What do you think?
Rate this book
Perempuan Suci
“Sentimentil! Sangat mengarukan ….”
—The Times
Zarri Bano, seorang perempuan Muslim nan jelita, berkali-kali menolak lamaran laki-laki sampai akhirnya ia bertemu Sikander, yang memikat hatinya pada pandangan pertama. Namun, ketika Jafar, adik lelaki Zarri Bano, penerus martabat ayah mereka satu-satunya, tewas dalam kecelakaan, sang ayah memaksa Zarri Bano menjadi Perempuan Suci. Ini berarti ia tidak boleh menikah, karena satu-satunya yang boleh ia nikahi adalah Al-Quran.
Api asmaranya bersama Sikander pun dipaksa padam, justru pada saat mereka benar-benar ingin mereguk cinta. Yang lebih menyakitkan, dalam puncak kecewanya, Sikander malah mengawini Ruby, adik Zarri Bano. Demikianlah, selama bertahun-tahun, kesedihan, amarah, dan perang batin Zarri Bano tersembunyi rapi di balik burqa hitam yang membungkus tubuhnya, dan membatasinya dengan dunia luar.
Terjadi di negeri Pakistan yang eksotis, novel yang banyak mendapat pujian ini memaparkan secara melodramatis peliknya realitas seorang perempuan yang hidup di tengah kungkungan tradisi yang dibangun oleh laki-laki.
—The Times
Zarri Bano, seorang perempuan Muslim nan jelita, berkali-kali menolak lamaran laki-laki sampai akhirnya ia bertemu Sikander, yang memikat hatinya pada pandangan pertama. Namun, ketika Jafar, adik lelaki Zarri Bano, penerus martabat ayah mereka satu-satunya, tewas dalam kecelakaan, sang ayah memaksa Zarri Bano menjadi Perempuan Suci. Ini berarti ia tidak boleh menikah, karena satu-satunya yang boleh ia nikahi adalah Al-Quran.
Api asmaranya bersama Sikander pun dipaksa padam, justru pada saat mereka benar-benar ingin mereguk cinta. Yang lebih menyakitkan, dalam puncak kecewanya, Sikander malah mengawini Ruby, adik Zarri Bano. Demikianlah, selama bertahun-tahun, kesedihan, amarah, dan perang batin Zarri Bano tersembunyi rapi di balik burqa hitam yang membungkus tubuhnya, dan membatasinya dengan dunia luar.
Terjadi di negeri Pakistan yang eksotis, novel yang banyak mendapat pujian ini memaparkan secara melodramatis peliknya realitas seorang perempuan yang hidup di tengah kungkungan tradisi yang dibangun oleh laki-laki.
Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
60 people are currently reading
527 people want to read
About the author
Qaisra Shahraz
18 books46 followersQaisra Shahraz, born in Pakistan, is a critically acclaimed novelist and scriptwriter and has lived in Manchester since she was nine. She has degrees in English and two Masters in European Literature (Manchester Universities) and Scriptwriting ( Salford University ). Qaisra has a successful career in education – school teacher, examiner, teacher trainer, lecturer, development officer and quality improvement manager etc. She is currently a college inspector for Ofsted and Estyn, and an education consultant.
Qaisra is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Member of the Royal Society of Literature and recipient of the Arts Council Award. Her novels are translated into several languages. The Holy Woman won the Golden Jubilee Award and was Book of the Month . Her drama serial The Heart is It won two TV Awards in Pakistan . Her award-winning short stories are studied in schools, including her first story, A Pair of Jeans, for the German ‘A level' equivalent. Qaisra has written extensively as a journalist including for The Times. She is available for readings, workshops and consultancy.
Qaisra is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Member of the Royal Society of Literature and recipient of the Arts Council Award. Her novels are translated into several languages. The Holy Woman won the Golden Jubilee Award and was Book of the Month . Her drama serial The Heart is It won two TV Awards in Pakistan . Her award-winning short stories are studied in schools, including her first story, A Pair of Jeans, for the German ‘A level' equivalent. Qaisra has written extensively as a journalist including for The Times. She is available for readings, workshops and consultancy.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 140 reviews
February 20, 2009
Perempuan Suci adalah salah satu buku yang pada awalnya sempat saya jauhi. Terletak di rak buku milik atasan saya, buku ini seperti memanggil-manggil saya untuk membaca. Tapi pengalaman membaca novel dunia Islam seperti ini (Brick Lane (Monica Ali-Bangladesh), A Thousand splendid Suns (Khaled Hussaeni-Afghanistan) dan lain-lain saya lupa) ditambah dengan review teman-teman saya tentang buku ini, membuat saya malas membacanya. Bukan karena jelek, tetapi karena kebanyakan dari novel-novel tersebut hanya mengekspos kisah buram dari mahluk yang bernama wanita dalam sudut pandang agama Islam.
Baiklah. Saya ceritakan sedikit tentang buku ini.
Alkisah di negeri Pakistan, di sebuah pedesaan yang berjarak kira-kira 2 jam dari Karachi, hiduplah seorang gadis bernama Zarri Bano. Ia memiliki seorang adik laki-laki bernama Jafar, dan adik perempuan bernama Ruby. Zarri adalah gadis yang sangat cantik dan pandai. Beruntung, ayah Zarri sangat memperhatikan pendidikan anak-anak gadisnya sama halnya dengan anak lelakinya. Hal ini mungkin juga disebabkan oleh kemampuan finansial mereka dimana keluarga Zarri adalah keluarga yang kaya raya secara turun temurun.
Cerita dibuka dengan rencana perjodohan Zarri dengan Sikander, salah satu dari puluhan pemuda yang berniat melamar Zarri. Namun tidak seperti pemuda lainnya, pemuda yang satu ini ternyata benar-benar menarik perhatian Zarri, dan seperti yang sudah diduga, mereka jatuh cinta pada pandangan pertama (soalnya Sikandernya ganteng sih..hehe)
Singkat cerita, Zarri dan Sikander merencanakan pertunangan mereka. Namun naas, adik Zarri, Jafar mengalami kecelakaan berkuda yang menyebabkan dirinya tewas. Akibatnya, Zarri tidak dapat melangsungkan pernikahan dalam waktu dekat. Lebih parah lagi, ayah Zarri malah berniat menjadikan Zarri ”Sahzadi Ibadat”, atau Perempuan Suci yang ditakdirkan mengabdikan dirinya pada agama dan tidak menikah. Sudah tentu hal ini menimbulkan penolakan dari Zarri, karena ia selama ini dididik dengan pandangan terbuka dan modern, ia tidak dapat mengerti kenapa hal ini terjadi padanya. Terlebih lagi, saat itu ia tengah dilanda cinta yang menggebu-gebu pada Sikander.
Sesungguhnya dalam kebudayaan Islam Pakistan, khususnya pada keluarga-keluarga kaya atau bangsawan, harta warisan jatuh kepada anak lelaki yang akan menjaga dan mengelola kekayaan keluarga tersebut. Tanggung jawab tersebut seharusnya jatuh pada Jafar. Namun karena Jafar tewas, maka harta tersebut jatuh pada anak lainnya. Keluarga Zarri tidak memiliki anak lelaki lain, oleh karena itu harta keluarga tersebut nantinya akan dikuasai oleh suami-suami dari anak perempuan.
Hal inilah yang tidak diinginkan oleh ayah Zarri. Disamping itu, ia juga tidak menyetujui Sikander menjadi suami Zarri (Belakangan diketahui ayah Zarri merasa cemburu pada Sikander dan ia takut cinta Zarri padanya berkurang dikarenakan Zarri lebih mencintai Sikander). Pada bagian ini diceritakan konflik yang terjadi dalam keluarga Zarri (dimana ibunya tidak menyetujui rencana ayah Zarri sampai-sampai ia membenci suaminya hingga suaminya itu meninggal) namun tidak ada yang sanggup menentangnya, terlebih rencana ini disetujui pula oleh kakek Zarri, selaku seorang yang amat sangat berpengaruh, baik di keluarga itu maupun di masyarakat desa tempat Zarri tinggal.
Akhirnya Zarri menjadi seorang Perempuan Suci. Meski terjadi pergolakan hebat dalam batinnya, dimana tadinya ia adalah seorang wanita yang bebas dan penuh gairah cinta, akhirnya ia dapat mengikhlaskan dirinya menjadi pelayan Tuhan dan keluarganya.
