An epic Romeo and Juliet for the 21st centuryIn a bustling London café, Anil, now a famous architect, sits waiting for Lina. It is years since he last laid eyes on her, the love of his life.Lina is running for the train - punctuality has never been her strength. After all this time she cannot be late to meet Anil.Together, they think back to tragedies both personal and political, betrayals large and small. A past played out across three continents that house their rival Sikh and Muslim, wealthy and modest, liberal and orthodox, corrupt and moral....Lina has one more revelation that must be shared with Anil. Might it unite them once and for all, or has it come too late?
Priya grew up in Kenya, returning to the UK to study English Literature at the University of Bristol. She had a career in advertising before becoming a full time writer. In 2010 Priya, and the journalist Matthias Fredrich-Auf der Horst, initiated Authors for Peace. It is intended to be a platform from which writers can actively use literature in different ways to promote peace. The first event by Authors for Peace took place on 21 September 2010, the UN's International Day of Peace. With the support of the International Literature Festival Berlin, Priya hosted a 24hour-live-online-reading by 80 authors from all over the world. The authors read from their work in a gesture of solidarity with those who are oppressed or caught in conflict. Priya lives in London and Berlin.
Dilema između vjere i ljubavi- apsolutno uvjerljivo. Ponekad poželim pročitati dobru knjigu u kojoj je tema ljubav, odnos i veza dvoje ljudi, kako se ta veza razvija i kako neke određene životne odrednice i okolina utječu na sudbinu te veze. Upravo je ova knjiga to o čemu sam čitala. Odlična knjiga! Ova knjiga će mi ostati jako dugo, dugo, dugo u sjećanju jer skoro 99% elemenata mi je bio i sam moj život obavijen sličnim ili identičnim iskustvom i ishodom. Pisma koja su popratni dio cijele priče na kraju daju završni odgovor i ''prvim'' likovima sa istim iskustvom i problemom kao i glavnim protagonistima same priče Lini i Anilu…(kao i nekima izvan te priče koji su se u tome našli ili poistovijetili). Eh, da sam ju bar prije čitala. :) Knjiga je najavljivana kao Romeo i Juliet modernog doba. No, ja ju nisam i ne bih nikad tako doživjela. Ovdje su elenemti nešto sasvim drugo, ponekad zastrašujući, ponekad jadni, ponekad…mahhh pročitajte pa vidite. Uglavnom, odlična, odlična!
Това е една от книгите, заради които се насилвам да довърша книга, която не ми е интересна в началото. А тази цикли до към средата. После става по-интересна. Но в нея има толкова много материал за размисъл… и да, за последните 50 г нищо, ама нищичко не се е променило по отношение на различията между хората, толерантността спрямо тях (която в наши дни е толкова лицемерна, че чак ми се повръща) и възприемането на другостта. Толкоз. Много отрезвяващо. Само героите малко мо бяха едно такива недоразвити…
Da-da, zvuči kao jeftini ljubić ali ima tu puno više "mesa" nego što se na prvu loptu čini. Roman prati dvoje zaljubljenih, Linu i Anila, koji od svoje djetinje ljubavi ne vide širu sliku, a stereotipan "koš" Romea i Julije ovdje služi tek kao kostur na koji se naslagalo trulo meso današnjice sa svim aktualnom temama od stava Zapada prema muslimanima, pa da stanja u Africi na koje svi okrećemo leđa. Glavni likovi kroz cijeli roman vuku svatko svoju stranu priče i punokrvni su proizvodi okoline u kojoj odrastaju. Dok je Lina skromna muslimanka, odgojena u tradicionalnom duhu, Anil je pripadnik zlatne mladeži Kenije, ne religiozan sikh koji zdravo za gotovo uzima očevo bogatstvo. Zbog tradicionalnih načela Lininih roditelja koji uključuju da se njihova mezimica uda za podobnog muslimana kojeg će sami odabrati, Anil prihvaća držati njihovu vezu u tajnosti, podržavajući Linu u njezinom dvostrukom životu. No kako godine prolaze, a studentski dani zavšavaju, pravnica Lina prihvaća posao u UN-u, dok Anil započinje karijeru arhitekta u ovisnosti o novcu svoga oca kako bi ostvario svoje arhitektonske ideje i njihova veza je na ozbiljnoj kušnji. Kako vrijeme prolazi, a zaljubljenost se troši, dvoje mladih započinju preispitivati svoja osobna načela, ali i stavove svojih obitelji kako bi odlučili koliko su daleko spremni ići kako bi njihova veza opstala. Iako se roman vrti oko ljubavne priče, ovaj roman je više od svega realan prikaz nošenja sa stvarnošću uzimajući u obzir kulturno nasljeđe i moralna načela koja su nam duboko usađena, i onog najgoreg – koliko smo daleko spremni ići u "prilagođavanju" istine kako bismo opravdali svoje postupke.
