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Bahir
A tale of utter desperation and fierce hope. And a fight for honour. Meet Sawera. A beautiful and Sensual woman. Born in Pakistan, raised in the Middle East and abused wherever she goes. Struggling to find acceptance, which eludes her over and over again, she ends up being an outcast. Who belongs nowhere and to no-one.
Used and manipulated by the men she loved, from the depths of her soul she claims her self-respect, along with the faith to overcome her pitiful circumstances.
Where does she find her strength? What is the breaking point? How does she get over the demons of her past? Follow the story of Sawera, a child born of midnight into the dawn of new hope. Uncover the secrets and conspiracies that make her the woman she is. Read her story, a story of survival.
Used and manipulated by the men she loved, from the depths of her soul she claims her self-respect, along with the faith to overcome her pitiful circumstances.
Where does she find her strength? What is the breaking point? How does she get over the demons of her past? Follow the story of Sawera, a child born of midnight into the dawn of new hope. Uncover the secrets and conspiracies that make her the woman she is. Read her story, a story of survival.
204 pages, Paperback
Published April 19, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 97 reviews
June 19, 2018
Author: MONISHA K GUMBER
Title: BAHIR
Paperback: 204 pages
Publisher: Wordit (19 April 2018)
Blurb:
A tale of utter desperation and fierce hope. And a fight for honour. Meet Sawera. A beautiful and Sensual woman. Born in Pakistan, raised in the Middle East and abused wherever she goes. Struggling to find acceptance, which eludes her over and over again, she ends up being an outcast. Who belongs nowhere and to no-one.
Used and manipulated by the men she loved, from the depths of her soul she claims her self-respect, along with the faith to overcome her pitiful circumstances.
Where does she find her strength? What is the breaking point? How does she get over the demons of her past? Follow the story of Sawera, a child born of midnight into the dawn of new hope. Uncover the secrets and conspiracies that make her the woman she is. Read her story, a story of survival.
My View:
A book worth reading,the author has perfectly nailed every department. This book introduces the cultures of many countries (specially middle east). Book starts on a chilly night some where in a remote village of Pakistan. Author has ensured and taken utmost care to give it an Indian flavor.
A heart warming story-line and melting narration by the author. I do realized how and why this book won many accolades by the celebrities. This book is worth the read. Every line in this book is heart touching. Breaking the barriers of conservative society how an individual could survive in this society is the bottom line of this plot.
Undoubtedly this story is to be dedicated to many Sawera’s who are living “BAHIR” leaving their comfort zone, who wake up every day and gets ready to face the challenges which life throws at them. To be honest, I thought of dropping the idea of reading the book as this is so much to do with an Islamic background, however I should really appreciate that this is not pertaining to one religion or caste as As we encounter many sawera’s in the real world irrespective of any religion.
The author has won full marks by mentioning the word “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” as Krishna Paramatma quoted in Bhagavad Gita. This itself proves How much of hardwork has gone into the composition of this book. It will be a misdemeanour if I missed mentioning the super awesome book cover that has the woman with angelic beauty and mesmerizing looks. Special mention to the appendix of colloquial terms and its meaning as readers may find understanding few URDU phrases towards the end.
Overall “Bahir – Monisha K Gumber” a 4.5/5 one of of the great books which I have read in the recent times. I wish every reader takes up this worthy read to be a part of sawera’s journey.
Regards
Kiran K Adharapuram
Title: BAHIR
Paperback: 204 pages
Publisher: Wordit (19 April 2018)
Blurb:
A tale of utter desperation and fierce hope. And a fight for honour. Meet Sawera. A beautiful and Sensual woman. Born in Pakistan, raised in the Middle East and abused wherever she goes. Struggling to find acceptance, which eludes her over and over again, she ends up being an outcast. Who belongs nowhere and to no-one.
Used and manipulated by the men she loved, from the depths of her soul she claims her self-respect, along with the faith to overcome her pitiful circumstances.
Where does she find her strength? What is the breaking point? How does she get over the demons of her past? Follow the story of Sawera, a child born of midnight into the dawn of new hope. Uncover the secrets and conspiracies that make her the woman she is. Read her story, a story of survival.
My View:
A book worth reading,the author has perfectly nailed every department. This book introduces the cultures of many countries (specially middle east). Book starts on a chilly night some where in a remote village of Pakistan. Author has ensured and taken utmost care to give it an Indian flavor.
A heart warming story-line and melting narration by the author. I do realized how and why this book won many accolades by the celebrities. This book is worth the read. Every line in this book is heart touching. Breaking the barriers of conservative society how an individual could survive in this society is the bottom line of this plot.
Undoubtedly this story is to be dedicated to many Sawera’s who are living “BAHIR” leaving their comfort zone, who wake up every day and gets ready to face the challenges which life throws at them. To be honest, I thought of dropping the idea of reading the book as this is so much to do with an Islamic background, however I should really appreciate that this is not pertaining to one religion or caste as As we encounter many sawera’s in the real world irrespective of any religion.
The author has won full marks by mentioning the word “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” as Krishna Paramatma quoted in Bhagavad Gita. This itself proves How much of hardwork has gone into the composition of this book. It will be a misdemeanour if I missed mentioning the super awesome book cover that has the woman with angelic beauty and mesmerizing looks. Special mention to the appendix of colloquial terms and its meaning as readers may find understanding few URDU phrases towards the end.
Overall “Bahir – Monisha K Gumber” a 4.5/5 one of of the great books which I have read in the recent times. I wish every reader takes up this worthy read to be a part of sawera’s journey.
Regards
Kiran K Adharapuram
August 31, 2018
I have already read this author's last two books and like those I just loved this book too.
I must say that is one is the best work by her till now. A beautiful girl born in Pakistan, raised in the Middle East who got abused several times , whose life is full of struggle form the beginning. Not only this but also she git hurt several time from her loved ones. The story is really engaging. It nit only describes the story of a simple girl with lots of tiny dreams but also through this character the author depicted the society, the condition of a women in a very good manner!
The best part of this book is it's narrative, storytelling technique. The reader could feel the humour as well as mockery in a perfect manner.
The simple things got extraordinary description by the author. The story of this struggle will made the readers think about our society twice.
The language is simple and lucid.
The cover is really beautiful and eye-catching!
I must say that is one is the best work by her till now. A beautiful girl born in Pakistan, raised in the Middle East who got abused several times , whose life is full of struggle form the beginning. Not only this but also she git hurt several time from her loved ones. The story is really engaging. It nit only describes the story of a simple girl with lots of tiny dreams but also through this character the author depicted the society, the condition of a women in a very good manner!
The best part of this book is it's narrative, storytelling technique. The reader could feel the humour as well as mockery in a perfect manner.
The simple things got extraordinary description by the author. The story of this struggle will made the readers think about our society twice.
The language is simple and lucid.
The cover is really beautiful and eye-catching!
November 26, 2018
When I first read the title, I couldn't figure out was the novel was about, but once I started it, it was unputdowable (if such a word exists). It held my interest till the last page, and I read it in one go. Hats off to the author for coming up with a story so unique as Bahir. Deserves 5 stars.
June 30, 2020
Beginning with the title-the word 'Baahir' means outside. According to the story, this signifies a person stepping out of their comfort zone or their shell and how their life changes when either of these happens. The cover has a picture of a woman who fits the author's description of the protagonist along with a few pictures signifying that the story happens abroad. The story revolves around Sawera, the protagonist who is adopted by her aunt and how her life starts changing as soon as her aunt has kids of her own. Growing in an environment of constant belittling and bullying, she becomes vulnerable and ends up making wrong choices which makes her a victim of domestic abuse and a mother of four children. How she manages to free herself from the hell, where she ends up next and how she manages to survive and tend to her children, is all that this book is about. The characterisation was the strongest point of the book. Almost all the characters were actively contributing to the progress of the story whilst having a deep root for themselves. But to some, it might seem a bit monotonous for the focus was mostly always on the protagonist and few incidents towards the end seemed to have a bit of the cliché element. The first point narration had worked out very well in establishing connect with the readers and in portraying the thoughts of the characters. The author's lucid style of writing and the apt use of language aided the flow of the story and was really helpful for visualising the incidents. There were very few dialogues entirely and in some places it felt as though a little emphasis on the emotions would have been more effective. The story throws light on a lot of issues that a non influential migrant woman might face when they have to go abroad and work to satisfy the basic needs of their family. The vulnerability of the characters are portrayed in a brutally honest manner which was really impactful. The honest account of struggles and other issues described, would give everyone something to ponder over constructively. Overall, this is an engrossing and meaningful read. I'd give this a 4/5.
