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aydan9689's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
jalien's review against another edition
4.0
Very disturbing read, it left an impression on me for sure. almost chocked when I realised after finishing that this novel is based on true events.
uditnair24's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
saji89's review against another edition
5.0
One of the best novels in potraying how people turn to god, when there is nothing else to give us hope, not even a human nearby. The story of a gulf Malayalee, which takes us through his unbelievably difficult life in the desert, how he loses all hope. The novel is quite visual that we can imagine the words we read.
Inspiring, heart breaking and visual. A must read.
Inspiring, heart breaking and visual. A must read.
meeranair_54's review against another edition
5.0
When Najeeb leaves his home in Kerala for a better job in Saudi, his expectations are that of the glamour and comfort associated with the Gulf. But ill-fated circumstances crumble his rosy perception of mankind, as he is held captive on a desert, forced to work as a goatherd.
I am usually quite intimidated by award-winning books. But this one has permanently left a mark on my soul.
It is the gut-wrenching story about the inhuman treatment of migrant workers. Through a flashback narrative, we are made privy to the enthusiasm and child-like awe with which Najeeb makes his way to Saudi. And in the span of a few chapters, both the reader and the main character are brought back to Earth in a shattering display of cruelty.
There's so much I appreciate about this book. The commendable strength that wafts from its main character, the straightforward manner of storytelling, the depiction of societal disparities. I could spend hours discussing this praise-worthy title, and that would still be less.
Here's a video review of the book: youtu.be/zMeQ-xKTzYY
Add this title to your TBR. Go on, do it.
I am usually quite intimidated by award-winning books. But this one has permanently left a mark on my soul.
It is the gut-wrenching story about the inhuman treatment of migrant workers. Through a flashback narrative, we are made privy to the enthusiasm and child-like awe with which Najeeb makes his way to Saudi. And in the span of a few chapters, both the reader and the main character are brought back to Earth in a shattering display of cruelty.
There's so much I appreciate about this book. The commendable strength that wafts from its main character, the straightforward manner of storytelling, the depiction of societal disparities. I could spend hours discussing this praise-worthy title, and that would still be less.
Here's a video review of the book: youtu.be/zMeQ-xKTzYY
Add this title to your TBR. Go on, do it.
intissar's review against another edition
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
yogesh_reads73's review against another edition
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
nikunjb's review against another edition
5.0
'खबुज' साह्रै मीठो लाग्यो । लामो समयदेखिको दरिलो उपन्यास पढ्ने धोको खबुजले पूरा गरिदियो । अनुवाद पढेँजस्तो नि नलाग्ने गरी अनुवाद गरेकोमा दिनेश काफ्ले धन्यवाद तथा बधाईका पात्र भएका छन् । अनुवाद अब्बल, उच्चकोटीको छ ।
खबुज नेपालीहरूका लागि नयाँ कथा होइन । यसअघि यी र यस्तै कथाहरु लेखिएका थिए । मेरो सम्झना ठीकै हो भने देवेन्द्र भट्टराईको 'रेगिस्तानको डायरी', पछि जनकराज सापकोटाको 'कहर', उमा सुवेदीको 'तोदा' वा अखण्ड भणडारीको 'मलाया एक्प्रेस' जस्ता पुस्तकले प्रवासी नेपालीका कथा भनिसकेका छन् । हुन त गुरुप्रसाद मैनालीलगायत अन्य धेरैले पहिलेदेखि नै मुगलानियाँ नेपालीका कथालाई ठाउँ दिएका थिए । तर हाल नेपालीको मुगलान फराकिलो भएको छ, र ती नयाँ मुगलानको एक चोटिलो कथा हो- खबुज । कथाको पात्र भारतीय भए पनि त्यो नियतिमा हामीले कुनै नेपाली पात्रलाई टपक्कै राखेर हेर्न मिल्छ । त्यसैले पनि कथा आफ्नै लाग्छ, आफ्नै रामप्रकाश, अलिमियाँ, आइतबहादुर, माइला, र बखतको जस्तो लाग्छ । पात्रलाई यसरी पाठकले अपनत्व लिने गरी प्रयुक्त बनाउनु अनुवादकको ठूलो सफलता हो ।
