Reviews

I really enjoyed reading this book. It reminded me of why I love to read and write. I love the way Attia Hosain tells Laila’s story through the years, which reminds me of Khaled Hosseini’s writing now (Layla and Laila hehe). It’s a funny coincidence because I only found this book looking for a thousand splendid suns by Khaled Hosseini. As an African diasporan caught between multiple worlds, this book helped me remember and understand the depth of family, tradition and duty in ways I haven’t always. Def a 5/5 for me :)

technomage's review against another edition

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4.0

Took a bit of getting into but once it got going it was a really good read. Quite touching in places.

adperfectamconsilium's review against another edition

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emotional informative reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

‘My life changed. It had been restricted by invisible barriers almost as effectively as the physically restricted lives of my aunts in the zenana. A window had opened here, a door there, a curtain had been drawn aside; but outside lay a world narrowed by one’s field of vision’

This is a beautifully written semi-autobiographical novel set in India during the 1930 and 1940s with the political backdrop of the end of colonial rule and the social upheaval with Partition and the creation of Pakistan.
It's a novel about class and culture clash.
Laila has been brought up in a high class Muslim family, taluqdari's (feudal landowners) which adhere to Purdah, the segregation of genders.
Following the death of her grandfather at 15 she moves to her Uncle's home in Lucknow. He's viewed as liberal but can still be domineering and rules the house.
Laila has been brought up with western influences and attends school and college and it's her fight for independence and the right to follow her heart that blends with the political climate and the independence from British rule.

Some of the politics and Indian terms ad customs were unfamiliar to me but the interplay between the characters and general family life more than made up for the dryer segments of the book.
For an insight into Muslim life and Partition it's a modern classic.

nothingbutfiction's review

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challenging emotional informative inspiring medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

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