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steller0707 's review for:
The Kindness of Enemies
by Leila Aboulela
There are two stories in this book. One is a fictionalized story of an historical event, set in mid-nineteenth century Dagestan, where Islamic rebels led by Imam Shamil, are fighting for independence from Roman Catholic Russia.
The other story, which is loosely connected to the first, is set in 2010 Scotland where Natasha (Hussein) Wilson, a university professor, is researching Imam Shamil. Her friend is Malak, a Muslim, who owns Shamil's prized samovar, passed down in her family.
With continuing strife in this part of the world, the historical chapters seem almost contemporary. The Russians and Georgians are enemies, distrustful of and merciless with each other. However the fictionalized account centers on the characters on both sides and, despite their differences, their relationships with each other.
I found the historical story most compelling, with only tenuous hooks into the contemporary story, parts of which are extraneous. Both stories are multicultural and deal with the tensions, political and personal, among those from different cultures.
The other story, which is loosely connected to the first, is set in 2010 Scotland where Natasha (Hussein) Wilson, a university professor, is researching Imam Shamil. Her friend is Malak, a Muslim, who owns Shamil's prized samovar, passed down in her family.
With continuing strife in this part of the world, the historical chapters seem almost contemporary. The Russians and Georgians are enemies, distrustful of and merciless with each other. However the fictionalized account centers on the characters on both sides and, despite their differences, their relationships with each other.
I found the historical story most compelling, with only tenuous hooks into the contemporary story, parts of which are extraneous. Both stories are multicultural and deal with the tensions, political and personal, among those from different cultures.