living a life of Iraqi through eyes of 'Mayada'

Book: Mayada

Author: Jean Sasson

Published by: Bantam Books

Pages: 416

Price: £7.99

Mayada is a story of a women, mother to two children; “Fay” and “Ali”, who belongs to a highly educated and sophisticated family in Iraq. The story takes the reader to a dark corner of life of Mayada on the day, when Mayada is taken by Saddam’s Secret police office, to Baladiyat Prison. Without even saying goodbye to her children, she is dragged away without seeing or saying goodbye to her children for the last time. She cries and begs hoping that at least the news of her arrest reaches her home and her mother Salwa, who had known almost everyone in Iraq of consequence.

She shares the cell No. 52 in Baladiyat with other 17 shadow women who are well educated and professionals as Mayada, all dragged into notorious Baladiyat Prison Tortured in inhuman manner and heartlessly without any explanation or possibility of trial.

There they spend their nights and days, sharing their stories, healing each other’s wounds that lie on their flesh and also not forgetting those that lie deep in their hearts because of the detachment from their loved ones.

The book shows the readers how no one was safe in Iraq through the eyes of Mayada. Not in the streets and not inside their homes. Neither on one’s father’s shoulders nor in his/her mother’s lap. A man could be taken in the middle of the night, sometimes along with the family, without giving a reason or any explanation to the people, and put in the jail, tortured and executed. No one would figure out this vicious structure that Saddam had created until one had experienced it for her/himself. 

Saddam had decorated the blood and the corpses with beautiful flowers and had presented it to the Iraqi people as a beautiful garden of developing Iraq, people who were unaware of the fact that they unheeded the bleeding freedom, and that they were free to roam in the garden just until the time, when the wind blew against them.

 Personally, I would rate this book as 3.75 out of 5. Suggestion: You should read!

A Fresh Fiction "Aleph"

Book: Aleph

Author: Paulo Coelho

Published by: Harper Collins

Paulo seems to be the king of his kingdom: “Travel” once again. The book will take you to an amazing journey with Paulo, when he breaks the cage and sets himself free, on a journey to and through Russia. The journey proves to be an unexpected one, when he meets “Hilal”, a beautiful young girl. The book reflects and paints the girl perfectly alive in the reader’s mind. A strong yet fragile girl, who is in seek for love. He also meets “Yao”, who is old and wise, but his heart also has his weaknesses. Paulo and “Yao” share their experiences and wisdom with each other.

The story had begun with an end. When everything that Paulo had ever desired, was in his reach. He was a successful and world-renowned author.  And, he was miserable because he was not haunted anymore by any desires, there was nothing left to achieve, except his routine.

The readers might struggle to understand the true meaning of the Book’s title itself “Aleph”, as the author doesn't reveal it until the readers reach the halfway through the book.The author also writes about his rituals that take him to the past, hundreds of years ago, when he denied and abandoned love when her lover needed it the most.

Will his lover ever know that she belonged to him? And if she ever believes it, will she be able to forgive the rejection. Can love forgive the one who rejects love? Being these question asked, answered and recognized in reader’s own ways, Readers also taste a sweet and mouthwatering ending to the story.

Personally, I would rate the book as below (1 being highest and 0 being the lowest)
Philosophy- 0.5, sensual insides - 0.5, Travel/Nature- 0.5, Characterization- 0.75 and Freshness of fiction- 1. So the “Aleph” in my feelings, rate 3.25 out of 5 points. Suggestion : You may read!