August 3, 2018
Book title : Bahir
Type : Fiction
Author : Monisha K Gumber
Cover design : Monisha K Gumber and Bader Studio
Editor : Padmini Smatecek
Publishing date : 2018
Publisher : Becomeshakespeare.com
No. of pages : 204p
Price : 201/-
Rating : 4.3/5
Review : This is Sawera’s story. A story about survival. Sawera was given up at birth, grew up abused, faced two divorces and finally became a mistress to a wealthy businessman. This story has no fantasy or false hope regarding any aspect of Sawera’s journey. This is a story of the struggle of a woman who was disappointed by everyone she came across her life, by the ones who were her own family. She was disgraced again and again just for listening to her heart. The book tends to put light to the situation of women in Muslim community, about their status in the society and their outlook of life through Sawera’s eyes.
Sawera is described as a beautiful woman with the ability to catch a man’s eyes in most scenarios. She has no proper education or qualification and is a mother of four children, the sole bread winner of the house, and yet, she is mistreated. She got violated and wrongly accused of being a prostitute, yet, even when she was broken beyond mending, she still held on. The character of Adnan won my heart other than the main lead. He was the man who nurtured Sawera into a woman to look up to. He was the one who let her go because he knew reality would always hold them apart. He was her farishta in every aspect.
The brave narration of the author impressed me. There was no unnecessary bravado or chivalry, neither is the there any feminist accusations as one might expect in such backdrop of the story. The title of the book is bahir, because Sawera had to go beyond her own boundaries and break free in every turn of her life. The book also has a glossary of urdu words and phrases used in the novel which is commendable and smart.
Type : Fiction
Author : Monisha K Gumber
Cover design : Monisha K Gumber and Bader Studio
Editor : Padmini Smatecek
Publishing date : 2018
Publisher : Becomeshakespeare.com
No. of pages : 204p
Price : 201/-
Rating : 4.3/5
Review : This is Sawera’s story. A story about survival. Sawera was given up at birth, grew up abused, faced two divorces and finally became a mistress to a wealthy businessman. This story has no fantasy or false hope regarding any aspect of Sawera’s journey. This is a story of the struggle of a woman who was disappointed by everyone she came across her life, by the ones who were her own family. She was disgraced again and again just for listening to her heart. The book tends to put light to the situation of women in Muslim community, about their status in the society and their outlook of life through Sawera’s eyes.
Sawera is described as a beautiful woman with the ability to catch a man’s eyes in most scenarios. She has no proper education or qualification and is a mother of four children, the sole bread winner of the house, and yet, she is mistreated. She got violated and wrongly accused of being a prostitute, yet, even when she was broken beyond mending, she still held on. The character of Adnan won my heart other than the main lead. He was the man who nurtured Sawera into a woman to look up to. He was the one who let her go because he knew reality would always hold them apart. He was her farishta in every aspect.
The brave narration of the author impressed me. There was no unnecessary bravado or chivalry, neither is the there any feminist accusations as one might expect in such backdrop of the story. The title of the book is bahir, because Sawera had to go beyond her own boundaries and break free in every turn of her life. The book also has a glossary of urdu words and phrases used in the novel which is commendable and smart.
May 28, 2020
'Bahir by Monisha K. Gumber' is a novel about hardships, turmoil, abuses and finding the meaning of life. Sawera, a beautiful young woman who hails from Pakistan, but grew up in middle east along with a adopted family.
--
The unfortunate turn of events happens when that adopted family gets a blood of their own. Sawera is then abused and ignored deliberately. Her husband in light and Overpowered nature of patriarchy harasses her physically and mentally and left her with four children. To safeguard herself and her children she moves to Saudi Arabia. But that's not an end. She faces difficulties in terms of being judged by society 'Alone woman with four children, who she could be?'
Bahir is story of many women in this whole world who struggles behind beautifully carved doors of their homes and family name.
--
The character of Sawera is bold and author has shown how one could stood up to fight for themselves.
Writing and narration is gripping enough. The only criticism I have it's too quick. Everything happens in a sentence or two. Their is no 'pause' in episodes to let it soak within the readers.
Overall it's a good read. Being a fiction using a collective real life premise I was looking for some uniqueness in the plot as well. Which I couldn't find.
--
The unfortunate turn of events happens when that adopted family gets a blood of their own. Sawera is then abused and ignored deliberately. Her husband in light and Overpowered nature of patriarchy harasses her physically and mentally and left her with four children. To safeguard herself and her children she moves to Saudi Arabia. But that's not an end. She faces difficulties in terms of being judged by society 'Alone woman with four children, who she could be?'
Bahir is story of many women in this whole world who struggles behind beautifully carved doors of their homes and family name.
--
The character of Sawera is bold and author has shown how one could stood up to fight for themselves.
Writing and narration is gripping enough. The only criticism I have it's too quick. Everything happens in a sentence or two. Their is no 'pause' in episodes to let it soak within the readers.
Overall it's a good read. Being a fiction using a collective real life premise I was looking for some uniqueness in the plot as well. Which I couldn't find.
June 18, 2020
Bahir by Monisha K Gumber is a story of a girl named Sawera meaning dawn, or the beginning our Sawera also had to go through lots of trails and tribulations to finally see the Sawera which she deserves
Sawera is born in Pakistan given up to adoption by her birth mother to her maternal aunt. Her adoptive mother loves her and considers her lucky only till she has two sons. They don't let her finish education and marry her quite young, where she suffers domestic, emotional, and sexual abuse from her in laws. She moves to Saudi Arabia in search for better life for herself and her children but is received with nothing but disappointment in her hands over and over again. She is abused and mistreated by not only men but also women in her life. She trains herself to be beautician and tries to look for her children. In the end she does finds happiness.
Bahir is a beautiful story mainly about Sawera but it also resonates with those who are Bahir or outside. Not necessarily out of countries but in other terms as well they belong to none and hence can't find comfer no where.
Book is beautifully written. Narrative moves in proper pace. All characters especially women though take bad decisions or appear as evil do so just to thrive and survive.
#BookwithApurva
Sawera is born in Pakistan given up to adoption by her birth mother to her maternal aunt. Her adoptive mother loves her and considers her lucky only till she has two sons. They don't let her finish education and marry her quite young, where she suffers domestic, emotional, and sexual abuse from her in laws. She moves to Saudi Arabia in search for better life for herself and her children but is received with nothing but disappointment in her hands over and over again. She is abused and mistreated by not only men but also women in her life. She trains herself to be beautician and tries to look for her children. In the end she does finds happiness.
Bahir is a beautiful story mainly about Sawera but it also resonates with those who are Bahir or outside. Not necessarily out of countries but in other terms as well they belong to none and hence can't find comfer no where.
Book is beautifully written. Narrative moves in proper pace. All characters especially women though take bad decisions or appear as evil do so just to thrive and survive.
#BookwithApurva
September 8, 2018
One of the most heart touching stories that I have read. The story revolves around the protagonist named Sawera. A beautiful girl born in Pakistan who is given up at birth by her mother to her aunt.
In this search of knowing who she was, what she loved, where she belonged, she struggled to make ends meet for her family.
Sawera thought marriage would end her chase for love. But before she realised that this was no fairy tale and not all marriages are based in love, she was already a mother of four.
But was life so easy? Will her challenges end here? Will she find love of her life?
This story is dedicated to many Sawera's who struggle every single day to fight the challenges of life, who are 'Bahir', who don't belong anywhere or to anyone. A book worth reading. The plot and narration of the book are very powerful and intriguing.
Every single line of the book touches your heart. The character of Sawera is so well developed that you can relate to her.
As a woman I was moved with the story. My takeaway from this book is: Never give up on hope. On love. Your past does not define your future. Be independent and moreover fight for what you believe in. We all are gifted with this wonderful life, don't give up because of few bad chapters, you still need to finish the book. Because in the end it's all worth it😊
No matter what happens, the Sun still rises. Appreciate your life and for what you already have❤
I definitely recommend it to all of you💙
Originally posted on
https://wanderinggsoulblog.wordpress....
In this search of knowing who she was, what she loved, where she belonged, she struggled to make ends meet for her family.
Sawera thought marriage would end her chase for love. But before she realised that this was no fairy tale and not all marriages are based in love, she was already a mother of four.
But was life so easy? Will her challenges end here? Will she find love of her life?
This story is dedicated to many Sawera's who struggle every single day to fight the challenges of life, who are 'Bahir', who don't belong anywhere or to anyone. A book worth reading. The plot and narration of the book are very powerful and intriguing.
Every single line of the book touches your heart. The character of Sawera is so well developed that you can relate to her.