Namun nampaknya cobaan bagi Zarri tidak hanya sampai disitu, ia kembali diuji saat harus mengetahui bahwa adiknya, Ruby, menikah dengan Sikander. Meski ia sangat menyayangi adiknya itu, tak urung kejadian ini membuat mentalnya jatuh juga. Ia tak sanggup membayangkan lelaki yang dikasihinya hidup bersama dengan adiknya. Lalu ia mulai melarikan diri dari keluarganya, melupakan cintanya, dan semakin membenamkan diri dalam kegiatan-kegiatan keagamaan demi melupakan kesedihannya.
Dalam buku ini, penulisnya tidak hanya menceritakan kisah hidup Zarri Bano semata, namun ada banyak tokoh juga yang diceritakan dengan cukup detail. Konflik yang terjadi antara orang tua Zarri dan latar belakang dari kejadian yang terjadi saat ini juga diceritakan dengan teliti. Misalnya bagaimana seorang perempuan bisa menjadi jahat dan culas kepada perempuan lain hanya dikarenakan rasa cemburu mengetahui dirinya menjadi nomor dua di hati suaminya, sampai-sampai ia tak memperkenankan anaknya memperistri anak dari saingannya tersebut.
Namun demikian, bukan hanya melulu cinta yang diketengahkan dalam buku ini. Ada juga perjuangan seorang perempuan menghidupi keluarganya dengan merelakan dirinya menjadi pembantu di rumah orang lain asalkan anak-anaknya dapat menempuh pendidikan dan hidup yang lebih baik. Serta nilai-nilai agama, dimana Islam tidak pernah menyarankan seseorang untuk mengabdi pada agama sampai-sampai harus meninggalkan pernikahan atau tidak menikah. Ternyata hal demikian hanyalah tradisi usang jaman feodal yang tidak dapat lagi bertahan di era modernisasi seperti sekarang.
Ada yang bilang, membaca buku ini mirip dengan menonton film India yang ramai, seru dan didramatisir. Saya tidak tahu apakah betul begitu, namun saya hanya bisa bilang cerita dalam buku ini memang cukup ramai dengan penokohan, lengkap dengan kisah hidupnya masing-masing. Meski ada beberapa bagian yang menurut saya terlalu berlebihan atau pemecahan masalah dengan mematikan beberapa tokohnya (males banget deh!), tetapi cukuplah buku ini menjadi bacaan menghibur di kala senggang. Lumayan lah, apalagi buku pinjaman...hehehe.
Baiklah. Saya ceritakan sedikit tentang buku ini.
Alkisah di negeri Pakistan, di sebuah pedesaan yang berjarak kira-kira 2 jam dari Karachi, hiduplah seorang gadis bernama Zarri Bano. Ia memiliki seorang adik laki-laki bernama Jafar, dan adik perempuan bernama Ruby. Zarri adalah gadis yang sangat cantik dan pandai. Beruntung, ayah Zarri sangat memperhatikan pendidikan anak-anak gadisnya sama halnya dengan anak lelakinya. Hal ini mungkin juga disebabkan oleh kemampuan finansial mereka dimana keluarga Zarri adalah keluarga yang kaya raya secara turun temurun.
Cerita dibuka dengan rencana perjodohan Zarri dengan Sikander, salah satu dari puluhan pemuda yang berniat melamar Zarri. Namun tidak seperti pemuda lainnya, pemuda yang satu ini ternyata benar-benar menarik perhatian Zarri, dan seperti yang sudah diduga, mereka jatuh cinta pada pandangan pertama (soalnya Sikandernya ganteng sih..hehe)
Singkat cerita, Zarri dan Sikander merencanakan pertunangan mereka. Namun naas, adik Zarri, Jafar mengalami kecelakaan berkuda yang menyebabkan dirinya tewas. Akibatnya, Zarri tidak dapat melangsungkan pernikahan dalam waktu dekat. Lebih parah lagi, ayah Zarri malah berniat menjadikan Zarri ”Sahzadi Ibadat”, atau Perempuan Suci yang ditakdirkan mengabdikan dirinya pada agama dan tidak menikah. Sudah tentu hal ini menimbulkan penolakan dari Zarri, karena ia selama ini dididik dengan pandangan terbuka dan modern, ia tidak dapat mengerti kenapa hal ini terjadi padanya. Terlebih lagi, saat itu ia tengah dilanda cinta yang menggebu-gebu pada Sikander.
Sesungguhnya dalam kebudayaan Islam Pakistan, khususnya pada keluarga-keluarga kaya atau bangsawan, harta warisan jatuh kepada anak lelaki yang akan menjaga dan mengelola kekayaan keluarga tersebut. Tanggung jawab tersebut seharusnya jatuh pada Jafar. Namun karena Jafar tewas, maka harta tersebut jatuh pada anak lainnya. Keluarga Zarri tidak memiliki anak lelaki lain, oleh karena itu harta keluarga tersebut nantinya akan dikuasai oleh suami-suami dari anak perempuan.
Hal inilah yang tidak diinginkan oleh ayah Zarri. Disamping itu, ia juga tidak menyetujui Sikander menjadi suami Zarri (Belakangan diketahui ayah Zarri merasa cemburu pada Sikander dan ia takut cinta Zarri padanya berkurang dikarenakan Zarri lebih mencintai Sikander). Pada bagian ini diceritakan konflik yang terjadi dalam keluarga Zarri (dimana ibunya tidak menyetujui rencana ayah Zarri sampai-sampai ia membenci suaminya hingga suaminya itu meninggal) namun tidak ada yang sanggup menentangnya, terlebih rencana ini disetujui pula oleh kakek Zarri, selaku seorang yang amat sangat berpengaruh, baik di keluarga itu maupun di masyarakat desa tempat Zarri tinggal.
Akhirnya Zarri menjadi seorang Perempuan Suci. Meski terjadi pergolakan hebat dalam batinnya, dimana tadinya ia adalah seorang wanita yang bebas dan penuh gairah cinta, akhirnya ia dapat mengikhlaskan dirinya menjadi pelayan Tuhan dan keluarganya.
Namun nampaknya cobaan bagi Zarri tidak hanya sampai disitu, ia kembali diuji saat harus mengetahui bahwa adiknya, Ruby, menikah dengan Sikander. Meski ia sangat menyayangi adiknya itu, tak urung kejadian ini membuat mentalnya jatuh juga. Ia tak sanggup membayangkan lelaki yang dikasihinya hidup bersama dengan adiknya. Lalu ia mulai melarikan diri dari keluarganya, melupakan cintanya, dan semakin membenamkan diri dalam kegiatan-kegiatan keagamaan demi melupakan kesedihannya.
Dalam buku ini, penulisnya tidak hanya menceritakan kisah hidup Zarri Bano semata, namun ada banyak tokoh juga yang diceritakan dengan cukup detail. Konflik yang terjadi antara orang tua Zarri dan latar belakang dari kejadian yang terjadi saat ini juga diceritakan dengan teliti. Misalnya bagaimana seorang perempuan bisa menjadi jahat dan culas kepada perempuan lain hanya dikarenakan rasa cemburu mengetahui dirinya menjadi nomor dua di hati suaminya, sampai-sampai ia tak memperkenankan anaknya memperistri anak dari saingannya tersebut.
Namun demikian, bukan hanya melulu cinta yang diketengahkan dalam buku ini. Ada juga perjuangan seorang perempuan menghidupi keluarganya dengan merelakan dirinya menjadi pembantu di rumah orang lain asalkan anak-anaknya dapat menempuh pendidikan dan hidup yang lebih baik. Serta nilai-nilai agama, dimana Islam tidak pernah menyarankan seseorang untuk mengabdi pada agama sampai-sampai harus meninggalkan pernikahan atau tidak menikah. Ternyata hal demikian hanyalah tradisi usang jaman feodal yang tidak dapat lagi bertahan di era modernisasi seperti sekarang.
Ada yang bilang, membaca buku ini mirip dengan menonton film India yang ramai, seru dan didramatisir. Saya tidak tahu apakah betul begitu, namun saya hanya bisa bilang cerita dalam buku ini memang cukup ramai dengan penokohan, lengkap dengan kisah hidupnya masing-masing. Meski ada beberapa bagian yang menurut saya terlalu berlebihan atau pemecahan masalah dengan mematikan beberapa tokohnya (males banget deh!), tetapi cukuplah buku ini menjadi bacaan menghibur di kala senggang. Lumayan lah, apalagi buku pinjaman...hehehe.
