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The Kindness of Enemies
It’s 2010 and Natasha, a half Russian, half Sudanese professor of history, is researching the life of Imam Shamil, the 19th century Muslim leader who led the anti-Russian resistance in the Caucasian War. When shy, single Natasha discovers that her star student, Oz, is not only descended from the warrior but also possesses Shamil’s priceless sword, the Imam’s story comes vividly to life. As Natasha’s relationship with Oz and his alluring actress mother intensifies, Natasha is forced to confront issues she had long tried to avoid—that of her Muslim heritage. When Oz is suddenly arrested at his home one morning, Natasha realizes that everything she values stands in jeopardy.
Told with Aboulela’s inimitable elegance and narrated from the point of view of both Natasha and the historical characters she is researching, The Kindness of Enemies is both an engrossing story of a provocative period in history and an important examination of what it is to be a Muslim in a post 9/11 world.
Told with Aboulela’s inimitable elegance and narrated from the point of view of both Natasha and the historical characters she is researching, The Kindness of Enemies is both an engrossing story of a provocative period in history and an important examination of what it is to be a Muslim in a post 9/11 world.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published August 13, 2015
84 people are currently reading
4099 people want to read
About the author
Leila Aboulela
37 books930 followersLeila Aboulela grew up in Khartoum, Sudan where she attended the Khartoum American School and Sister School. She graduated from Khartoum University in 1985 with a degree in Economics and was awarded her Masters degree in statistics from the London School of Economics. She lived for many years in Aberdeen where she wrote most of her works while looking after her family; she currently lives and lectures in Abu Dhabi.
She was awarded the Caine Prize for African Writing in 2000 for her short story The Museum and her novel The Translator was nominated for the Orange Prize in 2002, and was chosen as a Notable Book of the Year by the New York Times in 2006.
She was awarded the Caine Prize for African Writing in 2000 for her short story The Museum and her novel The Translator was nominated for the Orange Prize in 2002, and was chosen as a Notable Book of the Year by the New York Times in 2006.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 202 reviews
June 11, 2016
The Kindness of Enemies deserves two ratings - 5 stars for the portion of it that is set in the 1850s (in the Caucauses and in Russia), in the third person, and focused primarily on Imam Shamil, a highlander Muslim warrior at war with the Russians (an actual historical figure) and Anna, a Georgian married to a Russian, whom Shamil takes and holds hostage for several months, and a 2.5 for the portion of it that is set in contemporary times and focuses on Natasha Wilson, in Scotland and the Sudan, in the first person.
The good news is that my perception was that the dual-timeline is allocated approximately 70-30, with 70% of it spent with Shamil, Anna and others in the 1850s. The puzzlement is that one author, Aboulela, wrote this novel - so unequal is the quality and character of the two parts. The contemporary portion is weighted down by an unappealing protagonist whom we never relate to, for a variety of reasons, and whose story just seems so trivial compared to the stories of Shamil and Anna.
What Aboulela does with the story of Shamil et al is simply magical. The characters are morally complex and fascinating, including the ones I didn't particularly like. Shamil is a warrior, and he is also noble and principled. The dialogue is believable and rang true, notwithstanding the challenge for a 21st century author crafting conversations between 19th century characters of disparate cultures and educational levels. The history was entirely unfamiliar to me (my bad) and she explained it effortlessly throughout and while telling the story - without spending 8 pages on historical background, the crutch of the poor historical fiction writer.
Aboulela brings the battlefield alive, even to this reader who is often bored by battle scenes. She deals with death authentically, but not gratuitously. Even so, early tragedy lets the reader know not to anticipate or hope for happy endings all around, and to accept that the desired outcome for these characters isn't a happy ending, but that they be at peace with whatever happens. There is a sadness to Shamil, Anna, Shamil's son, Jameleldin, Shamil's mentor, the Shiekh - almost despair. They've experienced personal loss, political loss and fear losing identity, too. Aboulela's ending for this part of the narrative brings a certain amount of resolution for the despair each characters feels and is satisfying. The language of the finale is breathtakingly beautiful.
So . . if you want to read one of the best books you'll read this year, consider taking an unusual approach to the Kindness of Enemies and read only the Shamil parts. If you skip the parts of the Kindness of Enemies that tell Natasha's story, you miss nothing of value and you'll also be certain that Aboulela is a brilliant writer, without question. It's a win-win.
Now I'm off to find out more about Imam Shamil - he's just that fascinating a historical figure, and the conflict between the Muslim tribesmen and the Russians, is as well.
p.s. if the sheer ugliness of the cover is putting you off from reading this wonderful book, please don't let it. It's an abomination - perhaps the single least attractive cover I've seen, at least on a novel that isn't self-published. The illustration on the front is odd and off-putting. The rear cover has 3 - 4 forgettable quotes. Really - it's as if the boss's nephew came up with the cover design while the marketing department was being held hostage in a far off castle. Whomever approved it for printing should be punished severely and reassigned to a job that involves no design element whatsoever, and he/she owes Ms. Aboulela an apology of the highest order.
The good news is that my perception was that the dual-timeline is allocated approximately 70-30, with 70% of it spent with Shamil, Anna and others in the 1850s. The puzzlement is that one author, Aboulela, wrote this novel - so unequal is the quality and character of the two parts. The contemporary portion is weighted down by an unappealing protagonist whom we never relate to, for a variety of reasons, and whose story just seems so trivial compared to the stories of Shamil and Anna.
What Aboulela does with the story of Shamil et al is simply magical. The characters are morally complex and fascinating, including the ones I didn't particularly like. Shamil is a warrior, and he is also noble and principled. The dialogue is believable and rang true, notwithstanding the challenge for a 21st century author crafting conversations between 19th century characters of disparate cultures and educational levels. The history was entirely unfamiliar to me (my bad) and she explained it effortlessly throughout and while telling the story - without spending 8 pages on historical background, the crutch of the poor historical fiction writer.
Aboulela brings the battlefield alive, even to this reader who is often bored by battle scenes. She deals with death authentically, but not gratuitously. Even so, early tragedy lets the reader know not to anticipate or hope for happy endings all around, and to accept that the desired outcome for these characters isn't a happy ending, but that they be at peace with whatever happens. There is a sadness to Shamil, Anna, Shamil's son, Jameleldin, Shamil's mentor, the Shiekh - almost despair. They've experienced personal loss, political loss and fear losing identity, too. Aboulela's ending for this part of the narrative brings a certain amount of resolution for the despair each characters feels and is satisfying. The language of the finale is breathtakingly beautiful.
So . . if you want to read one of the best books you'll read this year, consider taking an unusual approach to the Kindness of Enemies and read only the Shamil parts. If you skip the parts of the Kindness of Enemies that tell Natasha's story, you miss nothing of value and you'll also be certain that Aboulela is a brilliant writer, without question. It's a win-win.
Now I'm off to find out more about Imam Shamil - he's just that fascinating a historical figure, and the conflict between the Muslim tribesmen and the Russians, is as well.
p.s. if the sheer ugliness of the cover is putting you off from reading this wonderful book, please don't let it. It's an abomination - perhaps the single least attractive cover I've seen, at least on a novel that isn't self-published. The illustration on the front is odd and off-putting. The rear cover has 3 - 4 forgettable quotes. Really - it's as if the boss's nephew came up with the cover design while the marketing department was being held hostage in a far off castle. Whomever approved it for printing should be punished severely and reassigned to a job that involves no design element whatsoever, and he/she owes Ms. Aboulela an apology of the highest order.
November 26, 2023
Можна прочитати всю книжку, а можна дочитати до фрази "Шаміль Басаєв -- ватажок бойовиків, відповідальний за теракти в школі в Північній Осетії і в московському театрі", закрити книжечку і піти геть, нічого при цьому не втративши. Емігрантка з Судану, яка міркує про визвольну боротьбу в Чечні, робить головною героїнею напівросіянку, історикиню, що обмірковує колоніальні війни Російської імперії -- все для того, щоби вигуляти на просторах англійської літератури російську пропаганду.
September 27, 2015
I have never read anything by Leila Aboulela before; but knowing she has won the Caine Prize, the Scottish Book Award and has been shortlisted for several other awards, as well as having two books on the Orange Prize long list, I was eager to review this new book. Aboulela grew up in Khartoum and now lives in Scotland and both places feature in this novel which makes use of the now much over-used dual time line, taking place both in contemporary Scotland and Sudan and has a historical storyline which unfolds in Georgia and Russia during the 1800’s.
