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amat_malak's review against another edition
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
"Who was the first one, Mama, the first to kill when they decided to break apart India?"
This book and Nisha's thoughts on the partition of India are very similar to mine. Even though she's a young teenager, her feelings about herself, her loved ones and her country have a tragic poignancy.
The author made me smile, gasp and almost moved me to tears. I'm so happy about the ending. You don't see a happy ending in most partition literature.
This book and Nisha's thoughts on the partition of India are very similar to mine. Even though she's a young teenager, her feelings about herself, her loved ones and her country have a tragic poignancy.
The author made me smile, gasp and almost moved me to tears. I'm so happy about the ending. You don't see a happy ending in most partition literature.
katerintree's review against another edition
4.0
A gripping story abt a part of history I was completely ignorant of.
Told in the form of a girl’s diary to her deceased mother, this is the story of a Hindi (Hindu?) family forced to relocate after the partition of India. Violence & unrest follows her family as they make the dangerous journey.
A book I felt deeply.
Told in the form of a girl’s diary to her deceased mother, this is the story of a Hindi (Hindu?) family forced to relocate after the partition of India. Violence & unrest follows her family as they make the dangerous journey.
A book I felt deeply.
notinjersey's review against another edition
4.0
This book wasn’t on my radar at all until it was chosen for a buddy read I’m in. I didn’t have another audio book to pick up so I chose this one. It describes the partition of India into India and Pakistan in the voice of a 12 year old girl composing letters to her mother, who passed away. This story reminded me of the creation of Israel and had me thinking I’d like to read a book about that as well. It was a moving account of what happened to the families who became refugees in this time period.
notinjersey's review against another edition
4.0
This book wasn’t on my radar at all until it was chosen for a buddy read I’m in. I didn’t have another audio book to pick up so I chose this one. It describes the partition of India into India and Pakistan in the voice of a 12 year old girl composing letters to her mother, who passed away. This story reminded me of the creation of Israel and had me thinking I’d like to read a book about that as well. It was a moving account of what happened to the families who became refugees in this time period.
lkthomas07's review against another edition
3.0
I know almost nothing about the partition of India, so this was really interesting. The diary/letter format made it easy to read, yet didn't allow for as much information as I wanted to know! A twelve year old girl who doesn't really know what's happening or why doesn't explain things very well ;-) I liked getting her hear Nisha's POV though. Well done.
the_argumentative_bong's review against another edition
4.0
The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani is an epistolary novel written from the viewpoint of a 12-year old girl Nisha, addressed to her long-dead mother. The book follows little Nisha, who together with her family, is forced to leave their home in Pakistan following the partition of India in 1947.
“Half-Muslim, half-Hindu twelve-year-old Nisha doesn't know where she belongs, or what her country is anymore. When Papa decides it's too dangerous to stay in what is now Pakistan, Nisha and her family become refugees and embark first by train but later on foot to reach her new home. The journey is long, difficult, and dangerous, and after losing her mother as a baby, Nisha can't imagine losing her homeland, too. But even if her country has been ripped apart, Nisha still believes in the possibility of putting herself back together.”
It is a beautifully written tale of a young girl's confusion, bewilderment, fear and sadness, when she leaves their home and town for good and travel many kilometres away to a new country to start their lives all over again, amidst an atmosphere of unexpected anger and religious hatred amongst those very people who had lived together for years in companionable harmony.
Although, strictly speaking, such coherence of thoughts in a 12-year old is hard to expect and accept; the writing style is simple, emotional and mesmerizing. Narrated by a child, the violence and the brutality is kept at a minimum, partly because it is a middle grade historical fiction, and partly to focus on a child’s innocent perspective about one of the most heartbreaking episodes of India’s struggle for independence. As an overly sensitive child, Nisha witnesses and experiences many things that may be overlooked by adults, but she cannot communicate her feelings aloud to anyone except her twin brother, and through her letters...to her mother.
The Night Diary is an emotional and insightful book that asks questions that are still left unanswered, even after more than 70 years of Indian independence.
