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sylvia221's review against another edition
2.0
I would give this a 2.5 Max because the book has disappointed me in so many ways. I will start with the merits. I loved the way he portrayed the traditions and customs and then the time they spend in Haftballa. It was fearsome yet greatly written.
Now the demerits, First, I didn't like how Kanishka pined for Maihan when the latter was a complete asshole. Yeah he was afraid of getting caught, but it was no excuse for treating Kanishka that way. But Kanishka always forgave Maihan and made all dreams of them together.
I hated Kanishka when he desired every other men he looked. I don't get it. Because I don't think of being with every man I come across. (Just my opinion though.)
Then the first hundred pages, I felt like it was dragging on. The next hundred were awesome, but then the last few pages disappointed me again. I hated that I didn't get to see Faiz getting better, and I wanted Kanishka to be with a man who didn't treat him like a asshole or a dirty secret.
I don't care about Maihan at all because he can fuck off for fuck's sake.
Now the demerits, First, I didn't like how Kanishka pined for Maihan when the latter was a complete asshole. Yeah he was afraid of getting caught, but it was no excuse for treating Kanishka that way. But Kanishka always forgave Maihan and made all dreams of them together.
I hated Kanishka when he desired every other men he looked. I don't get it. Because I don't think of being with every man I come across. (Just my opinion though.)
Then the first hundred pages, I felt like it was dragging on. The next hundred were awesome, but then the last few pages disappointed me again. I hated that I didn't get to see Faiz getting better, and I wanted Kanishka to be with a man who didn't treat him like a asshole or a dirty secret.
I don't care about Maihan at all because he can fuck off for fuck's sake.
autumnk3lly's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Rape, War, and Violence
Moderate: Slavery, Death of parent, and Sexual content
deepanshu_nagpal's review
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
thebookflicker's review against another edition
4.0
"ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅɪꜱᴛᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇᴀꜱᴛ, ᴀ ꜰʟɪᴄᴋᴇʀɪɴɢ ʟᴀᴢʏ ꜱᴜɴ ᴄʟɪᴍʙᴇᴅ ꜱʟᴏᴡʟʏ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀʀɪᴅ ᴍᴏᴜɴᴛᴀɪɴꜱ, ᴅᴡᴀʀꜰɪɴɢ ᴏᴜʀ ᴇxɪꜱᴛᴇɴᴄᴇ. ʟɪᴋᴇ ꜱᴜɴꜰʟᴏᴡᴇʀꜱ, ᴍᴀɪʜᴀɴ ʟᴏᴏᴋᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ɪᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ꜱᴏ ᴅɪᴅ ɪ, ᴏᴜʀ ᴇʏᴇꜱ ꜰʟᴀʀɪɴɢ, ᴀꜱ ɪᴛ ᴘᴀɪɴᴛᴇᴅ ᴏᴜʀ ɴᴀꜱᴄᴇɴᴛ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴀᴘᴘʀᴏᴠɪɴɢ ᴡᴀʀᴍᴛʜ. ᴍᴀɪʜᴀɴ ʜᴀᴅ ʙᴇᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴍɪɴᴇ, ᴀɴᴅ ɪ ʜɪꜱ.”
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. .
I had bought this book from a book fair where I had a chance to meet the author @nematsadat and talk about his book.
The story is set in Afganistan and is about a boy who falls in love with his best friend who are forced to keep their relationship a secret because there is a death penalty to those who are considered a kuni, a derogatory term for gay men.It tells about his struggle and survival during political oppression with one hope of meeting his love again.
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I had bought this book from a book fair where I had a chance to meet the author @nematsadat and talk about his book.
The story is set in Afganistan and is about a boy who falls in love with his best friend who are forced to keep their relationship a secret because there is a death penalty to those who are considered a kuni, a derogatory term for gay men.It tells about his struggle and survival during political oppression with one hope of meeting his love again.
neethuraghavan676's review against another edition
3.0
I couldn't read this book for #pridemonthreads though I had bookmarked many posts and tried to purchase it. The story tells a part of the 1970 history of Afghanistan. Kanishka was born in a community at a time period and a country that was not ready to accept homosexuality. When he was attracted towards his friend since childhood- Maihan, he had to struggle to keep his identity a secret. Being a gay alone cab get him killed.
The novel does not cover the struggles of a homosexual couple but also the maoist activists of the country and their sufferings. Kanishka and his family had to flee from the country after his father was caught by the Police and killed. Their lives as refugees in Pakistan where Kanishka work as a Carpet Weaver were full of miseries. He finally reaches his dream destination, a place where homosexuality was normal- America. But then will he be able to find his long lost love Maihan ?
I liked the construction of characters. All the novels related to the theme #homosexuality have almost the same stories.. because it is just the boundaries that are changed. The view of people towards such a topic is all same. The people who gets attracted to same gender are insulted and harassed everywhere. Be it in the public or be it in the religious texts. To hide our identity is always the greatest pain.
The novel does not cover the struggles of a homosexual couple but also the maoist activists of the country and their sufferings. Kanishka and his family had to flee from the country after his father was caught by the Police and killed. Their lives as refugees in Pakistan where Kanishka work as a Carpet Weaver were full of miseries. He finally reaches his dream destination, a place where homosexuality was normal- America. But then will he be able to find his long lost love Maihan ?
