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_askthebookbug's review
4.0
• r e v i e w •
The Curse by Salma was originally published in 2012 but the newest edition in English includes few stories from the previous book including other works by her. Kalyan Raman has done a brilliant job in translating these stories, managing to keep the essence of them intact. I read Women Dreaming by Salma couple of months ago which spoke of Muslim women trapped in patriarchal homes and when I began reading The Curse Stories, a similar theme emerged from the stories. Salma's writing carries an honesty that comes rarely in other works, the sort of realness that forces the readers to pause and think. These stories capture women who struggle for basic freedoms, their wings clipped and forced into cages. If you're planning to discover a new author this year, let it be her.
This book encloses eight short stories, each powerful as the previous one. My favourite was undeniably 'Toilets', which focuses on how women are denied basic amenities leading them to be prone to health problems. The disposal of menstrual rag can create such dilemma that their cheeks burn with shame. Second favourite was 'The Orbit of Confusion' in which a daughter addresses a letter to her mother which is bubbling of anger, hate and love. It portrays conflicted feelings between a mother-daughter duo. In 'Childhood' a woman faces her past love and reminisces of the times when she was sure of marrying him. While men were pushed to study more, girls were forced to marry quite early. Amidst these favorites were other stories that revolved around women, unlucky and disgruntled by the rules set by the society. Salma is unabashedly open about voicing her opinions when it comes to talking about desires of women and demands people to normalise it. To shed away anything remotely taboo surrounding these simple pleasures. I will certainly read more of Salma and maybe you should too.
Rating : 4.3/5.
Thank you for the copy @speakingtiger
The Curse by Salma was originally published in 2012 but the newest edition in English includes few stories from the previous book including other works by her. Kalyan Raman has done a brilliant job in translating these stories, managing to keep the essence of them intact. I read Women Dreaming by Salma couple of months ago which spoke of Muslim women trapped in patriarchal homes and when I began reading The Curse Stories, a similar theme emerged from the stories. Salma's writing carries an honesty that comes rarely in other works, the sort of realness that forces the readers to pause and think. These stories capture women who struggle for basic freedoms, their wings clipped and forced into cages. If you're planning to discover a new author this year, let it be her.
This book encloses eight short stories, each powerful as the previous one. My favourite was undeniably 'Toilets', which focuses on how women are denied basic amenities leading them to be prone to health problems. The disposal of menstrual rag can create such dilemma that their cheeks burn with shame. Second favourite was 'The Orbit of Confusion' in which a daughter addresses a letter to her mother which is bubbling of anger, hate and love. It portrays conflicted feelings between a mother-daughter duo. In 'Childhood' a woman faces her past love and reminisces of the times when she was sure of marrying him. While men were pushed to study more, girls were forced to marry quite early. Amidst these favorites were other stories that revolved around women, unlucky and disgruntled by the rules set by the society. Salma is unabashedly open about voicing her opinions when it comes to talking about desires of women and demands people to normalise it. To shed away anything remotely taboo surrounding these simple pleasures. I will certainly read more of Salma and maybe you should too.
Rating : 4.3/5.
Thank you for the copy @speakingtiger
mafionn's review
challenging
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
suprita's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.0
Do you read to escape reality or do you read to get a taste of reality?
Because The Curse Stories by Salma, translated by N Kalyan Raman, is one book which will unapologetically give you the latter. These stories shows the strength of Salma’s writing, the way she turns ordinary lives of ordinary women into extraordinary tales of identity, gender and self discovery. Some long some short, these stories give you deep insight into the lives women live everyday, the shame and helplessness that has become synonymous with being a woman in a deeply patriarchal society.
Salma’s stories bring to the forefront topics ranging from abortion, the hush surrounding menstruation, the lack of proper toilets and the relationship between mothers and daughters. Even though the women in these stories live a burdened life by the sole virtue being born women, Salma through her matter-of-fact narration and unflinching words rises above the shame and gives us characters whose “humanity cleanses the dirt in our hearts” and a book which is truly a gift.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Because The Curse Stories by Salma, translated by N Kalyan Raman, is one book which will unapologetically give you the latter. These stories shows the strength of Salma’s writing, the way she turns ordinary lives of ordinary women into extraordinary tales of identity, gender and self discovery. Some long some short, these stories give you deep insight into the lives women live everyday, the shame and helplessness that has become synonymous with being a woman in a deeply patriarchal society.
Salma’s stories bring to the forefront topics ranging from abortion, the hush surrounding menstruation, the lack of proper toilets and the relationship between mothers and daughters. Even though the women in these stories live a burdened life by the sole virtue being born women, Salma through her matter-of-fact narration and unflinching words rises above the shame and gives us characters whose “humanity cleanses the dirt in our hearts” and a book which is truly a gift.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
shelfadmirer's review
4.0
Take a step back and think about women in India. Nope, I am not talking about unsafe streets, or evil eyes following our every move. Picture a household, run by women and governed by men, their way of living dictated by men who are incapable of understanding the ailments and trauma women have to go through, because of their ways.
.
'The Curse' by Salma (Translated from Tamil by N Kalyan Raman) holds close to its bosom, 8 stories of Muslim women from Tamil Nadu. These women are rendered powerless by the men, faced with restrictions that eventually hurt them physically and mentally. In 'The Trap', a women deals firsthand with crippling anxiety, only to be branded as a nagging soul. 'The Curse', also the title of this collection, makes us privy to the curse laid on a family due to one man's actions, one that forces her to confront her family's tragic past and her disenchanted present.
.
'Toilets' tell us how a simple room, at the rear end of the house' is essential for survival. Women are forced to hold their pee, or struggle during menstruation and pregnancy, a luxury inaccessible to women because they are not supposed to talk about it or indulge in these basic activities in front of men.
.
Contrary to the above mentioned stories, 'The Orbit of Confusion' is a letter to her mother, by a daughter who resents her for her actions, actions that are a byproduct of her troubled marriage.
Salma's stories emerge from everyday situation, her characters are a direct reflection of our collective experience. The writing is direct, harsh and poignant, one that will make you want to hop from one collection to another.
.
'The Curse' by Salma (Translated from Tamil by N Kalyan Raman) holds close to its bosom, 8 stories of Muslim women from Tamil Nadu. These women are rendered powerless by the men, faced with restrictions that eventually hurt them physically and mentally. In 'The Trap', a women deals firsthand with crippling anxiety, only to be branded as a nagging soul. 'The Curse', also the title of this collection, makes us privy to the curse laid on a family due to one man's actions, one that forces her to confront her family's tragic past and her disenchanted present.
.
'Toilets' tell us how a simple room, at the rear end of the house' is essential for survival. Women are forced to hold their pee, or struggle during menstruation and pregnancy, a luxury inaccessible to women because they are not supposed to talk about it or indulge in these basic activities in front of men.
.
Contrary to the above mentioned stories, 'The Orbit of Confusion' is a letter to her mother, by a daughter who resents her for her actions, actions that are a byproduct of her troubled marriage.
Salma's stories emerge from everyday situation, her characters are a direct reflection of our collective experience. The writing is direct, harsh and poignant, one that will make you want to hop from one collection to another.
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