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3.95 AVERAGE
3.95 AVERAGE
This was a difficult novel to review. It’s good, let’s start there. It’s definitely worth reading. I personally love a book that is critical of everything—nothing is objectively good or bad, and good and bad can be found in everything. That measured judgement is frequently lacking, especially in a novel, where it’s extraordinarily easy to be reductive in assessments.
All of that said, the genius child that Aliya is a bit convenient. She always has measured judgement, respect for elders, even when they don’t deserve it, an unfailing commitment to her values and moral code—she literally never does anything wrong, while simultaneously recognizing the failings of others.
But, it was an enjoyable read.
All of that said, the genius child that Aliya is a bit convenient. She always has measured judgement, respect for elders, even when they don’t deserve it, an unfailing commitment to her values and moral code—she literally never does anything wrong, while simultaneously recognizing the failings of others.
But, it was an enjoyable read.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
| Book Review | The Women's Courtyard
•
There are certain books that you desperately wish to fall in love with. You wait till the very last chapter to see if all those hours of reading are worth it. While few of the stories turn for the best, there are others that simply fail to impress us. The Women's Courtyard, for me falls into the latter category. Originally written in1962, this novel was and still is considered to be a feminist masterpiece. But I can't help but wonder why? Don't mind me when I say that the entire experience of enjoying this book was somehow lost on me. I do however loved the manner in which Daisy Rockwell has translated this novel. So much so that one cannot even make out the fact that it was originally written in Urdu.
•
Set during the pre and post Independence era, The Women's Courtyard is about the lives of women within a particular household. Aliya, the protagonist takes us through the plight of women when their husbands and sons take part in rallies against British and join religious parties. While few of the men are imprisoned, few die and others remain unemployed, it's the women who bear the brunt of it. I probably wouldn't have known the underlying feminism that the book holds if I hadn't read about it earlier. The female characters are all shades of temperament ranging from the quiet Tehmina to the unabashedly shameless Amma. I do understand how Mastur has tried to create a stark contrast between the women but I often felt that most of it was unnecessary.
•
While women of the house managed and rationed the limited food and other commodities, the men liked to lounge around. From having to deal with her father who is imprisoned to the uncle who doesn't work, Aliya seems to have an abundance of love for every other character except Jameel. Jameel's constant pleads to marry him was lost on Aliya. Her feelings towards love was repulsive for the things her sister and neighbour had to suffer. Considering how she felt about love, it was surprising to see how the book ended. It was rushed, messy and extremely unwanted. Although this book has garnered much love across the community, I'm afraid I do not feel the same way.
•
3/5.
•
There are certain books that you desperately wish to fall in love with. You wait till the very last chapter to see if all those hours of reading are worth it. While few of the stories turn for the best, there are others that simply fail to impress us. The Women's Courtyard, for me falls into the latter category. Originally written in1962, this novel was and still is considered to be a feminist masterpiece. But I can't help but wonder why? Don't mind me when I say that the entire experience of enjoying this book was somehow lost on me. I do however loved the manner in which Daisy Rockwell has translated this novel. So much so that one cannot even make out the fact that it was originally written in Urdu.
•
Set during the pre and post Independence era, The Women's Courtyard is about the lives of women within a particular household. Aliya, the protagonist takes us through the plight of women when their husbands and sons take part in rallies against British and join religious parties. While few of the men are imprisoned, few die and others remain unemployed, it's the women who bear the brunt of it. I probably wouldn't have known the underlying feminism that the book holds if I hadn't read about it earlier. The female characters are all shades of temperament ranging from the quiet Tehmina to the unabashedly shameless Amma. I do understand how Mastur has tried to create a stark contrast between the women but I often felt that most of it was unnecessary.
•
While women of the house managed and rationed the limited food and other commodities, the men liked to lounge around. From having to deal with her father who is imprisoned to the uncle who doesn't work, Aliya seems to have an abundance of love for every other character except Jameel. Jameel's constant pleads to marry him was lost on Aliya. Her feelings towards love was repulsive for the things her sister and neighbour had to suffer. Considering how she felt about love, it was surprising to see how the book ended. It was rushed, messy and extremely unwanted. Although this book has garnered much love across the community, I'm afraid I do not feel the same way.
•
3/5.
Why is this book good?
There are many many reviews to tell you that. I would have been pleased to enjoy it the same but there were things that I couldn't go past and it has left me feeling angry at the book. (Review might belong)
• Feminism: The book was noted to be an important piece of literature showing women's inner life, their miseries in society (basically importance of feminism) but I would say it has outright failed at it.
The book starts by establishing how the sole achievement for women getting married leads to their demise. Then this only adds trauma to the story rather than a base of needing change.