We begin with Natasha Wilson, an academic in her thirties, who works at a university where one of her students is the rather unfortunately named Osama (nicknamed ‘Oz’ or ‘Ossie’) Raja. Natasha, the daughter of a Russian mother and a Sudanese father, has changed her surname to that of her Scottish step father and is obviously conflicted about her identity and her place in the world. Her research centres on Imam Shamil (a real character) who went to war against the Russians. She is delighted to discover that Oz is a descendent of Shamil and is invited to visit him and his actress mother, Malak. During her visit they are snowed in and, during this stay, Oz is arrested for possible terrorist sympathies.
This story is interweaved with the story of Shamil, whose fight against the Russians is much admired by Natasha. Shamil’s eldest son, Jameleldin, is taken by the Russians as a hostage and, many years later, Shamil kidnaps a Georgian princess, in an attempt to get back the son he has lost. Much of this novel is about identity, conflict and belonging – but the author does not so much belabour the point as hit you over the head with it. We have Natasha unsure of her place in the world, Oz who is a rather typical angry young man, provocatively beheading snowmen with a scimitar, Jameldeldin who is lost to his father both physically and spiritually, as he assimilates with his Russian captors and loses his faith and language and yet is accepted in neither world and Princess Anna who sees herself as Georgian rather than Russian.
I really did want to like this book, but I found myself sympathetic to none of the characters. Of course, you do not have to like the characters in a novel to enjoy the book itself. However, I simply felt a lack of interest in what happened by the end. The storyline set in Georgia and featuring Shamil was certainly the most interesting part of the book, but whether Jameldeldin was the son of his father or a Russian gentleman or not, was not really enough to keep my interest. I listened to an interview with Aboulela in which she stated she wanted to reclaim some of the language that she feels has been misused in recent times, such as the sense of a spiritual struggle. However, her sentiments threaten to overwhelm the plot. Identity is not always about nationality and in the multicultural world we live in now few people I know obsess as much as the characters in this book about their place in it.
We begin with Natasha Wilson, an academic in her thirties, who works at a university where one of her students is the rather unfortunately named Osama (nicknamed ‘Oz’ or ‘Ossie’) Raja. Natasha, the daughter of a Russian mother and a Sudanese father, has changed her surname to that of her Scottish step father and is obviously conflicted about her identity and her place in the world. Her research centres on Imam Shamil (a real character) who went to war against the Russians. She is delighted to discover that Oz is a descendent of Shamil and is invited to visit him and his actress mother, Malak. During her visit they are snowed in and, during this stay, Oz is arrested for possible terrorist sympathies.
This story is interweaved with the story of Shamil, whose fight against the Russians is much admired by Natasha. Shamil’s eldest son, Jameleldin, is taken by the Russians as a hostage and, many years later, Shamil kidnaps a Georgian princess, in an attempt to get back the son he has lost. Much of this novel is about identity, conflict and belonging – but the author does not so much belabour the point as hit you over the head with it. We have Natasha unsure of her place in the world, Oz who is a rather typical angry young man, provocatively beheading snowmen with a scimitar, Jameldeldin who is lost to his father both physically and spiritually, as he assimilates with his Russian captors and loses his faith and language and yet is accepted in neither world and Princess Anna who sees herself as Georgian rather than Russian.
I really did want to like this book, but I found myself sympathetic to none of the characters. Of course, you do not have to like the characters in a novel to enjoy the book itself. However, I simply felt a lack of interest in what happened by the end. The storyline set in Georgia and featuring Shamil was certainly the most interesting part of the book, but whether Jameldeldin was the son of his father or a Russian gentleman or not, was not really enough to keep my interest. I listened to an interview with Aboulela in which she stated she wanted to reclaim some of the language that she feels has been misused in recent times, such as the sense of a spiritual struggle. However, her sentiments threaten to overwhelm the plot. Identity is not always about nationality and in the multicultural world we live in now few people I know obsess as much as the characters in this book about their place in it.
January 4, 2016
The flames of Sept. 11, 2001, not only recast America’s future, they illuminated a long-neglected history of conflict between the West and certain strains of Islam. Suddenly, for many of us, the present day had malignant roots we’d never recognized. Salman Rushdie recently added to the library of books on this vast subject with “Two Years Eight Months and Twenty-Eight Nights,” a surprisingly whimsical story about warring genies reigniting an ancient battle in the modern age. And now comes another unusual novel that captures our anxious latter-days while reaching back to a contentious past.
“The Kindness of Enemies” maps the interconnectedness of the world on both personal and political levels. To some extent, that intricacy reflects. . . .
To read the rest of this review, go to The Washington Post:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/entert...
“The Kindness of Enemies” maps the interconnectedness of the world on both personal and political levels. To some extent, that intricacy reflects. . . .
To read the rest of this review, go to The Washington Post:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/entert...
November 20, 2025
This fascinating and wonderful novel flicks back and forth telling two parallel stories and linking two different time periods. It's a book about multiculturalism, understanding other cultures and finding one's own identity in a multicultural world.
Leila Aboulela creates the character Natasha, a history professor living in Scotland in 2010 as a bridge between the two time periods. Born in Sudan of a Russian mother and Sudanese father, Natasha refers to herself as "a failed hybrid". She has lost touch with her Sudanese culture, changing her last name from Hussein to Wilson.
A part of her must still yearn to get in touch with her Muslim roots, because she is currently researching Imam Shamil, a 19th century Chechen Muslim leader and resistance fighter. Natasha learns that her most promising student, "Oz",short for Osama, is a direct descendant of Imam Shamil. Oz invites Natasha to the country home he shares with Malaka, his actor mother, to see the family heirloom, the famous sword that once belonged to his great, great grandfather. There is a snow storm and Natasha must spend the night with her new friends. Early the next morning the police come and take Oz away under suspicion of being a terrorist.
The Kindness of Enemies shows how careful Muslims have to be these days and ages! Oz, is doing research on "Jihad" for his studies. His email user name "SwordOfShamil” and email subject lines like “Weapons used for Jihad" get him into trouble.
The second story begins in the 18 hundreds. Russia is embarking on full scale conquest of the Caucasus. The points of view alternate between Imam Shamil, Anna,granddaughter of the former king of Georgia and Jamaladin, Shamil's eldest son.
As part of a broken treaty Shamil is tricked and Jamaladin is taken hostage by the Russians as a young boy. He raised as Tzar Alexander's guest. In the many years living among the Russians, he too, like Natasha, loses his original identity. No longer feeling Chechyan, Jamaladin is also never fully accepted as Russian.
In an effort to get Jamaladin back, his father Imam kidnaps Princess Anna and takes her and her son to live with his family. Anna's infant daughter tragically dies along the way.
Princess Anna, as the granddaughter of the King of Georgia who ceded his country to Russia, has accepted that becoming part of Russia is inevitable. When living with her captors, she starts to identify with the Chechyan's struggle not to be assimilated.
Imam Shamil's mission in life is Chechnya's independence.
Here Abouleila shows the difference in what "Jihad" meant then and now. Shamil did not endorse suicide attacks. When faced between a choice of leading his village to fight to the death, he chooses to surrender. When he finally is exiled to Russia, he appreciates many aspects of Russian-Christian culture.
A theme in this novel is how very little people know about their so called enemies. As Abouleila says in an interview:
“The Russians believed the Chechens were wily and suspicious,” Jamaladin, Shamil’s son thinks. “The Chechens believed the Russians were aggressive and treacherous. They were both right, they were both wrong.”
In the 18 hundreds traveling was not easy and people did not have a lot of information about other cultures. Nowadays we have so much information, yet many people remain willfully ignorant!
So what was true for then is still true today, but today we have the power to change.
Leila Abouleila says the following about the real life Imam Shamil:
"His open heart and learned mind make him completely different than present day jihadists, whether Al-Qaeda or otherwise" He would definitely have disapproved of today's suicide bombers.
This is the kind of book where you feel like yelling out loud that everyone should read it!
Although the subject matter is deep and thought provoking, it is never heavy handed or preachy.
It is a very an enjoyable read.
Incidentally, a few months before I read this I discovered a beautiful and moving video of Chechens performing the Sufi ritual Zikr:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sSGrStb...
