Well, this book is not about just that. Its not only a gruesome reflection of war, its the story of a woman, a widowed young mother of two children, amidst her trivias and her complexities.
"Shona" their small dwelling where this story of emotion swells into a scintillating abode of sensitive humane reality!
Rehana,has lost her husband and is desolated. She then loses her children to her brother-in-law[from Lahore] in the court of law, as she does not have the means to provide for either her children or pay for the lawyer.
Then a suspense filled miracle happens and she brings her children back and builds a house atop hers and rents it out.[ This is the suspense element that aided me in finishing the book asap].
Her children are in the university now and are busy with the their studies and their revolutionary activities. They want freedom...they want to have their own government, instead of being ruled by the Pakistani's.Her liitle girl, Maya, is a beautiful young lass whose stern-self is as strong as the strength of her beauty and her long lustrous hair!
Sohail, her son is a handsome young man also very much of his dad's calibre!
There are other characters that are equally well-portrayed, Mr&Mrs. Sengupta,their son Mithun[her tenants], Mrs. Choudhary[her neighbours], Mrs. Rahman and Mrs. Akram[the gin rummy ladies]. These are the people Rehana's life revolves around!
There are other characters that you get introduced to during the course of the novel.You have to read it to find out :))))
Tahmima's style is colloquial and she reaches into the depths of every character!
The print of the whole novel is very inviting and is easy to read, atleast that's one more thing personally that was very inviting about this book.
For a first time novelist, she has done an excellent job!Her descriptions about an irregular or a regular event are vivid!
You can feel the emotions of the characters and will totally get involved in the characters, more so with the protagonist, Rehana. As a mother, Rehana's character is sketched out to flawlessly. She pains to keep things calm around her, despite her own discomforts. She struggles to keep her family knit together at all odds.
She at one point measures the amounts of food stock at home to keep her family fed. I loved that part, as it shows how as mothers and as home makers, women measure each and everything and live life brilliantly well whilst giving their best to their families even during hard times!!!
Rehana emerges from her motherly emotions to a mother of children of the nation.She gives herself into the struggles of war and refugee camps. She lets her heart out to a stranger, who she almost falls in love with, despite being aware of the fact that its a futile effort.
Sohail and Maya are teenagers who evolve during the course of the story and emerge into revolutionaries who live for the freedom of their home.
Also, intricately portrayed are the subtleties of friendship, love and life of the characters.
I refrain to reveal more about this book as it will spoil the zeal to read it!!
In all a brilliant book recommended for readers of all ages and groups!
Happy reading!!
Awaiting your enthusiastic reciprocation!
Love
Suj
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