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3.61 AVERAGE
3.61 AVERAGE
‘Anyone who can afford it hides behind walls. They think they’re doing it for security, for purity, but somewhere inside its shame, shame at their own greed. How they’ve made the rest of us live.‘
Leila by Prayaag Akbar is a dystopian set in India, where citizens have created walled communities, with interaction between the communities prohibited. We follow Shalini, whose daughter, Leila, was taken on her third birthday. On the same night, Shalini’s husband is killed, and Shalini herself is taken to live in a ‘Purity Camp’, separated from the rest of society. The reason behind this violent separation of the family was because Shalini and her husband were from different communities, and decided to raise Leila away from these communities. Sixteen years on, Shalini still has hope that she will find Leila again.
‘It is not something from me but something of me that has been taken. The part that could feel warmth, happiness, desire. Perhaps I have yielded something of myself.‘
The basis behind the novel is clearly based on the social hierarchies of India’s caste system, which still plays a part in Indian society today. I appreciated the exploration around living against societal norms, and the impact this could have on family relations. I also really empathised with the motherhood aspect – of a mother holding on to hope of seeing her child again even once so many years have passed.
This is a quiet and slow dystopian – think Sophie Mackintosh or Kazuo Ishiguro. The beginning was pretty compelling, and my attention was held towards the end, but the middle of the novel dragged for me, and even now, only a few days after reading it, is kind of a blur. Although I thought the premise of the novel was brilliant, and on paper is exactly the kind of dystopian I should love, unfortunately the middle meant it fell slightly flat for me.
Leila by Prayaag Akbar is a dystopian set in India, where citizens have created walled communities, with interaction between the communities prohibited. We follow Shalini, whose daughter, Leila, was taken on her third birthday. On the same night, Shalini’s husband is killed, and Shalini herself is taken to live in a ‘Purity Camp’, separated from the rest of society. The reason behind this violent separation of the family was because Shalini and her husband were from different communities, and decided to raise Leila away from these communities. Sixteen years on, Shalini still has hope that she will find Leila again.
‘It is not something from me but something of me that has been taken. The part that could feel warmth, happiness, desire. Perhaps I have yielded something of myself.‘
The basis behind the novel is clearly based on the social hierarchies of India’s caste system, which still plays a part in Indian society today. I appreciated the exploration around living against societal norms, and the impact this could have on family relations. I also really empathised with the motherhood aspect – of a mother holding on to hope of seeing her child again even once so many years have passed.
This is a quiet and slow dystopian – think Sophie Mackintosh or Kazuo Ishiguro. The beginning was pretty compelling, and my attention was held towards the end, but the middle of the novel dragged for me, and even now, only a few days after reading it, is kind of a blur. Although I thought the premise of the novel was brilliant, and on paper is exactly the kind of dystopian I should love, unfortunately the middle meant it fell slightly flat for me.
I don't know what to feel. The way the prejudices and discrimination within Shalini were very interesting to read, considering what was happening in her own life, and the world-building too. But I wasn't as involved in the story-telling as I'd hoped.
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
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! ❤
challenging
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
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.
Just wasn't working for me. Couldn't get into the story, the characters and plot held no interest for me.