Next, when we see Amma living her life dependant on people and cursing them, When we see Aunty constantly crying over misfortunes due to the country's freedom fight but never having enough reason to understand that enemy isn't her family but the system itself or When we see Bua's unnecessary bulling of Asrar Miyan, you don't think that their life in society would be better if these women had rights and equality. This perspective puts women in a bad light and almost feels like an encouragement that women are dumb and society is right to oppress them.
Secondly, we see more technically strong characters such as Najma Aunty, who does encourage better thinking and new changes but ends up suffering; Aliya who fights her way through misfortunes only to keep having conflicting thoughts throughout the story; and Chammi who is stubborn and often indiscipline, paves her away and wins at last, by marrying the man she wanted, completely giving in to the thought that women's achievement is finding a groom.
• Characters:
Repetitive - nobody in this book makes any progress whatsoever. Each character stays right where they had been or dies. Nobody solves anything, nobody takes wise decisions and everyone has complaints on everything which are justified by blaming something or something else. Why is every character shown so much incapable to grow in thoughts at the least? Sure, war and freedom struggle stop them from making financial progress but why does the story cage them into their story for more than 10 years?
Conflicting - The narrator is highly conflicting. She will cry to be independent and in the same scene will curse someone for not providing enough. She will feel enraged by the ongoing norms of society and wish death upon the same people she pities. Throughout the story, she hates the dreamy promises of love, only to end up choosing her dead sister's lover as a life partner in the climax and then in the right next paragraph shouting how she would never marry. A feeling of defeat to not have found a suitable match follows this scene. Pardon me but that's beyond my understanding.
• Partition: Characters are disputing over sides just as the country was but fail to show the sufferings people faced due to colonialism and politics. Instead of paints a picture that citizens and their internal conflicts (or even lack of sense) were the reason for suffering depriving the reader to sympathies for respectful freedom fighters and the general public of that time.
- These were my experience with the book. I do not claim my perspective as the accurate interpretation of the book but just a different look along with all the appreciative reviews out there.
There are many many reviews to tell you that. I would have been pleased to enjoy it the same but there were things that I couldn't go past and it has left me feeling angry at the book. (Review might belong)
• Feminism: The book was noted to be an important piece of literature showing women's inner life, their miseries in society (basically importance of feminism) but I would say it has outright failed at it.
The book starts by establishing how the sole achievement for women getting married leads to their demise. Then this only adds trauma to the story rather than a base of needing change.
Next, when we see Amma living her life dependant on people and cursing them, When we see Aunty constantly crying over misfortunes due to the country's freedom fight but never having enough reason to understand that enemy isn't her family but the system itself or When we see Bua's unnecessary bulling of Asrar Miyan, you don't think that their life in society would be better if these women had rights and equality. This perspective puts women in a bad light and almost feels like an encouragement that women are dumb and society is right to oppress them.
Secondly, we see more technically strong characters such as Najma Aunty, who does encourage better thinking and new changes but ends up suffering; Aliya who fights her way through misfortunes only to keep having conflicting thoughts throughout the story; and Chammi who is stubborn and often indiscipline, paves her away and wins at last, by marrying the man she wanted, completely giving in to the thought that women's achievement is finding a groom.
• Characters:
Repetitive - nobody in this book makes any progress whatsoever. Each character stays right where they had been or dies. Nobody solves anything, nobody takes wise decisions and everyone has complaints on everything which are justified by blaming something or something else. Why is every character shown so much incapable to grow in thoughts at the least? Sure, war and freedom struggle stop them from making financial progress but why does the story cage them into their story for more than 10 years?
Conflicting - The narrator is highly conflicting. She will cry to be independent and in the same scene will curse someone for not providing enough. She will feel enraged by the ongoing norms of society and wish death upon the same people she pities. Throughout the story, she hates the dreamy promises of love, only to end up choosing her dead sister's lover as a life partner in the climax and then in the right next paragraph shouting how she would never marry. A feeling of defeat to not have found a suitable match follows this scene. Pardon me but that's beyond my understanding.
• Partition: Characters are disputing over sides just as the country was but fail to show the sufferings people faced due to colonialism and politics. Instead of paints a picture that citizens and their internal conflicts (or even lack of sense) were the reason for suffering depriving the reader to sympathies for respectful freedom fighters and the general public of that time.
- These were my experience with the book. I do not claim my perspective as the accurate interpretation of the book but just a different look along with all the appreciative reviews out there.