I thought of it while reading about the Zikr rituals being practiced by both by Imam Shamil and in the modern story Oz's mother Malak.
This book is for everyone who is interested in history and other cultures. It's characters linger on in your mind long after the story is finished!
Thank you Leila Aboulela for writing this book!
Edited to add I have just reread November 2025 and loved this book just as much as I did 9 years ago!
Leila Aboulela creates the character Natasha, a history professor living in Scotland in 2010 as a bridge between the two time periods. Born in Sudan of a Russian mother and Sudanese father, Natasha refers to herself as "a failed hybrid". She has lost touch with her Sudanese culture, changing her last name from Hussein to Wilson.
A part of her must still yearn to get in touch with her Muslim roots, because she is currently researching Imam Shamil, a 19th century Chechen Muslim leader and resistance fighter. Natasha learns that her most promising student, "Oz",short for Osama, is a direct descendant of Imam Shamil. Oz invites Natasha to the country home he shares with Malaka, his actor mother, to see the family heirloom, the famous sword that once belonged to his great, great grandfather. There is a snow storm and Natasha must spend the night with her new friends. Early the next morning the police come and take Oz away under suspicion of being a terrorist.
The Kindness of Enemies shows how careful Muslims have to be these days and ages! Oz, is doing research on "Jihad" for his studies. His email user name "SwordOfShamil” and email subject lines like “Weapons used for Jihad" get him into trouble.
The second story begins in the 18 hundreds. Russia is embarking on full scale conquest of the Caucasus. The points of view alternate between Imam Shamil, Anna,granddaughter of the former king of Georgia and Jamaladin, Shamil's eldest son.
As part of a broken treaty Shamil is tricked and Jamaladin is taken hostage by the Russians as a young boy. He raised as Tzar Alexander's guest. In the many years living among the Russians, he too, like Natasha, loses his original identity. No longer feeling Chechyan, Jamaladin is also never fully accepted as Russian.
In an effort to get Jamaladin back, his father Imam kidnaps Princess Anna and takes her and her son to live with his family. Anna's infant daughter tragically dies along the way.
Princess Anna, as the granddaughter of the King of Georgia who ceded his country to Russia, has accepted that becoming part of Russia is inevitable. When living with her captors, she starts to identify with the Chechyan's struggle not to be assimilated.
Imam Shamil's mission in life is Chechnya's independence.
Here Abouleila shows the difference in what "Jihad" meant then and now. Shamil did not endorse suicide attacks. When faced between a choice of leading his village to fight to the death, he chooses to surrender. When he finally is exiled to Russia, he appreciates many aspects of Russian-Christian culture.
A theme in this novel is how very little people know about their so called enemies. As Abouleila says in an interview:
“The Russians believed the Chechens were wily and suspicious,” Jamaladin, Shamil’s son thinks. “The Chechens believed the Russians were aggressive and treacherous. They were both right, they were both wrong.”
In the 18 hundreds traveling was not easy and people did not have a lot of information about other cultures. Nowadays we have so much information, yet many people remain willfully ignorant!
So what was true for then is still true today, but today we have the power to change.
Leila Abouleila says the following about the real life Imam Shamil:
"His open heart and learned mind make him completely different than present day jihadists, whether Al-Qaeda or otherwise" He would definitely have disapproved of today's suicide bombers.
This is the kind of book where you feel like yelling out loud that everyone should read it!
Although the subject matter is deep and thought provoking, it is never heavy handed or preachy.
It is a very an enjoyable read.
Incidentally, a few months before I read this I discovered a beautiful and moving video of Chechens performing the Sufi ritual Zikr:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sSGrStb...
I thought of it while reading about the Zikr rituals being practiced by both by Imam Shamil and in the modern story Oz's mother Malak.
This book is for everyone who is interested in history and other cultures. It's characters linger on in your mind long after the story is finished!
Thank you Leila Aboulela for writing this book!
Edited to add I have just reread November 2025 and loved this book just as much as I did 9 years ago!
December 29, 2015
In this beautifully written book by Leila Aboulela there are two stories: One is the story of Natasha, half Sudanese-half Russian, who has grown up in Scotland and lost all of her roots. The other is the story of Imam Shamil, a Muslim warrior battling the Russians in the 19th century and of Princess Anna of Georgia, whom he takes hostage in exchange for the return of his son Jamaleldin, who in turn has been a hostage of the Tsar since he was a young boy.
This is a book in which most of characters have a feeling that they don't belong: Natasha because of her mixed heritage, Oz the descendant of Imam Shamil, Princess Anna who has to consider herself Russian, and Jamaleldin who has lived as a Russian since he was a young boy.
There is also another very important element in this book, and it is to show how complicated it is to be a Muslim in the 21st century. How anything you do might be misinterpreted and investigated.
Through all the despair this characters feel, is there some hope for them? That is what Leila Aboulela writes about, of finding yourself (or trying to) amidst the despair and the sadness.
And though not all her characters manage to reach a happy ending (the book is more serious than just wishing for happy endings), they do achieve a sense of peace that made me, as a reader, completely enjoy this book.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is a book in which most of characters have a feeling that they don't belong: Natasha because of her mixed heritage, Oz the descendant of Imam Shamil, Princess Anna who has to consider herself Russian, and Jamaleldin who has lived as a Russian since he was a young boy.
There is also another very important element in this book, and it is to show how complicated it is to be a Muslim in the 21st century. How anything you do might be misinterpreted and investigated.
Through all the despair this characters feel, is there some hope for them? That is what Leila Aboulela writes about, of finding yourself (or trying to) amidst the despair and the sadness.
And though not all her characters manage to reach a happy ending (the book is more serious than just wishing for happy endings), they do achieve a sense of peace that made me, as a reader, completely enjoy this book.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 8, 2020
Earlier this year I read my first book by Leila Aboulela Bird Summons. I really enjoyed it for so many reasons, which can be read in my review here, but it also confirmed that I wanted to read more from this author and so I chose as the next book to read, one I have had my eye on for some years, but refused to buy because of the terrible cover. That might sound whimsical, but I think that earlier cover does this book a great disservice, the way it turns readers away.
I was completely drawn into this dual narrative story and loved both parts of it, a contemporary story of Natasha Wilson (born Natasha Hussein to a Russian mother and Sudanese father, themselves the product of Russian university education), who is now a university lecturer in Scotland, after her mother leaves her father and remarries a Scot. Natasha is friends with Malak, who is also mixed race, of Russian/Persian parentage, an actor, her son Oz, is in Natasha's class. Natasha is in their home when Oz is arrested and she too comes under suspicion.
Meanwhile, in Sudan, her father whom she hasn't seen for 20 years is dying and there is pressure for her to go and see him, along with resentment and ill-will, all of which are demands for her to stand up for herself and her existence, in her authenticity.
Interwoven between Natasha's story, we are taken to the Caucasus territory in the 1850's, to a period during the conflict between the Highlander mountain men lead by Shamil Imam, and the Russian army.
In earlier years, to settle a conflict, Shamil was only able to negotiate peace by surrendering his son Jamaleldin, who for the next ten years or so was raised as part of the Tsar's family (as his godson). Now Shamil's men have captured the (now) Russian Princess Anna (previously of Georgia- her grandfather ceded that territory to Russia), her French governess and two children Alexander and Lydia.
The Kindness of Enemies follows these stories and although one carries the heavyweight magnitude of a well-known story of significant characters in history, the foreshadowing of it by a modern story, brings to light the many aspects of the past, whose threads might be seen as being current today.
Much of the literature read of the Caucasus in the literary imagination is told from the Russian perspective, by their grand novelists like Tolstoy, Pushkin, whereas Leila Aboulela, by setting the historical part during the time of the Princesses capture, takes us on that journey, re-imagining the events that took place, understanding better the complicated and mixed sympathies of Anna, her grief and how the 8 months in captivity changes her.
She also presents the perspective of young Jamaleldin in another light, how his childhood memories lie dormant yet present, his mixed feelings of the return, and his reality of feeling a part of himself belonging to both worlds, the Highlands and to St Petersburg.
In the contemporary world, Natasha experiences something of the same, born of culturally different parents, spending her childhood in country and her adulthood in another. She has to create her own sense of belonging, to find peace of mind somehow, with being neither one thing or the other, having no one place called home, her's, almost by necessity is a spiritual journey, determined by the need for her soul to find home, rather than her body or mind.
