I just finished reading ATSS today- roughly an hour ago.
During the course of reading this book, tears have rolled down my cheeks- not once or twice- but so many times that I didn't keep count- not because I couldn't have but because I didn't want to.
It is, undoubtedly, a book that will break your heart- mostly slowly but sometimes heavily. It will pierce you and unsettle you, disturb you.
Usually, I'd say that I myself avoid seeing movies or reading books that are so heart-wrenching; but not for this one. Because this is not a made-up; dramatic storytelling that is made solely to tear you up. No. Nothing in this story feels over the top- or exaggerated- or simply, something that has not happened already or is not happening even today in the war-torn areas on a daily basis. It is a reality.
It is full of everyday misery faced by a considerable part of human
population around the world.
Author's most spectacular skill is the way he has designed the
characters of his novel- especially Mariam and Laila.
Mariam's character will definitely occupy my mind for a good amount
of time and will etch a place in my heart forever. I will always remember Mariam- in times of difficulty and distress. Her journey was marked with a lot of things- but mainly marked by how unkind life had been to her. The only thing which made me feel might've pleased her- was how she could finally become brave; how she found solace- albeit for a lesser portion of her life.
LAILA! Oh sweet and wise Laila! She is the perfect daughter, lover,
Mother and companion. She doesn't hold grudges, tries to be practical, loves purely and without bounds and is never without grit.
There is so much to learn from this work of literature- both for a writer
and a reader. The art of storytelling is at a level that I haven't seen before.
The depth of characters- frequently conveyed through plain
conversations and observations is the key point of the narrative. This is what makes a reader truly connect with the characters so tightly that whenever a dreadful situation befalls them, you feel the pain. You want to get up from your seat, run to them, pick them up and console them to no end. You want to tell them they are not at fault; you want to tell them how courageous they are.
You are touched by all the goodness in the book although the major
portion of the book deals with terror, fear, dread, hatred, agony, selfishness, disregard and plain injustice. This showed me how goodness has the ability to touch you even amidst all the evilness. How it makes you hopeful!
Some major learnings from this book were:
FROM JALIL: Do not delay anything good that you want to say to someone. Do not delay to apologize to someone- better still, do not give those a reason to dislike you- those who see you through rose-tinted glasses.
FROM MARIAM: Do not let anyone else(who has not done anything wrong) suffer even if you have not seen anything except suffering throughout your life. Never lose compassion. An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind.
Never feel that you are 'NOT WORTHY' of anything or something- just because you grew up devoid of love/care/concern/material things. Do not think that this is what you deserve and nothing more. Because you do. You always do.
FROM LAILA: To be loving in the harshest of circumstances. To stand for yourself and for what you feel is right. To understand your worth and achieve your potential. To understand the difference between a criminal and an innocent. To be grateful; to pick yourself up even under the gravest of circumstances and to never forget all those who filled your life with good memories.
FROM TARIQ: To be courageous. To fulfil the promises you made. To always be there for your love. To be able to fight the bullies; to be progressive and ahead of times; to respect the opinions of your partner and to love with passion and honesty. TARIQ is both strong and sensitive. He is both protective and caring. He both liberates and anchors. He works very hard to provide for the people he dearly loves. He loves his kids- equally(if not more) even though life has given him a solid reason to differentiate between the two.
I will keep coming back to this book and this review and keep adding things to it. I loved this read a lot and it will surely be one of my most favorite reads of all times
I was thinking should I tell you this or not. Few days back during my morning walk a Shiva temple up above and far away from my track and as I was crossing a snake 🐍 in alignment to the temple just crossed before me so close that it just kissed my shoes and went in Shiva's flower plant and I remember that day something splendid happened in context with you. I always learn from your words as you are ahead of me and I am getting a more clear picture of life❤️.
Listening from you is healing for me everytime.