May 9, 2014
Pakistan is a patriarchal and misogynist country where males roam around freely while women are held in a pingara.
Harsh statement you think, then read this wonderful novel, in which the author, Qiasra has managed to fully expose the depth and depravity because of male chauvinism in Pakistan. Granted the story is set in a rural scenario which is very different from the urban scene but I think the choice of settings are just right in order to exploit the particular strait of pakistani patriarchalism and misogynism flowing as undercurrents in the society. Such subtle yet clear analysis of the absolute male control could only have been explained by a Pakistani woman writer and Qaisra has managed to step up to the stage in style. I loved the dialogue of the various vivid characters around the issue of Holy women, their thoughts rational and the psychological warfare captivating.
Unfortunately the story sort of losses all mystery in the second part of the novel where the tale is all about ordinary marriages in rural Pakistan. Also the main characters seem to change which is pretty unbelievable, as the stone hearted feudals turn to water and resort to reason instead of forcing themselves their agenda like they are generally known for. There are also very accommodating Pakistani husbands with very difficult to charm and virtuous wives. I thought the second part did drag infinitely.
Harsh statement you think, then read this wonderful novel, in which the author, Qiasra has managed to fully expose the depth and depravity because of male chauvinism in Pakistan. Granted the story is set in a rural scenario which is very different from the urban scene but I think the choice of settings are just right in order to exploit the particular strait of pakistani patriarchalism and misogynism flowing as undercurrents in the society. Such subtle yet clear analysis of the absolute male control could only have been explained by a Pakistani woman writer and Qaisra has managed to step up to the stage in style. I loved the dialogue of the various vivid characters around the issue of Holy women, their thoughts rational and the psychological warfare captivating.
Unfortunately the story sort of losses all mystery in the second part of the novel where the tale is all about ordinary marriages in rural Pakistan. Also the main characters seem to change which is pretty unbelievable, as the stone hearted feudals turn to water and resort to reason instead of forcing themselves their agenda like they are generally known for. There are also very accommodating Pakistani husbands with very difficult to charm and virtuous wives. I thought the second part did drag infinitely.
November 5, 2015
Holy Woman by Qaisra Shahraz deals with an important issue, that of women's rights and freedom in Pakistan. These issues had been well researched. Yet I found the style of writing as a genre romance at odds with the important content of a beautiful young woman forced to marry the Qur'an to become her father's heiress rather than marry the man she loves and have the family lands pass into his hands. This practice is against the law now in Pakistan but it was interesting to see how such a practice could pan out in a woman's life. The story began as a romance novel and much of the time appeared to be an early draft. Then at times I'd be surprised by a scene that had been carefully reworked and polished with less telling and over-written emotion. I would have liked to see the whole novel polished in this way as the content deserves to be taken seriously.
December 3, 2008
Masih ingat roman Siti Nurbaya karya Marah Rusli? Roman yang legendaris itu bercerita tentang kawin paksa di daerah Minangkabau. Siti Nurbaya dipaksa menikah dengan Datuk Maringgih, lelaki setua ayahnya, demi membayar utang keluarga. Padahal Siti tengah memadu cinta dengan kekasihnya, Syamsul Bahri. Hingga sekarang, jika ada kasus kawin paksa, maka akan dibilang : "Kayak Siti Nurbaya aja".
Nun jauh di seberang samudra, berjarak ribuan kilometer dari bumi Sumatra Barat, ada seorang perempuan bernasib mirip Siti Nurbaya. Dialah Zarri Bano, putri sulung keluarga tuan tanah kaya-raya di Pakistan dalam novel Perempuan Suci karya Qaisra Shahraz. Bedanya, jika Siti Nurbaya dipaksa kawin, Zarri Bano justru dipaksa tidak kawin. Juga demi memenuhi keinginan ayahnya agar ia menjadi seorang Shahzadi Ibadat, Perempuan Suci. Kedua-duanya, Siti Nurbaya dan Zarri Bano, sama-sama menderita.
Perempuan dalam kedua kisah fiksi tersebut adalah korban masyarakat patriarkhi di mana kaum lelaki mendominasi. Baik Siti maupun Zarri tak berdaya menentang kehendak ayah-ayah mereka, meskipun Zarri seorang aktivis feminis di negaranya. Ayah, di banyak negara Islam Asia, merupakan figur seorang imam yang wajib diikuti segala perintahnya oleh istri dan anak-anaknya. Ayah adalah pengambil keputusan dalam setiap masalah keluarga.
Jarak waktu puluhan tahun, ternyata tak banyak mengubah nasib perempuan dalam sebuah keluarga yang memegang teguh nilai-nilai tradisional. Nasib mereka masih tetap bergantung pada keputusan lelaki, dalam hal ini suami atau ayah. Siti dan Zarri sama-sama berasal dari sebuah keluarga Asia penganut Islam yang taat; lahan subur bagi tumbuhnya dominasi laki-laki.
Dalam novel Perempuan Suci ini, berangkat dari tradisi lama Pakistan, Habib, ayah Zarri Bano, telah memaksakan kehendak pada putri sulungnya untuk menjadi seorang shahzadi ibadat, yakni seorang perempuan suci yang menghabiskan seluruh hidupnya hanya untuk beribadat kepada Allah. Ia tak boleh menikah, sebab telah dinikahkan dengan Al Qur'an. Ia wajib membungkus seluruh tubuhnya dengan burqa hitam. Sebagai imbalannya, shahzadi ibadat ini akan memperoleh seluruh warisan keluarga berupa tanah dan sawah ladang berhektar-hektar. Tradisi ini dijalankan oleh keluarga yang tidak memiliki anak lelaki sebagai ahli waris.
Setelah kematian anak lelakinya, Jafar, praktis Habib hanya memiliki dua anak perempuan : Zarri Bano dan Ruby. Sebelum Jafar meninggal, Habib adalah tipe ayah moderat. Ia menyekolahkan putri-putrinya sampai ke jenjang sarjana. Ia juga membiarkan putri-putrinya memilih jodoh sendiri. Namun dengan kematian Jafar, ia berubah menjadi seorang tiran. Dengan kekuasaannya yang nyaris tak terbantah, ia memaksa Zarri Bano menuruti kehendaknya menjadi seorang shahzadi ibadat. Ia merampas hak menikah putri sulungnya itu secara semena-mena. Dan Zarri Bano pun - sebagaimana halnya Siti - harus tunduk, melepaskan semua impian indahnya tentang asmara dan perkawinan bersama kekasihnya, Sikander.
Melalui novelnya ini, Qaisra Shahraz bukan saja menampilkan kehidupan sebuah keluarga muslim dan keislaman (ia mengurai soal kerudung, jilbab, dan haji), tetapi juga menggugat nasib perempuan yang kerap dipojokkan oleh tradisi, budaya, dan agama. Kaum perempuan seolah tak berhak menentukan sendiri nasib dan masa depannya. Bahkan seorang terpelajar seperti Zarri Bano pun akhirnya - seperti juga Siti - kalah, tak kuasa melawan "takdir" yang disodorkan ayahnya.
Tadinya, saya sempat berharap Zarri Bano akan membangkang ayahnya dan tampil sebagai pahlawan. Tetapi itu tidak terjadi. Zarri Bano - walau dengan hati tercabik-cabik - akhirnya menerima keputusan sang ayah. Tak ada yang membelanya. Ibunya hanya bisa menangis pedih. Sebagai istri yang baik, tradisi dan agama menyuruhnya patuh pada suami. Kalau kata orang Jawa, swargo manut, neroko katut (ke surga ikut, ke neraka pun turut).
Qaisra lahir di Pakistan. Sejak umur sembilan tahun sampai sekarang, menetap di Inggris. Dalam wawancaranya dengan Republika, ia menyampaikan, bahwa bukunya ini juga ditujukan untuk memberi informasi kepada para pembaca non-muslim agar juga melihat hal-hal positif tentang Islam yang sebenarnya. Terlebih pascatragedi 11 September saat Islam dipandang dengan sinis dan prasangka buruk.
Namun, terlepas dari itu, Perempuan Suci adalah potret buram perempuan di tengah-tengah dominasi kaum lelaki. Agama, tradisi, dan budaya, telah turut mengekalkannya sejak zaman Siti Nurbaya hingga Zarri Bano, meski dalam bentuk yang berbeda.
