2nd Chapter, part 2....prettymum's's book

[Jas]

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Sorry about the typo.

Well, Prettymum, this couldn't be much further from the chick lit of last time!
I was not sure about it to start with as I am not keen on abuse stories, but it was compelling reading and I finished it in a couple of days.

It helped that I read the back first so knew the "end".

She described her life well, it is a thought provoking story, and I am glad I read it. Thanks.

I don't normally do "mis-lit" but this was interesting and not too gratuitous. It provided some idea of the kind of culture behind all those very sad forced marriage and "honour" killing headlines.

I thought the author was very forgiving both of her own family and of those in authority who must have seen abuse and did nothing to protect her. Hopefully times are now changing.

I forgot to post on this one when I had it a couple of months ago so am jumping in now.

Like cynara, I don't usually go for mis-lit but I'm glad I read this as it's made me think about why not rather than just dismissing it.

I guess because of the first-person voice I miss the perspective of knowing what is going through the other people's minds. I really wanted to know what all her siblings thought of the set-up, both those who were sympathetic to Sameem and those who sided more with the mother. I mean, I really thought the mother was mentally ill. Also, it was hard to know how normal the mother's behaviour was within the bounds of their culture; for example although we know from the news that forced marriages happen, it did seem that Sameem was married extrememly young, and her family hid the fact even from their own community when they got back.

Also it is a pretty straight retelling of the facts, without much self-examination. She seems to have been blessed with delightful children; did she really never get angry with them or be tempted to punish them and wonder if her mother's behaviour had been passed down?

But it was an interesting and provocative read-- it's good that this material is out there and I really hope that when an 13 year old (of any ethnicity) shows up in hospital to have a baby these days she isn't just sent home with a couple of midwife visits.

I read this book in three days, which is really good for me! I was not sure what to expect from this book, but I found it compelling also, hence the desire to finish it.

It does open your eyes to the things that go on in society, and how things can be covered up in different cultures. I did think that it ended too quickly, but I guess the author is still quite young, and has set off on a completely different path to the one started. I was a little unsure about why she was in the childrens home to start with, and was then released back to her family - it would have made more sense if she was 'adopted' by another Pakistani family, but perhaps that is too western a view. It would be interesting to see the view of this book from someone of that ethnic origin, where the culture of arranged marriages is the norm.

A good read -- thank you!

Have nothing to add - agree with everyone else! Didn't think I would like this book and wouldn't have read it outside of the 'club' but I'm glad I've read it and I thought she wrote well.