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A review by _askthebookbug
The Carpet Weaver by Nemat Sadat
4.0
The Carpet Weaver.
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Thank you for the review copy @nematsadat :)
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Rating - 4.2/5.
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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.