As I read the closing pages, I learn that Leo Tolstoy's final novella, a work of autofiction, also takes place in this world, during events that Tolstoy was a part of. I had never even heard of Hadji Murád, but it feels like an essential read to follow on from The Kindness of Enemies.
Highly Recommended.
I was completely drawn into this dual narrative story and loved both parts of it, a contemporary story of Natasha Wilson (born Natasha Hussein to a Russian mother and Sudanese father, themselves the product of Russian university education), who is now a university lecturer in Scotland, after her mother leaves her father and remarries a Scot. Natasha is friends with Malak, who is also mixed race, of Russian/Persian parentage, an actor, her son Oz, is in Natasha's class. Natasha is in their home when Oz is arrested and she too comes under suspicion.
Meanwhile, in Sudan, her father whom she hasn't seen for 20 years is dying and there is pressure for her to go and see him, along with resentment and ill-will, all of which are demands for her to stand up for herself and her existence, in her authenticity.
“It was an effort formulating this summary, explaining myself. I preferred the distant past, centuries that were over and done with, ghosts that posed no direct threat. History could be milked for this cause or that. We observed it always with hindsight, projecting onto it our modern convictions and anxieties.”
Interwoven between Natasha's story, we are taken to the Caucasus territory in the 1850's, to a period during the conflict between the Highlander mountain men lead by Shamil Imam, and the Russian army.
In earlier years, to settle a conflict, Shamil was only able to negotiate peace by surrendering his son Jamaleldin, who for the next ten years or so was raised as part of the Tsar's family (as his godson). Now Shamil's men have captured the (now) Russian Princess Anna (previously of Georgia- her grandfather ceded that territory to Russia), her French governess and two children Alexander and Lydia.
The Kindness of Enemies follows these stories and although one carries the heavyweight magnitude of a well-known story of significant characters in history, the foreshadowing of it by a modern story, brings to light the many aspects of the past, whose threads might be seen as being current today.
Much of the literature read of the Caucasus in the literary imagination is told from the Russian perspective, by their grand novelists like Tolstoy, Pushkin, whereas Leila Aboulela, by setting the historical part during the time of the Princesses capture, takes us on that journey, re-imagining the events that took place, understanding better the complicated and mixed sympathies of Anna, her grief and how the 8 months in captivity changes her.
She also presents the perspective of young Jamaleldin in another light, how his childhood memories lie dormant yet present, his mixed feelings of the return, and his reality of feeling a part of himself belonging to both worlds, the Highlands and to St Petersburg.
In the contemporary world, Natasha experiences something of the same, born of culturally different parents, spending her childhood in country and her adulthood in another. She has to create her own sense of belonging, to find peace of mind somehow, with being neither one thing or the other, having no one place called home, her's, almost by necessity is a spiritual journey, determined by the need for her soul to find home, rather than her body or mind.
“I said that I was not a good Muslim but that I was not a bad person.I said I had a brother that I wanted to keep in touch with. I said that I wanted to give up my share of the inheritance to him. Apart from my father's Russian books and Russian keepsakes, I wanted nothing. I said that I did not come here today to fight over money or for the share of a house. I came so that I would not be an outcast, so that I would, even in a small way, faintly, marginally, tentatively, belong.”
As I read the closing pages, I learn that Leo Tolstoy's final novella, a work of autofiction, also takes place in this world, during events that Tolstoy was a part of. I had never even heard of Hadji Murád, but it feels like an essential read to follow on from The Kindness of Enemies.
Highly Recommended.
September 30, 2021
"The Kindness of Enemies," by @leilaaboulela, is a beautiful and haunting read that weaves together the personal turmoil of Natasha Hussein, a half-Russian, half-Sudanese history professor, and the great Imam Shamil, the leader of the European mujahideen against Tzarist Russia.
I quickly found myself deeply immersed in the perspectives of both Imam Shamil and his son, Jamaleldin - and, unexpectedly, Princess Anna of Georgia, a noblewoman who is kidnapped and held as a hostage to bargain for Jamaleldin's freedom.
Despite someone who loves unique bits of Islamic history, I admittedly knew very little about Imam Shamil before reading this book; I definitely didn't expect to find myself filled with heartbreaking melancholy for the fierce, noble Dagestani Imam and Mujahid and his desperate resistance against the Russian invasion. (And while yes, it is true that he was very Sufi, and the story reflects this, I can appreciate it within context.)
As always, Aboulela explores questions of Muslim identity, geopolitics, history and theology in brilliant snippets of dialogue and character reflections. Having previously read Lyrics Alley and Bird Summons, I love that Aboulela's books always provide such rich depth of character, and are unapologetic in their Muslimness.
Honestly, this book moved me deeply in so many ways, and I found myself unexpectedly emotional more than once.
5/5 🌟
I quickly found myself deeply immersed in the perspectives of both Imam Shamil and his son, Jamaleldin - and, unexpectedly, Princess Anna of Georgia, a noblewoman who is kidnapped and held as a hostage to bargain for Jamaleldin's freedom.
Despite someone who loves unique bits of Islamic history, I admittedly knew very little about Imam Shamil before reading this book; I definitely didn't expect to find myself filled with heartbreaking melancholy for the fierce, noble Dagestani Imam and Mujahid and his desperate resistance against the Russian invasion. (And while yes, it is true that he was very Sufi, and the story reflects this, I can appreciate it within context.)
As always, Aboulela explores questions of Muslim identity, geopolitics, history and theology in brilliant snippets of dialogue and character reflections. Having previously read Lyrics Alley and Bird Summons, I love that Aboulela's books always provide such rich depth of character, and are unapologetic in their Muslimness.
Honestly, this book moved me deeply in so many ways, and I found myself unexpectedly emotional more than once.
5/5 🌟
November 17, 2015
When news broke last week of attacks in Beirut, Paris, and other cities around the world, as I always do, I turned to fiction to help make sense of the ongoing tragedy. Of course there isn’t any real sense to be found in the violent deaths of innocents; there never is. But suddenly my reading of The Kindness of Enemies took on a new urgency. Now more than ever, understanding Islam feels like an imperative, and more importantly, marking the distinction between its earnest practitioners and its extremists. Reading fiction is a consistent way in for me to cultures and experiences outside my own. It strips away the foreignness I feel as I read journalistic reports and use as a convenient excuse for my ignorance. I may easily dismiss “that group” as other, but I can’t do the same with “that character.” The specificity of fiction, though it may not represent truth in the same way a news article would, points me toward the larger, more fundamental truths of real, complicated, global life.
Leila Aboulela’s novel shines a light on the events of last week, and in so doing reveals a need for nuance in our approach to questions of religion and extremism. Natasha, a professor at a university in Scotland, bonds with a student and his mother over a weekend spent snowed in at their home, but when the student comes under investigation for terrorist activity, she has to reevaluate their every interaction. Was he harboring fantasies of violent jihad? Were there signs that she ignored because she liked him, respected his intellect? How much responsibility should she bear, if the claims of the police prove true?
Natasha's situation is further complicated by her own ambivalence toward her heritage. Her father is Sudanese, her mother Russian, which leaves Natasha in between two cultures, not feeling as if she belongs anywhere. She claims Islam culturally, but is not a practicing Muslim; her almost compulsive tendency to distance herself from her father's religion echoes throughout her narration.
Aboulela includes chapters that flash back to the mid-1800s, telling the story of Imam Shamil, Natasha's prized student's ancestor and the focus of her own academic research. Shamil led a group of resistance fighters against the Russian army in the Caucasian War. These chapters portray compelling, sympathetic characters on both sides of the conflict—both Shamil and his family, and the families of his enemies—eloquently underscoring the point that, in war, identifying sides as “good” or “bad” is not always a simple proposition, much as we might try to make it so.
I still have a lot more questions than answers about what happened last week. But now that I've read Aboulela's book, I've at least learned some of the right questions to ask.
With regards to Grove Atlantic and NetGalley for the advance copy. On sale 5 January 2016.
More book recommendations by me at www.readingwithhippos.com
Leila Aboulela’s novel shines a light on the events of last week, and in so doing reveals a need for nuance in our approach to questions of religion and extremism. Natasha, a professor at a university in Scotland, bonds with a student and his mother over a weekend spent snowed in at their home, but when the student comes under investigation for terrorist activity, she has to reevaluate their every interaction. Was he harboring fantasies of violent jihad? Were there signs that she ignored because she liked him, respected his intellect? How much responsibility should she bear, if the claims of the police prove true?
