Review by TatumReadsBooks -- Salt and Pepper
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TatumReadsBooks
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Review by TatumReadsBooks -- Salt and Pepper
[Following is a volunteer review of "Salt and Pepper" by Maria Akhanji.]
Salt and Pepper (Unearthing Taboos) by Maria Akhanji is a tantalizing novel centered around Rayna, the heroine, and her journey to freedom from a dysfunctional family seeped in misogynistic tradition. I would consider it a Women’s fiction (perhaps borderline memoir as the characters were so real). The author is British Bangladeshi. The story is an unbiased portrayal of life in a Muslim Asian/Bangladeshi community.
The youngest of three children, from an influential Bangladeshi family, Rayna found herself facing the struggles of being too young to understand what was going on in the adult world. As the author wrote “Childhood is that time when you understand to a profound level but are not articulate enough to comprehend.” It is very disheartening that children cannot choose their parents; and yet no matter how dysfunctional somehow they still love them anyway.
The story centered around Rayna’s point of view in most of the chapters. Her siblings: brother, Yasin Bhaiyya, and sister, Megha Di; and her sister-in-law, Kolsum (Bibha) all held major roles throughout the story. Her parents, Abba (father), a sexually deviant doctor, and Amma (mother), a narcissistic aspiring singer, seemed to care more about themselves than their children. I was drawn into the delightful culture of the Bangladeshi community, in particular, the food (fresh hot khubz and various types of curry) and the attire (dhoti style). Google it!
The author portrayed a powerful look into child abuse and the ‘salt and pepper’ big pink elephant in the room that nobody can see. The book was heartbreaking and incited feelings of anger because of the molestation and verbal and physical child abuse. The mother (Amma) was vulgar and foul mouthed (using lots of profanity). I detested her! Rayna’s journey also included issues such as: affordable education, arranged marriages (even in the 20th century), economically downsizing, class distinction, frequent power outages, self-mutilation (cutting), depression, misery, undeserved loyalty, and spiritual awakenings.
I found it to be a somewhat difficult read because of the obfuscating words! Yes, I am grateful that my Kindle Reader has a built in dictionary! I spent a lot of time looking up the “big” words or should I say “precise vocabulary” used by the author. The added effort and time taken looking up definitions was what I liked least about the book. But I must say that I learned quite a few new words. There were a lot of ‘salt and pepper’ moments as Rayna’s parents were not a pedagogically or didactic example of a wholesome marriage. (Words I learned!)
I especially liked most reading about when Rayna was coming of age and not so ‘salt and pepper.’ She had made her own decision to wear a hijab. After a near scare by a pervert at a bus stop she begins reciting “Ayatul Kursi,” a prayer of protection her brother Yasin had taught her. It was a light bulb-turned-on moment! A spiritual awakening! Sadly, only to be followed by her view that “I seemed to be the black in liner where anyone and everyone dumped their rubbish.’
I rate the book 4 out of 4 stars. I eagerly turned the pages in anticipation and hopes that Rayna would find peace. It ended making me want to read more! I look forward to the second book in this trilogy, BridesMaids. The book was exceptionally well edited. Keeping in mind that the British language and the English language are slightly different (the letter ‘s’ is used instead of the letter ‘z’ in spelling. (Example: realise vs. realize) This book will appeal to those who like to read about the culture of other communities of people; and men and women who can identify with child neglect and abuse and coming out “OK” (survivors) on the other side. Excellent first novel!
******
Salt and Pepper
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Salt and Pepper (Unearthing Taboos) by Maria Akhanji is a tantalizing novel centered around Rayna, the heroine, and her journey to freedom from a dysfunctional family seeped in misogynistic tradition. I would consider it a Women’s fiction (perhaps borderline memoir as the characters were so real). The author is British Bangladeshi. The story is an unbiased portrayal of life in a Muslim Asian/Bangladeshi community.
The youngest of three children, from an influential Bangladeshi family, Rayna found herself facing the struggles of being too young to understand what was going on in the adult world. As the author wrote “Childhood is that time when you understand to a profound level but are not articulate enough to comprehend.” It is very disheartening that children cannot choose their parents; and yet no matter how dysfunctional somehow they still love them anyway.
The story centered around Rayna’s point of view in most of the chapters. Her siblings: brother, Yasin Bhaiyya, and sister, Megha Di; and her sister-in-law, Kolsum (Bibha) all held major roles throughout the story. Her parents, Abba (father), a sexually deviant doctor, and Amma (mother), a narcissistic aspiring singer, seemed to care more about themselves than their children. I was drawn into the delightful culture of the Bangladeshi community, in particular, the food (fresh hot khubz and various types of curry) and the attire (dhoti style). Google it!
The author portrayed a powerful look into child abuse and the ‘salt and pepper’ big pink elephant in the room that nobody can see. The book was heartbreaking and incited feelings of anger because of the molestation and verbal and physical child abuse. The mother (Amma) was vulgar and foul mouthed (using lots of profanity). I detested her! Rayna’s journey also included issues such as: affordable education, arranged marriages (even in the 20th century), economically downsizing, class distinction, frequent power outages, self-mutilation (cutting), depression, misery, undeserved loyalty, and spiritual awakenings.
I found it to be a somewhat difficult read because of the obfuscating words! Yes, I am grateful that my Kindle Reader has a built in dictionary! I spent a lot of time looking up the “big” words or should I say “precise vocabulary” used by the author. The added effort and time taken looking up definitions was what I liked least about the book. But I must say that I learned quite a few new words. There were a lot of ‘salt and pepper’ moments as Rayna’s parents were not a pedagogically or didactic example of a wholesome marriage. (Words I learned!)
I especially liked most reading about when Rayna was coming of age and not so ‘salt and pepper.’ She had made her own decision to wear a hijab. After a near scare by a pervert at a bus stop she begins reciting “Ayatul Kursi,” a prayer of protection her brother Yasin had taught her. It was a light bulb-turned-on moment! A spiritual awakening! Sadly, only to be followed by her view that “I seemed to be the black in liner where anyone and everyone dumped their rubbish.’
I rate the book 4 out of 4 stars. I eagerly turned the pages in anticipation and hopes that Rayna would find peace. It ended making me want to read more! I look forward to the second book in this trilogy, BridesMaids. The book was exceptionally well edited. Keeping in mind that the British language and the English language are slightly different (the letter ‘s’ is used instead of the letter ‘z’ in spelling. (Example: realise vs. realize) This book will appeal to those who like to read about the culture of other communities of people; and men and women who can identify with child neglect and abuse and coming out “OK” (survivors) on the other side. Excellent first novel!
******
Salt and Pepper
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: One Way or Another by Mary J. Williams