As a woman I was moved with the story. My takeaway from this book is: Never give up on hope. On love. Your past does not define your future. Be independent and moreover fight for what you believe in. We all are gifted with this wonderful life, don't give up because of few bad chapters, you still need to finish the book. Because in the end it's all worth it😊
No matter what happens, the Sun still rises. Appreciate your life and for what you already have❤
I definitely recommend it to all of you💙
Originally posted on
https://wanderinggsoulblog.wordpress....
November 9, 2018
Book - Bahir
Author- Manish K Gumber
Genre- fiction
Page- 204
The story of the book revolve around the title name "Bahir " which means foreign.the cover is beautiful.
Bahir is one of the most heart touching story that i have read. The story about the main protagonist named Sawera. A beautiful girl born in pakistan, raised in soudi arabia with her adapted family.she married wasim and has 4kids and she is ignored and abused. She tries to make a future for her kids but each time fate has more jokes to play on her . Struggling to find acceptance, which eludes her over n over agian, she being ends up being outcast who belongs nowwhere and no one .
Bahir is a brutally honest struggle and survive of sawera. She faces problems but with the faith to overcome her pitiful circumstances, she fight. The lucid languege and authors amazing narrating skill it's make you page Turner. The characters are limited and well developed. Its an amazing book with a strong message.
Highly recommend to everyone.
Author- Manish K Gumber
Genre- fiction
Page- 204
The story of the book revolve around the title name "Bahir " which means foreign.the cover is beautiful.
Bahir is one of the most heart touching story that i have read. The story about the main protagonist named Sawera. A beautiful girl born in pakistan, raised in soudi arabia with her adapted family.she married wasim and has 4kids and she is ignored and abused. She tries to make a future for her kids but each time fate has more jokes to play on her . Struggling to find acceptance, which eludes her over n over agian, she being ends up being outcast who belongs nowwhere and no one .
Bahir is a brutally honest struggle and survive of sawera. She faces problems but with the faith to overcome her pitiful circumstances, she fight. The lucid languege and authors amazing narrating skill it's make you page Turner. The characters are limited and well developed. Its an amazing book with a strong message.
Highly recommend to everyone.
June 24, 2020
This story deals about Sawera who represents women who have left their homes to work abroad to fund a secure future for their children .
Bahir means outside and it's the title of this book . It exactly suits with the story of the book.
She is born in Pakistan and her problem starts when she have siblings . Her Ammi loves them more than her because she is not her own child . Then she moves to Saudi where her Abbu works and story progresses . She gets cheated by her first and second husbands Wasim and Hamid and she starts her struggle with her 4 children .
The story is set against the back drops of Saudi Arabia and Bahrain . This story will be a motivation for all women who work hard for their family and children .
I like the way story has ended and a small twist at the end too . I appreciate author for writing down exact emotions and made me too fell that .
The author has shown the value of love . The lack of it can destroy a soul . The language used is simple and narration is good .
My overall rating 4/5
Bahir means outside and it's the title of this book . It exactly suits with the story of the book.
She is born in Pakistan and her problem starts when she have siblings . Her Ammi loves them more than her because she is not her own child . Then she moves to Saudi where her Abbu works and story progresses . She gets cheated by her first and second husbands Wasim and Hamid and she starts her struggle with her 4 children .
The story is set against the back drops of Saudi Arabia and Bahrain . This story will be a motivation for all women who work hard for their family and children .
I like the way story has ended and a small twist at the end too . I appreciate author for writing down exact emotions and made me too fell that .
The author has shown the value of love . The lack of it can destroy a soul . The language used is simple and narration is good .
My overall rating 4/5
July 1, 2020
The story is about the evolution of Sawera from an innocent, little, good luck charm to a very mature, brave, and strong woman who become self-dependent after going through so many hurdles.
The book is packed with intense and unpredictable moments. This is one of those books which you cannot put down before finishing reading it. I like how the story moved in a fast-paced manner with the use of Urdu words wherever necessary. (PS: there is a glossary at the end, so relax about that)
The narrative style is engaging with the story written in the first person as Sawera narrating her story. Even with so many struggles in the story of Sawera, the tale is described with optimism. The tone of the account is hopeful.
Read the full review on:
https://readreactreview21.wordpress.c...
The book is packed with intense and unpredictable moments. This is one of those books which you cannot put down before finishing reading it. I like how the story moved in a fast-paced manner with the use of Urdu words wherever necessary. (PS: there is a glossary at the end, so relax about that)
The narrative style is engaging with the story written in the first person as Sawera narrating her story. Even with so many struggles in the story of Sawera, the tale is described with optimism. The tone of the account is hopeful.
Read the full review on:
https://readreactreview21.wordpress.c...
May 22, 2020
Completely unputdownable! A marvellous story that shows the harsh tangibility of life. This is a terrific book with a great backdrop and incredible characters. You'd be astonished by the audacity of hope in the main character!
Read on to know more about this great book and about why I think you should most definitely give it a try!!
Now, this article is classified into four sections.
• Ratings and stuff about the book.
• The synopsis of the book.
• About the writing style and the characters.
• My views on the book.
• Recommendation
Ratings and stuff about the book:
⁃ Title: Bahir.
⁃ Author: Monisha K Gumber.
⁃ Rating:
↪ Botopsy rating: 4/5⭐
↪ Goodreads: 4.3/5
↪ Amazon: 4.4/5
⁃ Length of the book: 204 pages long.
⁃ Genre: Fiction
⁃ Series: Standalone.
Synopsis:
This story follows a complete roller coaster ride with the protagonist, Sawera, and her hardships throughout her life. Born in Pakistan, raised in the Middle East and abused wherever she goes. As a result, she turns out being an outcast, who belongs to nowhere and to no one.
Used and exploited by the men she cared for, from the depths of her soul she claims her self-respect, along with the faith to overcome her pitiful circumstances.
Where does she find her strength? What is the breaking point? How does she get over the demons of her past? Follow the story of Sawera, a child born of midnight into the dawn of new hope. Uncover the secrets and conspiracies that make her the woman she is. Read her story, a story of survival
Writing Style:
This book is narrated in the first person. The composition of this book is wonderful with simple, clear and lucid. The language used is apt according to the setting of the novel. There are some Urdu terms used which are like a cherry on the top giving an additional understanding of the situation.
Characters:
I loved the deep formation of each and every character. Particularly, the author did a wonderful job of describing Sawera's mother's character. I just loved the complexity of that particular character. And not to mention the portrayal of Sawera's character is top-notch! In her character, the author ascertained that women are capable of doing anything in spite of their predicaments and circumstances.
My Views:
This book is an unmistakable entertainer and is unputdownable. Though keep in mind that the age group for this book is 18+. It's been a lot of time since I read this kind of book and I really really loved this book. This book held me from the start and I completed this book in one sitting.
I am completely awed by the characters, the setting of this book and by the lesson it teaches. And the character of Sawera will be with me forever. I have learnt so much from her. Hope and optimism resonate in every page and every word of this novel.
Recommendation:
⁃ Pick this book if:
1. You are looking for a simple yet wonderful book
2. You'd want to know more about Sawera and the optimism she reflects (and why has she became an integral part of me).
⁃ You wouldn't pick this book if
1. You aren't an Indian reader, because some of the words are in Urdu or Hindi and not able to understand them will curtail the essence of the book while reading.
2. You do not read books with a brutal backdrop and a harsh language.
In conclusion, I'd say that I really really loved this book, thank you Half Baked Beans for introducing me to it. The story of Sawera has left me astounded and with exceptional inspiration. The author did a wonderful job with the myriad of characters and the wonderful setting of this book in numerous places. And I must say that the character of sawera will stay with me for a really really long time! Thank you, Monisha for writing it down.
Read on to know more about this great book and about why I think you should most definitely give it a try!!
Now, this article is classified into four sections.
• Ratings and stuff about the book.
• The synopsis of the book.
• About the writing style and the characters.
• My views on the book.
• Recommendation
Ratings and stuff about the book:
⁃ Title: Bahir.
⁃ Author: Monisha K Gumber.
⁃ Rating:
↪ Botopsy rating: 4/5⭐
↪ Goodreads: 4.3/5
↪ Amazon: 4.4/5
⁃ Length of the book: 204 pages long.
⁃ Genre: Fiction
⁃ Series: Standalone.
Synopsis:
This story follows a complete roller coaster ride with the protagonist, Sawera, and her hardships throughout her life. Born in Pakistan, raised in the Middle East and abused wherever she goes. As a result, she turns out being an outcast, who belongs to nowhere and to no one.
Used and exploited by the men she cared for, from the depths of her soul she claims her self-respect, along with the faith to overcome her pitiful circumstances.