The title itself says it, obscure. logic and love both. The description on back jacket was very inviting; Kenya, politics, love story of a Muslim and a non-muslim, some explosive confrontations with the family. But I kind of lost my way and my interest pretty soon.
The blurb calls this a modern Romeo & Juliet which I took a little too literal at first. It's not a retelling at all, but it's a tragic and complex love story between a Muslim woman and an atheist Sikh who are seperated not just by their religious differences, but their morals, their families and cultural backgrounds.
The story is set in London, Birmingham, Kenya, New York and Sudan and despite its complex thematical backdrops like illegal arms trades and questions of faith, it's an incredibly easy read. Sometimes I found passages that read a little clumsy and/or over-explaining, but apart from those the language was completely in the background for me. I was too invested in Lina's and Anil's lives. Overall, a very absorbing story with some faults.
Despite Lina being in love with Anil, and their religious differences being a huge hindrance to their relationship, she ends up punishing him for his father's sins, at the great expense to her own emotions. In the end, it never really was about religion because if God is love, why act in a contradictory manner, then end up risking your faith? Didn't it ever occur to Lina's father that sometimes God's will is what's closest to the heart?
All in all, it was so traumatizing to watch Lina sabotage all the relationships around her with the excuse of a faith she didn't understand herself.
It's taken me over two months to come to terms with Anil and Lina's love story. I followed them from London, to Nairobi and Juba and then back up until I couldn't take the uncertainty anymore. The author drew a picture of Nairobi and Sudan, that it took me along the streets I never thought I'd come across in a book. I wonder, did the author also plan to have their names synchronized? For Anil is Lina spelled backwards.
One wonders what we would do without Shakespeare and his Romeo and Juliet... presumably someone else would have to describe this oh so common phenomenon. Here we have a Muslim woman and a Sikh... although he does seem quite oblivious to her true situation and needs which does not make her situation easier. An interesting read.
Интригуваща история за любовта на Анил и Лина, които са от различни религии и това се оказва проблем за единият от тях. Главната героиня ми лазеше по нервите с нерешителността си и невъзможността да отстоява себе си, въпреки многото шансове, които й се даваха.
История за това как сами си създаваме драми, вземайки решения на база различния, прегради и обществени запрещения въз основа на различните религии, вместо да слушаме сърцето си.
"Конфликтите се раждат в главата. Разумът е този, който тълкува нещата погрешно"
This is a love story about Lina and Anil, whose relationship faces many pressures from the outside world. Lina comes from a devout Muslim family who would never allow their daughter to be with a man who does not practice the same religion. As a result of this, Lina keeps her relationship with Anil a secret from her parents for many years. She is forced to lie to them over and over again throughout these years and the guilt tears her apart. However, one day Lina’s mother finds a large number of letters sent from Anil to Lina, and she forces Lina to put an end to the relationship. At this point, Lina moves to New York to work for the UN and unbeknownst to her parents, Anil also moves there and they continue their relationship. Lina’s parents are not the only pressure on their romance though as politics, money, prejudice from others and a difference in ethics work together to make things near on impossible for them to be together.