Nun jauh di seberang samudra, berjarak ribuan kilometer dari bumi Sumatra Barat, ada seorang perempuan bernasib mirip Siti Nurbaya. Dialah Zarri Bano, putri sulung keluarga tuan tanah kaya-raya di Pakistan dalam novel Perempuan Suci karya Qaisra Shahraz. Bedanya, jika Siti Nurbaya dipaksa kawin, Zarri Bano justru dipaksa tidak kawin. Juga demi memenuhi keinginan ayahnya agar ia menjadi seorang Shahzadi Ibadat, Perempuan Suci. Kedua-duanya, Siti Nurbaya dan Zarri Bano, sama-sama menderita.
Perempuan dalam kedua kisah fiksi tersebut adalah korban masyarakat patriarkhi di mana kaum lelaki mendominasi. Baik Siti maupun Zarri tak berdaya menentang kehendak ayah-ayah mereka, meskipun Zarri seorang aktivis feminis di negaranya. Ayah, di banyak negara Islam Asia, merupakan figur seorang imam yang wajib diikuti segala perintahnya oleh istri dan anak-anaknya. Ayah adalah pengambil keputusan dalam setiap masalah keluarga.
Jarak waktu puluhan tahun, ternyata tak banyak mengubah nasib perempuan dalam sebuah keluarga yang memegang teguh nilai-nilai tradisional. Nasib mereka masih tetap bergantung pada keputusan lelaki, dalam hal ini suami atau ayah. Siti dan Zarri sama-sama berasal dari sebuah keluarga Asia penganut Islam yang taat; lahan subur bagi tumbuhnya dominasi laki-laki.
Dalam novel Perempuan Suci ini, berangkat dari tradisi lama Pakistan, Habib, ayah Zarri Bano, telah memaksakan kehendak pada putri sulungnya untuk menjadi seorang shahzadi ibadat, yakni seorang perempuan suci yang menghabiskan seluruh hidupnya hanya untuk beribadat kepada Allah. Ia tak boleh menikah, sebab telah dinikahkan dengan Al Qur'an. Ia wajib membungkus seluruh tubuhnya dengan burqa hitam. Sebagai imbalannya, shahzadi ibadat ini akan memperoleh seluruh warisan keluarga berupa tanah dan sawah ladang berhektar-hektar. Tradisi ini dijalankan oleh keluarga yang tidak memiliki anak lelaki sebagai ahli waris.
Setelah kematian anak lelakinya, Jafar, praktis Habib hanya memiliki dua anak perempuan : Zarri Bano dan Ruby. Sebelum Jafar meninggal, Habib adalah tipe ayah moderat. Ia menyekolahkan putri-putrinya sampai ke jenjang sarjana. Ia juga membiarkan putri-putrinya memilih jodoh sendiri. Namun dengan kematian Jafar, ia berubah menjadi seorang tiran. Dengan kekuasaannya yang nyaris tak terbantah, ia memaksa Zarri Bano menuruti kehendaknya menjadi seorang shahzadi ibadat. Ia merampas hak menikah putri sulungnya itu secara semena-mena. Dan Zarri Bano pun - sebagaimana halnya Siti - harus tunduk, melepaskan semua impian indahnya tentang asmara dan perkawinan bersama kekasihnya, Sikander.
Melalui novelnya ini, Qaisra Shahraz bukan saja menampilkan kehidupan sebuah keluarga muslim dan keislaman (ia mengurai soal kerudung, jilbab, dan haji), tetapi juga menggugat nasib perempuan yang kerap dipojokkan oleh tradisi, budaya, dan agama. Kaum perempuan seolah tak berhak menentukan sendiri nasib dan masa depannya. Bahkan seorang terpelajar seperti Zarri Bano pun akhirnya - seperti juga Siti - kalah, tak kuasa melawan "takdir" yang disodorkan ayahnya.
Tadinya, saya sempat berharap Zarri Bano akan membangkang ayahnya dan tampil sebagai pahlawan. Tetapi itu tidak terjadi. Zarri Bano - walau dengan hati tercabik-cabik - akhirnya menerima keputusan sang ayah. Tak ada yang membelanya. Ibunya hanya bisa menangis pedih. Sebagai istri yang baik, tradisi dan agama menyuruhnya patuh pada suami. Kalau kata orang Jawa, swargo manut, neroko katut (ke surga ikut, ke neraka pun turut).
Qaisra lahir di Pakistan. Sejak umur sembilan tahun sampai sekarang, menetap di Inggris. Dalam wawancaranya dengan Republika, ia menyampaikan, bahwa bukunya ini juga ditujukan untuk memberi informasi kepada para pembaca non-muslim agar juga melihat hal-hal positif tentang Islam yang sebenarnya. Terlebih pascatragedi 11 September saat Islam dipandang dengan sinis dan prasangka buruk.
Namun, terlepas dari itu, Perempuan Suci adalah potret buram perempuan di tengah-tengah dominasi kaum lelaki. Agama, tradisi, dan budaya, telah turut mengekalkannya sejak zaman Siti Nurbaya hingga Zarri Bano, meski dalam bentuk yang berbeda.
August 6, 2012
I finished reading this book yesterday but I had to wake up and go through the final chapters again because I loved Zarri Bano. She was forced to give up her love-Sikander for the life of a Holy Woman and due many events she found herself still attached to him.
It is beautiful to read because like most women she is confined to abide by her culture and she realizes that women play second fiddle to men, no matter what and the pain and the time for all this is something one can identify with.
It fell short of one star because the events are fast.It is fast paced with things happening to other characters in Zarri's life. Her brother dies, she gives up Sikander- then she has to move to Egypt and later on her sister and Father die-things just move so fast- but it still makes the story interesting.
I would recommend it for parents. This is a must read lest they get in the way of their childrens' happiness.
It is beautiful to read because like most women she is confined to abide by her culture and she realizes that women play second fiddle to men, no matter what and the pain and the time for all this is something one can identify with.
It fell short of one star because the events are fast.It is fast paced with things happening to other characters in Zarri's life. Her brother dies, she gives up Sikander- then she has to move to Egypt and later on her sister and Father die-things just move so fast- but it still makes the story interesting.
I would recommend it for parents. This is a must read lest they get in the way of their childrens' happiness.
August 16, 2014
Ancient customs and family traditions clash with personal desires and aspirations of freedom of a modern day Pakistan woman in Qaisra Shahraz's The Holy Woman.
Zarri Bano is the 28 year old daughter of a wealthy Muslim landowner. Breathtakingly beautiful and intelligent she has an independent streak and a strong will that has seen her reject the overtures of many suitors, none of whom meet her exacting standards. Just when she does meet someone who awakens the passionate side of her nature and is her intellectual match, a family tragedy disrupts the wedding plans. Her elder brother, heir to the family's lands, is killed in a riding accident and Zarri's father decides to make her his heiress. In doing so, he resurrects an ancient tradition of the Holy Woman or Shahzadi Ibadat, a woman committed to a life of celibacy and knowledge of the Holy Quran.
Zarri feels obliged to obey her father's will, putting aside her own desires of a life as a publisher and a wife. She thus relinquishes her jewels, make up and designer clothes for a black Burqa and turns her back on her fiancé for marriage and devotion to the teachings of her faith.
The book traces her internal struggle between her ambitions and personal desires and her sense of honour and duty towards her father and her clan. Along the way we get an insight into the attitudes of women who adopt the veil and of the way in which women feel powerless in a patriarchal society. That was the aspect of the book that caught my attention when I first heard of The Holy Woman. Although it doesn't appear that there really is a role in the Muslim world called the Shahzadi Ibadat, I was still hoping that by reading this book I would learn something of the ideology behind the concept of the veil and its importance in Muslim society which might help me also understand the controversy it attracts in many western countries. But the way Shahraz deals with this theme didn't bring any great new insights or appreciation.
We get rather too many laboured intrusions of the narrator's voice to make the reading enjoyable. This is just one example:
"Zanni Bano had no chance, crushed against this wall of patriarchal tyranny. Even with her youth, feminism and a university education, and with an outgoing and assertive personality on her side, she was still father to be the loser in this game of male power-play. Like her mother, it had been drilled into her from infancy to both respect and pay homage to her father's wishes and those of the male elders."
