Review of Kalayla
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Josavriya Andrea
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- Latest Review: Kalayla by Jeannie Nicholas
Review of Kalayla
[Following is a volunteer review of "Kalayla" by Jeannie Nicholas.]
Kalayla is a troublesome, hard-headed kid who just moved in with her mother in an apartment owned by a 72-year old woman named Lena Barzetti. Kalayla's first impression of Lena wasn't that great. She's this "Crabby Old Lady" who always pries on Kalayla's life, lecturing her about this and that. Little did Kalayla know, Lena perceives Kalayla to be just like her own sons, and Lena didn't want Kalayla to end on the "wrong path" like them.
On the other hand, Kalayla's mother, Maureen, can't seem to get a grasp of her own life. Working two jobs, she struggles to keep track of herself. Let alone her 11-year old daughter. She got rejected by her own Irish family after marrying a black man. And after her husband dies, she shuns his family too. Though they bicker and quarrel a lot, secretly they care for each other the most. Touching on some subjects such as racial discrimination, arranged marriages, and domestic abuse, the novel Kalayla by Jeannie Nicholas indicates that change is something constant, the problem is just whether or not we're willing to go through it.
The best thing about this novel is the three-character perspective. We're given the perspective points of Kalayla, Lena, and Maureen, enabling us to fully understand their internal struggles and their prejudices held against each other. I think Jeannie thoroughly unfolds the topic of racism in marriages and the internal problems or trauma that arise from it. For someone who has seen and experienced racism in dating by parents, I can relate to what the characters are feeling, because of how realistically some characters are written.
Some character arcs in this novel are also enjoyable and satisfying to read, especially Maureen's and Lena's. Maureen and Lena are somebody who dwells in their pasts and their past mistakes. Like most of us, they're having endless thoughts of what if I did this what if I did that. But in the end, they can face their problems gradually and realistically. This is another topic that the author well address and that is change.
Ironically though, the character I dislike the most in this novel is Kalayla. And this is the reason why I can't fully enjoy the novel. Kalayla is supposed to be a brave, independent kid, but it feels more as if she's a know-it-all who always thinks she's right. The way she's written makes her seem like she's never listening to anyone's opinions, and in the ending, she also resolves her problem by being alone. Lena and Maureen both rely on people and sometimes Kalayla too to finally recognize what they have been doing wrong. For a novel about relationships, I think Kalayla's actions didn't resemble that at all. Another thing I have an issue with is that Kalayla's bi-racial background is also not well explored, and sometimes it feels that she's put here just to carry on the plot of Maureen and Lena.
With all that said, I think this is still an enjoyable novel. Some parts may seem a bit dull, but the story will pick up its pace and it'll get interesting again. I'll give this book a 3 out of 4 stars. I feel like the topics can be explored more and Kalayla as the main protagonist can be written better. Nevertheless, it is a well-written book and I will definitely read it again.
I recommend this novel for anyone out there who wants a quick read, while still maintaining some weight to the story. The use of language profanity and some sexual scenes didn't bother me, but it may bother children. So I definitely wouldn't recommend this to any kids. For young adults and adults in general, go read it. It makes us think about our relationships with those around us, going through changes, and living with those changes.
******
Kalayla
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Kalayla is a troublesome, hard-headed kid who just moved in with her mother in an apartment owned by a 72-year old woman named Lena Barzetti. Kalayla's first impression of Lena wasn't that great. She's this "Crabby Old Lady" who always pries on Kalayla's life, lecturing her about this and that. Little did Kalayla know, Lena perceives Kalayla to be just like her own sons, and Lena didn't want Kalayla to end on the "wrong path" like them.
On the other hand, Kalayla's mother, Maureen, can't seem to get a grasp of her own life. Working two jobs, she struggles to keep track of herself. Let alone her 11-year old daughter. She got rejected by her own Irish family after marrying a black man. And after her husband dies, she shuns his family too. Though they bicker and quarrel a lot, secretly they care for each other the most. Touching on some subjects such as racial discrimination, arranged marriages, and domestic abuse, the novel Kalayla by Jeannie Nicholas indicates that change is something constant, the problem is just whether or not we're willing to go through it.
The best thing about this novel is the three-character perspective. We're given the perspective points of Kalayla, Lena, and Maureen, enabling us to fully understand their internal struggles and their prejudices held against each other. I think Jeannie thoroughly unfolds the topic of racism in marriages and the internal problems or trauma that arise from it. For someone who has seen and experienced racism in dating by parents, I can relate to what the characters are feeling, because of how realistically some characters are written.
Some character arcs in this novel are also enjoyable and satisfying to read, especially Maureen's and Lena's. Maureen and Lena are somebody who dwells in their pasts and their past mistakes. Like most of us, they're having endless thoughts of what if I did this what if I did that. But in the end, they can face their problems gradually and realistically. This is another topic that the author well address and that is change.
Ironically though, the character I dislike the most in this novel is Kalayla. And this is the reason why I can't fully enjoy the novel. Kalayla is supposed to be a brave, independent kid, but it feels more as if she's a know-it-all who always thinks she's right. The way she's written makes her seem like she's never listening to anyone's opinions, and in the ending, she also resolves her problem by being alone. Lena and Maureen both rely on people and sometimes Kalayla too to finally recognize what they have been doing wrong. For a novel about relationships, I think Kalayla's actions didn't resemble that at all. Another thing I have an issue with is that Kalayla's bi-racial background is also not well explored, and sometimes it feels that she's put here just to carry on the plot of Maureen and Lena.
With all that said, I think this is still an enjoyable novel. Some parts may seem a bit dull, but the story will pick up its pace and it'll get interesting again. I'll give this book a 3 out of 4 stars. I feel like the topics can be explored more and Kalayla as the main protagonist can be written better. Nevertheless, it is a well-written book and I will definitely read it again.
I recommend this novel for anyone out there who wants a quick read, while still maintaining some weight to the story. The use of language profanity and some sexual scenes didn't bother me, but it may bother children. So I definitely wouldn't recommend this to any kids. For young adults and adults in general, go read it. It makes us think about our relationships with those around us, going through changes, and living with those changes.
******
Kalayla
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Kalayla by Jeannie Nicholas