Where does she find her strength? What is the breaking point? How does she get over the demons of her past? Follow the story of Sawera, a child born of midnight into the dawn of new hope. Uncover the secrets and conspiracies that make her the woman she is. Read her story, a story of survival
Writing Style:
This book is narrated in the first person. The composition of this book is wonderful with simple, clear and lucid. The language used is apt according to the setting of the novel. There are some Urdu terms used which are like a cherry on the top giving an additional understanding of the situation.
Characters:
I loved the deep formation of each and every character. Particularly, the author did a wonderful job of describing Sawera's mother's character. I just loved the complexity of that particular character. And not to mention the portrayal of Sawera's character is top-notch! In her character, the author ascertained that women are capable of doing anything in spite of their predicaments and circumstances.
My Views:
This book is an unmistakable entertainer and is unputdownable. Though keep in mind that the age group for this book is 18+. It's been a lot of time since I read this kind of book and I really really loved this book. This book held me from the start and I completed this book in one sitting.
I am completely awed by the characters, the setting of this book and by the lesson it teaches. And the character of Sawera will be with me forever. I have learnt so much from her. Hope and optimism resonate in every page and every word of this novel.
Recommendation:
⁃ Pick this book if:
1. You are looking for a simple yet wonderful book
2. You'd want to know more about Sawera and the optimism she reflects (and why has she became an integral part of me).
⁃ You wouldn't pick this book if
1. You aren't an Indian reader, because some of the words are in Urdu or Hindi and not able to understand them will curtail the essence of the book while reading.
2. You do not read books with a brutal backdrop and a harsh language.
In conclusion, I'd say that I really really loved this book, thank you Half Baked Beans for introducing me to it. The story of Sawera has left me astounded and with exceptional inspiration. The author did a wonderful job with the myriad of characters and the wonderful setting of this book in numerous places. And I must say that the character of sawera will stay with me for a really really long time! Thank you, Monisha for writing it down.
July 11, 2018
Bahir Is A Touching and inspiring Story Of A Girl Named Sawera Born In Pakistan And Went On To live In saudi. married At Very Young Age She Couldn't Do What She Wanted But Anyhow She Fights Each And Every Problem And becomes A Successful Bussiness Woman At the End. A must read For Youngsters Facing Lack Of Motivation In Their Life.
June 14, 2020
First and foremost, I thank Half Baked Beans for giving me an opportunity to review such a touching work of fiction.
Bahir is a nerve-wracking story of a woman's survival against all odds. I will be very honest, this book was an insane roller coaster ride for me. Every chapter ends with a plot twist, and you cannot wait to absorb it because you will be impatient to move on to the next page! Bahir has that kind of magic to mesmerize you to finish this book at one go. It is quite surprising to come across such gripping, engaging stories which merely span over about 200 pages.
This first reason why I loved reading Bahir was its setting. Till now, I have read only one book (partly) set in Pakistan, and it was a fantastic book. You can check it out here! Bahir is my second book of this category, but this one is based in the Middle East as well. From the stunning descriptions of the landscape, along with the detailed information regarding the procurement of visas, Bahir echoes the suddenness of real life throughout the book. Secondly, the character. There are two ways in which you may perceive the protagonist of the book — you may choose to admire Sawera for her resilience and hopeful nature, or you may not like her at all for her foolish and gullible attitude towards life. And this is where Bahir becomes so real to us — the fact that everyone is flawed. People have their own share of virtues and vices, and it is this juxtaposition of oddities that makes us human. If we were perfect in every possible way, we wouldn't have had anything to strive for. Bahir was an eye-opener for me, in this aspect. Thirdly, the theme. It is just one theme that dominates the book — life. Bahir talks about family, profession, marriage, duty, love, friendship, betrayal, lust, perseverance, honour, truth, hope, and every other abstract, intangible concept that makes life as it is. Bahir has a lot of things happening in the plot, most of which are forebodings-followed-by-crises. Bahir has suspense so thrilling that it will send chills down your spine, and you might even catch yourself praying that Sawera "survives this ordeal". I am not kidding. Fourthly, the structure of the plot has been crafted brilliantly. The progression of the story is well-timed with the plot twists that are to follow. One interesting fact about Bahir is the innovative style of drafting unique chapters. While the initial chapters follow the typical conventions of novel-writing, the chapters in the middle of Bahir become small snippets of entries made in a single day or so. Kudos to the author for this unique style!
However, the only thing missing in Bahir is dialogues. The book only seems as a "summary" of a life, which it is actually. However, when a life story (whether real or fictitious) is being novelized, dialogues are deemed significant. The readers are only provided with a gist of what transpires between the protagonist and another character, and it seems that the audience is being left out from these conversations. There is an implicit haste in the editing of Bahir, as if there was no time to provide a bit more detailing to the story. Personally, I feel that the book could have easily become a five star read, if it had been elaborate enough.
Yet, I am impressed by the author's style of writing and storytelling, and indeed the book deserves more appreciation for narrating such a bold and brave quest of identity and peace. I convey my best wishes to the author for her future endeavours.
Bahir is a nerve-wracking story of a woman's survival against all odds. I will be very honest, this book was an insane roller coaster ride for me. Every chapter ends with a plot twist, and you cannot wait to absorb it because you will be impatient to move on to the next page! Bahir has that kind of magic to mesmerize you to finish this book at one go. It is quite surprising to come across such gripping, engaging stories which merely span over about 200 pages.
This first reason why I loved reading Bahir was its setting. Till now, I have read only one book (partly) set in Pakistan, and it was a fantastic book. You can check it out here! Bahir is my second book of this category, but this one is based in the Middle East as well. From the stunning descriptions of the landscape, along with the detailed information regarding the procurement of visas, Bahir echoes the suddenness of real life throughout the book. Secondly, the character. There are two ways in which you may perceive the protagonist of the book — you may choose to admire Sawera for her resilience and hopeful nature, or you may not like her at all for her foolish and gullible attitude towards life. And this is where Bahir becomes so real to us — the fact that everyone is flawed. People have their own share of virtues and vices, and it is this juxtaposition of oddities that makes us human. If we were perfect in every possible way, we wouldn't have had anything to strive for. Bahir was an eye-opener for me, in this aspect. Thirdly, the theme. It is just one theme that dominates the book — life. Bahir talks about family, profession, marriage, duty, love, friendship, betrayal, lust, perseverance, honour, truth, hope, and every other abstract, intangible concept that makes life as it is. Bahir has a lot of things happening in the plot, most of which are forebodings-followed-by-crises. Bahir has suspense so thrilling that it will send chills down your spine, and you might even catch yourself praying that Sawera "survives this ordeal". I am not kidding. Fourthly, the structure of the plot has been crafted brilliantly. The progression of the story is well-timed with the plot twists that are to follow. One interesting fact about Bahir is the innovative style of drafting unique chapters. While the initial chapters follow the typical conventions of novel-writing, the chapters in the middle of Bahir become small snippets of entries made in a single day or so. Kudos to the author for this unique style!
However, the only thing missing in Bahir is dialogues. The book only seems as a "summary" of a life, which it is actually. However, when a life story (whether real or fictitious) is being novelized, dialogues are deemed significant. The readers are only provided with a gist of what transpires between the protagonist and another character, and it seems that the audience is being left out from these conversations. There is an implicit haste in the editing of Bahir, as if there was no time to provide a bit more detailing to the story. Personally, I feel that the book could have easily become a five star read, if it had been elaborate enough.
Yet, I am impressed by the author's style of writing and storytelling, and indeed the book deserves more appreciation for narrating such a bold and brave quest of identity and peace. I convey my best wishes to the author for her future endeavours.
November 12, 2018
‘Bahir’ by Monisha K Gumber is the tale of the stunning Sawera, a young girl who is born in Pakistan and adopted by her mother’s sister, and the travails she goes through as she grows from “a petite girl with lots of facial hair” into a beautiful young girl with “the knack of attracting trouble”. She moves along with her Ammi and Abba to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Once her brothers, Omar and Rashid, are born, she senses a change in the attitude of her Ammi towards her.
Sawera turns into a rebel, craving love from others, as she looks for some excitement in her monotonous life. When she is caught with a boy, her parents take her back to Karachi to attend a wedding – her own. In her hurry to get married, she chooses Wasim, “nearly thirty and after a broken engagement and a broken heart, fell in love with my picture.”
However, she is soon disillusioned with her husband, and after delivering three children, she decides to leave him and go to Saudi, back to her parents, the excuse being that her ailing mother needs her. It is then she finds herself pregnant again, and dreams of going back to Pakistan again. Fate decides otherwise, and after the birth of her son, Aftab, she finds a job at a beauty parlour as a cleaner.
It is now that Hamid comes into her life and soon they are married. The next time she goes to Pakistan, she leaves her children there with her sister, the avaricious Fatima, promising to pay her lavishly for their upkeep.
