Book Review: A Golden Age by Tahmima Anam

Author: Tahmima Anam 

Title: A Golden Age

(Bangla Desh #1)

Genre: Historical Fiction

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 276

Published: 2007

Where I Got It: My shelf (Pamida)

Summary: 

Set against the backdrop of the Bangladesh War of Independence, A Golden Age is a story of passion and revolution, of hope, faith and unexpected heroism. The first volume in a planned trilogy.

As young widow Rehana Haque awakes one March morning, she might be forgiven for feeling happy. Today she will throw a party for her son and daughter. In the garden of the house she has built, her roses are blooming, her children are almost grown, and beyond their doorstep, the city is buzzing with excitement after recent elections. Change is in the air.

But none of the guests at Rehana's party can foresee what will happen in the days and months ahead. For this is 1971 in East Pakistan, a country on the brink of war. And this family's life is about to change forever.

Set against the backdrop of the Bangladesh War of Independence, A Golden Age is a story of passion and revolution, of hope, faith and unexpected heroism. In the chaos of this era, everyone—from student protesters to the country's leaders, from rickshaw'wallahs to the army's soldiers—must make choices. And as she struggles to keep her family safe, Rehana will be forced to face a heartbreaking dilemma. This is the first volume of a planned trilogy.

Review:

Years ago (maybe 2008 or 2009) I picked this bad boy up at the local store when I was a teen. It's been so long that the store isn't even there anymore. Finally decided enough was enough and to get myself to read it because of the TBR challenge I'm part of.

This is set during the Bangladesh War of Independence. Rehana Haque is a young widow with children. She decides to throw a party for her son and daughter. Outside the party the city is buzzing with excitement after the recent elections. Change is in air! However, East Pakistan is on the brink of war and her and her family's lives are about to change forever. 

This started off really good. I was hooked. I was scared for the family and for the country. I couldn't stop reading!!! 

And then we got to the middle point and I was.............tired. I was ready for this to end.

I know, I know...that sounds bad. 

Not sure what changed for me. I soon found myself wanting to skim to just get to the end and find out what happens. I was still invested in the characters and their fates, but I was ready for the answer. It started feeling like a history book. Don't get me wrong...I like a good history book, BUT when I want one or I'm feeling like researching a topic. I fee like this got stuck on the details and feel flat.

I skimmed through Goodreads and there are so many people who love this and there is a small grouping of people who didn't. 

Gah. I wish I had loved this! 

In the end, it wasn't horrible or boring. I enjoyed our characters and I had been hooked for nearly half, but then it got too hooked on the details and started reading like a history book. I'll give this 2 stars. 

 

Challenge(s):

- TBR Reading Challenge (#2)

Audiobook Review - The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

Author: Khaled Hosseini 
Narrator: Author
Title: The Kite Runner
Genre: Historical Fiction, Fiction
Pages: Audiobook
Published: 2003
Where I Got It: My shelf (Audible)

Amir is the son of a wealthy Kabul merchant, a member of the ruling caste of Pashtuns. Hassan, his servant and constant companion, is a Hazara, a despised and impoverished caste. Their uncommon bond is torn by Amir's choice to abandon his friend amidst the increasing ethnic, religious, and political tensions of the dying years of the Afghan monarchy, wrenching them far apart. But so strong is the bond between the two boys that Amir journeys back to a distant world, to try to right 

I’ve had my eyes on this book for a long while. I could never find it for cheap and my old library never had a copy (I really need to get my library card for this new library). However, the audio landed in my lap so it works!

The story follows Amir from his youth as a boy from a rich family. His best friend is his servant Hassan who would do anything for Amir. Things happen and the two are torn apart. Hassan stays and Amir ends up in America. 

I felt so bad for Hassan. He was such a good, loyal friend and servant. Amir was a little snot and did not deserve a friend like Hassan. Amir is a coward and a selfish little boy. Karma does strike him more than once for what he did and didn’t do. I had a hard time at first with the story because I loathed Amir so much. However, I stuck with the story and as Amir grew up he was more tolerable especially since karma did serve him a little here and a little there. It also helped that Amir did realize how terrible he was to his friend. Guilt is a powerful thing. 