Even when Zanni speaks in her own voice, her speech pattern feels forced and unnatural.
"I am not only your daughter. I am me! But you and Father have brutally stripped me of my identity as a normal woman and instead reduced me to a role of a puppet…..You have all jailed and numbed me into a commitment which I will have to go along with - but not willingly."
I saw one comment on Goodreads to the effect that the characters in this novel are "without exception 3 dimensional and full of life". I had the exact opposite reaction. They all came across as pedestrian, cardboard-cut-outs to me who speak in very unnatural ways. Sharaz could have done so much more with this book but instead allows it to descend into a second rate romance with a very predictable, and to me, unbelievable ending.
A good idea but the execution didn't live up to my expectations at all.
Zarri Bano is the 28 year old daughter of a wealthy Muslim landowner. Breathtakingly beautiful and intelligent she has an independent streak and a strong will that has seen her reject the overtures of many suitors, none of whom meet her exacting standards. Just when she does meet someone who awakens the passionate side of her nature and is her intellectual match, a family tragedy disrupts the wedding plans. Her elder brother, heir to the family's lands, is killed in a riding accident and Zarri's father decides to make her his heiress. In doing so, he resurrects an ancient tradition of the Holy Woman or Shahzadi Ibadat, a woman committed to a life of celibacy and knowledge of the Holy Quran.
Zarri feels obliged to obey her father's will, putting aside her own desires of a life as a publisher and a wife. She thus relinquishes her jewels, make up and designer clothes for a black Burqa and turns her back on her fiancé for marriage and devotion to the teachings of her faith.
The book traces her internal struggle between her ambitions and personal desires and her sense of honour and duty towards her father and her clan. Along the way we get an insight into the attitudes of women who adopt the veil and of the way in which women feel powerless in a patriarchal society. That was the aspect of the book that caught my attention when I first heard of The Holy Woman. Although it doesn't appear that there really is a role in the Muslim world called the Shahzadi Ibadat, I was still hoping that by reading this book I would learn something of the ideology behind the concept of the veil and its importance in Muslim society which might help me also understand the controversy it attracts in many western countries. But the way Shahraz deals with this theme didn't bring any great new insights or appreciation.
We get rather too many laboured intrusions of the narrator's voice to make the reading enjoyable. This is just one example:
"Zanni Bano had no chance, crushed against this wall of patriarchal tyranny. Even with her youth, feminism and a university education, and with an outgoing and assertive personality on her side, she was still father to be the loser in this game of male power-play. Like her mother, it had been drilled into her from infancy to both respect and pay homage to her father's wishes and those of the male elders."
Even when Zanni speaks in her own voice, her speech pattern feels forced and unnatural.
"I am not only your daughter. I am me! But you and Father have brutally stripped me of my identity as a normal woman and instead reduced me to a role of a puppet…..You have all jailed and numbed me into a commitment which I will have to go along with - but not willingly."
I saw one comment on Goodreads to the effect that the characters in this novel are "without exception 3 dimensional and full of life". I had the exact opposite reaction. They all came across as pedestrian, cardboard-cut-outs to me who speak in very unnatural ways. Sharaz could have done so much more with this book but instead allows it to descend into a second rate romance with a very predictable, and to me, unbelievable ending.
A good idea but the execution didn't live up to my expectations at all.
December 9, 2011
I just finished reading this book and i think it's a great book to read. it really shows the importance of Pakistani traditions and the realistic view of how men always have an upper hand.it also shows Islam in a very positive light and the fact that Islam actually liberates women. fantastic book although at times it's a bit slow and too much descriptions. sometimes it's just a bit better to plainly show the reader whats going and instead of repeatedly telling them.
January 21, 2016
The only reason it gets two stars not one is because I enjoyed learning about what it means to be a holy woman. Other than that, it is perhaps the most predictable, most stupid romance novel I have ever read. The boring bits are drawn out, the dramatic parts contained to a single page. Characters turn 180 degrees mid-sentence. Don't bother wasting your time.
February 22, 2022
I read this as part of my book club. I read to the end because I kept thinking it was going to get better. I wanted to punch most of the characters at least once.
Read
May 25, 2007Novel yang menggigit, mengacak, mengaduk perasaan kita. Ssebuah kesyukuran ketika bisa ketemu langsung dengan penulisnya, qaisra di gedung serba guna, Salman ITB. Dengan keramahan, dan bahasa Inggris yang enak didengar, saya termotivasi sekali untuk menulis. Qaisra mengaku lama menuliskan novel ini. Namun, untuk hasil yang luar biasa, dibutuhkan kesabaran ekstra, hingga tibalah momen kebesarannya.
Novel ini berkisah dengan lakon utama Zarri Bano, putri sulung keluarga tuan tanah kaya-raya di Pakistan dalam novel Perempuan Suci karya Qaisra Shahraz. Demi memenuhi keinginan ayahnya, ia menjadi seorang Shahzadi Ibadat.
Zarri tak berdaya menentang kehendak sang ayah, meskipun Zarri seorang aktivis feminis di negaranya. Novel Perempuan Suci ini, berangkat dari tradisi lama Pakistan. Habib, ayah Zarri Bano, telah memaksakan kehendak pada putri sulungnya untuk menjadi seorang shahzadi ibadat, yakni seorang perempuan suci yang menghabiskan seluruh
hidupnya hanya untuk beribadat kepada Allah. Ia tak boleh menikah, sebab telah dinikahkan dengan Al Qur'an. Ia wajib membungkus seluruh tubuhnya dengan burqa hitam. Sebagai imbalannya, shahzadi ibadat ini akan memperoleh seluruh warisan keluarga berupa tanah dan sawah ladang berhektar-hektar. Tradisi ini dijalankan
oleh keluarga yang tidak memiliki anak lelaki sebagai ahli waris.
Setelah kematian anak lelakinya, Jafar, praktis Habib hanya memiliki dua anak perempuan : Zarri Bano dan Ruby. Sebelum Jafar meninggal, Habib adalah tipe ayah moderat. Ia menyekolahkan putri-putrinya sampai ke jenjang sarjana. Ia
juga membiarkan putri-putrinya memilih jodoh sendiri. Namun dengan kematian Jafar, ia berubah menjadi seorang tiran. Dengan kekuasaannya yang nyaris tak terbantah, ia memaksa Zarri Bano menuruti kehendaknya menjadi seorang shahzadi
ibadat. Ia merampas hak menikah putri sulungnya itu secara semena-mena. Dan Zarri Bano pun - sebagaimana halnya Siti - harus tunduk, melepaskan semua impian indahnya tentang asmara dan perkawinan bersama kekasihnya, Sikander.
Melalui novelnya ini, Qaisra Shahraz bukan saja menampilkan kehidupan sebuah keluarga muslim dan keislaman (ia mengurai soal kerudung, jilbab, dan haji), tetapi juga menggugat nasib perempuan yang kerap dipojokkan oleh tradisi,
budaya, dan agama. Kaum perempuan seolah tak berhak menentukan sendiri nasib dan masa depannya. Bahkan seorang terpelajar seperti Zarri Bano pun akhirnya tak kuasa melawan "takdir" yang disodorkan ayahnya.
Akhirnya gimana? Baca aja deh..ga bakal nyesel :P
Novel ini berkisah dengan lakon utama Zarri Bano, putri sulung keluarga tuan tanah kaya-raya di Pakistan dalam novel Perempuan Suci karya Qaisra Shahraz. Demi memenuhi keinginan ayahnya, ia menjadi seorang Shahzadi Ibadat.
Zarri tak berdaya menentang kehendak sang ayah, meskipun Zarri seorang aktivis feminis di negaranya. Novel Perempuan Suci ini, berangkat dari tradisi lama Pakistan. Habib, ayah Zarri Bano, telah memaksakan kehendak pada putri sulungnya untuk menjadi seorang shahzadi ibadat, yakni seorang perempuan suci yang menghabiskan seluruh
hidupnya hanya untuk beribadat kepada Allah. Ia tak boleh menikah, sebab telah dinikahkan dengan Al Qur'an. Ia wajib membungkus seluruh tubuhnya dengan burqa hitam. Sebagai imbalannya, shahzadi ibadat ini akan memperoleh seluruh warisan keluarga berupa tanah dan sawah ladang berhektar-hektar. Tradisi ini dijalankan
oleh keluarga yang tidak memiliki anak lelaki sebagai ahli waris.