Back in Saudi, it is a rollercoaster ride for Sawera. Hamid disappears from her life and she is forced to go back to the beauty salon where she picks up the nuances of the trade that will help her in the future. It is here that the title of the book comes into play ‘bahir��, a metaphor for ‘abroad’, a place where she can make enough money to make sure that her four children are well tended.
When Sawera meets Adnan Saab in Bahrain, she realises that life has changed irrevocably for her. However, the older gentleman is a ‘farishta’ an angel in her life, as he pulls wires in a manner that finally unite Sawera with her children and family in Pakistan.
This is a gritty and moving tale of a woman who, despite finding herself in deep trouble, rallies around to take a grip of her life without losing heart. Sawera is a metaphor for the strong woman of today who refuses to be pulled down, a feisty heroine who has many qualities to be admired. What makes her character relatable is the fact that she has faults that make her intensely human.
A racy read that keeps the reader engrossed till the very end!
Sawera turns into a rebel, craving love from others, as she looks for some excitement in her monotonous life. When she is caught with a boy, her parents take her back to Karachi to attend a wedding – her own. In her hurry to get married, she chooses Wasim, “nearly thirty and after a broken engagement and a broken heart, fell in love with my picture.”
However, she is soon disillusioned with her husband, and after delivering three children, she decides to leave him and go to Saudi, back to her parents, the excuse being that her ailing mother needs her. It is then she finds herself pregnant again, and dreams of going back to Pakistan again. Fate decides otherwise, and after the birth of her son, Aftab, she finds a job at a beauty parlour as a cleaner.
It is now that Hamid comes into her life and soon they are married. The next time she goes to Pakistan, she leaves her children there with her sister, the avaricious Fatima, promising to pay her lavishly for their upkeep.
Back in Saudi, it is a rollercoaster ride for Sawera. Hamid disappears from her life and she is forced to go back to the beauty salon where she picks up the nuances of the trade that will help her in the future. It is here that the title of the book comes into play ‘bahir��, a metaphor for ‘abroad’, a place where she can make enough money to make sure that her four children are well tended.
When Sawera meets Adnan Saab in Bahrain, she realises that life has changed irrevocably for her. However, the older gentleman is a ‘farishta’ an angel in her life, as he pulls wires in a manner that finally unite Sawera with her children and family in Pakistan.
This is a gritty and moving tale of a woman who, despite finding herself in deep trouble, rallies around to take a grip of her life without losing heart. Sawera is a metaphor for the strong woman of today who refuses to be pulled down, a feisty heroine who has many qualities to be admired. What makes her character relatable is the fact that she has faults that make her intensely human.
A racy read that keeps the reader engrossed till the very end!
July 8, 2020
⭐🇧 🇴 🇴 🇰 🇷 🇪 🇻 🇮 🇪 🇼⭐
Title - Bahir
Author - Monisha K Gumber
Genre - Fiction
Format - Paperback
Length - 204
Publication - Becomeshakespeare.com
..
"Bahir", this extremely amazing story is written by Monisha. The main protagonist of the story is Sawera. Who is from Pakistan. Sawera like her name, everyday comes with a new challenge in her life till she had achieved her dream. Her dream is to own a salon. And as always nothing comes for free so Sawera had paid price for her dream. As her journey is full of pain, sorrows and some unforgettable mistakes.
..
Apart from her unforgettable mistakes she also faced sexual abuse with her first husband. And at times she had to be mistress of a man. Obviously she doesn't want to but she not have much choice as she had to feed her four innocent children. So she did whatever it takes to upkeep her children.
..
And i'm not gonna reveal whole story here otherwise it'll be a spoiler.
..
Again this book also draws our attention towards women's rights and sexual abuse.
..
The author has done an exceptional job. She puts all her efforts in this story. To make the reader emotional. The plot is really commendable which keeps the reader hooked till story ends.
..
Overall it was an amazing read, sometimes I felt like i'm in the story and all the things are happening around me. I really enjoyed reading this book. I highly recommend this book to all my fellow bookstagrammer's.
..
Ratings:
Overall - 5/5
Title - 5/5
Cover - 5/5
Storytelling - 5/5
Language - 5/5
Title - Bahir
Author - Monisha K Gumber
Genre - Fiction
Format - Paperback
Length - 204
Publication - Becomeshakespeare.com
..
"Bahir", this extremely amazing story is written by Monisha. The main protagonist of the story is Sawera. Who is from Pakistan. Sawera like her name, everyday comes with a new challenge in her life till she had achieved her dream. Her dream is to own a salon. And as always nothing comes for free so Sawera had paid price for her dream. As her journey is full of pain, sorrows and some unforgettable mistakes.
..
Apart from her unforgettable mistakes she also faced sexual abuse with her first husband. And at times she had to be mistress of a man. Obviously she doesn't want to but she not have much choice as she had to feed her four innocent children. So she did whatever it takes to upkeep her children.
..
And i'm not gonna reveal whole story here otherwise it'll be a spoiler.
..
Again this book also draws our attention towards women's rights and sexual abuse.
..
The author has done an exceptional job. She puts all her efforts in this story. To make the reader emotional. The plot is really commendable which keeps the reader hooked till story ends.
..
Overall it was an amazing read, sometimes I felt like i'm in the story and all the things are happening around me. I really enjoyed reading this book. I highly recommend this book to all my fellow bookstagrammer's.
..
Ratings:
Overall - 5/5
Title - 5/5
Cover - 5/5
Storytelling - 5/5
Language - 5/5
March 14, 2020
One thing that really influenced me and made me pick up this book was the collection of reviews by actual critics and well-renowned persons. The synopsis pulled me in more.
The plot of the story is well made, and the narrative of the first person, through the protagonist Sawera was very engaging. The author has done a really good job with it- she has been able to keep he reader interested till the very end. I was one such hooked-on reader, who could hardly keep the book down once I picked it up. The autobiographical way in which the majority is written, has a very convincing tone and at times one forgets that it is, although inspired by many such women, merely a fiction novel.
The characters incite a multitude of different feelings in the reader. There is firstly pity and sadness- seeing the condition and pity to which Sawera is subjected; there is anger at all the people who afflict such cruelty upon her, and lastly, there is shame- for one comes upon different versions of themselves, and it is not a pretty picture, that the characters reflect in the reader.
The themes of social justice, reality in those tmes, poverty, female subjugation, orphans, depression, rape etc., all are showcased in a very raw and real manner and you cannot help but cringe at some points - not because of the writing, no – but because of the real situations that the author puts into words. The entire story is raw and cruel and pulls at your heartstrings, and as a reader, I too couldn’t help but curse the bad-luck of Sawera. However, it made me realize that life is not always roses – there are so many such women who are suffering every day, every hour and every minute.
Although the book is not set in the exactly same time as today, so many of the events and situations are still relatable- because so many of these heart-wrenching things are regular occurrences even today. Nonetheless, Bahir was a beautiful book and I am determined to recommend it to each and every one of you.
I rate this story a 5/5 stars!
The plot of the story is well made, and the narrative of the first person, through the protagonist Sawera was very engaging. The author has done a really good job with it- she has been able to keep he reader interested till the very end. I was one such hooked-on reader, who could hardly keep the book down once I picked it up. The autobiographical way in which the majority is written, has a very convincing tone and at times one forgets that it is, although inspired by many such women, merely a fiction novel.
The characters incite a multitude of different feelings in the reader. There is firstly pity and sadness- seeing the condition and pity to which Sawera is subjected; there is anger at all the people who afflict such cruelty upon her, and lastly, there is shame- for one comes upon different versions of themselves, and it is not a pretty picture, that the characters reflect in the reader.
The themes of social justice, reality in those tmes, poverty, female subjugation, orphans, depression, rape etc., all are showcased in a very raw and real manner and you cannot help but cringe at some points - not because of the writing, no – but because of the real situations that the author puts into words. The entire story is raw and cruel and pulls at your heartstrings, and as a reader, I too couldn’t help but curse the bad-luck of Sawera. However, it made me realize that life is not always roses – there are so many such women who are suffering every day, every hour and every minute.
Although the book is not set in the exactly same time as today, so many of the events and situations are still relatable- because so many of these heart-wrenching things are regular occurrences even today. Nonetheless, Bahir was a beautiful book and I am determined to recommend it to each and every one of you.
I rate this story a 5/5 stars!
