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paintedgiraffe's review against another edition
3.0
Good, but felt disjointed. I had no idea who the fighting factions were. I had to look them up in a plot summary. There was a lot of dancing around things instead of explaining to the reader. (Why did Mina keep thinking her husband was a coward?)
melliedm's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
“Men sit on motorcycles, thick scarves wrapped round their faces against the morning's light rain. They accelerate their engines and let their exhausts burst with a sound that reminds the innocent of firecrackers.”
While one would be hard-pressed to call this intense and emotional piece of historical fiction ‘enjoyable’ I did find The Shadow of the Crescent Moon an interesting read.
The book takes place during the war in Afghanistan, in a town along the Afghan-Pakistan border. It is structured in segments of time, within which we follow three story threads:
- Eldest brother Aman Erum, who has recently returned to Mir Ali from attending school in America. His story unravels slowly between his past with first love Samarra, and the price he paid to leave Pakistan.
- Middle brother Sikandar, a doctor, husband, and father whose son is gone. His day’s plans go awry when his wife, Mina, is intruding upon another funeral.
- Youngest brother Hayat, his father’s favourite, who made a promise to free Mir Ali as his father wished he could do. He’s a part of the insurgency, along with Samarra.
Through these three threads and five characters Bhutto brings us through a family and city torn apart by war and pride, sacrifice and vengeance, and grief.
I wish I was more familiar with the history of the region and the war that works as a backdrop to the story. While the human elements were harrowing and mostly universal, there was political nuance that was really lost on me while reading that left me confused at times. The novel also has quite a slow start, and until some notable reveals happen around the halfway point it’s somewhat of a churn.
As with anything that uses multiple perspectives, I had a favoured storyline. The problem with that? I would be disappointed when those chapters would end. For me, this is Sikandar and Mina. Their shared grief and the different ways they process it were beautifully done, making the more political machinations of the other two storylines fall a little flatter for me for the first half.
Overall, I’m glad I read this one, but I would recommend someone catch a documentary on what happened in these territories throughout the war in Afghanistan prior to digging in, I imagine you’ll get far more out of the experience than I did!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Sexism, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, Religious bigotry, and War
Moderate: Rape, Torture, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death and Death of parent
corkspork's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.75
Really enjoyed this book in general and learning about a culture/conflict I'm not familiar with. Seemed to leave a lot of open ends and I'm not sure if it's because the outcome is clearly laid out and went over my head or because the author intended to leave from for interpretation. Really wish I could chat with her.
throwmeabook's review against another edition
3.0
Check out this and other reviews on my blog https://throwmeabook.wordpress.com/2015/03/23/the-shadow-of-the-crescent-moon-by-fatima-bhutto/
The Shadow of the Crescent Moon follows the movements of three brothers, Aman Erum, Hayat and Sikander on a rainy Friday in the small and remote village of Mir Ali, in northern Pakistan. Aman Erum, the oldest brother, has recently returned from America and is on his way to the mosque. While he travels by taxi to his destination, we learn through a series of flashbacks his dream of travelling to America and the sacrifices and transgressions he has made in order for his dream to come true.
Hayat, the middle brother leaves on his motorcycle. He can’t imagine living anywhere else than Mir Ali and fights for his home, his village and country, with a group of like minded young men and women. This ragtag group of fighters is lead by a mysterious young woman whose attack plans will soon plunge Mir Ali into a catastrophic tragedy.
Sikander, the youngest of the three brothers, is a doctor at the local hospital. On this particular morning he is on his way to work when he receives a call to get his wife Mina, who ever since a recent family tragedy, has been barely hanging on to her sanity. Told in a series of flashbacks, The Shadow of the Crescent Moon tells a story of the consequences of choices made and paths taken, and we soon learn that every choice the brothers have made, every decision they have taken has brought them to this fateful, tragic day.
Fatima Bhutto has written a novel of beautiful, lyrical, hypnotizing prose. The characters she has created in The Shadow of the Crescent Moon are captivating, strong willed and determined. I found the back story (American invasion of Afghanistan) well written and informative and gave a solid tie in with the characters. That being said, I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I would have wanted to just because it was a little too involved in terms of politics for my liking and although the build up to the tragic events of the day was excellent, the end gave the impression of being unfinished with no real explanation of events, no closure.
