciation for [b:The Good Muslim: A Novel|11331177|The Good Muslim A Novel|Tahmima Anam|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51FQVSvdwUL._SL75_.jpg|14600102]. I enjoyed the first of three sections very much, but somewhere in the second what had seemed like an introductory style began to feel very much like a lack of coherency. The lack of exposition contributed to my confusion about the setting and Maya, the primary character, began to repeat her thoughts and observations in a way that became irritating. I find it frustrating that this book was not better, because it very well could have been. It feels like there is a beautiful story that could have been told if only the author had more time or a more brutal editor to trim away the outer edges and reveal the center.
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy of this book for free through the Goodreads First Reads giveaway program.
Disclaimer: I received an advance review copy of this book for free through the Goodreads First Reads giveaway program.
reikista's review
4.0
A brother and sister, freedom fighters in the new country of Bangladesh are building their lives after the war, but the wounds from the war days shape them into different people.
The book illustrates different ways of practicing Islam, learned particularities about the languages spoken in Bangladesh, the aftermath of the war, student idealism, women’s issues: the dr. being blamed for misguiding the women, being told to abort the children of rape, victims who don’t want to speak up. Emotional healing for the actors of war.
The book illustrates different ways of practicing Islam, learned particularities about the languages spoken in Bangladesh, the aftermath of the war, student idealism, women’s issues: the dr. being blamed for misguiding the women, being told to abort the children of rape, victims who don’t want to speak up. Emotional healing for the actors of war.
mhdenson's review against another edition
3.0
A bit confusing but intense.
The book was confusing during the first half and it was difficult to keep the time line. The second half was more enjoyable and became very intense. I was hoping to learn more about the Muslim faith so I was disappointed.
The book was confusing during the first half and it was difficult to keep the time line. The second half was more enjoyable and became very intense. I was hoping to learn more about the Muslim faith so I was disappointed.