June 20, 2020
Bahir is the journey of a pakistani girl named Sawera, adopted by her mother's sister's family. She moves to Saudi Arabia with her adopted parents after she is grownup. Life changes after her adopted mother gives birth to two boys. All she faces at home is tortures, abuses and ignorance. Being ill treated by her brothers and being blamed by her parents for things going wrong. She is a school drop out for a mistake she does and her parents get her married soon at the age of 17 to her cousin. She gives birth to twins and never gains any love or respect in inlaws abode. Again she moves back to Saudi to change her life. Yet she faces betrayals. Leaving her kids with her cousin sister back in Pakistan to take care of them, she wants to earn well as a beautician and be independent. With so many heartbreaks and betrayals she lands up in Bahrain and after long twist and turns she finds a solace she longed for years. Grab the book to know how Sawera survived and how her hope lead to a pleasant end. A well written book that talks the problems of women wh are born in conservative family, being ill treated. A motivational read too which i suggest for everyone to read. The writer has made the readers engrossed in the book. A page turner and gripping story. Not only in Pakistan, Women in India and Bangladesh too face these issues. Its all about how the protagonist Sawera Survived and overcame all the issues she faced.
Title: BAHIR
Author: MONISHA K GUMBER
Rate: ⛤⛤⛤⛤/5
Pages: 204
Title: BAHIR
Author: MONISHA K GUMBER
Rate: ⛤⛤⛤⛤/5
Pages: 204
August 8, 2018
About the book:
The story of the book revolves around the title of the book "Bahir" which means foreign or outdoor.
The book is a story of a girl, Sawera who is born in Pakistan, in a conservative Muslim family and bought up in Saudi Arabia by her adopted parents. From the time of her birth, she was considered as a fateful child who brought the luck, prosperity and most importantly gave a chance to her aunt to be her mother for the rest of her life.
Bahir is a book about mid-life crisis she faced while growing up Sawera is like most of the girl of her age, who have desires, wishes, anger and abandonment issues. Well, the coping mechanism of Sawera is tremendous which deserves an applaud.
But what she anticipated is what life define its meaning?
While growing up as a teenager she had desires, wishes and sexual urges which often leads to the blunder of her life. Once she got suspended from the school because of her stupid, immature actions towards her love life, which eventually lead to the begging of an era.
At the tender age of nineteen, she got married to her cousin who was living in Pakistan with three younger brothers and an old father. Like every girl, she speculates her married life as a fairy tale but the reality hits her hard soon and she falls into the life which she never expected.
Later, she decided to move to Saudi Arabia where her family life was living because the conflict with her husband became a never-ending affair which got her into a domestic violence and sexual abuse. She was tired of treating as a toy and wanted to get rid off.
A few days later, she got herself a job in the beauty salon as a cleaner gradually while assisting the beautician she learned the work.
All her life she believed a farshita will come and rescue her from her awful life. She got introduced to Adnaan Sahib who picked her from trash and gave her whatever she deserved all her life.
My Review: The book gave me more or less feels of “A Thousand Splendid Suns”. The book touched me deeply and made me wonder the norms only made for women. The book is a masterpiece in itself. The author has done a great work and narrated the story in a subtle way with the use of lucid language. The book portrays the flaws of society and how the woman is treated. The book is comfortable read with a heartwarming ending and hooked me throughout the read. The book is recommended to all as it was hard for me to put down the book until I finished it.
December 28, 2021
Rating: 4
Baahir, a story about a woman named Sawera, her life, struggles and juggling between the lives she wants to create and the reality.
Story starts how she was adopted and how her life unfolds when her adoptive mother has children of her own.
Starting years of her life were rebellious as she sees changes in her mother's behavior towards her.
Slowly and gradually she starts doing things to gain attention from the outside world. She sees her mother having illicit affairs and in turn tries to make love to guys that she could get hold of.
That part of teenage psychology becomes apparent when she is taunted and humiliated by the family and tries to find love outside.
As she grows up she is married off so that she could not do all these things anymore.
Then starts the real story of her struggles. Her husband who just wants to get physical and she getting abused by him. But the shady side of the story is she herself trying to woo the men of the family.
The story is all about how she escapes and then falls pray to people and circumstances.
Initially, I could say that she was naive and stupid but as the story unfolds, I think the character is impulsive and gullible. She could have taken decisions to actually save herself from misery but somehow she invites them and cribs about them in the end.
I am a woman who believes that women should aspire and fulfill her dreams but this book made me question; at what cost?
Maybe different people have different opinions and some might not agree with what I am writing here.
At one point, I did not the find the protagonist to be a victim at all. She enjoyed the lavish life and luxurious things at her disposal. I was confused as to whether we are really talking about the protagonist being used here.
However, some parts were really sad when she had to make her ends meet and the part about her kids always made me feel sorry about her.
Pros:
It is a quick read with lucid language. The story builds quickly and it is easier the connect the dots. I loved how the author has tried to create story in Saudi as I am always fascinated about these places.
Cons:
The protagonist is not always a victim in the book. Taking revenge and having sex is something I don't feel is empowering.
But, the best part is I loved the book. Would recommend to all. It gives a fair idea of what and what not to do when you aspire to achieve something in life.
Baahir, a story about a woman named Sawera, her life, struggles and juggling between the lives she wants to create and the reality.
Story starts how she was adopted and how her life unfolds when her adoptive mother has children of her own.
Starting years of her life were rebellious as she sees changes in her mother's behavior towards her.
Slowly and gradually she starts doing things to gain attention from the outside world. She sees her mother having illicit affairs and in turn tries to make love to guys that she could get hold of.
That part of teenage psychology becomes apparent when she is taunted and humiliated by the family and tries to find love outside.
As she grows up she is married off so that she could not do all these things anymore.
Then starts the real story of her struggles. Her husband who just wants to get physical and she getting abused by him. But the shady side of the story is she herself trying to woo the men of the family.
The story is all about how she escapes and then falls pray to people and circumstances.
Initially, I could say that she was naive and stupid but as the story unfolds, I think the character is impulsive and gullible. She could have taken decisions to actually save herself from misery but somehow she invites them and cribs about them in the end.
I am a woman who believes that women should aspire and fulfill her dreams but this book made me question; at what cost?
Maybe different people have different opinions and some might not agree with what I am writing here.
At one point, I did not the find the protagonist to be a victim at all. She enjoyed the lavish life and luxurious things at her disposal. I was confused as to whether we are really talking about the protagonist being used here.
However, some parts were really sad when she had to make her ends meet and the part about her kids always made me feel sorry about her.
Pros:
It is a quick read with lucid language. The story builds quickly and it is easier the connect the dots. I loved how the author has tried to create story in Saudi as I am always fascinated about these places.
Cons:
The protagonist is not always a victim in the book. Taking revenge and having sex is something I don't feel is empowering.
But, the best part is I loved the book. Would recommend to all. It gives a fair idea of what and what not to do when you aspire to achieve something in life.
August 21, 2018
Plot:
Bahir is based on Sawera, a Muslim girl born in conservative Pakistani family. She is regarded as a lucky child and moves to Saudi Arabia with her adopted family. Her life changes when the family gets their own child and Sawera is ignored and abused. In her troublesome teenage, she is expelled from school and later married off to her cousin in Pakistan. Shattering all her hopes and dreams of fairytales; she is used and abused by her violent husband and she ends up with 4 children. Somehow she moves back to Saudi in hope of a bright future for her kids but life has more jokes to play on her! You have to read the book to know more!
My Take:
Bahir is a brutally honest account of struggles and survival of Sawera. A girl who is disappointed by everyone in her life; faces turmoil and unfortunate events in every stage of life; still manages to fight and survives. The author doesn’t sugar coat anything and narrates the hardships faced by Sawera very bluntly. The kind of misfortunes thrown at the protagonist are enough to break anyone’s spirit but she fights back and survives everytime. It’s an intense and cynical plot where we see how society, culture and so called family honor ruins her life. Even though the protagonist is a Muslim girl from Pakistan, this is a story of many more, not limited by their religion or country. I, myself, came across a fighter like her and was truly inspired.
Characters are limited but well developed which makes it easy to focus and create an impact in reader’s mind. Narration is really brave and brings out the struggles faced by Sawera. You will feel like you know Sawera and everytime she is about to commit a mistake or make a wrong choice, you will feel like reaching out to her and warn. She is REAL. You will feel sad for her; you will get angry on her actions.
From first chapter itself, author manages to grab your attention and would keep it till the very end. It is a page turner which will keep you hooked. Ending might seem a little abrupt but epilogue will answer your questions.
Overall, an engaging read which gives out a strong message – Past doesn’t matter and can’t stop you from having a beautiful future. You can always start fresh. This is something I strongly believe in. Highly recommended!
Thanks to the author for review copy in exchange of my unbiased review.
Bahir is based on Sawera, a Muslim girl born in conservative Pakistani family. She is regarded as a lucky child and moves to Saudi Arabia with her adopted family. Her life changes when the family gets their own child and Sawera is ignored and abused. In her troublesome teenage, she is expelled from school and later married off to her cousin in Pakistan. Shattering all her hopes and dreams of fairytales; she is used and abused by her violent husband and she ends up with 4 children. Somehow she moves back to Saudi in hope of a bright future for her kids but life has more jokes to play on her! You have to read the book to know more!
