A review by danikass
Jamilia by Chingiz Aïtmatov

4.0

Jamila is such a lovely little story, that gives a brief glance into Kyrgyz life as they're caught between nomadic and Soviet life. (Do y'all know how hard it is to find Kyrgyz literature by Kyrgyz authors that's been translated to English? Very difficult.) The narrator is a 15-year-old boy, who has had to step up in household when his older brothers go off to war, and in particular, it becomes part of his job to accompany his sister-in-law Jamila (an amazing character who isn't afraid to push against men) to drop off provisions for the military 15 miles away. They're joined by Daniyar, a village native who left when he was young and had a rough life before returning injured from war. The villagers now generally make fun of Daniyar, including Jamila and the narrator, given that he's quiet and antisocial. The story really unfolds when the three of them take their treks across the steppe day after day, and more of Daniyar's soul is revealed. It's a love story, and a story of family, and of art and Earth and horses, and I just enjoyed it deeply. [shout out to Internet Archive on this one]