At intervals during the story between Anil and Lina, the author introduces letters written from an unknown woman to the man that left her suddenly because of his faith. Subtle clues are dropped into these letters to allow the reader to figure out how this storyline connects to the main storyline. At the end of the book, these letters are tied in brilliantly with Lina and Anil’s story and it really helps to give the reader an insight into how the past can affect decisions that we make today.
I have to say that this book is nothing like I expected it to be from reading the blurb on the back. I was expecting it to be a passionate Romeo and Juliet type story. However, the romance between Lina and Anil was very subtle (although I am reading a lot of Paranormal Romance at the moment so maybe I have just become used to more obvious displays of passion in my books!). They must love each other a great deal for them to be able to overcome the pressures that are placed on them, but they do not demonstrate their love for each other very much. In fact, for a large majority of the book, Lina and Anil are in different parts of the country/world and the story is mainly told of the two characters separately. In fact, during the times that they are together, neither of them seem to be particularly happy. I found this quote from Anil in the book that, for me, perfectly summed up their relationship:
‘You talk about us being together, but nothing that you do seems to support that.’ His head was tilted to one side, his eyes fixed on her. She was glad her sunglasses shielded her from his wounded gaze. ‘You insist on working hundreds of miles away in a war-torn country when you could have a safer, better paid, but equally useful job right here near me. You want us to wait so that you have time to bring your parents around to the idea of marriage, but in the meantime you won’t let me near them and you allow them to arrange introductions to other men.’
There are several examples of this type of behaviour from Lina throughout the story that contradicts the things she says to Anil, her friends and her family. But near the end of the book, the true strength of Lina and Anil’s feeling for each other becomes apparent and I was really hoping that they would find a way to be together.
What really sets this book apart from others is the beautiful prose used by the author. The descriptions that she uses are breathtaking and you really feel as though you are there with the characters, seeing everything that they are able to see. Priya Basil brings her characters to life with her words and, although there were times that I was not very fond of these characters, you get pulled into their story through the strength of the writing.
Another thing that I loved was the insight that I gained about the Muslim faith from reading this book. I must admit to not knowing much about this religion and it was very interesting to read about their traditions and beliefs. Part of the book was set around the time of the 9/11 tragedy and I found it fascinating to read about this from a Muslim character’s point of view and their experience of the prejudice that was directed at people of their religion for a long time after this event.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this book although I did find it slow-going at times. But this is made up for by the beautiful writing and the way that the characters are brought to life by the author. The ending is so powerful that it will stay with you for a long time after you have finished reading the book.
They meet at university in London: Anil Mayur is the non-religious son of a wealthy Sikh family from Kenya; his ambition is to be an architect, rather than to take over his father’s business empire. Lina Merali is the daughter of a devout Muslim family from Birmingham, and interested in humanitarian issues. Whatever their differences, these two fall in love; they try their best to keep it a secret, but that can’t last – and life gets only more difficult as the years go by.
What makes Priya Basil’s second novel so interesting is the complexity of the scenario it presents. One can imagine this kind of story being treated rather simplistically (as, for example, a tale of the heroic lovers striving to overcome all the obstacles life places in their way), but Basil doesn’t do that – all her characters face difficult questions, and there are no easy answers. Both sets of parents would disapprove of Anil’s and Lina’s relationship, but the two protagonists have difficulties of their own to work through as well – Lina remains torn between Anil on the one hand, and her family and faith on the other; whilst Anil can sometimes be as controlling as he accuses Lina’s parents of being.
The familial situations are also presented in a nuanced fashion. In the case of Lina’s parents, for example, her mother, Iman, takes the sterner view of her daughter’s relationship, but not without reason; Iman found true love and happiness through time and staying true to her values, values to which she wants Lina to live up. Shareef, Lina’s father, is in a more complicated position, because he was in a relationship (which he ended) with a non-Muslim woman before he met Iman, so he recognises the situation in which Lina finds herself, and is more inclined to tread carefully. There’s nicely rounded characterisation like this all the way through The Obscure Logic of the Heart.