My Take:
Bahir is a brutally honest account of struggles and survival of Sawera. A girl who is disappointed by everyone in her life; faces turmoil and unfortunate events in every stage of life; still manages to fight and survives. The author doesn’t sugar coat anything and narrates the hardships faced by Sawera very bluntly. The kind of misfortunes thrown at the protagonist are enough to break anyone’s spirit but she fights back and survives everytime. It’s an intense and cynical plot where we see how society, culture and so called family honor ruins her life. Even though the protagonist is a Muslim girl from Pakistan, this is a story of many more, not limited by their religion or country. I, myself, came across a fighter like her and was truly inspired.
Characters are limited but well developed which makes it easy to focus and create an impact in reader’s mind. Narration is really brave and brings out the struggles faced by Sawera. You will feel like you know Sawera and everytime she is about to commit a mistake or make a wrong choice, you will feel like reaching out to her and warn. She is REAL. You will feel sad for her; you will get angry on her actions.
From first chapter itself, author manages to grab your attention and would keep it till the very end. It is a page turner which will keep you hooked. Ending might seem a little abrupt but epilogue will answer your questions.
Overall, an engaging read which gives out a strong message – Past doesn’t matter and can’t stop you from having a beautiful future. You can always start fresh. This is something I strongly believe in. Highly recommended!
Thanks to the author for review copy in exchange of my unbiased review.
May 30, 2020
Bahir
Bahir is a convoluted tale narrating the ordeal of Sawera. Sawera born in a conservative Muslim family in Pakistan and is adopted and separated from her mother by birth. The child was named Sawera as she was considered as dawn for her new family and her father moved to Saudi Arabia for better future prospect and later rest of the family joined him in his quest for prosperous future. This book is brutal and honest effort to narrate Sawera’s struggle for survival. Monisha K’s storytelling is crisp and she moves you with her poignant and persuasive retelling of plight of a migrant family. Sawera is let down by almost every people around her and always find herself in middle of a crisis. 1st being neglected and physically abused by her mother as escape to her frustration and anger. Sawera has been brought up in an orthodox Muslim family and had to abide by tough rules and regulation. Sawera has grown up to a beautiful 17 year with sexual desires. She has always regretted her life choices 1st being expelled from a prestigious school because of a love letter and later caught red-handed trying to sneak a male accomplice in her room. Her life takes a complete turnaround when she is married to a distant cousin in Pakistan who is heart broken and suicidal. He exploits her for his sexual needs and results in a marriage with no emotion and feelings. Sawera is left gasping for some air and belongingness and gives birth to 3 children while suffering physical and sexual abuse. She moves to Saudi to take care of her ailing mother while being pregnant and a bleeding heart. Bahir is an earnest effort by Monisha to bring the plight of a migrant lady who is sexually exploited multiple times, who is physically and mentally tormented for mere survival and existence. It also let us mull on the difficulties and challenges a honest migrant faces just to survive with some dignity. Though Sawera’s never ending struggle and hardship makes the story emotionally exhausting yet Sawera’s positivity and hope will guide you through the story. An unputdownable and crisp story will satisfy your desire as a reader. Monisha has definitely a winner in Bahir.
https://www.amazon.in/BAHIR-MONISHA-K...
Bahir is a convoluted tale narrating the ordeal of Sawera. Sawera born in a conservative Muslim family in Pakistan and is adopted and separated from her mother by birth. The child was named Sawera as she was considered as dawn for her new family and her father moved to Saudi Arabia for better future prospect and later rest of the family joined him in his quest for prosperous future. This book is brutal and honest effort to narrate Sawera’s struggle for survival. Monisha K’s storytelling is crisp and she moves you with her poignant and persuasive retelling of plight of a migrant family. Sawera is let down by almost every people around her and always find herself in middle of a crisis. 1st being neglected and physically abused by her mother as escape to her frustration and anger. Sawera has been brought up in an orthodox Muslim family and had to abide by tough rules and regulation. Sawera has grown up to a beautiful 17 year with sexual desires. She has always regretted her life choices 1st being expelled from a prestigious school because of a love letter and later caught red-handed trying to sneak a male accomplice in her room. Her life takes a complete turnaround when she is married to a distant cousin in Pakistan who is heart broken and suicidal. He exploits her for his sexual needs and results in a marriage with no emotion and feelings. Sawera is left gasping for some air and belongingness and gives birth to 3 children while suffering physical and sexual abuse. She moves to Saudi to take care of her ailing mother while being pregnant and a bleeding heart. Bahir is an earnest effort by Monisha to bring the plight of a migrant lady who is sexually exploited multiple times, who is physically and mentally tormented for mere survival and existence. It also let us mull on the difficulties and challenges a honest migrant faces just to survive with some dignity. Though Sawera’s never ending struggle and hardship makes the story emotionally exhausting yet Sawera’s positivity and hope will guide you through the story. An unputdownable and crisp story will satisfy your desire as a reader. Monisha has definitely a winner in Bahir.
https://www.amazon.in/BAHIR-MONISHA-K...
October 19, 2018
To say that I loved this masterpiece by Monisha K Gumber, would be an understatement. Usually I prefer to stay away from genres like this one because I was never really able to develop any kind of interest in them but this book proved to be a mind blowing change for my genre choices and I can’t thank the author enough for that.
Bahir is a book about Survival. Survival is a big and a difficult term to express; this book has been the paragon to do this arduous and challenging task. The book begins with the fateful birth of our protagonist, Sawera, who like the light of dawn brought good luck to her family during the initial years. As she grew and landed into the jaws of confusing teenage years, she started discovering her new found femininity which always delighted her but during these eventful years the lady luck hid behind the cloud for her which made her get dogged by misfortunes and adversity. Raised in Saudi Arabia, the lack of shine of dame fortune on her landed her with an abusive husband in Pakistan, who did nothing but satiate his lust by exploiting her with no shame and humiliation. Finally managing to get back to Saudi, hoping to get free from the shackles, she, somehow was able to get God bestow the talent of beautifying people, on her, which was one of the only things she was grateful for. Having 4 children to keep care of and the constant bullying, abusing and manhandling she suffered was enough to break anyone’s spirits and to take away their dreams and the life they had hoped for, All the hardships were enough to have a person emotionally beaten down to the point where they go from being who they were to someone who has lost all hopes but our protagonist wasn’t the one to get beaten down. After falling again and again, she rose back onto her feet with her indomitable courage and unshakeable hope. In her earnest endeavor, she became an epitome of sacrifice who promised a new hope for women like her.
The writing style of the author is commendable and one cannot stop themselves from calling this book a gripping page turner which makes the today’s generation question the morals of the society. In its own raw and vulnerable form, this gem of a book will never let you down. Would recommend to all!
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟/5
Bahir is a book about Survival. Survival is a big and a difficult term to express; this book has been the paragon to do this arduous and challenging task. The book begins with the fateful birth of our protagonist, Sawera, who like the light of dawn brought good luck to her family during the initial years. As she grew and landed into the jaws of confusing teenage years, she started discovering her new found femininity which always delighted her but during these eventful years the lady luck hid behind the cloud for her which made her get dogged by misfortunes and adversity. Raised in Saudi Arabia, the lack of shine of dame fortune on her landed her with an abusive husband in Pakistan, who did nothing but satiate his lust by exploiting her with no shame and humiliation. Finally managing to get back to Saudi, hoping to get free from the shackles, she, somehow was able to get God bestow the talent of beautifying people, on her, which was one of the only things she was grateful for. Having 4 children to keep care of and the constant bullying, abusing and manhandling she suffered was enough to break anyone’s spirits and to take away their dreams and the life they had hoped for, All the hardships were enough to have a person emotionally beaten down to the point where they go from being who they were to someone who has lost all hopes but our protagonist wasn’t the one to get beaten down. After falling again and again, she rose back onto her feet with her indomitable courage and unshakeable hope. In her earnest endeavor, she became an epitome of sacrifice who promised a new hope for women like her.
The writing style of the author is commendable and one cannot stop themselves from calling this book a gripping page turner which makes the today’s generation question the morals of the society. In its own raw and vulnerable form, this gem of a book will never let you down. Would recommend to all!
Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟/5
June 28, 2020
I received this Review Copy from Half Baked Beans in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you Half Baked Beans and Book Marketing Consultant Richa Saxena!!
