Review by Gosiame Madonsela -- Escape by Belle Ami
Posted: 18 May 2017, 00:57
[Following is a volunteer review of "Escape" by Belle Ami.]
3 out of 4 stars
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Book: Escape
Author: Belle Ami
Review provided by: Koketso Madonsela
Rating: 3 out of 4
I rate the book 3 out of 4 because it is an incredibly written book. It is rich and powerful in symbolism and imagery. It has an incredible touch of a love story finding a way to exist through difficult politics, kidnapping, and escaping political “secret spy” rule. I did not give it 4 out of 4 because there were times where it was difficult to understand or relate to. I love the fact that it is written in a language relevant to the setting of the book (a few greetings and the manner in which some people are addressed); however, it is almost excluding towards people who do not understand the background or political context of the setting.
Layla Wallace is a young American Harvard student who is kidnapped in Dubai. The purpose of her visit in Dubai is to meet her boyfriend’s, Zamir (who is also a Harvard student) parents. Due to the fact that she finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time (her boyfriend’s hotel room while he is being beaten up by mysterious men who we still are unsure of), she is kidnapped and prisoned alongside with him. Layla becomes a person of interest and is thus rescued by the secret spies of Iran with the purpose of making her their prisoner. The most trusted spy, Cyrus, is given the task of imprisoning Layla until further instructions have been given. He rescues her from a prison a moment early enough to save her from being raped by Mohammed – a prison warder known for raping female prisoners. Cyrus is first mesmerised by Layla’s beauty and then ends up falling in love with her. Layla falls in love with Cyrus for numerous and debatable reasons. This love that Cyrus finds himself victim of puts him in a position where he betrays his country and helps Layla escape Tehran.
The escape of Layla and Cyrus is both successful and the pivotal point of the novel. We learn that Cyrus was not only drunk in love for Layla, but he is also drunk on revenge for his boss, Jalal. We learn that Jalal raped Cyrus’ mother years ago and Cyrus’ sister is a product of that rape. Cyrus is injured (stabbed by Jalal) when they take each other on in a one-on-one fight and takes about a year to recover. During this year, he refuses to have any contact with Layla, who chose to stay in Tel Aviv and start a new life there; with Cyrus’ child whom she gave birth to and Cyrus only learns about at the end of the novel.
This is a beautiful book. The love story between Layla and Cyrus is the most intriguing aspect of the book. It was definitely formed in an unusual way but it is something that definitely was a beam of hope throughout the entire book.
The love between Layla and Cyrus is a beam of hope throughout their entire “escape plan”. The reader hopes that they will make it out together. When Cyrus is shot and is almost defeated by death, it is sad because Layla and Cyrus are the hope of the story; of Escape. When they are apart and Layla has the baby on her own; the reader is sad. But the baby is then the hope of the love between Layla and Cyrus. Baby Cerise (a combination of Cyrus and Layla) is also the hope of the happy ending of the book. The story is a happy ending, but it also fuses emotion and thrill once again, as it did throughout the escape. There is the thrill of the baby crying so that Cyrus can find out about Cerise. When he finally does, it is very emotional and ends the story on a hopeful note for the new family.
At first, it was definitely debatable whether or not the love was true or if it was “a hero/saviour kind of love”. The readers themselves find themselves falling in love with Cyrus because he rescued Layla from Mohammed, the rape, being prisoned for situations that she is unaware of, and from Zamir who just disappeared. What a jerk.
I would have really loved to read about what happens to Zamir; find out from his perspective why he never contacted Layla ever again. I want to take Layla’s and the narrator’s word for it and believe that he just stopped caring and moved on with his life; but I am afraid of being a victim of believing in a “single story”.
The book powerfully paints the picture of “the power of the gun”. Cyrus is a spy who gained his power and reputation through the level at which he can use a gun to survive. He was on the run with Layla, running away from authority that ruled with a gun. He is taken down by a weapon when he is stabbed. The power of the gun is very critical and significant in a political tale, which is what we witness in this novel. The gun is rich in portraying the powers that colonised and the powers that enforced political separation of some sort. I love how that is revealed in this novel. And it is always interesting to see how political discrepancies affected life to the extent that it affected “love” between two people.
There is also a profound symbolism in the crossing from Tehran through sailing as opposed to driving through the border. The water, in this particular context, represents the catharsis between Layla and Cyrus. The water “cleanses” the past that they are leaving behind, preparing for the purity that lies ahead of them: their love, their engagement, and their daughter.
The constant reference to language and phrases in a different language constantly reminds the reader of the setting of the book. It may be written in English for the reader’s convenience but it is definitely representative of the setting of the story. In the words of the late Nelson Mandela, “Speak to me in English, and you speak to my mind. Speak to me in my language, and you speak to my heart”. Very beautiful and very well done.