Adding a further layer to the novel is the way that events in its wider world interact with and reflect the personal stories of the protagonists. Time and again, a wish to shape the world, to change it for the better, comes up against a harsh reality. Lina can quote the statistics about political corruption, but is still unprepared for an encounter with it. She gets work with the UN, but finds colleagues unable to help everyone they would like, because they simply lack the resources. In a sincere spirit of education, a tour guide in the UN building asks her party, ‘Do you know what an anti-personnel landmine is and how much one costs?’, only for a girl to reply, ‘It can cost you your life.’ (229) The problems of the world, Basil suggests, can be as intractable as those of the heart.
In all this, I haven’t mentioned that Basil’s novel is a good read purely in terms of its plot, as she manages several times to wrong-foot the reader over what will happen (or has happened). Yet there’s so much more here besides, and it all makes The Obscure Logic of the Heart very satisfying to read.
I actually bought this book because of the great reviews it received, but ultimately I was really disappointed.
There are several reasons for that:
1. Lina and Anil are sadly undeveloped. Lina (female protagonist - young, Indian, muslim woman living in the UK) is - of course - beautiful, everybody falls in love with her, while she lands a great job at the UN. I didn't find her believable or interesting. Anil (male protagonist - young, Indian, sikh, living in London after having spent his childhood in Nairobi with his affluent parents) is painted with better strokes and comes across as more real to life!!!Lina's parents certainly do not approve of their daughter being with a non muslim, and so the couple conducts their affair clandestinely. A LOT of back and forth ensues, and in the end I really didn't care for either Anil, Lina or whether they ended up together or not.
2. The main story line is punctuated with love letters. It doesn't take long before you realise, that these letters were written years prior to the present, to Lina's dad by the white girl he left for religious reasons. Not because his family made him leave her, but because he himself realised he could not live with someone who didn't share his religion, as it is such an integrated part of him. Granted: that is a good point, that he leaves her because of who HE is, and not because of someone his family wants him to be. However, I didn't find this plot line interesting; it actually seemed a bit silly.
3. The minor characters are not well developed either in my opinion. Hans - the German aid worker Lina meets in Nairobi and since seems to bump into constantly all over the world. Isabel - Lina's friend who is visiting Lina in New York. They meet Hans and we sense, that Isabel is interested in him. However, we are to understand that compared to Lina she doesn't stand a chance. They both only seem to serve the purpose of making Lina appear more fantastic, and as such have no real life of their own.
4. The time perspective. This is a minor issue, but still had me guessing throughout the book, when the "present"(where Lina and Anil meet again after not having seen each other for years) is set. In one of the first chapters Lina looks herself in the mirror and thinks, she doesn't look too bad for someone, who has lived more than half her life. I then assume she is no younger than 40 years old. However, the book has references to the Rwanda genocide (1994) and september 11, when Lina is a very young girl. And it seems like she is 24 in 2003, ergo she must be 31 in 2010 (when the book was published). Maybe the "present", when Lina and Anil meet again is set further ahead in time than 2010? As I said - no major issue, just something that made me wonder.
The book does deal with an interesting subject. Arms trade and possible governmental involvement in this. However, this subject is downgraded in favour of a not very interesting love story.
Anil and Lina meet at University in London. He feels an immediate and strong attraction to her, and enlists his friends to help him meet her. His family lives in Kenya and is Sikh, and her family lives in Birmingham and are Muslim. He has enjoyed a life of having it all, wanting for nothing. His wealthy parents’ home in Kenya is referred to as a palace. Lina’s family home is much more modest. As their relationship develops, Anil introduces Lina to his world, to the art he admires, and she learns from him. He is unhappy whenever he is not with her and tries to drive the relationship forward. Lina feels she has to keep the relationship hidden from her parents, and becomes embroiled in lying to them in order to continue to see Anil. We follow Anil and Lina as life moves on for them after University, with Anil embarking on his career as an architect in Kenya, and Lina persuing her work with the UN in Sudan. At the heart of this epic novel is their relationship. What will happen, how strong is their love; can it overcome obstacles that appear insurmountable? Interspersed amongst the main narrative are some emotional letters from the 1960’s detailing the end of a relationship; we do not know who has written them, or to whom they are addressed, until much nearer the end of the novel.
