Khwab Nama - Akhtaruzzaman Elias

Fiction

Verdict: Read it

This was a confusing one for me. I've been open about how Bengali and Bangladeshi language and culture confuse me. It's like a familiar item, only something is a bit off. Like putting potatoes in Biryani. 

I can't remember why I picked this up, nor have I read anything from the author previously. It's a novel centering around a family living in a small village. They are not a traditional family as a Sufi Pir's daughter was married to a widower and has a step son. Theirs isn't a passionate marriage but she takes comfort in his presence and stability. His health is never good and she finds herself a widow after some time. There are many references to a community lake, local folklore, superstitions, and fishing culture that I found especially hard to identify with. 

There's not much plot going on here. It rambles through every day life without much drama or contemplation. It's also not a small novel. There is some commentary on class differences which I found interesting, but not different from any other novel. 

Read it if you have an interest.

~Becky~

Blood Brothers - MJ Akbar

I'm not quite sure why I picked up this book, but I'm glad I did. I tend to favor family saga stories that span for a few generations and cover the culture of different countries. This is one such book.

Blood Brothers focuses on a Hindu orphan who wanders into a small village outside of Calcutta and is taken in by a Muslim family that owns a tea stall. The boy eventually converts and builds his own successful business and home in the village. His own children's lives and current events are included.

The time period for this book is during the Partition of India and Pakistan, which was a notoriously difficult time for India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Neighbors that had always lived side by side with respect found themselves swept up in waves of suspicion, bigotry, and violence.

It serves as a very sad reminder of how changing tides of opinion can sway even the longest acquaintances.

This book is definitely worth the time. You'll learn about Bangladesh and some of the hatred that haunts different communities to this day.

Verdict: Read it!