Setelah kematian anak lelakinya, Jafar, praktis Habib hanya memiliki dua anak perempuan : Zarri Bano dan Ruby. Sebelum Jafar meninggal, Habib adalah tipe ayah moderat. Ia menyekolahkan putri-putrinya sampai ke jenjang sarjana. Ia
juga membiarkan putri-putrinya memilih jodoh sendiri. Namun dengan kematian Jafar, ia berubah menjadi seorang tiran. Dengan kekuasaannya yang nyaris tak terbantah, ia memaksa Zarri Bano menuruti kehendaknya menjadi seorang shahzadi
ibadat. Ia merampas hak menikah putri sulungnya itu secara semena-mena. Dan Zarri Bano pun - sebagaimana halnya Siti - harus tunduk, melepaskan semua impian indahnya tentang asmara dan perkawinan bersama kekasihnya, Sikander.
Melalui novelnya ini, Qaisra Shahraz bukan saja menampilkan kehidupan sebuah keluarga muslim dan keislaman (ia mengurai soal kerudung, jilbab, dan haji), tetapi juga menggugat nasib perempuan yang kerap dipojokkan oleh tradisi,
budaya, dan agama. Kaum perempuan seolah tak berhak menentukan sendiri nasib dan masa depannya. Bahkan seorang terpelajar seperti Zarri Bano pun akhirnya tak kuasa melawan "takdir" yang disodorkan ayahnya.
Akhirnya gimana? Baca aja deh..ga bakal nyesel :P
February 5, 2019
I read this as part of the Bustle Reads 2016 Book Challenge and was rather disappointed with it. While I got a lot out of it in terms of leads to follow up (what certain words mean and traditions are, for example), it was so melodramatic it made it painful to read by the time I got to Part 2. At first I was enjoying it because it felt like reading a Bollywood movie, but as the melodrama dragged on it got rather tiresome.
The story revolves around a woman whose brother dies, and so to ensure that her family's land stays in the family, her father and grandfather pressure her into becoming a "Holy Woman," which is sort of like a nun. She was engaged to some dude from Karachi and it's all very tragic. Anyway, she does it, the dude marries the sister, they have a kid, the father says to the woman, "hey look I feel really bad about the whole thing, if you want to get married you can," the woman's all, "gee thanks dad it's four years later and I adjusted myself to being a Holy Woman but whatevs, I don't want to get involved with men anyway," the sister and dad die, and then the Karachi bloke asks her to marry him.
There's also this kind of similar side story about a couple in the village but I really don't understand why it's in the book in the first place. It doesn't really serve anything to the story.
Overall, this story dragged and could have done with a good editor. It held a lot of promise, just needed a lot of tightening up to bring it to potential.
The story revolves around a woman whose brother dies, and so to ensure that her family's land stays in the family, her father and grandfather pressure her into becoming a "Holy Woman," which is sort of like a nun. She was engaged to some dude from Karachi and it's all very tragic. Anyway, she does it, the dude marries the sister, they have a kid, the father says to the woman, "hey look I feel really bad about the whole thing, if you want to get married you can," the woman's all, "gee thanks dad it's four years later and I adjusted myself to being a Holy Woman but whatevs, I don't want to get involved with men anyway," the sister and dad die, and then the Karachi bloke asks her to marry him.
There's also this kind of similar side story about a couple in the village but I really don't understand why it's in the book in the first place. It doesn't really serve anything to the story.
Overall, this story dragged and could have done with a good editor. It held a lot of promise, just needed a lot of tightening up to bring it to potential.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 28, 2008
Inilah enaknya baca novel terjemahan; kita bisa tiba-tiba berada di tengah tempat yang tak pernah kita tahu tapi bisa kita bayangkan. kita pun dibawa dengan santun ke dalam kebudayaan asing di sana. bahkan emosi kita bisa membaur dan lepas semaunya. kita bisa ikut merasakan, membayangkan, atau malah merasa aneh.
membaca 'perempuan suci' nya Qaisra Shahraz itu seperti jalan-jalan ke afganistan. di sana ada nilai kearifan lokal yang masih dijunjung tinggi. biarpun begitu, tanda-tanda kehidupan modern sudah mendapat tempat di kota-kota besar seperti Kabul. Lalu ada seorang perempuan yang awalnya sangat memuja feminisme tapi harus berhadapan dengan keputusan besar dari sang ayah. sebuah keputusan yang harus membuatnya terpaksa menyembunyikan perasaan di balik rasa hormat kepada sang ayah dan rasa takzim kepada agamanya. sebuah keputusan menjadi sahzadi ibadat.
akhirnya saya tergugah kepada konsistensi pengarang dalam menghadirkan hal-hal detil dalam karyanya. deskripsi yang rinci, karakter yang ramai, dan setting yang verbal-visual (?).
Oh ya.. saya juga pernah ketemu sama pengarangnya. Kita foto bareng waktu di Gramedia ada bedah novelnya. Saya termasuk yang dapet hadiah 2 novelnya: Perempuan Suci dan Perempuan Terluka
membaca 'perempuan suci' nya Qaisra Shahraz itu seperti jalan-jalan ke afganistan. di sana ada nilai kearifan lokal yang masih dijunjung tinggi. biarpun begitu, tanda-tanda kehidupan modern sudah mendapat tempat di kota-kota besar seperti Kabul. Lalu ada seorang perempuan yang awalnya sangat memuja feminisme tapi harus berhadapan dengan keputusan besar dari sang ayah. sebuah keputusan yang harus membuatnya terpaksa menyembunyikan perasaan di balik rasa hormat kepada sang ayah dan rasa takzim kepada agamanya. sebuah keputusan menjadi sahzadi ibadat.
akhirnya saya tergugah kepada konsistensi pengarang dalam menghadirkan hal-hal detil dalam karyanya. deskripsi yang rinci, karakter yang ramai, dan setting yang verbal-visual (?).
Oh ya.. saya juga pernah ketemu sama pengarangnya. Kita foto bareng waktu di Gramedia ada bedah novelnya. Saya termasuk yang dapet hadiah 2 novelnya: Perempuan Suci dan Perempuan Terluka
February 17, 2014
I avoid family sagas, usually. I find that reading about how cruel people can be to one another is very upsetting, and also I usually want to bang my head against the wall shouting "if you'd just say what you mean none of this drama would be a problem!!".
I still have the same problem with this book, but at least there are strong reasons for people not saying what they mean. Hemmed in by culture, tradition and duty, Zarri Bano is pushed from pillar to post and works very hard on making a real identity for herself. No matter what culture you're from, everyone will feel able to relate to this - I don't think there's anyone that doesn't get cheesed off with the expectations of their families. For Zarri Bano it's particularly harsh and painful, and every time she gets to grips with who she is, the tables are turned yet again.
I give it four stars because I found some of the phrasing a bit...clunky. I had thought I was reading a translation at first; perhaps there just isn't a neat way to phrase "female pride" or "female modesty", as examples. Phrases like these slowed down the writing for me, I would have preferred the author to use an appropriate cultural word as she did for "holy woman". But it's a fairly minor nitpick for what is otherwise a beautiful, painful, haunting read.
I still have the same problem with this book, but at least there are strong reasons for people not saying what they mean. Hemmed in by culture, tradition and duty, Zarri Bano is pushed from pillar to post and works very hard on making a real identity for herself. No matter what culture you're from, everyone will feel able to relate to this - I don't think there's anyone that doesn't get cheesed off with the expectations of their families. For Zarri Bano it's particularly harsh and painful, and every time she gets to grips with who she is, the tables are turned yet again.
I give it four stars because I found some of the phrasing a bit...clunky. I had thought I was reading a translation at first; perhaps there just isn't a neat way to phrase "female pride" or "female modesty", as examples. Phrases like these slowed down the writing for me, I would have preferred the author to use an appropriate cultural word as she did for "holy woman". But it's a fairly minor nitpick for what is otherwise a beautiful, painful, haunting read.
July 27, 2016
The Holy Woman is a soul stirring book by Qaisra Shahraz in which she has highlighted the hollowness of traditions through the life and character of a modern day open minded woman with good education, for whom traditions did not matter much but who under the burden of traditions and patriarchal command, is forced to take up religious teachings and becomes a Holy Woman.