I personally love a book that is critical of everything, congested with a claustrophobic environment and this is precisely the point here. Set in the ‘40s in the pre-independence phase with partition impending as the dark gloomy shadow, this book is not about the political leaders and fighters but about people who were being renounced long before the fight for freedom started. It is the story of the lives of the women, their children, and households that were spurned and silently sacrificed, confined in the 4 walls of their homes, demoted from an opulent lifestyle to a bare survival nick. There are multiple nuances and gradations of South Asian cultures, conformity, and tradition which lures the female protagonist, Aliya determined to stand out. Aliya finds herself securely sealed within the suffocating confines of her home and evokes a sense of measured judgement and individual independence which in no way sabotages the classical duties expected of a South-Asian girl to her family.
This book is a fine feminist literary classic with the courtyard as the central environment, with regard to the bygone era where the courtyard was a place where women used to gather together. I was traumatized till the very last paragraph and with my expectations of the story’s ending but the way in which the author swept me off my feet towards the climax was imposing. The book is radically ahead of its time that delineates the tart tussle and battle women fight, far from the battlefield.
This book is a fine feminist literary classic with the courtyard as the central environment, with regard to the bygone era where the courtyard was a place where women used to gather together. I was traumatized till the very last paragraph and with my expectations of the story’s ending but the way in which the author swept me off my feet towards the climax was imposing. The book is radically ahead of its time that delineates the tart tussle and battle women fight, far from the battlefield.
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault
My 300th post and I am glad that's it's a review of one of the finest books I have read this year. Read on to hear my thoughts about it.
~
Khadija Mastur was known as the Bronte sister of Urdu literature. I can see why. This book is a literary masterpiece. Read on to hear my thoughts about it. Very delicately translated by Daisy Rockwell.
~
This novel is set in the 1940’s in the background of Indian independence and with the partition looming as a dark shadow. It also puts light on the political furore that went within the country during those times.
~
This is the story of Aliya, who lives her life like a caged bird in the inner courtyard of her house. She is tired of the trifle squabbles that take place in her home everyday. She longs to educate herself and spread her wings in the wide sky. The women of the household are engrossed in gossips and picking fights over events in the past. The situation worsens when Aliya’s sister commits suicide and shortly later her father is arrested. She and her mother shift to her Uncle’s place where the situation is far from perfect, men engrossed in the political happenings in the country and women who only dream of stepping outside the house. Aliya keeps herself busy in her books and studies and dreams of a free life one day and that forms the rest of the story.
~
This book is a fine feminist classic with the courtyard as the central setting, with respect to the bygone era where the courtyard was a place where women used to gather together. I loved how the book had a feminist tone, which was very ahead of its time. It was a very difficult review to write as I had so many thoughts while reading it.
~
This is not a partition or a political novel per say. Overall this is a masterpiece and I finished it in two days. Please also read the Afterword by Daisy Rockwell as it will help you to understand the book better, it’s a treasure trove. This book releases on October 10, 2018, so be sure to keep an eye on it as you don’t want to miss out on this one!! Full review on the blog. Link- https://thebookishtales.wordpress.com/2018/09/27/the-womens-courtyard-by-khadija-mastur-review/
~
Khadija Mastur was known as the Bronte sister of Urdu literature. I can see why. This book is a literary masterpiece. Read on to hear my thoughts about it. Very delicately translated by Daisy Rockwell.
~
This novel is set in the 1940’s in the background of Indian independence and with the partition looming as a dark shadow. It also puts light on the political furore that went within the country during those times.
~
This is the story of Aliya, who lives her life like a caged bird in the inner courtyard of her house. She is tired of the trifle squabbles that take place in her home everyday. She longs to educate herself and spread her wings in the wide sky. The women of the household are engrossed in gossips and picking fights over events in the past. The situation worsens when Aliya’s sister commits suicide and shortly later her father is arrested. She and her mother shift to her Uncle’s place where the situation is far from perfect, men engrossed in the political happenings in the country and women who only dream of stepping outside the house. Aliya keeps herself busy in her books and studies and dreams of a free life one day and that forms the rest of the story.
~
This book is a fine feminist classic with the courtyard as the central setting, with respect to the bygone era where the courtyard was a place where women used to gather together. I loved how the book had a feminist tone, which was very ahead of its time. It was a very difficult review to write as I had so many thoughts while reading it.
~
This is not a partition or a political novel per say. Overall this is a masterpiece and I finished it in two days. Please also read the Afterword by Daisy Rockwell as it will help you to understand the book better, it’s a treasure trove. This book releases on October 10, 2018, so be sure to keep an eye on it as you don’t want to miss out on this one!! Full review on the blog. Link- https://thebookishtales.wordpress.com/2018/09/27/the-womens-courtyard-by-khadija-mastur-review/
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes