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becandbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Trigger warnings:
Dystopia in a way I have never experienced before, Leila is heartwrenching, outspoken, and wholly unique. A story of privilege and the intense grief of a mother Akbar has created a story about a police state with a gorgeous Indian background. It is truly a hidden gem for any reader who enjoys the commentary and brashness of Orwell or Atwood.
The pacing of the beginning felt a little slower than I ideally prefer, but the story quickly becomes undeniably engaging. I highly recommend the audiobook - Rodrigues does an amazing job embodying Akbar's story.
Spoiler
cheating, death of a father, physical illness (specifically emphysema), physical assault & injury, sexual assault, abduction, captivity, cult themesDystopia in a way I have never experienced before, Leila is heartwrenching, outspoken, and wholly unique. A story of privilege and the intense grief of a mother Akbar has created a story about a police state with a gorgeous Indian background. It is truly a hidden gem for any reader who enjoys the commentary and brashness of Orwell or Atwood.
The pacing of the beginning felt a little slower than I ideally prefer, but the story quickly becomes undeniably engaging. I highly recommend the audiobook - Rodrigues does an amazing job embodying Akbar's story.
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Happy reading! ❤
mushypeasonearth's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
tonimarshall84's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
sudeepta_booksteaandmore's review against another edition
4.0
The book is based on a futuristic Indian city where we have high walls dividing all. Within the areas of these walls specific community reside and no intermixing is allowed. There is strict surveillance. If you break any rule than one has to face consequences and one is pushed to fringes. In this, we follow the journey of Shalini who has broken one of the laws and now is in search of her daughter Leila.
This is a really engrossing book that will make you scared and emotional. The author has done an excellent job in terms of world-building and the pace of the novel keeps you engrossed. I loved the way how the author pinpoints to a lot of issue like environmental issues, class distinction in this short read.
For fans of dystopian, I highly recommend this one.
This is a really engrossing book that will make you scared and emotional. The author has done an excellent job in terms of world-building and the pace of the novel keeps you engrossed. I loved the way how the author pinpoints to a lot of issue like environmental issues, class distinction in this short read.
For fans of dystopian, I highly recommend this one.
felicity's review against another edition
Just wasn't working for me. Couldn't get into the story, the characters and plot held no interest for me.
deepakchecks's review against another edition
3.0
The Books on Toast show on Indian books of 2017 was what initiated me to pick up Leila. The premise sounded very interesting - a dystopian plot based on Indian society. The invisible walls of caste/religion/class we see around us today are real concrete walls in Leila. The people who venture to ignore the customs and societal order are targeted and punished, thus forcing the society to abide by the rules set. Ghettoizing becomes the norm and people are convinced that this is the best way to live and let-live.
Riz and Shalini are intermarried couples, move to the East-end (a mixed residential sector) and thus do not abide by the rules set by the community. The life goes smooth for a while, until a gang of political thugs enter their locality and after wrecking havoc on an ongoing party kidnap Shalini. Riz dies and Leila goes missing. The rest of the plot is Shalini enduring the punishment met out to her and her attempts to find Leila.
The themes indeed have a contemporary resonance, even the ending conveyed the sense of helplessness that can be related to and thus haunting. Despite the interesting ideas, I felt the boundaries weren't pushed enough, the writing strictly functional and the middle portions meandering.
Riz and Shalini are intermarried couples, move to the East-end (a mixed residential sector) and thus do not abide by the rules set by the community. The life goes smooth for a while, until a gang of political thugs enter their locality and after wrecking havoc on an ongoing party kidnap Shalini. Riz dies and Leila goes missing. The rest of the plot is Shalini enduring the punishment met out to her and her attempts to find Leila.
The themes indeed have a contemporary resonance, even the ending conveyed the sense of helplessness that can be related to and thus haunting. Despite the interesting ideas, I felt the boundaries weren't pushed enough, the writing strictly functional and the middle portions meandering.
chrysalis11's review against another edition
4.0
Gripping from the very start, this novel is immensely readable. No frills or clunkiness to distract or annoy, Akbar has a wonderful style of writing.
A word for the production quality: this book is beautiful---to read and to hold. The jacket illustration by Harshad Marathe is stunning! If you even read just the first chapter, the illustration will blow your mind with how apt and lovely it is.
As for the story itself, many have called it 'dystopian'. How I wish I could call it a dystopian novel. The walls, the repeaters are our reality today, only the walls are not a physical manifestation yet.
Perhaps a better defining genre might be horror. Because it is the horror of our times.
My only grouse was regarding the discussion about the world abroad (a small part where it talks about the US, etc.). It is an unnecessary interval that opens up questions without answering any. And leads to nothing either. It could have been cropped out to make the novel flow better and tighter.
'Leila' is both terrifying and terrific. One of the best debut novels I have read in recent times.
A word for the production quality: this book is beautiful---to read and to hold. The jacket illustration by Harshad Marathe is stunning! If you even read just the first chapter, the illustration will blow your mind with how apt and lovely it is.
As for the story itself, many have called it 'dystopian'. How I wish I could call it a dystopian novel. The walls, the repeaters are our reality today, only the walls are not a physical manifestation yet.
Perhaps a better defining genre might be horror. Because it is the horror of our times.
My only grouse was regarding the discussion about the world abroad (a small part where it talks about the US, etc.). It is an unnecessary interval that opens up questions without answering any. And leads to nothing either. It could have been cropped out to make the novel flow better and tighter.
'Leila' is both terrifying and terrific. One of the best debut novels I have read in recent times.
dwallis97's review against another edition
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75