कामको खोजीमा अरब पुगेको एक भारतीय युवाको मरुभूमिको काम, बाध्यता र यात्राको खबुजको कथा कहीँकतै पनि पट्यार लाग्दैन । एकदमै सरस र सरल वर्णन हुँदा पनि पात्रको संवेदना कति पनि छुटेका छैनन् । कथाका घटनाले पात्रको विवशता, दुःख, पीर, व्यथा, हर्ष, आँसुजस्ता भावना प्रकट गरेका छन् । लेखकले कुनै पनि संवेदनालाई करकाप गर्दै घुसाउन परेको छैन । यो एकदमै सशक्त पक्ष हो, कुनै पनि कथालेखनका लागि । एउटा पात्रलाई त लेखकले नाम नै नदिई 'डरलाग्दो आकृति' मात्रै भनेर पनि बलियोसँग उपस्थित गराएका छन् । यस्ता मिहिन तर महत्त्वपूर्ण पक्षहरुले पात्रको मनोदशा देखाउनका लागि विशेष काम गरेका छन् । र त्यसैले, उपन्यासमा कुनै मरमसलाको आवश्यकता पर्दैन, लेखकको प्रवचनका लागि ठाउँ हुँदैन, लेखकले कुनै पनि नैतिकताको पाठ पढाउनु पर्दैन । धेरै नेपाली लेखकहरुको यो बानी उपन्यास र कथामा मैले पटकपटक पढेँको छु, खबुजमा त्यो नपाउँदा साह्रै आनन्द लाग्छ ।
खबुजको एउटै मात्रै कमजोरी भनेको खबुज आँत नै नभरी सकियो । खान पुगेकै थिएन, अझ भोकै थिए, तर खबुज सकियो । धेरैपछि कुनै पुस्तक नसकिए पनि हुने नि भन्नेसम्म बनाइदिएकोमा लेखक र अनुवादक दुवैलाई साधुवाद ।
खबुज नेपालीहरूका लागि नयाँ कथा होइन । यसअघि यी र यस्तै कथाहरु लेखिएका थिए । मेरो सम्झना ठीकै हो भने देवेन्द्र भट्टराईको 'रेगिस्तानको डायरी', पछि जनकराज सापकोटाको 'कहर', उमा सुवेदीको 'तोदा' वा अखण्ड भणडारीको 'मलाया एक्प्रेस' जस्ता पुस्तकले प्रवासी नेपालीका कथा भनिसकेका छन् । हुन त गुरुप्रसाद मैनालीलगायत अन्य धेरैले पहिलेदेखि नै मुगलानियाँ नेपालीका कथालाई ठाउँ दिएका थिए । तर हाल नेपालीको मुगलान फराकिलो भएको छ, र ती नयाँ मुगलानको एक चोटिलो कथा हो- खबुज । कथाको पात्र भारतीय भए पनि त्यो नियतिमा हामीले कुनै नेपाली पात्रलाई टपक्कै राखेर हेर्न मिल्छ । त्यसैले पनि कथा आफ्नै लाग्छ, आफ्नै रामप्रकाश, अलिमियाँ, आइतबहादुर, माइला, र बखतको जस्तो लाग्छ । पात्रलाई यसरी पाठकले अपनत्व लिने गरी प्रयुक्त बनाउनु अनुवादकको ठूलो सफलता हो ।
कामको खोजीमा अरब पुगेको एक भारतीय युवाको मरुभूमिको काम, बाध्यता र यात्राको खबुजको कथा कहीँकतै पनि पट्यार लाग्दैन । एकदमै सरस र सरल वर्णन हुँदा पनि पात्रको संवेदना कति पनि छुटेका छैनन् । कथाका घटनाले पात्रको विवशता, दुःख, पीर, व्यथा, हर्ष, आँसुजस्ता भावना प्रकट गरेका छन् । लेखकले कुनै पनि संवेदनालाई करकाप गर्दै घुसाउन परेको छैन । यो एकदमै सशक्त पक्ष हो, कुनै पनि कथालेखनका लागि । एउटा पात्रलाई त लेखकले नाम नै नदिई 'डरलाग्दो आकृति' मात्रै भनेर पनि बलियोसँग उपस्थित गराएका छन् । यस्ता मिहिन तर महत्त्वपूर्ण पक्षहरुले पात्रको मनोदशा देखाउनका लागि विशेष काम गरेका छन् । र त्यसैले, उपन्यासमा कुनै मरमसलाको आवश्यकता पर्दैन, लेखकको प्रवचनका लागि ठाउँ हुँदैन, लेखकले कुनै पनि नैतिकताको पाठ पढाउनु पर्दैन । धेरै नेपाली लेखकहरुको यो बानी उपन्यास र कथामा मैले पटकपटक पढेँको छु, खबुजमा त्यो नपाउँदा साह्रै आनन्द लाग्छ ।
खबुजको एउटै मात्रै कमजोरी भनेको खबुज आँत नै नभरी सकियो । खान पुगेकै थिएन, अझ भोकै थिए, तर खबुज सकियो । धेरैपछि कुनै पुस्तक नसकिए पनि हुने नि भन्नेसम्म बनाइदिएकोमा लेखक र अनुवादक दुवैलाई साधुवाद ।
suheshjanardhanan's review against another edition
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
ozymandiasiv's review against another edition
3.0
I read the English translation of the book, but I found myself dissatisfied. The quality of the translation or perhaps the narration itself was lacking, with noticeable errors in English that I couldn't overlook. Despite this, the story itself left a profound impact on me, albeit in a deeply unsettling way. The portrayal of Najeeb's situation was incredibly distressing; I found it hard to believe that such treatment could still occur in Middle Eastern countries. The narrative's depiction of treating a man like an animal, imprisoning an employee, is a cruel act that I believe deserves the attention of human rights organizations. The story was painful to read, yet I struggled to fully empathize with Najeeb due to the shortcomings in translation. The cruelty reached a new level when Najeeb's employer recognized him but couldn't take him to the desert because he lacked Najeeb's passport.