I found this an enjoyable, intelligent and moving read. I found some of the other characters, such as Anil’s mother Minnie, were well drawn and easy to imagine in my mind’s eye. I would recommend this for anyone interested in reading about a somewhat unusual romance where differences in religion and ideals, pressures from parents and their beliefs, all conspire to create a weighty internal conflict. Dealing with religion, illegal arms dealing, aid work in refugee camps, this is a lengthy novel, and an epic in the amount of ground it covers. The author successfully integrates many aspects into the storyline, with the tumultuous love between Lina and Anil the one constant running throughout, but the novel is much more than just a love story. A talented writer, I will look out for her other work.
I read and reviewed this novel as part of the Transworld Book Group Reading Challenge.
When Anil and Lina meet in London as students, they are immediately attracted to each other, and very slowly they get closer and start a relationship. From the start though their love affair is plagued with trouble. Lina is a Muslim from a religious family, whereas Anil is a non-practising Sikh, originally from Kenya. Because Lina expects strong objections from her family, she keeps the relationship a secret, but even once they are found out and her family forbids her to continue, Lina can’t give Anil up, and the pair keep on finding ways to be together, despite the opposition. It is not just Lina’s family complicating the relationship though. Anil comes from a different world. Rich and spoilt, his is a world where money talks and corruptions rules. Eventually Lina will have to make a heartbreaking decision between her family and the love of her life. But are decisions always irreversible?
This is a powerful love story. But it is so much more than that too. Dealing with cultural differences, religion, famine, and illegal trading in weapons the reader is brought to a world where answers are never simple and every decision has heartbreaking consequences. I really enjoyed this book. I couldn’t help rooting for Anil and Lina although both of them exasperated me at times too. In fact at more than one occasion I couldn’t help feeling that if ever two people were unsuited to each other, it was this pair. I do think the book could probably have been a bit shorter without losing any of its power. There did seem to be a bit of repetition which I could have done without. However, this book was also a learning experience for me, opening my eyes to lots of issues I had never really thought about before. Overall, this was a powerful and well told story and one I’m very glad I read.
A good book to read while relaxing with a cup-of-coffee. Priya Basil wrote this in such a way as to allow the reader to gain an insight into religious beliefs.
Quite simply, I couldn't put this down. It starts with a meeting of two people who we know had previously been in a relationship but haven't seen each other in years. The novel unfolds their relationship and the difficulties they faced.
Lina, is from a strict Muslim background and falls in love with Alin, who is Sikh. This is a modern-day Romeo and Juliet, her parents forbid the relationship but yet their passion and love is strong. Both characters are very believable but they have many objections to their relationship, including from Alin's best friend, Merc. The book is beautifully written and I loved the vivid descriptions of Kenya and Sudan, where both characters live and work at various points in the novel.
This novel also address global and political issues, it set about a year after 9/11 so shows how people view Islam after the terrorist attacks and it also deals with the illegal Arms trade. The narrtive is interesting as well, as well as the background story, the novel also has many letters and it is not revealed until the end who was writing them.
This is a sensitive portrayal, you feel empathy for the main characters and the family members, all torn with their own beliefs and emotions.
I have read this as part of the Transworld Book Group Reading challenege and I am very grateful since this has introduced me to a new author and I would definitely look out for more in the future - highly recommended.
The publishers have been marketing this story as 'Romeo and Juliet for the 21st century', so it wouldn't be unfair to expect a love story with some tragedy. I wasn't disappointed, but although the story of Anil and Lina's relationship is the main theme to the novel, there is so much more than this. It is a complex novel, comprising of many different themes, from the illicit love affair between a Muslim and a Sikh, to the illegal arms trade in Kenya. Anil and Lina are two young people who meet at university and gradually fall in love. Their religions are not the only thing that is different about them; Anil comes from a wealthy background and has never really had to work for anything. Lina, on the other hand comes from a working class family in Birmingham, her parents are devout Muslims and they are a tight, loving family. Basil is an expert at crafting realistic characters, not just the two main leads but the accompanying characters are just as well rounded, it is clear that a lot of thought has gone into who Anil and Lina would allow into their world, who they would trust and why. I really enjoyed this novel, I enjoyed the love story and the mysterious back story that ran alongside it - Basil uses some old 1960s correspondence, spaced between chapters every now and then - this adds a touch of intrigue to the story. A novel that is very relevant to the world today, well written, with a great plot and interesting characters.
