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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
Sultana’s Dream is such an original, engaging piece of speculative fiction, and I really enjoyed how it managed to blend thoughtful social critique with humour.
Padmarag is also a fantastic social critique, and an important contribution to the history of anti-colonial, feminist thought, but I did have some issues with it narratively-speaking. There were quite a few instances where a bunch of backstory and important information about the characters was dumped on the reader all at once, rather than being woven into the story, which I found a little jarring. It was still an engaging story, but those moments took me out of it a bit.
Padmarag is also a fantastic social critique, and an important contribution to the history of anti-colonial, feminist thought, but I did have some issues with it narratively-speaking. There were quite a few instances where a bunch of backstory and important information about the characters was dumped on the reader all at once, rather than being woven into the story, which I found a little jarring. It was still an engaging story, but those moments took me out of it a bit.
Rating 3.5/5
Sultana’s Dream is a satirical narrative written depicting a female utopian land Ladyland, an unconventional and inverted world where men follow the purdah system and are confined to the Mardana doing the household mundane chores and women walk out of their homes and runs the place liberating themselves from the pre-conceived notions of women not being able to handle power and responsibility.
Padmarag brings us closer to reality where women who were once dejected, frowned upon, marginalized, and downtrodden from all walks of life come together in Tarini Bhawan as “sisters” for an educational, healing and philanthropic purpose. The last few pages of this book is a marked admiration that women's happiness is not restricted to the household but is a sense of responsibility to work for women upliftment and encourage others to not to bend the knee to such vices and strike back with determination.
On one hand, Sultana’s Dream Ladyland's depiction is the epitome of imagination and is an engrossing read. On the other hand, in spite of a dismal storyline, Padmarag is a refreshing read which addresses issues that were unimaginable in the era it was written. Even though, times have changed but the concerns remains the same. So, this is a perfect amalgamation of a provocative prose with a pinch of poetry and is a must-read.
Sultana’s Dream is a satirical narrative written depicting a female utopian land Ladyland, an unconventional and inverted world where men follow the purdah system and are confined to the Mardana doing the household mundane chores and women walk out of their homes and runs the place liberating themselves from the pre-conceived notions of women not being able to handle power and responsibility.
Padmarag brings us closer to reality where women who were once dejected, frowned upon, marginalized, and downtrodden from all walks of life come together in Tarini Bhawan as “sisters” for an educational, healing and philanthropic purpose. The last few pages of this book is a marked admiration that women's happiness is not restricted to the household but is a sense of responsibility to work for women upliftment and encourage others to not to bend the knee to such vices and strike back with determination.
On one hand, Sultana’s Dream Ladyland's depiction is the epitome of imagination and is an engrossing read. On the other hand, in spite of a dismal storyline, Padmarag is a refreshing read which addresses issues that were unimaginable in the era it was written. Even though, times have changed but the concerns remains the same. So, this is a perfect amalgamation of a provocative prose with a pinch of poetry and is a must-read.
Good fun. I felt Sultana's Dream came apart a bit at the end, but was impressed by the ending of Padmarag. Note to self: Sultana's Dream was written originally in English; Padmarag in Bengali.
challenging
inspiring
reflective
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:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Violence, Suicide attempt
Minor: Child death, Murder
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
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:
No
”…the lover revels in his anguish, so why does he weep? The joy lies in the tears.”
Feminist literature? More like misandrist masterpiece!
Feminist literature? More like misandrist masterpiece!
3.5 - Sultana's Dream I really enjoyed. I loved reading about this society run by women. I mean Sister Sara had it right when she said "they are fit for nothing". I enjoyed it.
Padmarag I didn't enjoy as much because it was just a bit slow and not my type of story. I did enjoy all the different characters and their stories however. I think learning their history was my favorite part of it.
Padmarag I didn't enjoy as much because it was just a bit slow and not my type of story. I did enjoy all the different characters and their stories however. I think learning their history was my favorite part of it.
Painfully beautiful. It’s rare that I read a story [Padmarag] where the female protagonist chooses their respect and dignity over what others and their heart wants.
challenging
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This collection includes the short story "Sultana's Dream" and the novel Padmarag. The first is a short utopic science fiction story, in which a young Muslim woman who lives in seclusion dreams of a country ruled by women. It's incredibly utopic - a city powered by the sun, carpeted in greenery since transportation is mostly aerial, without cars or other obvious polluters of the air and water. The utopia really focuses on three aspects, most obviously gender, as it is the seclusion of men that has led towards a safe and peaceful society. Then there's the environmental aspect, and finally the aspect of international relations as it is the triumph of women's intellect and solar power that has forced other nations to acknowledge its sovereignty. While I'm not sure that the prose and style are any more interesting than other utopias, "Sultana's Dream" does have powerful qualities considering the time and place in which it was written.
Padmarag holds up better. It tells the story of a great romance founded on respect and admiration, with a backstory that indicts colonization and sexism. It's set in then-contemporary India, mostly in Calcutta and nearby areas. Hossain walks a tightrope between her own didactic impulses and those of a standard romance. It's the ending that makes Padmarag really shine to me today, as she walks that tightrope to the end. Hossain refuses to compromise the values of her main character and winds up purposefully and overtly subverting the romantic ending in favor of something greater.
Padmarag holds up better. It tells the story of a great romance founded on respect and admiration, with a backstory that indicts colonization and sexism. It's set in then-contemporary India, mostly in Calcutta and nearby areas. Hossain walks a tightrope between her own didactic impulses and those of a standard romance. It's the ending that makes Padmarag really shine to me today, as she walks that tightrope to the end. Hossain refuses to compromise the values of her main character and winds up purposefully and overtly subverting the romantic ending in favor of something greater.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide attempt