“Half-Muslim, half-Hindu twelve-year-old Nisha doesn't know where she belongs, or what her country is anymore. When Papa decides it's too dangerous to stay in what is now Pakistan, Nisha and her family become refugees and embark first by train but later on foot to reach her new home. The journey is long, difficult, and dangerous, and after losing her mother as a baby, Nisha can't imagine losing her homeland, too. But even if her country has been ripped apart, Nisha still believes in the possibility of putting herself back together.”
It is a beautifully written tale of a young girl's confusion, bewilderment, fear and sadness, when she leaves their home and town for good and travel many kilometres away to a new country to start their lives all over again, amidst an atmosphere of unexpected anger and religious hatred amongst those very people who had lived together for years in companionable harmony.
Although, strictly speaking, such coherence of thoughts in a 12-year old is hard to expect and accept; the writing style is simple, emotional and mesmerizing. Narrated by a child, the violence and the brutality is kept at a minimum, partly because it is a middle grade historical fiction, and partly to focus on a child’s innocent perspective about one of the most heartbreaking episodes of India’s struggle for independence. As an overly sensitive child, Nisha witnesses and experiences many things that may be overlooked by adults, but she cannot communicate her feelings aloud to anyone except her twin brother, and through her letters...to her mother.
The Night Diary is an emotional and insightful book that asks questions that are still left unanswered, even after more than 70 years of Indian independence.
rovie_reads's review against another edition
4.0
The Night Diary is a historical fiction set in 1947, during the time when India got its independence from British. The book was told through Nisha's diary where she writes letter to her deceased Mom about her day to day life. She lives in India along with her Dad who is a doctor, his twin brother and paternal grandmother. They were living peacefully until chaos erupted after the said independence when their leaders decided that dividing their country would be the best way to attain true peace and freedom. Her Papa feared of being caught up in all the mess, so they decided to pack their things and cross the boarder towards the "new" India. We follow their journey as they traveled on foot along with thousands of Indian Hindus to seek a new place they should now call home. The journey was extremely dangerous. Apart from making sure they have enough food and rest, they also needed to watch out for violence, as encounters between Indian Muslims and Indian Hindus almost always end up in beating and killings.
It was a heartbreaking yet very inspiring story. Nisha kept on questioning why people in position would allow such thing to happen. Why would race and religion be a factor in separating people? Why can't they all just live together peacefully? Her 12 year old self have been through a lot even when they were settled on heir new home. I love the relationship she shared with her twin and her faith that their family would survive despite everything. Veera Hiranandani drew inspiration in writing this story from the experiences of her own grandfather's family as refugees crossing the same boarders from Mirpur Khas to Jodhpur.
Content Warnings: violence (bullying, beating and attempted killings), death (not on-page), signs of trauma, racism.
It was a heartbreaking yet very inspiring story. Nisha kept on questioning why people in position would allow such thing to happen. Why would race and religion be a factor in separating people? Why can't they all just live together peacefully? Her 12 year old self have been through a lot even when they were settled on heir new home. I love the relationship she shared with her twin and her faith that their family would survive despite everything. Veera Hiranandani drew inspiration in writing this story from the experiences of her own grandfather's family as refugees crossing the same boarders from Mirpur Khas to Jodhpur.
Content Warnings: violence (bullying, beating and attempted killings), death (not on-page), signs of trauma, racism.
kmishmael's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
kawarwick's review against another edition
4.0
I always enjoy reading about a time period/event that I don't know a lot about.
jcdreads's review against another edition
5.0
I read this book with my sons and we loved it! They were so interested in Nisha’s family’s journey during the Partition of India. They kept pausing to reflect on how difficult that journey would be, the leaving behind of everything you’ve ever known, the walking, the lack of water—the violence.
My youngest (11) said he loved how the book started out relatively happy with the family all together, and that although it was intense and scary, he’s really glad the story ended on a happy note with everyone safe and together. He says his only complaint is that it seemed too short.
My oldest (13) also really enjoyed it, although he says diary books aren’t his favourite type of book. He still really enjoyed the story and learning more about this moment in history.
My youngest (11) said he loved how the book started out relatively happy with the family all together, and that although it was intense and scary, he’s really glad the story ended on a happy note with everyone safe and together. He says his only complaint is that it seemed too short.
My oldest (13) also really enjoyed it, although he says diary books aren’t his favourite type of book. He still really enjoyed the story and learning more about this moment in history.