When Anil, a Kenian of Indian descent, meets Lina, who is English from Indian descent, he pursues her until she gives in and becomes his girlfriend.
But there is a problem, Lina is of Muslim faith and her parents expect her to marry a man that they will introduce to her. Anil, on the other hand, has no faith but his parents are Sikhs.
Lina is prepared to go far to keep her parents ignorant of the illicit relationship with Anil, forcing other people to do the same, even when they feel very uncomfortable about it. But eventually, she will need to make a choice.
The further I got with this book, the more I wanted to keep reading.
It was a story that elicited emotions. Not tears or happiness, but a kind of irritation with Lina: I thought it wasn’t right how she kept making promises to Anil and at the same time not want to confront her family with her relationship, keeping all her options open.
It also made me think whether Lina should risk her parents’ ostracising her for ever. The book was very good at making me look at the issue from Lina’s (Muslim) viewpoint.
The book wasn’t overly full of religion. And in the end, you could argue it wasn’t so much religion, but instead, Lina’s parents’ strict adherence to their religion that caused Anil and Lina’s relationship to be under so much strain.
This makes a good book club read as there are several topics to discuss.
Какво по-хубаво от това да прочетеш книга за любовта, която не робува на клишета и представя света такъв, какъвто е, с тази разлика, че е способна да те обогати неимоверно много. Наистина останах изненадан и почти втрещен от реалистичната приказка на Прия Базил, написала една сравнително обемна, но толкова приятна за четене книга. „Загадъчната логика на сърцето“ („ICU“, 2015, с превод на Надежда Розова) е пленителна и с това, че говори за културните различия и границите на поносимост с лекота, разбиране и търпимост, което не се среща често в литературата. Има драма, разбира се, но е представена като „пътуване към себе си“ за всеки от героите, без да е натрапчиво и излишно разкрасено. Бях потопен в различни за мен култури и често се хващах да мисля за нея по-скоро като научнопопулярно четиво, обработено с литературни похвати. Но истината е, че за първи път погледнах от друг ъгъл на любимата ми тема за противопоставянето на религиозните догми с модерността и съвремието. Всъщност тази книга не ме промени по някакъв начин, но ме накара да повярвам в онова, което ми разказва авторката – каквито и емоции и драми да са вложени в сюжета, те не пречат да се види логиката в нещата. (Продължава в блога: http://knijenpetar.blogspot.bg/2016/0...)
Whilst studying in London, Anil and Lina meet and fall in love. Yet they come from very different backgrounds; Anil is a non-practising Sikh from a wealth Kenyan family, and Lina is a devout Muslim from a middle class family in Birmingham. Lina’s parents want her to marry a Muslim man of their choosing and as a result Anil and Lina are destined to keep their love secret, as predictably fate conspires against them. Theoretically good, the novel encompasses a whole range of conflict, not just the frustrations encountered by the star crossed lovers, but also the effect that post 9/11 had on the world’s larger arena.
The book’s stunning cover and the promise of a 21st century Romeo and Juliet sold the story to me. I so wanted to love this book but struggled with it from the beginning, and whilst acknowledging the writer’s talent I have to say that I didn’t enjoy the book as much as I expected. I found the narrative cumbersome and quite confusing in places, and by the end of the story didn’t engage with either Anil or Lina enough to care what happened to them.