Would I recommend this title? Sure, if nothing else but for the absolutely beautiful writing. Fatima Bhutto has a wonderful gift for creating with words and I look forward to reading her next book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group (The Penguin Press HC) for providing me with an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.
The Shadow of the Crescent Moon follows the movements of three brothers, Aman Erum, Hayat and Sikander on a rainy Friday in the small and remote village of Mir Ali, in northern Pakistan. Aman Erum, the oldest brother, has recently returned from America and is on his way to the mosque. While he travels by taxi to his destination, we learn through a series of flashbacks his dream of travelling to America and the sacrifices and transgressions he has made in order for his dream to come true.
Hayat, the middle brother leaves on his motorcycle. He can’t imagine living anywhere else than Mir Ali and fights for his home, his village and country, with a group of like minded young men and women. This ragtag group of fighters is lead by a mysterious young woman whose attack plans will soon plunge Mir Ali into a catastrophic tragedy.
Sikander, the youngest of the three brothers, is a doctor at the local hospital. On this particular morning he is on his way to work when he receives a call to get his wife Mina, who ever since a recent family tragedy, has been barely hanging on to her sanity. Told in a series of flashbacks, The Shadow of the Crescent Moon tells a story of the consequences of choices made and paths taken, and we soon learn that every choice the brothers have made, every decision they have taken has brought them to this fateful, tragic day.
Fatima Bhutto has written a novel of beautiful, lyrical, hypnotizing prose. The characters she has created in The Shadow of the Crescent Moon are captivating, strong willed and determined. I found the back story (American invasion of Afghanistan) well written and informative and gave a solid tie in with the characters. That being said, I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I would have wanted to just because it was a little too involved in terms of politics for my liking and although the build up to the tragic events of the day was excellent, the end gave the impression of being unfinished with no real explanation of events, no closure.
Would I recommend this title? Sure, if nothing else but for the absolutely beautiful writing. Fatima Bhutto has a wonderful gift for creating with words and I look forward to reading her next book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group (The Penguin Press HC) for providing me with an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.
marinazala's review
4.0
** Books 30 - 2019 **
This books to accomplish Tsundoku Books Challenge 2019
3,9 of 5 stars!
At First glance i interest with this books since it was written by Fatima Bhutto. niece from Formers Pakistani Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto from 1988-1990 and 1993-1996. So when i found this books in Big Bad Wolf 2019 i'm not hesitate to put into my cart!
Wow this books is success makes me getting emotional! Three brothers (Aman Erum, Sikandar and Hayat) who lives in Mir Ali, a small town in Pakistan's tribal area close to Afgan border each of them have their own painful stories
Middle east stories is always complicated and fascinated me. This books is reminds me a lot of ISIS. so many things makes my jaw is dropping. Bomb, murdering, are you sunni or shia? Talibans even yell at you "Kafir" since you can't prove to them that you are one of them. seriously this books is makes my head spinning right now :')
Especially Sikandar and his wife, Mina's stories that the one who broke my heart a lot. It is really painful for me to read their stories to found their son for coming back alive again. This is definitely one of my favorite works after to [b:The Kite Runner|77203|The Kite Runner|Khaled Hosseini|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1546093833s/77203.jpg|3295919] and [b:A Thousand Splendid Suns|128029|A Thousand Splendid Suns|Khaled Hosseini|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1345958969s/128029.jpg|3271379] by Khaled Houssaini
Thankyou Big Bad Wolf 2019!
This books to accomplish Tsundoku Books Challenge 2019
3,9 of 5 stars!
At First glance i interest with this books since it was written by Fatima Bhutto. niece from Formers Pakistani Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto from 1988-1990 and 1993-1996. So when i found this books in Big Bad Wolf 2019 i'm not hesitate to put into my cart!
Wow this books is success makes me getting emotional! Three brothers (Aman Erum, Sikandar and Hayat) who lives in Mir Ali, a small town in Pakistan's tribal area close to Afgan border each of them have their own painful stories
Middle east stories is always complicated and fascinated me. This books is reminds me a lot of ISIS. so many things makes my jaw is dropping. Bomb, murdering, are you sunni or shia? Talibans even yell at you "Kafir" since you can't prove to them that you are one of them. seriously this books is makes my head spinning right now :')
Especially Sikandar and his wife, Mina's stories that the one who broke my heart a lot. It is really painful for me to read their stories to found their son for coming back alive again. This is definitely one of my favorite works after to [b:The Kite Runner|77203|The Kite Runner|Khaled Hosseini|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1546093833s/77203.jpg|3295919] and [b:A Thousand Splendid Suns|128029|A Thousand Splendid Suns|Khaled Hosseini|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1345958969s/128029.jpg|3271379] by Khaled Houssaini
Thankyou Big Bad Wolf 2019!
zainub_reads's review against another edition
2.0
I found the book to be quite different, and I can’t really describe it easily.
