To be read.

Shabanu was a pretty good book, all in all. At first I found it slightly boring, and with too much of an educational undertone ("this is how the Pakistani nomads live, here's how they survive in the desert, their area is wrought with conflict" etc). However, they way Shabanu herself and her female relations are portrayed has true merit. It's a coming of age story, and very directly raises issues of puberty such as menstruation, newly growing breasts and sexual desire.

I also like the way Shabanu (and, in a way, the whole narrative) balances between mutiny and submission. If Shabanu rebels against her fate, she will surely be killed; if she resents her fate too much, she will only turn bitter and lose the little delight she has in her life. And if she abandons her family altogether, she will lose a connection that does sustain her, although it is her family that takes away her freedom choice. In a way, submission is the only truly sensible way ahead, but portraying it as such is not exactly the hallmark of a feminist text. And yet, I do find Shabanu a feminist text in its own way.

Now I'm reading the sequel to Shabanu, called Haveli. It's been rather good too, at least so far. I'm wondering if one of my friends would want to read Shabanu next.

I will send Shabanu and its sequel to Bodhipuu once I'm done!

I've send both Shabanu and the sequel Haveli to Bodhipuu already a while ago, but forgot to do the release notes.

Etelä-Haagan kirjaston kirjakierrätys.