When shots ring out on the Grand Trunk Road, Nargis's life begins to crumble around her. ‘The Golden Legend,’ by Nadeem Aslam, follows an imperiled widow in Pakistan. A book written by Masood's father, telling of how all cultures have borrowed from each other and from that we can assume that all men are at base, brothers, figures strongly in the novel. by A rare look into the culture one of one of the world’s most unique ethnic groups, the Maasai people in Kenya, through Western eyes. Enter your mobile number or email address below and we'll send you a link to download the free Kindle App. Without your heritage, you have no future. Art - in particular architecture - is a saving grace too, beauty is revered and protected as much as possible in the context of so much savagery. All Rights Reserved. Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) is a service we offer sellers that lets them store their products in Amazon's fulfillment centers, and we directly pack, ship, and provide customer service for these products. Top subscription boxes – right to your door, Burlington MA- Used Book Superstore -new books too, © 1996-2020, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. But in this beautifully written novel, Aslam succeeds in giving us characters that are both more believable and more conflicted. Explores the consequences of deception, betrayal, adultery and blasphemy, derailing the search for redemption and reconciliation. It has some of the most memorable imagery I have encountered in recent fiction; imagery which harnesses character to theme, and which remains with you long after you have finished reading the novel. To see what your friends thought of this book, [It may be some time before I have the bandwidth to write proper reviews. The scene in which Stella adopts her white persona is a tour de force of doubling and confusion. Whether you emerge sadder or wiser depends on your ability to listen and to understand. "And Now She's Gone should be at the top of your must-read list. 1821: A cargo of children deported to the cane fields of Jamaica. Tremendous read and one of the best novels (though I also marked it as historical fiction as there were enough parts - like the interweaving of the American "diplomat" taken into custody in Pakistan - to give the story some historical backdrop) of the year. Start by marking “The Golden Legend” as Want to Read: Error rating book. Here, Aslam is showing a certain inability to reconcile his distance from the lifeworld that the characters inhabit. I am an equally huge fan of two of Aslam's other books, The Blind Man's Garden and The Wasted Vigil, which show similar sensibilities and are well worth a read. This one? . But, everywhere he goes, blood follows him. This Study Guide consists of approximately 36 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of The Golden Legend. Subscribe to receive some of our best reviews, "beyond the book" articles, book club info, and giveaways by email. When shots ring out on the Grand Trunk Road in the fictional Pakistani city of Zamara, Nargis’s life begins to crumble around her. Can be disturbing for sure. ), having already suggested why there are many good reasons to hide inside inventions in a Pakistan that is increasingly torn apart by sectarian strife, the muezzin’s call punctuated by denunciations of romance across religious lines as gentle young scholars rush to join the jihadis. Unable to add item to List. These items are shipped from and sold by different sellers. The book that Massud is holding when he is shot was authored by his own father. This is an extraordinary book. A worthy and insighfull read. It is impossible to ignore. . The capacity for violence and hate in humans and to use that hatred and violence in the name of religion, any religion, is terribly sad making. Something went wrong. This is a powerful and mournful book about loss and a spellbinding read. A novel of our times, a novel for all times. Sounds a bit heavy on the symbolism? ‧ If all religions were practiced in the manner, of say, Jimmy Carter or the Dali Llama I would have no problems with them and would actually admire them but they are not. $39 for a year. Find books by time period, setting & theme, Read-alike suggestions by book and author. It's really hard to read in a lot of places. Lovely book, well written with well developed characters and a great story. For weeks someone has been broadcasting people's secrets from the minaret of the local mosque, and, in a country where even the accusation of blasphemy is a currency to be bartered, the mysterious broadcasts have struck fear in Christians and Muslims alike. The sense of place is breathtaking, the prose is beautiful and heartbreaking. To him “evil” was now just another word for stupidity, for not knowing what really mattered in life –in your own and in the lives of others.”, Beautiful and Terrifying--I Hope More People Read It, Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2018. If you're a seller, Fulfillment by Amazon can help you grow your business. The Arms of Death is the riveting first book in the Loch Lonach Mystery Series featuring murder, mayhem, and men in kilts. “A Compelling Bestseller” Independent. Ina Garten's Latest Cozy and Delicious Recipes, Read the Book Behind the Showtime Limited Series, Books Sure to Be on Everyone’s Holiday List, Audiobooks Read By Your Favorite Celebrities, Chilling Audiobooks for a Haunting Halloween. This is such a moving and well-crafted book. Unable to add item to List. Not