Natasha's situation is further complicated by her own ambivalence toward her heritage. Her father is Sudanese, her mother Russian, which leaves Natasha in between two cultures, not feeling as if she belongs anywhere. She claims Islam culturally, but is not a practicing Muslim; her almost compulsive tendency to distance herself from her father's religion echoes throughout her narration.
Aboulela includes chapters that flash back to the mid-1800s, telling the story of Imam Shamil, Natasha's prized student's ancestor and the focus of her own academic research. Shamil led a group of resistance fighters against the Russian army in the Caucasian War. These chapters portray compelling, sympathetic characters on both sides of the conflict—both Shamil and his family, and the families of his enemies—eloquently underscoring the point that, in war, identifying sides as “good” or “bad” is not always a simple proposition, much as we might try to make it so.
I still have a lot more questions than answers about what happened last week. But now that I've read Aboulela's book, I've at least learned some of the right questions to ask.
With regards to Grove Atlantic and NetGalley for the advance copy. On sale 5 January 2016.
More book recommendations by me at www.readingwithhippos.com
July 6, 2017
Identity and belonging.
It took me quite a while to get into this book, I kept putting it down because it just wasn't grabbing me. Having given four stars to Lyric's Alley by the same author this was a bit disappointing, but I persevered and as a result I have learned about a time in history that I was totally unaware of. And there was a reward - it turns out that during a trip to Georgia I had actually visited the villa where Anna and her children were spending that fateful summer.
I had thought when reading, that I enjoyed the contemporary story most, but as I start to write this review, I realise that it is the story of Shamil and Anna that has stuck with me.
Leila Aboulela recently attended our Literary Festival and was talking about the problems of assimilating into Scotland. I wonder if I was relating her experiences to those of Natasha, the main character in the contemporary parts.
The main character of the historical section was Imam Shamil, the 19th century Muslim leader who led the anti-Russian resistance in the Caucasian War. Although a warrior leader, the author attributes him with a very genuine, caring nature and he treats his prisoners with respect.
This was a book group read and I don't think anyone had heard of Imam Shamil before reading this book. I'm glad to say that the others all gave higher ratings than I did, so you may consider me a minority and ignore my rating if you wish :)
It took me quite a while to get into this book, I kept putting it down because it just wasn't grabbing me. Having given four stars to Lyric's Alley by the same author this was a bit disappointing, but I persevered and as a result I have learned about a time in history that I was totally unaware of. And there was a reward - it turns out that during a trip to Georgia I had actually visited the villa where Anna and her children were spending that fateful summer.
I had thought when reading, that I enjoyed the contemporary story most, but as I start to write this review, I realise that it is the story of Shamil and Anna that has stuck with me.
Leila Aboulela recently attended our Literary Festival and was talking about the problems of assimilating into Scotland. I wonder if I was relating her experiences to those of Natasha, the main character in the contemporary parts.
The main character of the historical section was Imam Shamil, the 19th century Muslim leader who led the anti-Russian resistance in the Caucasian War. Although a warrior leader, the author attributes him with a very genuine, caring nature and he treats his prisoners with respect.
This was a book group read and I don't think anyone had heard of Imam Shamil before reading this book. I'm glad to say that the others all gave higher ratings than I did, so you may consider me a minority and ignore my rating if you wish :)
October 18, 2023
Reading Leila Aboulela for the first time. “The Kindness of Enemies” is a dual narrative; one story takes place in Scotland in 2010, while the other story is based on the life of Imam Shamil (a Muslim political and religious leader, who fought against the Russians) and takes place predominantly in the Caucasus region around 1850s.
In the contemporary story, we meet a history professor Natasha Wilson (Hussein), who is half Sudanese and half Russian. Her parents divorced when she was young and she eventually moved to Scotland when her mother remarried. Natasha does research on jihad and Imam Shamil's life. Her world is turned upside down when one of her favorite students Oz (a Chechen descendant of Imam Shamil) is taken into custody and investigated for possible links to terrorism. Not long after that, she receives a call from her estranged, dying father in Sudan. He regrets letting her go to Scotland when she was young.
In the second story, we first meet Imam Shamil during the Siege of Akhoulgo (1839). The Russians have surrounded Imam Shamil's stronghold, but through a miracle Imam Shamil and a few of his family members manage to escape. However, Imam Shamil was forced to give up his eight-year-old son Jamaleldin as a hostage. Imam Shamil is determined to retrieve his son back once he can regain a stronger political foothold in the Caucasus region. This takes many years. Until his men kidnap Princess Anna, a Georgian aristocrat who feels more Georgian than Russian (unlike her husband). Imam Shamil and Princess Anna have both experienced child loss and therefore form a close bond. To her delight, Imam Shamil keeps calling her "Georgian Princess" and even promises her the position of "Queen of Georgia" if negotiations with the Russians fail. Imam Shamil hopes that he can exchange Princess Anna for Jamaleldin.
What both story lines have in common is the question of identity. As a mixed person, Natasha struggles to feel at home in Scotland and the rise of Islamophobia makes it even more difficult. Jamaleldin grew up in the Russian court and experiences tremendous difficulties fitting back into the highlander's way of life in the Caucasus. Princess Anna is very proud of her Georgian heritage and is inwardly displeased by the expanding Russian empire.
I learned a lot about Imam Shamil's life and the Caucasus, a region I knew little about. There are so many different people in that part of the world, that their history is very complex. There’s a clear parallel between Natasha and Jamaleldin, both had no control over what happened in their childhood and in adult life felt at odds with their origins. Not to mention how politics has a huge impact on their environment.
However, I found the contemporary story line not interesting and even hard to digest. Natasha is a very difficult character to connect with. I found her ending a bit too lovey-dovey .
"Money is like grass. It withers. [... ] but our deeds last forever."
In the contemporary story, we meet a history professor Natasha Wilson (Hussein), who is half Sudanese and half Russian. Her parents divorced when she was young and she eventually moved to Scotland when her mother remarried. Natasha does research on jihad and Imam Shamil's life. Her world is turned upside down when one of her favorite students Oz (a Chechen descendant of Imam Shamil) is taken into custody and investigated for possible links to terrorism. Not long after that, she receives a call from her estranged, dying father in Sudan. He regrets letting her go to Scotland when she was young.
In the second story, we first meet Imam Shamil during the Siege of Akhoulgo (1839). The Russians have surrounded Imam Shamil's stronghold, but through a miracle Imam Shamil and a few of his family members manage to escape. However, Imam Shamil was forced to give up his eight-year-old son Jamaleldin as a hostage. Imam Shamil is determined to retrieve his son back once he can regain a stronger political foothold in the Caucasus region. This takes many years. Until his men kidnap Princess Anna, a Georgian aristocrat who feels more Georgian than Russian (unlike her husband). Imam Shamil and Princess Anna have both experienced child loss and therefore form a close bond. To her delight, Imam Shamil keeps calling her "Georgian Princess" and even promises her the position of "Queen of Georgia" if negotiations with the Russians fail. Imam Shamil hopes that he can exchange Princess Anna for Jamaleldin.
What both story lines have in common is the question of identity. As a mixed person, Natasha struggles to feel at home in Scotland and the rise of Islamophobia makes it even more difficult. Jamaleldin grew up in the Russian court and experiences tremendous difficulties fitting back into the highlander's way of life in the Caucasus. Princess Anna is very proud of her Georgian heritage and is inwardly displeased by the expanding Russian empire.
I learned a lot about Imam Shamil's life and the Caucasus, a region I knew little about. There are so many different people in that part of the world, that their history is very complex. There’s a clear parallel between Natasha and Jamaleldin, both had no control over what happened in their childhood and in adult life felt at odds with their origins. Not to mention how politics has a huge impact on their environment.
However, I found the contemporary story line not interesting and even hard to digest. Natasha is a very difficult character to connect with. I found her ending a bit too lovey-dovey .
"Money is like grass. It withers. [... ] but our deeds last forever."
June 7, 2017
The Kindness of Enemies by Leila Aboulela weaves two interlocking stories set approximately 150 years apart. Beginning in Scotland in 2010, one story is of Natasha Wilson (aka Hussein), a professor of mixed Sudanese and Russian heritage, torn between her two cultures and trying to define her place in the world. The second story is of Imam Shamil, a Muslim leader and member of the Naqshbandi Sufi order, who lead the resistance to Russian occupation of the Caucasus in the mid-1800s.