I'm way more bothered by ok books than ok movies because so much more time is invested into them! This was an interesting story, but if you don't know anything about Eastern religions like Islam, Sikhism, etc. you'll get plenty of chance to research because this book doesn't explain much. Its obviously aimed at readers who already have a fair base knowledge. I also didn't believe the main love story. I can understand why the guy likes the girl (sweet, pretty, interesting, smart, etc.) But why on Earth she likes the spoiled, shallow, pouty and demanding guy I have no idea. So it really ticked me off when (SPOILER ALERT!) she leaves a healthy relationship and he runs away from his wife so they can finally be together. Its a completely unhealthy relationship and not what love really is. Infatuation and lust, sure, but not love. But if you want something out of the norm to freshen up your library then this is a good book. It does have some f-bombs.
I received this book as part of The Transworld Book Group challenge and I'm very happy to be part of it.
This is ultimately a love story about two people from different backgrounds, Lina and Anil the love they have for each other and how their relationship is tested and also forbidden.
The novel addresses political issues and deals with terrorism, arms trade and religion in a delicate way and is cleverly intertwined around Lina and Anil.
The authors descriptions of Sudan were beautifully written and I could imagine this in my mind, the characters came to life and there was a lovely flow throughout the story.
I particulary liked the letters that were cleverly woven thorughout, and it's not until the end do we discover the true meaning and story that passes within these letters.
I enjoyed this novel and I'll be looking out for further reading by this author.
The new Romeo and Juliet for the modern age? This had all the right ingredients but strangely it didn't quite hit the mark for me. I am not a big romance reader - far too cynical perhaps - so it's ironic in a way that it is in that department that I found this book to be disappointing. The two main protagonists Anil and Lina are star crossed lovers kept apart by their religions , he is a sikh and she is muslim but personally I found the romance a bit lack-lustre and unconvincing. The characters weren't well rounded enough and I never felt involved in their predicament. However the authors passion - shown in Lina's job with the UN - for the victims of war and particularly women's suffering in war where rape is used as a weapon against themselves and their communities really comes across and is very thought provoking.
„Загадъчната логика на сърцето“( ИК ICU, 2015) ме изненада – очаквах роман, концентриран върху невъзможността на една силна любов, и в известна степен го получих, но намерих и въпроси за вярата, за идентичността, семейството, мултикултурното общество, хармонията, дори и за нелегалната търговия на оръжия. Казвам въпроси, а не отговори, защото авторката на романа, Прия Базил, споделя, че тя пише, за да пита. И наистина „Загадъчната логика на сърцето“ ме остави любопитна за това какво е в сърцето ти да се борят два вида обич, как се постига баланс между вътрешните ти желания и наложените от семейството ти правила и можем ли да живеем заедно в хармония и разбирателство.
I couldn't put down this book. Two powerful and timeless love stories unfold alongside a very contemporary account of the illegal arms trade and its effects in places such as South Sudan.
The book manages to portray Islam very sympathetically. I have never read a better account of a devout Muslim who sticks to his beliefs without turning into a monster. At the same time, there are characters who are very astutely critical of religion in general. This mixture works really well, providing intellectual tension alongside the high emotional drama of the story.
This is an addictive read. It informs, entertains and moves you. Read it!
This is one of the best books that I have read. The story is heart wrenching as issues of love and religion are wont to be. Lina's conflict is apparent and with today's world, a true reflection of the cost of love. As the writer notes, "it is god's will" are very emotive words that defy logic yet at the same time, provide answers where all else fails. The characters are very strong and well established throughout the story. The Kenyan sheng just seals it for me. The matatu culture, so aptly portrayed as well as the socio-political connections of Kenya. All in all, a very well written book.
A mesmerizing read, a truly wonderful book. I was totally in love with “The Obscure Logic of the Heart” from the very beginning to the fantastic, unexpected, deeply moving ending! It is much more than a poignant romance (which it is too). A warm, witty, and enthralling story about a young couple, who would be a perfect match, if … well, I won’t spoil your pleasure.
What starts out as a simple college romance goes through twists and troughs, detailing the lives of the key players. Is their love enough, are they just too different, and can they find happiness with each other, or settle for happiness apart from each other? There is really no simple answer, as with all relationships.......
This a vivid, inspiring book with so many variable themes from architecture to politics to religion, so seamlessly woven into a plot of difficult love. Unputdownable! I read it in two days.