Thursday, April 22, 2010

Book Review: Spiral Road by Adib Khan


Spiral Road - Adib Khan

Synopsis:
It has been thirty years since Masud Alam moved from his home country of Bangladesh to Australia, leaving behind his parents, sister and brother. Working as a librarian and living in Melbourne, Masud embraces the simple life that Richmond has to offer- going for runs on the oval, reading, playing chess and indulging in a (some may say dull) weekly routine that rarely changes.
One day Masud receives an email from his older brother Zia, requesting that he return to Bangladesh to visit their father- who is slowly fading away from Alzheimer’s.
Taking up the opportunity to visit and reconnect with his family, Masud travels back to his homeland, marvelling at the changes that have occurred since he left all those years ago, and ready to integrate himself into the family life once more.
On his return, he is drawn back into familial dramas- enduring matchmaking attempts by his mother, conversing with thieving servants, and trying to convince his wayward eighty-nine year old Uncle Musa (on Zia’s insistence) that he should not go ahead with his fourth marriage, to a seventeen-year-old girl.
While dealing with all of this, Masud also has to try and reconnect with his father, whose memory and motor skills are slowly deteriorating, and accept that he is no longer the strong and dominant man that he once was.
In an inspired attempt to understand his father’s often-incoherent ramblings, Masud begins to read his father’s old diaries, and finds himself uncovering old family secrets.
He also discovers just how hard his brother has worked to keep their once affluent family afloat, without allowing their family reputation to diminish.
But there are also sinister events unfolding during Masud’s visit that have a resounding impact on his life. A journalist who knows too much about Islamic extremist groups is found murdered, and an Australian spy makes it clear to Masud that he considers members of Masud’s family to be a threat to the Western world.
These events culminate in several very important questions for Masud: If he has to break family ties and betray a relative to save hundreds of people, will he do it? Will he remain loyal to the country he was born in and whose independence he fought for? Or will his loyalty lie with Australia, a country who adopted him and gave him a chance for a better life?

What I gained from reading this book:
This book focuses on the reasons why some young Muslims may get drawn into extremist groups. The author writes about the discontent that many young people felt after the September 11 attacks- many faced extreme prejudice from co-workers and peers, simply because they were Muslims. In the novel, several of the characters who worked in Western countries at the time of the attacks were taken into custody by police and government agencies and tortured for information that they didn’t even have, concerning the Middle East and Muslim terror cells. When they were finally freed, many took the first plane out of the country and travelled to escape the hurt and humiliation they felt in their adopted countries. With repressed anger and fear guiding them, the logical places to go were countries like Jordan and Afghanistan, where most people practice Islam, and they felt as though they could belong.
It was there that they enlisted in large, organised networks, hoping to gain vengeance on the countries that spurned them.
While we can’t be entirely sure that this scenario is an accurate portrayal of real life extremists, it does seem the most likely reason for such hateful actions against Western countries.
This novel shows that any kind of prejudice can often create long-term implications- for a greater number of people than those originally involved- and often with dire consequences.

Positives:
Despite the terrorist subplot, the author illustrates a typical Bangladeshi life, through Masud’s family and friends. Readers learn about family hierarchies, local customs and beliefs, and about the day-to-day lives of people whose lifestyle is very different to our own.

Negatives:
The plot moves a little slowly in some parts, but while some readers may find this irritating, it is well worth persevering. As you get further into the novel, the narration becomes much more engrossing, and you’ll begin to wonder exactly how Masud is going to get out of his predicaments.

Rating: 8 out of 10

Genre: Family/ Relationships

Recommended for: People who are looking for a book that will make them question issues of terrorism and prejudice.




Australians can buy the book by clicking the picture below:

Spiral Road

Book Review: Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy #1) by Richelle Mead


Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy #1) - Richelle Mead

Synopsis:
It’s been two years since best friends Lissa Dragomir and Rose Hathaway ran away from St Vladimir’s Academy- a school for Moroi (mortal vampire) students learning how to control their magical abilities, and for Dhampir (half human, half vampire) novices intent on training to be guardians for the Moroi against the evil Strigoi (a band of immortal vampires who have lost their souls and kill for pleasure).
The two originally fled from the school because they feared that dark forces resided there, and Rose, worried about Lissa’s safety, thought that it would be safer in the outside world. But after a group of Guardians locate them in Portland and drag them back to the Academy in Montana, Rose and Lissa have no choice but to once again conform to Moroi and Dhampir standards.
Lissa, a Moroi princess, once again becomes the darling of the social elite, despite harbouring feelings for the mysterious outcast, Christian Ozera.
Rose, meanwhile, embarks on a seemingly never-ending training schedule with handsome guardian Dimitri, hoping to improve her Dhampir fighting abilities, and win Dimitri’s approval- and maybe his heart.
But then the strange occurrences that made the girls leave two years earlier begin again, putting Lissa in danger. The girls have to work out why it’s happening before evil invades the campus, and the Strigoi try to turn Lissa into one of their own.

What I gained from reading this book:
Lissa and Rose are best friends who share a unique bond that is unprecedented in their lifetime- Rose is able to connect with Lissa on a psychological level and not only experience her emotions, but jump into her mind on occasions. This bond is a vital part of their friendship, and allows Rose to protect Lissa in a way that other Dhampirs without the ability cannot even comprehend.
Although the girls come from different ‘races’ of vampires- Lissa is a Moroi, while Rose is a Dhampir- they are still closely connected. This is despite the fact that most Moroi vampires, while they respect the Dhampirs for putting their lives on the line for them, do not readily associate with them socially. However, these social barriers do not deter Lissa and Rose from staying the best of friends and close confidants.
This association enforces the notion that everyone has similarities, despite their different backgrounds, and shows that social barriers should not form the basis of how people interact with one another.

Positives:
The introduction of different ‘races’ of vampires, and their special abilities is an interesting concept that helps this book to differ from other vampire series’.
The characters are also easy to relate to, with their schoolyard experiences very similar to those that people would normally face (despite the whole supernatural aspect, of course).

Negatives:
Rose can seem like a bit of a hothead, and Lissa can sometimes appear to be a bit of a pushover, but the girls are ultimately likable characters. Their flaws make them seem more normal and identifiable to readers.

Rating: 7 out of 10

Genre: Teenage Fiction

Recommended for: People who enjoyed the Twilight saga and need another vampire fix.




Australians can buy the book by clicking the picture below:

Vampire Academy (Vampire Academy)