nearly as lyrical as some of his early work, and thus the characters emerge as shallower, blurrier than before. Laurel Mack’s life stopped in many ways the day her 15-year-old daughter, Ellie, left the house to study at the library and never returned. Jude, so black that strangers routinely stare, is unrecognizable to her aunt. Brit Bennett His novel Maps for Lost Lovers, winner of the Kuriyama Prize, took him more than a decade to complete. We are experiencing technical difficulties. He creates warm, often cerebral characters who become embroiled in geopolitical events. Aslam’s crystalline prose and emotionally nuanced characters give his novel a wide resonance. "The mass graves of Kashmiris, who had been killed and buried in secret by Indian soldiers, were beginning to be discovered by then, and thousands of young men were missing - either murdered, or crossing the border into Pakistan for guerilla training. You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition. In shimmering and exquisite prose the author rails against the various forms of religious bigotry and hatred in a dystopian Pakistan: a wife, Nargis,and her Muslim husband, Masood, who are architects where Nargis lives a lie--a Christian taking on a Muslim identity; a young Christian girl, Helen, they consider their protégé; her widowed father, Lily, in love with a Muslim cleric's daughter and she him; the love between Helen and a young Kashmiri, Imran, a former guerrilla fighter. I found that the Golden Legend tried to touch on many themes and make many points in a delicately poetic style of writing, too many perhaps to remain coherent. . Nadeem Aslam FRSL (born 11 July 1966 in Gujranwala, Pakistan) is a prize-winning British Pakistani novelist. When shots ring out on the Grand Trunk Road in the fictional Pakistani city of Zamara, Nargis’s life begins to crumble around her. These ebooks can only be redeemed by recipients in the US. 2 pages at 400 words per page) View a … Aslam has stated that the first chapter alone took five years to complete, and that the following story in the book took seven months to complete before rejecting it. By Mushtaq Bilal. Superlatives feel downright insufficient.” —The Christian Science Monitor, Sign up for news about books, authors, and more from Penguin Random House, Visit other sites in the Penguin Random House Network. She's disarmed by Floyd’s charm, but when she meets his young daughter, Poppy, Laurel is startled by her resemblance to Ellie. Nadeem Aslam is a master of the craft of writing. I kept thinking about the quote on the cover page that said "There is no greater denier of God than he who accepts injustice instead of rebelling." Although this is his primary focus he also illustrates similar conduct by the Christians and Hindus when they are given the chance. It is difficult to read. If the violence of religious and political bigotry seems at times almost overwhelming there is always the presence of hope, a vision of tolerance, and, in the relationship between Helen and Imran, there is also love. A revelatory portrait of the human spirit, in The Golden Legend, Nadeem Aslam gives us a novel of Pakistan’s past and present—a story of corruption and resilience, of love and terror, and of the disguises that are sometimes necessary for survival. It’s set in Pakistan and concerns several individuals caught in the middle of a fraught religious struggle. . What happens next? By clicking Sign Up, I acknowledge that I have read and agree to Penguin Random House's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use. Persecution is extreme: beheadings, whippings, stonings. Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2018. Reader Reviews. Learn more. Persecution is extreme: beheadings, whippings, stonings. Publication Information. Enough said. - Library Journal The Golden Legend review – beauty and pain in Pakistan Realism and fable combine in Nadeem Aslam’s tale of terrorism, tragedy and romance across religious divides Lara Feigel Reviewed in the United States on April 22, 2017. . Just $12 for 3 months or Despite and in spite of odds its characters face in a place where uncertainty and violence is part of a daily life, each. From the ground beneath my feet this is a great novel by an extraordinarily talented writer. Please try again. There is much violence: Nargis’ Christian housekeepers are still mourning the loss of one of their own, murdered by a man just recently freed from prison as a reward for having memorized the Quran, and now Nargis must deal with grief herself, her husband caught in the crossfire of a gunfight involving a “large healthily built white man.” She has barely a moment to mourn when Pakistani military intelligence agents are at her door to demand that she forgive the American for the death—a demand that carries the implication that if she does not comply, her secret will come spilling out to destroy the rest of her family. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. What did surprise me was the abundance of love nestled within the pages - the kind that reminds you of the life within you - yes I had forgotten all the good things about my home land. It is set in Afghanistan. His Map for Lost Lovers remains one of my favorite novels of this century. An architect named Nargis hides a dangerous secret which she must reckon with when her Christian friends Helen and her father Lily find themselves embroiled in a serious conflict with the strict Muslims of the community.
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