The thread that connects both stories is Wilson’s research on Imam Shamil and her discovery that one of his descendents is a student in her class. Aboulela skillfully weaves in and out of both narratives, taking the reader along with her at a breathtaking pace. There are twists and turns in the narrative, some of which are predictable. For me the value of the novel lies in its realistic portrayal of characters struggling to live according to their convictions and their subsequent disparagement by those who perceive reality through a different set of lenses.
Aboulela reminds us the issue of truth and justice is seldom a simple question of either this way or that. Instead, it frequently straddles between the two paths and one has only to use a different set of lenses to begin to see the possible merit of an opponents’ point of view. The novel is well written, moves at a rapid pace, and sheds light on the challenges facing Muslims post 9/11.
The thread that connects both stories is Wilson’s research on Imam Shamil and her discovery that one of his descendents is a student in her class. Aboulela skillfully weaves in and out of both narratives, taking the reader along with her at a breathtaking pace. There are twists and turns in the narrative, some of which are predictable. For me the value of the novel lies in its realistic portrayal of characters struggling to live according to their convictions and their subsequent disparagement by those who perceive reality through a different set of lenses.
Aboulela reminds us the issue of truth and justice is seldom a simple question of either this way or that. Instead, it frequently straddles between the two paths and one has only to use a different set of lenses to begin to see the possible merit of an opponents’ point of view. The novel is well written, moves at a rapid pace, and sheds light on the challenges facing Muslims post 9/11.
April 2, 2017
This was a 4.5 read for me.
Thoughts coming shortly
Thoughts coming shortly
June 6, 2021
2.5
An unlikeable protagonist can make or break a book some times. As much as I loved and enjoyed reading the historical timeline I noticed the “modern” characters flaws staying with me longer.
An unlikeable protagonist can make or break a book some times. As much as I loved and enjoyed reading the historical timeline I noticed the “modern” characters flaws staying with me longer.
June 9, 2021
most conflicted ive been reading a "fictional" book
enojyed reading the historical parts, the POV of jamal, shamil, anna (5/5)
anything 2010 was a 2 pack of ass from "dr wilson" to Malak (1/5)
edit...
after a few days of contemplating
this book gets a 2/5
enojyed reading the historical parts, the POV of jamal, shamil, anna (5/5)
anything 2010 was a 2 pack of ass from "dr wilson" to Malak (1/5)
edit...
after a few days of contemplating
this book gets a 2/5
April 18, 2024
mostly historical fiction with a threaded (though largely unrelated) modern story included as well. some interesting parts & ‘well written’.
October 14, 2015
The kindness of Enemies by Leila Aboulela was a Goodreads First Reads win
This is a book about identity and belonging. It questions whether religious identity is with you from birth, or whether upbringing and culture are the main forces which create it.
Two stories interweave, one in the present, one in the nineteenth century. In both stories there are displaced people. In the past story, a warrior (Shamil) fights to defend his country (the Caucasus) against Russian invasion. He fights for his culture and religion. His son, Jameleldin in taken from him by the Russians, when he was young. He lives in the court of the Tsar, who treats him kindly. Jamaladin forgets his native language, culture and religion and embraces the Russian way of life, but he is not totally accepted by the Russians. When he returns to his father years later, he does not feel at home there.
In order to get the release of his son, Shamil captures a Russian princess and her children to exchange for him. One child, a baby is lost in the mountains, and the princess and her son face hardship. Shamil is kind to them though, and they begin to feel at home with him, especially her young son who begins to adjust to a new life.
Back in present day Scotland, a lecturer, Natasha, is researching the story of Shamil and discovers that one of her students, Oz, is descended from Shamil. Natasha has a Russian mother and a Sudanese father, but is estranged from both. Her life, with a new surname is in Scotland. Only when she has to return to the Sudan, on the death of her father, does she realise how much of her past and identity has been lost.
Oz is proud of his connection with Shamil. He still has a sword which is a family heirloom, said to belong to Shamil. He too wants to research the past, which causes him to access terrorist websites. This brings him to the attention the anti-terrorist police. We are left wondering if he is innocent, or a potential terrorist. If innocent, he is so traumatised by the experience, it might well change his ideas and life.
It is a very readable book, descriptive of place, people and ideas.
This is a book about identity and belonging. It questions whether religious identity is with you from birth, or whether upbringing and culture are the main forces which create it.
Two stories interweave, one in the present, one in the nineteenth century. In both stories there are displaced people. In the past story, a warrior (Shamil) fights to defend his country (the Caucasus) against Russian invasion. He fights for his culture and religion. His son, Jameleldin in taken from him by the Russians, when he was young. He lives in the court of the Tsar, who treats him kindly. Jamaladin forgets his native language, culture and religion and embraces the Russian way of life, but he is not totally accepted by the Russians. When he returns to his father years later, he does not feel at home there.
In order to get the release of his son, Shamil captures a Russian princess and her children to exchange for him. One child, a baby is lost in the mountains, and the princess and her son face hardship. Shamil is kind to them though, and they begin to feel at home with him, especially her young son who begins to adjust to a new life.
Back in present day Scotland, a lecturer, Natasha, is researching the story of Shamil and discovers that one of her students, Oz, is descended from Shamil. Natasha has a Russian mother and a Sudanese father, but is estranged from both. Her life, with a new surname is in Scotland. Only when she has to return to the Sudan, on the death of her father, does she realise how much of her past and identity has been lost.
Oz is proud of his connection with Shamil. He still has a sword which is a family heirloom, said to belong to Shamil. He too wants to research the past, which causes him to access terrorist websites. This brings him to the attention the anti-terrorist police. We are left wondering if he is innocent, or a potential terrorist. If innocent, he is so traumatised by the experience, it might well change his ideas and life.
It is a very readable book, descriptive of place, people and ideas.
February 20, 2017
This is an amazing book. Leila Aboulela is a fine writer who covers new ground. One part of this story is set in Dagestan in the 19th century as it rebels against Russia. The other part is the story of a woman who is half Russian and half Sudanese who lives in Scotland and studies history. She's fascinated by the revolt in Dagestan that the other part of the book discusses. How wonderful it is to learn about places I've never read about before!
Imam Shamil, the leader of the Muslim resistance to Russia, is the focal point of both stories. Natasha Hussein, the modern narrator, meets his descendants, a Sufi actress and her son, who is one of Natasha's history students. Shamil was a Sufi, though we don't generally think of Sufis as being fighters.
It's so refreshing to see a clash of cultures that isn't primarily about the United States or Britain, though they figure into it.
Shamil doesn't understand how much military superiority the Russians have. He finally has to give his beloved first son as a hostage to the Russians to save the lives of his followers. But he is determined to get his son back.
Natasha is deeply conflicted about being mixed race and changes her name to hide her Muslim identity.
The story also includes Georgians, another people who have been made subjects of Russia, but who's situation is easier because they are white and Christian.
The book is about what it means to be Muslim, both in the 19th century and today. It's a fascinating, subtle book.
Imam Shamil, the leader of the Muslim resistance to Russia, is the focal point of both stories. Natasha Hussein, the modern narrator, meets his descendants, a Sufi actress and her son, who is one of Natasha's history students. Shamil was a Sufi, though we don't generally think of Sufis as being fighters.
It's so refreshing to see a clash of cultures that isn't primarily about the United States or Britain, though they figure into it.
Shamil doesn't understand how much military superiority the Russians have. He finally has to give his beloved first son as a hostage to the Russians to save the lives of his followers. But he is determined to get his son back.
Natasha is deeply conflicted about being mixed race and changes her name to hide her Muslim identity.
The story also includes Georgians, another people who have been made subjects of Russia, but who's situation is easier because they are white and Christian.
The book is about what it means to be Muslim, both in the 19th century and today. It's a fascinating, subtle book.