There was an event that happened that made me respect Amir. I never grew to like him...but I did respect him and understand him in the end. 

The story really was good. It really shows that people are not perfect no matter what part of the world they come from. It was an interesting viewpoint and the author brought the world to life. There were a lot of things one can take from this story and they are important messages. It took a lot for Amir to learn some of these messages. Well…he KNEW the lesson but he had to actually apply them and do. You can know something but if you do not do what is right there you truly did not learn. 

The author narrated this and he did a good job. I do wish that his voices changed for different characters even a smidge. I had to really pay attention when dialogue was going on especially at the beginning when I was learning everyone’s name. Other than that? No complaints.


Overall, I did enjoy this story. The characters were interesting and I had to know what was going to happen next even though I know the political things that happen, I still wanted to know how this impacted our characters. Besides for my loathing of Amir at the beginning, I did grow to understand him. I still did not like him but understood him and I respected him after a certain event happened. The narration was good, but I do wish the narrator tried to give the characters a smidge of a different voice to help us, listeners, out. In the end, I’ll stamp this with 4 stars. 

Book Review: Three Cups of Tea by D. Relin & G. Mortenson

Author: David Oliver Relin and Greg Mortenson
Title: Three Cups of Tea One Man's Mission to Promote Peace ... One School at a Time
Genre: Nonfiction
Pages: 349 
Published: 2006
Where I Got It: My shelf (Friend gave me copy)

The inspiring account of one man's campaign to build schools in the most dangerous, remote, and anti-American reaches of Asia.



I have been dreading writing this review honestly. It’s not that this book is bad by any means, but it is bad. Read on and you will hopefully see what I mean.

The story follows Greg Mortenson who is pretty much a world hero and a self-proclaimed hero who has brought education to parts of the world that really need it, especially for the young girls. I say that with love. He is not humble in the work he has done. WHICH he shouldn’t be humble because he has done some amazing work, BUT an ounce of humble-pie is good for you when helping write your own book. 

Which brings me to my biggest issue of the book. This was written by two completely different authors. You can really tell. You get used to one format and style of writing and then BAM the other writer hops in mid-paragraph. *blinks* I swear I was getting whiplash. 

Not only did the writing style change, but the format of the text. The tense would change. It was like a documentary written down word for word. Things are going well and then the camera would change to an interview with the subject to get his opinion on a certain topic or event and then back to viewing the story. It was horribly distracting and made the flow as well as a choppy ocean during a hurricane. My poor brain. 

Besides for the terrible writing I had to endure, I really did like the story. Yes, yes. That sounds hard and impossible. I really did like seeing the people he ran into and the growth he had as a person as he filled the shoes of a World Hero. He really did do wonders for people who needed it. 

That is why I loathed writing this. I do not want to take away this story. I want people to experience the journey the man went on. Maybe watch his interviews and documentaries instead though. This? Gah. I can’t fully recommend it without a huge WARNING sign on the cover. 

Now…the 2nd thing I dread….the star stamp…errr…ummmmm….2 stars. Is that too low? Gah! I don’t know. I’ll stick with 2. 

Movie Review: Diana (2013)

Length: 1 hr & 47 min
Released: 2013
Genre: Drama
Rating: PG-13
Where I Got It: Netflix

SUMMARY:
During the last two years of her life, Princess Diana embarks on a final rite of passage: a secret love affair with Pakistani heart surgeon Hasnat Khan.

TRAILER:

REVIEW:

I’ve been eyeballing this movie for a bit because 1) it looked good and 2) I’ve been wanting to watch a movie about the lovely Princess Diana since I’ve watched the movie about Elizabeth II. The only reason why I was worried was because I wasn’t sure about the actress (I’ve seen her in other things) and I am a big fan of the Princess – who isn’t really? 