As in, the writing is strong, nuanced and compelling it leaves quite an impact, but at the same time I found the story lacking.
.
I expected the end would give clarity to the story and complete the circle but the book ends with a few loose strands.
.
The art of writing is demonstrated very well but sadly the story wasn’t as great.
As in, the writing is strong, nuanced and compelling it leaves quite an impact, but at the same time I found the story lacking.
.
I expected the end would give clarity to the story and complete the circle but the book ends with a few loose strands.
.
The art of writing is demonstrated very well but sadly the story wasn’t as great.
sonakshibiswas's review against another edition
3.0
Mir Ali is a town in Pakistan where people have accepted hurt, violence and torture as a way life. Caught between a three dimensional war between the Sunni Muslims and Shia Muslims, America and Afghanistan and their own internal battle to win an underground age old fight for independence from the central government, hope is farfetched for most. Amidst it all, the three brothers Aman Erum, Sikandar and Hayat all different in their aspirations and perceptions of the world and the two female protagonists Mina and Samarra, provide the reader a palette of diverse complex characters who each take us through their own individual journeys of self discovery, sorrow, guilt and revenge.
Fatima Bhutto’s style of writing is intense and dramatic. Many moments in the book have been created well and are gasp worthy. Fatima has touched upon the subjects of oppression, human bestiality and power politics giving the reader enough time to linger on each subject and grow emotionally invested in each character. However, the intensity is inconsistent in places, and you may find you thoughts wavering while reading if you too have a short attention span like mine.
Nonetheless her effort is applause worthy and the book is worth a read for the sheer volume of intricate human emotions that she has tried to portray through each character.
Fatima Bhutto’s style of writing is intense and dramatic. Many moments in the book have been created well and are gasp worthy. Fatima has touched upon the subjects of oppression, human bestiality and power politics giving the reader enough time to linger on each subject and grow emotionally invested in each character. However, the intensity is inconsistent in places, and you may find you thoughts wavering while reading if you too have a short attention span like mine.
Nonetheless her effort is applause worthy and the book is worth a read for the sheer volume of intricate human emotions that she has tried to portray through each character.
rachelcabbit's review against another edition
4.0
I was not expecting to enjoy this as much as I did. I tend to avoid books to do with war and the middle east, but this had me hooked. It has very compelling characters and ticks along and a good pace, revealing the conflicts and issues behind the setting and the dilemmas that face those in northern Pakistan. It is sprinkled with vocabulary in the native language, used consistently so you start to pick it up, but not so much as it becomes confusing. I really, really enjoyed this book. Again, as with some of the other books on the Bailey's Fiction Prize Long list, a cliffhanger ending, which raises questions, keeps you thinking, but feels a tad frustrating.
sofia_reading's review against another edition
5.0
This is a deceptively subtle book. The narrative is steady and stoically relayed, yet it manages to pierce right through you. The story is the unfolding of a single day, or rather, a single morning. As the Eid morning of each of the three brothers unravels, Fatima Bhutto reveals their histories leading up to this present moment.
The book is haunting and so very revealing. The plight of the people of Mir Ali burrows deep into the conscience as does the pain of knowing that although this is a work of fiction, it has a strong root in the reality of many people in the northern provinces of Pakistan.
It is an excellent debut novel and I look forward to reading more from Fatima Bhutto.
The book is haunting and so very revealing. The plight of the people of Mir Ali burrows deep into the conscience as does the pain of knowing that although this is a work of fiction, it has a strong root in the reality of many people in the northern provinces of Pakistan.
It is an excellent debut novel and I look forward to reading more from Fatima Bhutto.
readbydusk's review against another edition
3.0
Beautifully written but the ending was quite abrupt. I feel like there should be at least one chapter delving into why the characters behaved the way they did at the final hour (which was a turnabout from their previous behaviour) and the consequences of their actions.