January 25, 2016
a favorite topic of mine is caucasus mountains area and this new novel promised a bit to fictionalize the saga of shamir freedom fighting against imperial russia in mid 1800's, and the thread ofhis son being given as collateral for treating, but was hustled off to st peterburg and became a russian military guy, a favorite of czar but a pawn and a tool, ultimately. meanwhile, this novel has a contemporary thread of scottish uni prof, origianlly from sudan, her dad sudan muslim, her mom russian, and this prof's writing about historical jihad in caucasus, and her prize student getting busted by cops for 'suspected islamic radicalization'
so lots of good elements, but writing a bit melodramatic, lite on lit, and infuriating too, like: why didnt prof get a lawyer as soon as cops came and roughed her and star pupil's family up? (in usa the lawyer wouldnt been at cop shop before the suspects) why didn't prof fight for her uni intellectual freedom? she was 'assigned' and she 'volunteered' to be the faculty fingerer of 'possible' young candidates for radicalization. maybe in scotland professors do not have academic freedom? or freedom of association? maybe the world has gone mad about possible islamic type terrorists/freedom fighters and so employs state terror blithely ? oh bother, this novel has lots of elements that could be good, but were not that good, for me. but still, read it!
so lots of good elements, but writing a bit melodramatic, lite on lit, and infuriating too, like: why didnt prof get a lawyer as soon as cops came and roughed her and star pupil's family up? (in usa the lawyer wouldnt been at cop shop before the suspects) why didn't prof fight for her uni intellectual freedom? she was 'assigned' and she 'volunteered' to be the faculty fingerer of 'possible' young candidates for radicalization. maybe in scotland professors do not have academic freedom? or freedom of association? maybe the world has gone mad about possible islamic type terrorists/freedom fighters and so employs state terror blithely ? oh bother, this novel has lots of elements that could be good, but were not that good, for me. but still, read it!
April 8, 2016
I can't really explain why I love this. Okay, for a start, it wasn't anything I expected. I envisioned something a little more thriller, I guess, or contemporary political stuff. And sure, Oz's plight is a significant part of this story, but I was enraptured by the flashbacks to the life and times of Shamil, Anna, and Jamaleldin. That... was... Epic is the only word for it.
I have always loved Russian history, but for me, that was the Russian revolution and onwards. This step back, and the history of these highlanders, or the Caucuses, this is stuff that I've never heard about, but it's so very... Extraordinary. I cannot believe this isn't so well known. It's. It's EPIC.
More than that, I like how Leila Aboulela doesn't create a... a sway to one side. You don't feel like she's preaching to you, but you also don't feel like she's embarrassed or sugar-coating the religion. It just is what it is. I love it.
I have always loved Russian history, but for me, that was the Russian revolution and onwards. This step back, and the history of these highlanders, or the Caucuses, this is stuff that I've never heard about, but it's so very... Extraordinary. I cannot believe this isn't so well known. It's. It's EPIC.
More than that, I like how Leila Aboulela doesn't create a... a sway to one side. You don't feel like she's preaching to you, but you also don't feel like she's embarrassed or sugar-coating the religion. It just is what it is. I love it.
March 15, 2017
An absolutely engrossing read from Leila Aboulela with dual storylines: One of present day Scotland and radical jihad terrorism accusations and another of 19th century Muslim religious leader, Iman Shamil, The Lion of Dagestan, and the anti-Russian resistance in the Caucasian War. This Caine Prize winner weaves a wonderful tale in a region and fight I knew very little about. I learned a lot from this fantastic novel and one of those things is not to overlook the unfamiliar. Or said differently, to seek out that which I'm unfamiliar. I will certainly be seeking out more from this author.
4.5 stars
4.5 stars
April 5, 2024
Reading about the wars between Russia and Chechnya in the 19th century does not seem like an intriguing subject but the way Leila Aboulela created this book made it interesting. While the wars seemed endless and male focused—patriarchal—I was fascinated by the depiction of culture. It was not only Muslim culture but also Russian royalty and Georgian royal aspirations too. The idea of being captors in both cultures is highlighted with the title itself The Kindness of Enemies.
A second story line is that of the Sudanese-Russian heroine Natasha whose Muslim friend is related to The Chechen Leader of the 19th century. The modern situation of Muslims being suspected terrorists and even the current life in Sudan is also developed in the book. I thought it was quite a fascinating perspective on Muslim life in different countries as well as different times.
A second story line is that of the Sudanese-Russian heroine Natasha whose Muslim friend is related to The Chechen Leader of the 19th century. The modern situation of Muslims being suspected terrorists and even the current life in Sudan is also developed in the book. I thought it was quite a fascinating perspective on Muslim life in different countries as well as different times.
May 12, 2023
I love historical fiction that takes me into fresh waters, so to speak. This elegant novel by the first winner of the Caine Prize for African Writing takes place during the 19th-century Caucasian War between Russia and the Muslim tribes in the Caucasian Mountains…a time and place I knew nothing about. A second timeline, set in 2010 in Scotland and Sudan, provides added context through a Muslim mixed-race Russian and Sudanese professor.
January 16, 2016
Natasha Wilson is a history professor at a university in Scotland with an interest in 19th-century Russian history, specifically the anti-Russian resistance movement. One of her students, Oz Raja, is reportedly a descendant of one of the most popular leaders of this movement. Befriending this student and his mother sets Natasha on an amazing adventure of self-discovery and reconnecting with her past in The Kindness of Enemies by Leila Aboulela.
At the age of fourteen, Natasha Hussein was adopted by her stepfather and went from being a Sudanese immigrant to a Scottish resident named Natasha Wilson. Born and raised in Khartoum, Sudan by her Christian Georgian mother and nominally-Muslim Sudanese father, Natasha never felt truly comfortable in Sudan or with her father. After her parents divorce and her mother's second marriage, Natasha did her best to fit in. In 2010, she is a college professor that has published several well-received articles and is respected by her peers. She's not quite sure why, but she's drawn to one of her students, Oz (Osama) Raja, a disenfranchised Muslim. Their connection grows due to one of Oz's forefathers, the renowned Imam Shamil. After visiting Oz and his mother, Malak, Natasha has the opportunity to see Imam Shamil's sword and other items. Although Natasha and Malak are concerned about Oz's curiosity about jihad and his perceived persecution of Muslims, neither takes it seriously until Oz is arrested after downloading suspicious materials. In a post-9/11 world, a little suspicion goes a long way and Natasha is perceived to be tainted by her visit to the Raja home and receiving an email from Oz about a possible research project for a dissertation. As Natasha attempts to rebound from these suspicions, she must also contend with phone calls from Sudan about her estranged father's failing health. Is it possible Natasha and Malak missed signs of Oz's radicalization? Is Oz, in fact, being radicalized or simply curious? Are Muslims being unfairly targeted in a post-9/11 world? Can Natasha reconnect with her father and Sudanese heritage?
After reading The Kindness of Enemies, I had to take a day just to think about it and what I could say about this book. Did I enjoy this book? The answer is a resounding YES! However, The Kindness of Enemies wasn't a book that I could simply finish reading and then set aside. There are stories within stories within stories in this book. There's Natasha's story, past and present; Oz and Malak's story, present; and, then there's the story of Imam Shamil. I was astonished to learn that Imam Shamil was a real leader in the anti-Russia movement in the 19th century. It was fascinating to read about his life, albeit a fictionalized version of his life, and that of his family. I enjoyed the blend of contemporary and historical fiction and the parallels found between the 19th-century and 21st-century storylines (trust me, there are a few...read it for yourself to discover just how many there are). The majority of the characters are all flawed and realistically portrayed. They all have their doubts and fears. This is not a story about being right or wrong or even having the right set of beliefs or not, it is about humans struggling to find their place in the world, do the right thing, and the perception of those struggles and behaviors by others. I get to read a lot of books, some good, some not so good, and The Kindness of Enemies is one of the best books I've had the pleasure to read this year and one that I strongly encourage you to read. I don't normally post a star-rating with my reviews, but I give this book five stars (yes, I really enjoyed it that much).