******
Escape
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on Smashwords
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3 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
Book: Escape
Author: Belle Ami
Review provided by: Koketso Madonsela
Rating: 3 out of 4
I rate the book 3 out of 4 because it is an incredibly written book. It is rich and powerful in symbolism and imagery. It has an incredible touch of a love story finding a way to exist through difficult politics, kidnapping, and escaping political “secret spy” rule. I did not give it 4 out of 4 because there were times where it was difficult to understand or relate to. I love the fact that it is written in a language relevant to the setting of the book (a few greetings and the manner in which some people are addressed); however, it is almost excluding towards people who do not understand the background or political context of the setting.
Layla Wallace is a young American Harvard student who is kidnapped in Dubai. The purpose of her visit in Dubai is to meet her boyfriend’s, Zamir (who is also a Harvard student) parents. Due to the fact that she finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time (her boyfriend’s hotel room while he is being beaten up by mysterious men who we still are unsure of), she is kidnapped and prisoned alongside with him. Layla becomes a person of interest and is thus rescued by the secret spies of Iran with the purpose of making her their prisoner. The most trusted spy, Cyrus, is given the task of imprisoning Layla until further instructions have been given. He rescues her from a prison a moment early enough to save her from being raped by Mohammed – a prison warder known for raping female prisoners. Cyrus is first mesmerised by Layla’s beauty and then ends up falling in love with her. Layla falls in love with Cyrus for numerous and debatable reasons. This love that Cyrus finds himself victim of puts him in a position where he betrays his country and helps Layla escape Tehran.
The escape of Layla and Cyrus is both successful and the pivotal point of the novel. We learn that Cyrus was not only drunk in love for Layla, but he is also drunk on revenge for his boss, Jalal. We learn that Jalal raped Cyrus’ mother years ago and Cyrus’ sister is a product of that rape. Cyrus is injured (stabbed by Jalal) when they take each other on in a one-on-one fight and takes about a year to recover. During this year, he refuses to have any contact with Layla, who chose to stay in Tel Aviv and start a new life there; with Cyrus’ child whom she gave birth to and Cyrus only learns about at the end of the novel.
This is a beautiful book. The love story between Layla and Cyrus is the most intriguing aspect of the book. It was definitely formed in an unusual way but it is something that definitely was a beam of hope throughout the entire book.
The love between Layla and Cyrus is a beam of hope throughout their entire “escape plan”. The reader hopes that they will make it out together. When Cyrus is shot and is almost defeated by death, it is sad because Layla and Cyrus are the hope of the story; of Escape. When they are apart and Layla has the baby on her own; the reader is sad. But the baby is then the hope of the love between Layla and Cyrus. Baby Cerise (a combination of Cyrus and Layla) is also the hope of the happy ending of the book. The story is a happy ending, but it also fuses emotion and thrill once again, as it did throughout the escape. There is the thrill of the baby crying so that Cyrus can find out about Cerise. When he finally does, it is very emotional and ends the story on a hopeful note for the new family.
At first, it was definitely debatable whether or not the love was true or if it was “a hero/saviour kind of love”. The readers themselves find themselves falling in love with Cyrus because he rescued Layla from Mohammed, the rape, being prisoned for situations that she is unaware of, and from Zamir who just disappeared. What a jerk.
I would have really loved to read about what happens to Zamir; find out from his perspective why he never contacted Layla ever again. I want to take Layla’s and the narrator’s word for it and believe that he just stopped caring and moved on with his life; but I am afraid of being a victim of believing in a “single story”.
The book powerfully paints the picture of “the power of the gun”. Cyrus is a spy who gained his power and reputation through the level at which he can use a gun to survive. He was on the run with Layla, running away from authority that ruled with a gun. He is taken down by a weapon when he is stabbed. The power of the gun is very critical and significant in a political tale, which is what we witness in this novel. The gun is rich in portraying the powers that colonised and the powers that enforced political separation of some sort. I love how that is revealed in this novel. And it is always interesting to see how political discrepancies affected life to the extent that it affected “love” between two people.
There is also a profound symbolism in the crossing from Tehran through sailing as opposed to driving through the border. The water, in this particular context, represents the catharsis between Layla and Cyrus. The water “cleanses” the past that they are leaving behind, preparing for the purity that lies ahead of them: their love, their engagement, and their daughter.
The constant reference to language and phrases in a different language constantly reminds the reader of the setting of the book. It may be written in English for the reader’s convenience but it is definitely representative of the setting of the story. In the words of the late Nelson Mandela, “Speak to me in English, and you speak to my mind. Speak to me in my language, and you speak to my heart”. Very beautiful and very well done.
******
Escape
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on Smashwords
Like Gosiame Madonsela's review? Post a comment saying so!