Review of Kalayla
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Ananya Srivastava
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Review of Kalayla
[Following is a volunteer review of "Kalayla" by Jeannie Nicholas.]
Kalayla by Jeannie Nicholas is an incredibly moving urban/domestic fiction written from the perspectives of three American women. Lena, the old and rich businesswomen; Maureen, the widowed painter; and our very own Kalayla, an enigmatic and feisty (or more accurately, stubborn and violent) child.
Lena, the lonely landlady, sees little Kalayla playing around by herself and is struck by how much the child reminds her of her deceased sons. Following this realisation Lena finds herself offering the child company and some money, soon becoming a constant supportive figure in Kalayla and her mother's lives.
Maureen, Kalayla's mother, is a young woman struggling to deal with the death of her husband, the stress of raising a child, and her abandonment at the hands of her family. All these factors into her transformation from a confident and bright girl, to a nervous and anxious women whose only source of happiness is her daughter.
Kalayla is merely a child living her life. Resilient, energetic and resourceful, Kalayla grows and matures under the guidance of Maureen and Lena. However, sometimes their demons find her, and she reacts with about as much grace as an eleven-year-old can spare.
The three women, all from different backgrounds, help each other move on from their traumatic experiences and find peace and happiness in their lives. They become each other's family. And they are all the happier for it.
The book discusses complex social matters in a domestic manner. It shows how racism, sexism, homophobia and warfare can tear even the strongest of families apart. The book doesn't delve into the politics of the matter for it has no reason to. Just seeing the lives of these three average people is enough to invoke sympathy and rage into any other average reader. And that, in my opinion, is what makes the book are incredible as it is.
Yes, the writing is wonderful. Yes, it seamlessly shifts between perspectives. And yes, it's easy to get hooked into. But the most effective part of this book is how it explains some of the most complex of societal issues, in such a simple yet brilliant manner.
I do have to mention, that this book does have scenes of sexual assault, domestic abuse, serial cheating, and murder. While these scenes are recollections of the characters, and hence not extremely detailed/graphic, they might still be triggering to some readers. I would advise reader discretion.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. Anyone interested in moving dramas and found-family based tropes will enjoy this book greatly, as I did.
******
Kalayla
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Kalayla by Jeannie Nicholas is an incredibly moving urban/domestic fiction written from the perspectives of three American women. Lena, the old and rich businesswomen; Maureen, the widowed painter; and our very own Kalayla, an enigmatic and feisty (or more accurately, stubborn and violent) child.
Lena, the lonely landlady, sees little Kalayla playing around by herself and is struck by how much the child reminds her of her deceased sons. Following this realisation Lena finds herself offering the child company and some money, soon becoming a constant supportive figure in Kalayla and her mother's lives.
Maureen, Kalayla's mother, is a young woman struggling to deal with the death of her husband, the stress of raising a child, and her abandonment at the hands of her family. All these factors into her transformation from a confident and bright girl, to a nervous and anxious women whose only source of happiness is her daughter.
Kalayla is merely a child living her life. Resilient, energetic and resourceful, Kalayla grows and matures under the guidance of Maureen and Lena. However, sometimes their demons find her, and she reacts with about as much grace as an eleven-year-old can spare.
The three women, all from different backgrounds, help each other move on from their traumatic experiences and find peace and happiness in their lives. They become each other's family. And they are all the happier for it.
The book discusses complex social matters in a domestic manner. It shows how racism, sexism, homophobia and warfare can tear even the strongest of families apart. The book doesn't delve into the politics of the matter for it has no reason to. Just seeing the lives of these three average people is enough to invoke sympathy and rage into any other average reader. And that, in my opinion, is what makes the book are incredible as it is.
Yes, the writing is wonderful. Yes, it seamlessly shifts between perspectives. And yes, it's easy to get hooked into. But the most effective part of this book is how it explains some of the most complex of societal issues, in such a simple yet brilliant manner.
I do have to mention, that this book does have scenes of sexual assault, domestic abuse, serial cheating, and murder. While these scenes are recollections of the characters, and hence not extremely detailed/graphic, they might still be triggering to some readers. I would advise reader discretion.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. Anyone interested in moving dramas and found-family based tropes will enjoy this book greatly, as I did.
******
Kalayla
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Stupid Divorce by Vincent Fudge II
