Although originally it is in Malayalam by Benyamin, it is translated by Shanaz Habib. The writing style is phenomenal, each line in the book is relevant. The scene where he gifts her a guitar while the rest of the Taya ghar is giving her a hard time in having an interest in music let alone going out and having musical sessions with a group which consists of boys and girls was just so profound. I loved the bond between Sameera and her father. This book has been narrated in such a simple yet powerful way that it was impossible for me to put it down until I reached the last page. The fluidity of narration is like melted butter on a hot toast. Sometimes just one person’s perspective on life can become so interesting to know if the writing is good. I just wanted to talk about it, read more about it even google about it. I was on the edge to know what happens next and by the end of it, I was left with myriads of emotions. The book just keeps getting better with every passing page. This book throws light into divisions of Muslims, as to how the Muslim community got divided into Shia and Sunni. War, tension, prejudice, and violence feel all too real during her narration to an unknown person called Javed. And we have Sameera and Ali bearing the brunt of it.Ī revolution between the Supporters of his Majesty and the Locals to bring down the Government, a fight between the Shias and Sunnis to stop discrimination. As she starts to get an understanding of this new life and make her way through it the city gets embroiled in a revolution. Sameera starts enjoying her musical escapades with them. He introduces her to the String Walkers, a music group. One day she befriends a boy named Ali Fardan. This shift away from home and her new job as an RJ at Orange radio get her closer to assimilating with people of different backgrounds and ethnicities.

Everyone dotes on her and the house is always brimming with activities. The protagonist in the story is a migrant called Sameera, she moves from Pakistan into an unnamed middle eastern city and gets accustomed to living with her father and relatives in a house called the Taya ghar.

This is my first brush with political- fiction genre and I enjoyed it. Winner of the JCB Prize for Literature, 2018.

No religion is higher than humanity – Abdul Sattar Edhi

Jasmine days book