The author has given an insight into the woman's sufferings and brought out the human passions in the most intricate fashion. It compels the reader to sympathize with the characters who go through the ordeal of time, who bear hardships and tolerate the cruelties of the circumstances and the rules of the society with patience. The situation of the characters unravels the agonies faced by mankind at the hand of perverted fate. The writing is simple and interesting. The book is easy to read yet has a suspense which evokes the reader to go on reading.
The author has given an insight into the woman's sufferings and brought out the human passions in the most intricate fashion. It compels the reader to sympathize with the characters who go through the ordeal of time, who bear hardships and tolerate the cruelties of the circumstances and the rules of the society with patience. The situation of the characters unravels the agonies faced by mankind at the hand of perverted fate. The writing is simple and interesting. The book is easy to read yet has a suspense which evokes the reader to go on reading.
September 1, 2015
In some ways I did enjoy this book but I did find that it was highly flawed. I felt that most of the characterization was somewhat flat, even caricaturish at times although the central character, Zarri Bano, had some well drawn moments and her reactions to circumstances in many places felt the most realistic. I found other characters resembled cardboard cut-outs. The plot line was interesting but the ending felt forced and somewhat out of character, considering the build up that had gone before.
It felt like the book was trying too hard to make a point, to the extent of beating the readers round the head with it. Towards the end Zarri Bano is told that she has been set free to make her own choice yet it is clear that she is choosing between two forms of slavery in some sense, which I feel undermines the point the book was trying to make.
It felt like the book was trying too hard to make a point, to the extent of beating the readers round the head with it. Towards the end Zarri Bano is told that she has been set free to make her own choice yet it is clear that she is choosing between two forms of slavery in some sense, which I feel undermines the point the book was trying to make.
July 24, 2007
I love this book since the first time I read the synopsys at the back cover. And it took me into tears when I read Zari Bano's life.
She is a Pakistan woman who were urged to wear veil or what so-called burqa to be a Shahzadi Ibadat because her only brother is dead. She didn't like the idea at first. But after some quite times she wears it, she began to love it. She even feel cant go anywhere comfortly without it.
This book tell us that actually, wearing veil is not a burdened for a woman in Islam. A veil is not a symbol of man's power to their women. And Zari Bano had prove it on this book.
Though I dont really like its ending, I must say that I really love the story of the book. And it makes me more confident of wearing the veil itself on me.
She is a Pakistan woman who were urged to wear veil or what so-called burqa to be a Shahzadi Ibadat because her only brother is dead. She didn't like the idea at first. But after some quite times she wears it, she began to love it. She even feel cant go anywhere comfortly without it.
This book tell us that actually, wearing veil is not a burdened for a woman in Islam. A veil is not a symbol of man's power to their women. And Zari Bano had prove it on this book.
Though I dont really like its ending, I must say that I really love the story of the book. And it makes me more confident of wearing the veil itself on me.
October 5, 2011
this is from indonesian translation..
published by Mizan.
first time i read.. in ten pages or something like that.. i was felt so bore.. but then after that.. more n more i read.. i felt so excited of this book.
about a pakistan woman was named Zarri Bano who forced by her father to be holy women.. in order to keep their investment not to fall in wrong people.. after the death of her brother.
thats why, she cant married and she must cover all her body except eyes..
eventhough his father know that she is falling in love with the guy and they will get married soon..
in the next, after she became holy woman, she find out that her ex-fiancee will marry by her sister..
so dramatic.. so fantastic.. so islamic.. so feminism..
published by Mizan.
first time i read.. in ten pages or something like that.. i was felt so bore.. but then after that.. more n more i read.. i felt so excited of this book.
about a pakistan woman was named Zarri Bano who forced by her father to be holy women.. in order to keep their investment not to fall in wrong people.. after the death of her brother.
thats why, she cant married and she must cover all her body except eyes..
eventhough his father know that she is falling in love with the guy and they will get married soon..
in the next, after she became holy woman, she find out that her ex-fiancee will marry by her sister..
so dramatic.. so fantastic.. so islamic.. so feminism..
May 2, 2013
Interesting book, it shows how in this modern life there is still tradition that a woman should carry and obey to, even if she has already spent many years in school. There are several "interesting" Pakistani tradition were told in this book, especially regarding to marriage and family matters. All the characters here are described well, but somehow the story-telling was not good enough, a bit boring in some pages but a bit faster in other pages. But it’s a good book to add knowledge and a prove that a woman, can be stronger than her own thought.
October 9, 2007
i started it with a good hope (caused by the promising review at the back,what else?)..but i ended it disappointed..
She has a really good theme,but executed it in a very cheesy way,the ending was soooooooo predictable..
i felt like watching a bollywood movie!
however,this book gave me thoughts of being a moslem woman, how can we be critical without disobeying the religion itself..and so on..
if only the ending were great..
She has a really good theme,but executed it in a very cheesy way,the ending was soooooooo predictable..
i felt like watching a bollywood movie!
however,this book gave me thoughts of being a moslem woman, how can we be critical without disobeying the religion itself..and so on..
if only the ending were great..
September 1, 2015
Read this book years ago and it left a profound impression on me. It is still in the top three books I recommend to women/female pals and relatives that are looking for a story with an insightful and emotional journey. A journey to me is where the lead character starts and ends in two different places with an emotionally clear description of what happens in between. This book really delivers that. I would read it again in a flash.
March 27, 2010
This book was an interesting read. I rather liked the way Qaisra Shahraz has introduced her characters and maintained an eastern atmosphere throughout the book. She has explored a very controversial issue, in a rather strange and new perspective. However, there was a air of melodramatic excess, which I could not appreciate.
Overall, it was written well but could have been much much better.
Overall, it was written well but could have been much much better.
February 8, 2020
The book was amazing written by an amazing writer. It gives the true realities of one worst superstitious concept and tradition. It revealed the realities of the tradition which used Islam for the benefits of landlords or another person. It is written about a tradition in Sindh, Pakistan. I think this concept and tradition now is not followed in Sindh.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 15, 2007
Acctually, read this book is like watching telenovela. :)
but its ok.
but its ok.
December 10, 2009
nice book!
December 13, 2014
Probably the worst book I ever read!
September 9, 2018
Truly captivating.
August 12, 2021
Zarri Bano, a free-spirited young woman living life the way she wants to, a feminist, is the oldest daughter of a Pakistani Zamindar.
She rejects many suitors that come her way to gain the highest education possible and to find the right man. However, at the age of 27, she comes across Sikander Din (my first and last favorite fictional character who has captured me altogether, the one I’ve fallen in love with), an impossibly handsome young business tycoon, the one with sparkling eyes and chiseled features, from Karachi and they fall in love with each other.
But fate has other plans for them as Zarri Bano’s father doesn’t like Sikander at all and a terrible situation arises unexpectedly which leads her to become a Shahzadi Ibaadat (her father uses it as an excuse and resurrects an ancient family tradition) — A Holy Woman (someone who is supposed to live in a state of sheer celibacy for all her life and fully devoted to her religion) against her will.
Soon, things start unfolding against them, and eventually, Zarri Bano gives up Sikander. Leaving him as her rejected suitor.
This is just a tiny part of the story.
This book, written by Qaisra Shahraz, has its unique essence and light as it aptly articulates the very fear that resides in women crushed under the wall of patriarchal tyranny as to how society, particularly menfolk, would deem them to be as if they dare to rebel against anything a male approves of.
I was so attached and emotionally invested in the character’s lives (Zarri Bano and Sikander but mainly Zarri Bano as I saw my own reflection in her), that it had me hooked perfectly. I was both excited and curious while reading the book, and would always run back to read the book to know what interesting twist is lined up next. For someone who debuted with this book, Shahraz, effortlessly put the book inflow, and certainly had the readers fully engrossed in it. (It was released in 2001).
I was not only fascinated by the characters but I also admired the significance and poise that they bore; particularly Zarri Bano (and Sikander).
This one will stay with me not for a while but a lifetime, and I find it so hard to let it go, I will never be able to forget the book, specifically Sikander and Zarri Bano. I want what they had!
I’d like to bring to your attention, I have never been the one who gets attached to fictional characters because that idea is so weird and irrational, isn’t it? I mean, who the hell falls in love with a person who doesn’t even exist?? But I was caught off guard with Sikander, lol. He is the first and last imaginary man I have ever fallen in love with and he will remain dear to my heart for the rest of my life. I want a Sikander Din in my life, please.
