The Place of Shining Light

by Nazneen Sheikh

Written by critically acclaimed author Nazneen Sheikh, The Place of Shining Light is the story of three men in pursuit of a stolen Buddhist statue. Set against the backdrop of India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan — three countries riddled with political chaos and seared by terrorist activity — The Place of Shining Light is a riveting and timely story of art, war, greed and spirituality.


Khalid, a leading Pakistani antiquities dealer, arranges the illegal importation of a antique sculpture from neighbouring Afghanistan for his client Ghulam, a wealthy landowner and avid art collector with political aspirations. Adeel, a highly recommended ex-military officer, is hired by Khalid to go to Afghanistan to collect the sculpture.


Adeel has a reliable reputation and has never failed to execute an assignment, but when he first sees the statue in a cave in the town of Bamiyan — known as “the place of shining light” — he has a profound spiritual reaction and decides to steal the sculpture for himself and go into hiding. When Khalid and Ghulam realize Adeel has disappeared with their prized possession they conspire to do whatever it takes to have the statue returned.


Taking readers on a wild journey from the country estates in the Punjab and the valleys of Afghanistan, to the magical mountain kingdoms of Northern Pakistan and the diplomatic enclaves of Islamabad, The Place of Shining Light is the riveting story of the modern trade in illegal antiquities in the war-torn regions of Central and South Asia.

Genres: Fiction, India

336 pages, Paperback

First published September 12, 2015

Reviews

[Colleen Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love reading books that let me learn about history and culture that I haven't had the opportunity to study in school. "The Place of Shining Light" is a layered portrait of the Middle East, highlighting a range of elements including priceless antiquities and religious fanaticism. Nazneen Sheikh's greatest strength in this novel is her honest, head-on approach to difficult issues like terrorism, gender inequality, and abuse. I found the three main characters very well written. For me, the weakness was in the relationship between Adeel and Norbu. I just couldn't connect to it enough or really understand the bond they had. Other relationships were portrayed much more powerfully, particularly that between Khalid and Hassan. Wow. That one blew me away.

[Steven Buechler · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story is centered around a 5,000-year-old Buddhist sculpture and obsession by three men who wish to own it. Khalid is a leading Pakistani antiquities dealer and has arranged for the illegal importation of the statue from Afghanistan. Ghalib is a wealthy art collector and has purchased the statue for his collection. And Adeel is hired to transport the statue. But something happens to Adeel when he sees the statue and decides to keep it for himself. The ensuing plot line explores in brilliant detail not just the thrilling story but explores the philosophical questions of ownership of an artifact each character seems to have.

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[Matthew Marcus · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well written story with several subplots and some principle characters I really got to like. I appreciate the effort the author took to explain not only the geography but also the emotions and feelings of the people. It was difficult for me not to skip to the back of the last chapter to see if things turned out fine for Adeel and Norbu. I won’t reveal.

This is a story set in a very different culture with different values. Sheikh explains this as the story unfolds; telling some, omitting other details. As such as this is a journey with a stolen statue, this is a personal journey. One is a metaphor for the other. There are several journeys taking place within the novel: all physical journeys have a personal development or quest. Not all are fulfilled. Nassam’s untimely death prevents us from knowing if he has changed and if he will be a good man, father, husband and son. His death is also about Norbu’s strength. No, Nassam and Norbu do not know each other, but Sheikh has connected them in a way that will forever change both of their lives.

The book never slows, it is written at a fast pace and the time is very real. The chase is now and the next turn, well it’s the next turn. The appearance of Adeel general is fate, or is it predestiny. Without him, would Adeel have survived?

There is the right amount of foreshadowing and the best use of descriptions to capture the feelings of Norbu. Behind her tattered clothes was a beautiful woman, not just physically but also emotionally and spiritually. We don’t really ever learn why she was disowned or thrown out by her husband, but it has not hardened her. It has made her determined.

Adeel seems attracted and attached to Norbu before he even realizes what is happening. This is the beauty of the writing. The reader starts to see things that the person is unable yet to realize.

This is a drama with a lot of action and of course a love interest. I would not want to give the impression this is only a love story. This is about espionage, theft, corruption, family dynamics, untimely death and mistrust. There are some less than happy consequences for some, and some good results for others, although it is all a mystery how it unfolds.

This is something like The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns. And, it contains physical, mental and intellectual challenges. It is a difficult book to put down. It is a book that replaces watching television and a book that ends with deep emotion

[Janet Kellough · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book offered an engrossing look at a part of the world that I knew very little about. The characters are vivid (sometimes distressingly so), but the author has given the main characters opportunity to evolve, and the plot is resolved in a satisfyingly unexpected manner.

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting look into that part of the world.

[Charland Garvin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book as it is about an area and culture I know very little about. It was interesting to read about the people, their beliefs and way of life. The book had a good plot which kept me reading. I liked the fact the plot invovled some aspect of the history of the area, the art and the huge difference in the standard of living, dependent on your position.

[Stacia Chappell]

This is a wonderful book and all should read it: Best every read and keep you in suspense: