Should this book or review pique your interest then please heed my warning: DO NOT read the blurb on the back cover nor the summary description shown here on Goodreads -- if you do, then technically you've read the book. There will be little left of surprise.Revenge is pretty straight forward in both language and plot. As the title states -- it is a story of vengeance. The setting is in contemporary Bangladesh and centers around the failing relationship of a newly married couple: Jhumar and Haroon. Told through first person narrative, Jhumar guides the reader through their early courtship full of passion, adventure, open communication and mutual respect for one anther and their individul goals. That however is short lived and within six weeks into her marriage, she has become nothing more than the dutiful wife:: "I'd gratified him by preparing meals three times a day, doing all the washing, and taking care of the house, not once allowing the scarf to slip from my head. Neglecting none of my wifely obligations either in bed or at the stove."And therein lies the problem. In a patriarchal culture where a woman's docility and obedience is expected, and "where a women with a physic degree is asked only to boil water", she has become contracted to serve the needs of both her husband and in-laws while allowing her own to go dormant. But life continues to be unjust and following a horrendous breach of faith in her marriage, Juhmar soon takes on a fight back to self and a well hatched plan of revenge is put in order. What I enjoyed most about this book was its relatability for women in general despite ethnicity and culture. I mean, who hasn't in some point of their life gone missing during that slippery transition between you, me and us? Now, while I did not agree with her chosen method of liberation, and actually foresee it leading to a chain of deeper issues, I understand the need of reclamation and validation she was seeking.I was initially wavering between a 3.5 and a 4, but went with the latter because I feel that the book gave credible insight into a culture where many women are still in struggle for the most very basic rights of equality.
Well that book went really fast. The style of writing/translation was very simple and straightforward. The subject matter was anything but simple. Nasrin examines the role (and plight even) of women in modern day Bangladesh through the story of one woman who marries for love, but finds her marriage to be confining and even dehumanizing in some ways. Because Jhamur's husband has little to no understanding of how babies are made, he is convinced that the baby Jhamur conceives within six weeks of m