But on a serious note, I loved the book very very much, I am so fucking glad I came across it. I will read it again sometime in the future for sure (and visit my imaginary husband again); although I don’t think I need to because it’s deliberately been etched on both my heart and mind.
Recommended especially for lovers of the grand scale romance. (I am one of them).
Again, this one is for the keeps. I would have given it 5 stars if not for the portions that failed to please me and lagged emotion.
She rejects many suitors that come her way to gain the highest education possible and to find the right man. However, at the age of 27, she comes across Sikander Din (my first and last favorite fictional character who has captured me altogether, the one I’ve fallen in love with), an impossibly handsome young business tycoon, the one with sparkling eyes and chiseled features, from Karachi and they fall in love with each other.
But fate has other plans for them as Zarri Bano’s father doesn’t like Sikander at all and a terrible situation arises unexpectedly which leads her to become a Shahzadi Ibaadat (her father uses it as an excuse and resurrects an ancient family tradition) — A Holy Woman (someone who is supposed to live in a state of sheer celibacy for all her life and fully devoted to her religion) against her will.
Soon, things start unfolding against them, and eventually, Zarri Bano gives up Sikander. Leaving him as her rejected suitor.
This is just a tiny part of the story.
This book, written by Qaisra Shahraz, has its unique essence and light as it aptly articulates the very fear that resides in women crushed under the wall of patriarchal tyranny as to how society, particularly menfolk, would deem them to be as if they dare to rebel against anything a male approves of.
I was so attached and emotionally invested in the character’s lives (Zarri Bano and Sikander but mainly Zarri Bano as I saw my own reflection in her), that it had me hooked perfectly. I was both excited and curious while reading the book, and would always run back to read the book to know what interesting twist is lined up next. For someone who debuted with this book, Shahraz, effortlessly put the book inflow, and certainly had the readers fully engrossed in it. (It was released in 2001).
I was not only fascinated by the characters but I also admired the significance and poise that they bore; particularly Zarri Bano (and Sikander).
This one will stay with me not for a while but a lifetime, and I find it so hard to let it go, I will never be able to forget the book, specifically Sikander and Zarri Bano. I want what they had!
I’d like to bring to your attention, I have never been the one who gets attached to fictional characters because that idea is so weird and irrational, isn’t it? I mean, who the hell falls in love with a person who doesn’t even exist?? But I was caught off guard with Sikander, lol. He is the first and last imaginary man I have ever fallen in love with and he will remain dear to my heart for the rest of my life. I want a Sikander Din in my life, please.
But on a serious note, I loved the book very very much, I am so fucking glad I came across it. I will read it again sometime in the future for sure (and visit my imaginary husband again); although I don’t think I need to because it’s deliberately been etched on both my heart and mind.
Recommended especially for lovers of the grand scale romance. (I am one of them).
Again, this one is for the keeps. I would have given it 5 stars if not for the portions that failed to please me and lagged emotion.
December 26, 2017
The dilemma of The holy Woman is dilemma of almost every novel written on South Asian countries. I am giving one star because the story has a scope of turning into a great novel. However, Shahraz handles the material clumsily and turns it into a melodramatic shallow romance. Some events are unbelievable such as wedding of Zari Bano's sister with Sikandar. The danger of Shahraz's story of "holy woman" is a reaffirmation of religious and gender stereotypes. Shahzad living in UK since her childhood, castes a "colonial gaze" on her Pakistani heritage. The tradition of holy woman has no place in Islam, and is also a dying pseudo-religious cultural practice that is bound to some specific part of Pakistan and has little to no existence in today's Pakistan. Story like such when highly project in the Western countries has a danger of creating a cultural reality of the country represented. The consumer living far away from the place, knowing nothing about it, considers the fictional stories as the truths of the whole country. Thus, Shahraz' novel is much more appreciated and promoted for its journalistic reporting aspect (that is showing the culture of Pakistan which is actually a limited/mis representation), instead of its aesthetic quality which is below average. There are far more complex and aesthetically pleasing Pakistani novels than Shahzad's, but her novels' get attention because their stories are divorced from the constantly changing realities of Pakistan and only feed the expectations of her potential readership in the West.
April 30, 2022
I first read this book in 2012 and come April 20, 2022- I bought myself a physical copy of it and read it again.
At the center of it all is Zarri Bano, a well-educated, hardworking, feminist at the age of 27, finally finds a suitor whom she loves and accepts his proposal. Her dream is to open up her publishing company at Karachi and while she is visiting her suitor's family- her elder brother, Jafar, falls off a horse and dies. Zarri's father declares that she won't be married but would be made a Holy Woman- she'd marry the Holy Quran, and in turn become the legitimate heiress of his wealth now that he had no heir.
Zarris' mother sister and aunt Fatima and female cousins including her betrothed are all against this but in that moment- Zarri realizes that she thought she was free to choose, but is still under the control of patriarchy- of men who will bend her to do as they choose and this blow to her esteem and values, sets her on course in line to be what her father wants.
When I first read this book, I was in awe of Zarri and also pleased that it had a happy ending. However, upon reading it the second time, I found myself infuriated by the men in her life, by the tradition and values imposed on her that made her settle and conform to their whims in exchange for her freedom to live as her best individual self and it also reminded me that now in this age of self-love, of going after what one wants- it is still very difficult when the individual is tied to others.
At the center of it all is Zarri Bano, a well-educated, hardworking, feminist at the age of 27, finally finds a suitor whom she loves and accepts his proposal. Her dream is to open up her publishing company at Karachi and while she is visiting her suitor's family- her elder brother, Jafar, falls off a horse and dies. Zarri's father declares that she won't be married but would be made a Holy Woman- she'd marry the Holy Quran, and in turn become the legitimate heiress of his wealth now that he had no heir.
Zarris' mother sister and aunt Fatima and female cousins including her betrothed are all against this but in that moment- Zarri realizes that she thought she was free to choose, but is still under the control of patriarchy- of men who will bend her to do as they choose and this blow to her esteem and values, sets her on course in line to be what her father wants.
When I first read this book, I was in awe of Zarri and also pleased that it had a happy ending. However, upon reading it the second time, I found myself infuriated by the men in her life, by the tradition and values imposed on her that made her settle and conform to their whims in exchange for her freedom to live as her best individual self and it also reminded me that now in this age of self-love, of going after what one wants- it is still very difficult when the individual is tied to others.
October 22, 2022
At first I was mightily irritated by this book: the style is overblown, people behave as if they were baroque statues, forever trailing billowing chadors and kameezes, giving set speeches, and often, comically screeching or tragically speaking through tears. However, the plot and characters did draw me in to the extent that I am now officially spellbound. The comical figures are like Shakespeare’s Fluellen, you have to take and accept them as such. The tragic and dramatic speeches are too artificial and if you were suspicious you’d checked whether they were plagiarised (maybe from a study on the oppression of women in Islam?), but you get used to that too.
The Holy Woman is Zarri Bano, a 28-year old woman who falls in love for the first time with a hunk of a guy called Zikander, rich to boot. She is the most exquisitely beautiful creature, self-confident, educated to degree level, and heretofore the apple of her parents’ eye. Until Sikander comes along, and her father takes a shine against him – as is very clear, he is jealous of the first man his daughter has shown any interest in, after a whole phalanx of suitors has come and gone. When her and her sister Ruby’s only brother dies in an accident, the father invokes an old law of the clan whereby she can be his heir but only if she forsakes all men and becomes a holy woman, dedicated to studying the Quran, sharing her knowledge with others, and of course, wearing a burqua. She takes to it with a vengeance, one might say...
The Holy Woman is Zarri Bano, a 28-year old woman who falls in love for the first time with a hunk of a guy called Zikander, rich to boot. She is the most exquisitely beautiful creature, self-confident, educated to degree level, and heretofore the apple of her parents’ eye. Until Sikander comes along, and her father takes a shine against him – as is very clear, he is jealous of the first man his daughter has shown any interest in, after a whole phalanx of suitors has come and gone. When her and her sister Ruby’s only brother dies in an accident, the father invokes an old law of the clan whereby she can be his heir but only if she forsakes all men and becomes a holy woman, dedicated to studying the Quran, sharing her knowledge with others, and of course, wearing a burqua. She takes to it with a vengeance, one might say...
Displaying 1 - 30 of 140 reviews