I loved the connection between the beginning and the ending. I love when movies and books do that. It was an odd way to start the film, but that makes me intrigued by what, why, and etc. So kudos with connecting the ending and the beginning like that.

My biggest issue about the film would have to be the main actress and how they presented the love affair. I did like how they showed that the Princess was human and a woman and had her weak moments – especially around finding/losing love. However, the actress didn’t fit the role. She wasn’t BAD, but she didn’t it. She didn’t present the confidence and mystery. She had the hair and the eyes, but that was where the resemblance ended. The real Princess was tall and lanky, but the actress was short and pretty curvy….so that through me off a bit. Even though Nicole Kidman isn’t my favorite actress, I think  she would have been a better Princess, she has the allure and she shares key features of the real Princess. 

I love the man who played Hasnet!! But I am biased, because he played Sayid in LOST, so yeah….I love him in everything he plays in. He did gain some weight in this film, so I was taken aback and I wasn’t sure it was him at first. 0_o

I wish I could have said I LOVED this film, but it was just okay; I had no issue turning it off and returning back to it a couple days later. The actress was meh, the cast was also meh (except Naveen Andrews :3 even being a chunkier then I am used to), the layout of the story was meh, BUT I did like how the laid out the ending/beginning. 

Overall, this was just OKAY. Nothing special about it. Do I recommend it? Sure, but don’t have high expectations. I shall stamp this with 3 stars. 

Re-watch?: No. 

Book Review: Whispers from the East by Amie Ali

Author: Amie Ali
Title: Whispers from the East
Genre: Historical Fiction & Drama
Pages: ebook
First Published: June 2015
Where I Got It: My shelf (From author/publisher for my honest and unbiased opinion)

Ammi, a pregnant 24-year-old, flees New Delhi with millions of Muslim migrants in the early hours of the 1947 Partition of India, clawing her way through a controversial caste system and into the heart of Lahori society.

A family broken by betrayal.
Two of Ammi's beloved sons immigrate to the United States and secretly marry dazzling, contemporary American brides. One bride converts to Islam. The other commits apostasy, the sin of all sins.

Three women who stand to lose everything.
The collision of two belief systems—two worlds—come to a head as Ammi, Carolyn, and Ivy fight to keep their own marriages, families, and futures secure.


Where to begin? 

First, this was an addicting book. I could hardly put it down. It was a quick read, but it was also a good read. I wish that Ammi's POV was longer, because I really liked her a lot. I loved how it began with the past and her being a young mother. It was nice to get to know her then before all the drama of her two sons began. 

Now, Carolyn needed a slap in the face. She was a snot from the moment she moved in with Nazar. I just don't understand. I feel the majority of the issues came from her. He added his share, but the majority of it was on her. Especially near the end. There is a thing called therapy....maybe suggest that instead....Granted Nazar should have communicated better and not try to shove things under the rug and "let it be". No. You need to just be honest. I just don't get her at all and she was a snot the entire time. She honestly needed to think before she spoke. 

I liked Ivy and Lut. They were cute and I'm glad their drama wasn't marriage shattering. 

Ooooooooooooooh the ending. Not happy with it. There needs to be a sequel. I am very distressed and not happy. If there is a sequel then I will be content, but it simply can't END THIS WAY! NOOOOOOO! CAROLYN!!! UGH! It was written good and as I writer I applaud, but as a reader I shake my fist! haha. Poor Nazar! So horribly sad. 

All-in-all, this was a good read. It was quick, but written well and certainly entertaining. I loved the blend of POVs, it was done well. I'm glad there was at least one HEA so far. I am not happy with the ending if there is no sequel to come. At least give me a short story! I don't care about Carolyn, but I do want Nazar to have his HEA. He was a nice guy who did SO much for Carolyn. So sad, so sad. I highly recommend this to those that like a little drama in there life. It was an interesting story and it gave me more understanding about Muslims and their religion. Out of 5 stars, I stamp this with 4.