At the age of fourteen, Natasha Hussein was adopted by her stepfather and went from being a Sudanese immigrant to a Scottish resident named Natasha Wilson. Born and raised in Khartoum, Sudan by her Christian Georgian mother and nominally-Muslim Sudanese father, Natasha never felt truly comfortable in Sudan or with her father. After her parents divorce and her mother's second marriage, Natasha did her best to fit in. In 2010, she is a college professor that has published several well-received articles and is respected by her peers. She's not quite sure why, but she's drawn to one of her students, Oz (Osama) Raja, a disenfranchised Muslim. Their connection grows due to one of Oz's forefathers, the renowned Imam Shamil. After visiting Oz and his mother, Malak, Natasha has the opportunity to see Imam Shamil's sword and other items. Although Natasha and Malak are concerned about Oz's curiosity about jihad and his perceived persecution of Muslims, neither takes it seriously until Oz is arrested after downloading suspicious materials. In a post-9/11 world, a little suspicion goes a long way and Natasha is perceived to be tainted by her visit to the Raja home and receiving an email from Oz about a possible research project for a dissertation. As Natasha attempts to rebound from these suspicions, she must also contend with phone calls from Sudan about her estranged father's failing health. Is it possible Natasha and Malak missed signs of Oz's radicalization? Is Oz, in fact, being radicalized or simply curious? Are Muslims being unfairly targeted in a post-9/11 world? Can Natasha reconnect with her father and Sudanese heritage?
After reading The Kindness of Enemies, I had to take a day just to think about it and what I could say about this book. Did I enjoy this book? The answer is a resounding YES! However, The Kindness of Enemies wasn't a book that I could simply finish reading and then set aside. There are stories within stories within stories in this book. There's Natasha's story, past and present; Oz and Malak's story, present; and, then there's the story of Imam Shamil. I was astonished to learn that Imam Shamil was a real leader in the anti-Russia movement in the 19th century. It was fascinating to read about his life, albeit a fictionalized version of his life, and that of his family. I enjoyed the blend of contemporary and historical fiction and the parallels found between the 19th-century and 21st-century storylines (trust me, there are a few...read it for yourself to discover just how many there are). The majority of the characters are all flawed and realistically portrayed. They all have their doubts and fears. This is not a story about being right or wrong or even having the right set of beliefs or not, it is about humans struggling to find their place in the world, do the right thing, and the perception of those struggles and behaviors by others. I get to read a lot of books, some good, some not so good, and The Kindness of Enemies is one of the best books I've had the pleasure to read this year and one that I strongly encourage you to read. I don't normally post a star-rating with my reviews, but I give this book five stars (yes, I really enjoyed it that much).
August 25, 2020
If you don’t know already, I have a soft spot for historical fiction, so it’s safe to say that I quite enjoyed this offering by Leila Aboulela.
The Kindness of Enemies moves from Modern day Scotland to the days of Imam Shamil in the Caucasus in the mid 1800s. These two timelines are anchored through Natasha’s research of Imam Shamil’s life, known for his efforts of defending the Caucasus against Russian’s Imperialism.
One of my favourite things about this novel was how Aboulela makes parallels between Natasha’s life, a Russian Sudanese woman and Imam Shamil’s son, Jamaleldin’s experience of growing up in Russia after his kidnapping. There’s this constant identity crisis faced by both characters, a fear of not belonging, not being white enough and on the flip side not feeling Muslim enough. Aboulela also shows the interconnectedness of the personal and political as both characters reckon with Islamophobia.
Aboulela’s novel is multi-layered, and shows the complex nature of faith, nationality, politics and history.
The Kindness of Enemies moves from Modern day Scotland to the days of Imam Shamil in the Caucasus in the mid 1800s. These two timelines are anchored through Natasha’s research of Imam Shamil’s life, known for his efforts of defending the Caucasus against Russian’s Imperialism.
One of my favourite things about this novel was how Aboulela makes parallels between Natasha’s life, a Russian Sudanese woman and Imam Shamil’s son, Jamaleldin’s experience of growing up in Russia after his kidnapping. There’s this constant identity crisis faced by both characters, a fear of not belonging, not being white enough and on the flip side not feeling Muslim enough. Aboulela also shows the interconnectedness of the personal and political as both characters reckon with Islamophobia.
Aboulela’s novel is multi-layered, and shows the complex nature of faith, nationality, politics and history.
February 3, 2016
"The concept of jihad has become synonymous with terrorism but when Imam Shamil, an honorable, even noble, character uses the term, he is describing the defense of his homeland, not aggression or acts of terror. In the contemporary storyline, Oz is arrested and his university career derailed, it appears, solely because of online research he conducts for a course. And although Natalie wants nothing more than to feel at home somewhere, it is clear in Aboulela's novel, that for a young, intelligent Muslim woman in the UK, feeling that she belongs is not as easy as it ought to be. At a time of international concern over terrorism and fears of jihad against non-Muslim nations, these threads that The Kindness of Enemies unearths, makes it a deeply humane, refreshing and insightful read." - Kate Braithwaite, BookBrowse.com. Full review at: https://www.bookbrowse.com/reviews/in...
March 13, 2017
It looks like quite a few GR reviewers have thought that the historical portions of this book are stronger than the contemporary. For me, the first few pages had a bit of an info-dump feel, but after that I was equally wrapped up in both periods and didn't find it jarring at all to bounce between them.
I really like the way the author doesn't make the connections between the two periods obvious - it's only after I finished the book that I could start drawing parallels and contrasts. The Goodreads group 'Literary Fiction by People of Color' has started a discussion of this book, so I'm looking forward to a deep dive into it with a bunch of people, but in the meantime, ideas about 'culture' (in general as well as in the 19th century and 21st century) keep swirling in my head - the human need for culture/community and what happens to a person or a community when cultural identity is lost, challenged, stigmatized or even evolves over time.
I really like the way the author doesn't make the connections between the two periods obvious - it's only after I finished the book that I could start drawing parallels and contrasts. The Goodreads group 'Literary Fiction by People of Color' has started a discussion of this book, so I'm looking forward to a deep dive into it with a bunch of people, but in the meantime, ideas about 'culture' (in general as well as in the 19th century and 21st century) keep swirling in my head - the human need for culture/community and what happens to a person or a community when cultural identity is lost, challenged, stigmatized or even evolves over time.
April 12, 2025
This is my first book by Leila Aboulela. It's also the first time I've heard of Imam Shamil. It's an interesting story, divided into two parts. The historical sections deal with Imam Shamil and his insurrection against Imperial Russia, and his major mistake - the kidnapping of a Princess of Georgia and her children, as hostages in exchange for his own son in Russian arms.
The contemporary section tells the story of a Natasha Wilson, a Sudanese-Russian professor whose research is Shamil, and her interactions with a student of hers who is a descendant of Shamil. It's a story about people who struggle with identity, with religion and its confines, and with relationships. I enjoyed the prose and the pacing. The themes are heavy, and the characters do not always make the right choices, but Aboulela writes with understanding and sympathy. A worthy read.
The contemporary section tells the story of a Natasha Wilson, a Sudanese-Russian professor whose research is Shamil, and her interactions with a student of hers who is a descendant of Shamil. It's a story about people who struggle with identity, with religion and its confines, and with relationships. I enjoyed the prose and the pacing. The themes are heavy, and the characters do not always make the right choices, but Aboulela writes with understanding and sympathy. A worthy read.
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September 7, 2020I am so happy when a novel makes me feel like i am melting into my corner of the sofa...this was wonderful. Each time you read a few chapters and then you're hanging by a thread (sort of) then next chapter goes back to the other story! then you read a few chapters and you're hanging by a thread and the next chapter....so it's a back and forth of emotions. One of those most heart rending parts for me was the discovery of music. To have no Chopin? no waltzes? no Beethoven? no Impromtu in G Flat Major by Schubert? :) which i just heard on WPR? :)
sparkling ballrooms and carriages and palaces we can do without (i guess) but really, music is from the soul, it feeds the soul. Each of the opposing sides discovers good qualities of the other which makes the whole story plausible and deep, and gives us lessons for now and into the future.
sparkling ballrooms and carriages and palaces we can do without (i guess) but really, music is from the soul, it feeds the soul. Each of the opposing sides discovers good qualities of the other which makes the whole story plausible and deep, and gives us lessons for now and into the future.
November 7, 2020
What a captivating novel that reflects the periods of time when Caucasian Muslim highlanders fought Tsarist Russia's attempted takeover of their land.This is interwoven with a modern day story of a biracial woman, a product of Russian and Sudanese parents, teaching in modern day Scotland about the anti- Russian resistance movement. Both stories reflect displaced people, and both focus on issues of identity.I had a hard time putting this one down, as it was so much more, and integrally interwoven. I learned a great deal about Iman Shamil and understood the passion and fervor behind the fight in present day Chechnya.It reflected the difficulties of being a modern day Muslim. Though this sounds dry, it is a far cry from it.I urge anyone to take a chance on this one..
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