I liked the construction of characters. All the novels related to the theme #homosexuality have almost the same stories.. because it is just the boundaries that are changed. The view of people towards such a topic is all same. The people who gets attracted to same gender are insulted and harassed everywhere. Be it in the public or be it in the religious texts. To hide our identity is always the greatest pain.
_askthebookbug's review against another edition
4.0
The Carpet Weaver.
~
Thank you for the review copy @nematsadat :)
~
There are so many things to like about this novel. Any story that has its roots in Afghanistan instantly becomes my favourite. I've read Khaled Hosseini's books for years now and through his eyes, I managed to see the country's beauty. The Carpet Weaver is another beautiful piece of work that makes you walk on the lands of Afghanistan without ever being there. @nematsadat is a gay Afghan author who now lives in the States. His debut book has managed to bring the literary world to a standstill, in a good way.
~
The story begins from the '70s and stretches till the '80s. Kanishka Nurzada is born into a well-known family in Afghanistan to a man who is a leader of the underground Maoist activity and a pious mother. His father makes wonderful carpets where Kanishka harboured dreams of taking over the store in the future. Kanishka has a secret to hide for the fear of being lynched to death if discovered. He falls in love with his best friend Maihan and dreams of a future where they can hold hands and proclaim love openly. But he knows it's impossible at the moment because being gay can get him killed. A big chunk of the story is about how Kanishka and Maihan fight against the odds to steal little memories of being together. But it all comes to an end soon when war enters the country.
~
There are riots everywhere and with Kanishka's father being taken as a fugitive, his family collapses under the pressure. His relationship with Maihayn gets strained as they are separated for many years. The family faces severe setback when they're thrown into a prison camp where they're forced to make carpets. What follows is the family's fight in securing freedom. This book is intense and almost lyrical. The language used is soothing to the ears. The characters are very well constructed. This book focuses on love for things and people that are forbidden by quoting the verses of religious books. Love is love. And this book shows us why. A brilliant read.
~
Rating - 4.2/5.
~
Thank you for the review copy @nematsadat :)
~
There are so many things to like about this novel. Any story that has its roots in Afghanistan instantly becomes my favourite. I've read Khaled Hosseini's books for years now and through his eyes, I managed to see the country's beauty. The Carpet Weaver is another beautiful piece of work that makes you walk on the lands of Afghanistan without ever being there. @nematsadat is a gay Afghan author who now lives in the States. His debut book has managed to bring the literary world to a standstill, in a good way.
~
The story begins from the '70s and stretches till the '80s. Kanishka Nurzada is born into a well-known family in Afghanistan to a man who is a leader of the underground Maoist activity and a pious mother. His father makes wonderful carpets where Kanishka harboured dreams of taking over the store in the future. Kanishka has a secret to hide for the fear of being lynched to death if discovered. He falls in love with his best friend Maihan and dreams of a future where they can hold hands and proclaim love openly. But he knows it's impossible at the moment because being gay can get him killed. A big chunk of the story is about how Kanishka and Maihan fight against the odds to steal little memories of being together. But it all comes to an end soon when war enters the country.
~
There are riots everywhere and with Kanishka's father being taken as a fugitive, his family collapses under the pressure. His relationship with Maihayn gets strained as they are separated for many years. The family faces severe setback when they're thrown into a prison camp where they're forced to make carpets. What follows is the family's fight in securing freedom. This book is intense and almost lyrical. The language used is soothing to the ears. The characters are very well constructed. This book focuses on love for things and people that are forbidden by quoting the verses of religious books. Love is love. And this book shows us why. A brilliant read.
~
Rating - 4.2/5.
mahi_tiwari's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
fidoe's review against another edition
3.0
Week 1 Book 1
The carpet weaver by Nemat Sadat
Rating: 3/5
This is a historical fiction based in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and America in the end. It revolves around the Nurzada family. The father is a reputed Carpet shop owner, who lives with his devout wife and two kids, a girl Benafsha and a boy Kanishka. The father is secretly a Maoist, and the son has his own secret - he is gay. The book starts in the 1970s when Kanishka is a teenager, and trying to understand what he wants from life and love. A political coup breaks up the family: the father is taken away for being a traitor and the family is faced with the reality of escaping Afghanistan to save their life.
The writing style is comfortable, with beautiful descriptions of Afghanistan, and the life there, their clothes, food, culture. The story is engaging, but feels a little rushed in the end. It's not an easy read, but still an important book to be read, to understand those times and the struggle of those who don't fit in.
The carpet weaver by Nemat Sadat
Rating: 3/5
This is a historical fiction based in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and America in the end. It revolves around the Nurzada family. The father is a reputed Carpet shop owner, who lives with his devout wife and two kids, a girl Benafsha and a boy Kanishka. The father is secretly a Maoist, and the son has his own secret - he is gay. The book starts in the 1970s when Kanishka is a teenager, and trying to understand what he wants from life and love. A political coup breaks up the family: the father is taken away for being a traitor and the family is faced with the reality of escaping Afghanistan to save their life.
The writing style is comfortable, with beautiful descriptions of Afghanistan, and the life there, their clothes, food, culture. The story is engaging, but feels a little rushed in the end. It's not an easy read, but still an important book to be read, to understand those times and the struggle of those who don't fit in.
tatianamgriffin's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this book, but struggled with the pace and amount of unnecessary description. This could have been a much shorter model with the same end result. I wish there could have been a little more depth in characters, which mostly fell flat and felt stereotypical.