Review
Bahir is the first adult fiction by the author, Monisha K Gumber, however she has written a couple of books for teens prior to bahir. This book talks about a struggle of a woman who has no external support and left out alone to take care of her four children, all she has is her resilient power and the strength to withstand any hardship. The blurb of the book was really interesting and it had the capability to attract readers towards it just by reading the blurb. But to the disappointment of the readers the book doesn’t do complete justice to the blurb.
The storyline of the book was really good, strong and bold but the author had failed to give any emotional flavor to the book which took a major toll on the outcome of the book. The lack of emotion made it impossible for the readers to empathize for the protagonist Sawera. The author also failed to justify the life choices made by the protagonist and because of this at no circumstances it felt like she was manipulated and exploited by the men around her.
The way the author has penned down the story was interesting. Good language and good grammar are a key substances for any good book and the author had mastered it. This made the book a pager turned but unfortunately good language and grammar alone ain’t enough to be called a good book. And also there wasn’t many dialogues and so it technically felt like reading a diary entry.
One key take away from this book is the optimistic characteristic of the protagonist, despite all the predicament, problems and setbacks, she always stayed positive and look forward for a better tomorrow which is very important in a person. Her resilience was remarkable and these kind of characteristics of Sawera made a strong personality.
My Views
Bahir is very special to me because this is my first hard review copy. I usually love stories which revolves around gulf countries and muslim populations because there aren’t many books in this genre that I have come across and that’s why I picked up this book but to be very frank I was badly let down. The basic storyline was really good but with a mild work it would’ve have been an incredible masterpiece.
My rating for this book would be 2.5 / 5 stars
Thank you Half Baked Beans and Book Marketing Consultant Richa Saxena!!
Review
Bahir is the first adult fiction by the author, Monisha K Gumber, however she has written a couple of books for teens prior to bahir. This book talks about a struggle of a woman who has no external support and left out alone to take care of her four children, all she has is her resilient power and the strength to withstand any hardship. The blurb of the book was really interesting and it had the capability to attract readers towards it just by reading the blurb. But to the disappointment of the readers the book doesn’t do complete justice to the blurb.
The storyline of the book was really good, strong and bold but the author had failed to give any emotional flavor to the book which took a major toll on the outcome of the book. The lack of emotion made it impossible for the readers to empathize for the protagonist Sawera. The author also failed to justify the life choices made by the protagonist and because of this at no circumstances it felt like she was manipulated and exploited by the men around her.
The way the author has penned down the story was interesting. Good language and good grammar are a key substances for any good book and the author had mastered it. This made the book a pager turned but unfortunately good language and grammar alone ain’t enough to be called a good book. And also there wasn’t many dialogues and so it technically felt like reading a diary entry.
One key take away from this book is the optimistic characteristic of the protagonist, despite all the predicament, problems and setbacks, she always stayed positive and look forward for a better tomorrow which is very important in a person. Her resilience was remarkable and these kind of characteristics of Sawera made a strong personality.
My Views
Bahir is very special to me because this is my first hard review copy. I usually love stories which revolves around gulf countries and muslim populations because there aren’t many books in this genre that I have come across and that’s why I picked up this book but to be very frank I was badly let down. The basic storyline was really good but with a mild work it would’ve have been an incredible masterpiece.
My rating for this book would be 2.5 / 5 stars
July 2, 2020
Ratings: 4.3/5
"Nothing can beat a new hairstyle for lifting your spirits". These lines on the opening pages of the books were enough for me to gauge this book is going to be good read! The book talks about the life story of Sawera, a Pakistani woman, who overcomes umpteen physical as well as mental challenges but refuses to back down. A story of grit and resilience, indeed!
What I liked about the book
--> The metaphoric title of the book and the lead character
('Bahir' means abroad or outside and the lead character had to literally as well as figuratively go beyond her own boundaries and break free in every turn of her life; and her name 'Sawera' meaning dawn, which does arrive in her life after a long and dark night of troubles and challenges throughout her life)
--> Gets you hooked from the beginning
--> The matter-of-fact tone which makes it all the more empathizing
--> Sawera (the lead character) knows her limitations and flaws
--> Teaches the readers to forgive and let go of situations not in our control
--> SPOILER ALERT: The unpredictable end. I genuinely thought Sawera's Ammi had left her some inheritance.
--> It makes the reader want to visit and explore Bahrain
--> The glossary of Urdu words at the the end
--> SPOILER ALERT: Adnan's character who turns out to be true 'farishta' for Sawera
What I did not like about the book:
--> A little detailing about the countries and places Sawera lives in would have added more charm I think
--> It had a very 'A Thousand Splendid Suns' and 'Not Without My Daughter' kind of vibes which I believe led to my expectations being a little more, because this one paled a little in comparison to those two (which are two of all time favorite titles)
Quotable quotes from the book:
--> "A pedicure and eyebrows usually does the trick. But nothing can beat a new hairstyle for lifting your spirits"
---> "Who would believe a prostitute who claimed to have been raped"
--->"No matter how much weight you lose, the person you are will never change"
---> "The biggest problem of womankind is having nothing to wear"
---> "Whoever said that money couldn't buy happiness, was simply....well...lying"
--->"After a good dinner one can forgive anybody, even one's own relatives"
"Nothing can beat a new hairstyle for lifting your spirits". These lines on the opening pages of the books were enough for me to gauge this book is going to be good read! The book talks about the life story of Sawera, a Pakistani woman, who overcomes umpteen physical as well as mental challenges but refuses to back down. A story of grit and resilience, indeed!
What I liked about the book
--> The metaphoric title of the book and the lead character
('Bahir' means abroad or outside and the lead character had to literally as well as figuratively go beyond her own boundaries and break free in every turn of her life; and her name 'Sawera' meaning dawn, which does arrive in her life after a long and dark night of troubles and challenges throughout her life)
--> Gets you hooked from the beginning
--> The matter-of-fact tone which makes it all the more empathizing
--> Sawera (the lead character) knows her limitations and flaws
--> Teaches the readers to forgive and let go of situations not in our control
--> SPOILER ALERT: The unpredictable end. I genuinely thought Sawera's Ammi had left her some inheritance.
--> It makes the reader want to visit and explore Bahrain
--> The glossary of Urdu words at the the end
--> SPOILER ALERT: Adnan's character who turns out to be true 'farishta' for Sawera
What I did not like about the book:
--> A little detailing about the countries and places Sawera lives in would have added more charm I think
--> It had a very 'A Thousand Splendid Suns' and 'Not Without My Daughter' kind of vibes which I believe led to my expectations being a little more, because this one paled a little in comparison to those two (which are two of all time favorite titles)
Quotable quotes from the book:
--> "A pedicure and eyebrows usually does the trick. But nothing can beat a new hairstyle for lifting your spirits"
---> "Who would believe a prostitute who claimed to have been raped"
--->"No matter how much weight you lose, the person you are will never change"
---> "The biggest problem of womankind is having nothing to wear"
---> "Whoever said that money couldn't buy happiness, was simply....well...lying"
--->"After a good dinner one can forgive anybody, even one's own relatives"
May 19, 2020
Full review on my blog:
https://blog.medhaapps.com/2020/05/bo...
Sawera born at midnight ironical to her name, was given away for adoption immediately after birth. Though born in Pakistan, Sawera moves to Saudi as a kid, with her new family, with dreams of luxurious life away from her dingy neighborhood. That was her first brush of Bahir, moving abroad with a hope of earning better and, hence leading a better life. As she feels neglected by her adopted family once they have their own kids, Sawera turns into a rebel and gets expelled from school losing her chance for a proper education.
Even though she gets abused and used by all the men she ever meets and trusts to love her, she keeps waiting for that Farishta she dreamt of all her life, who would hold her hand and care for her. What keeps Sawera going inspite of all the setbacks life throws at her, is going Bahir the happily-ever-after it is assumed to be, forms the rest of the story.
Bahir is as much the story of Sawera as could be of any of us who moves abroad with hopes of a better life than the one in our home country. For a person like Sawera who is naive and impulsive, the lows she sees would have meant an end to their life. Instead, there is a distinct fighter instinct that Sawera possess, an unending hope that makes her pick herself up every time life hits her badly.
The story is entirely narrated from Sawera’s perspective and she keeps it very raw and real by announcing and accepting her flaws. The narrative is gripping and engages the reader completely. A lot of characters and loose ends are tied up by the author towards the end, thus making the story wholesome. The story is emotional and heart wrenching at places as Sawera gets abused again and again by those she trusts; however, her persistence to move away from toxic situations and her never-give-up attitude while grabbing every available opportunity is truly inspiring.
A story of the woman who acknowledges her flaws and mistakes but keeps going till she reaches her goal, Bahir is a gritty story of despair and hope, love and hate but ultimately of the human spirit.
https://blog.medhaapps.com/2020/05/bo...
Sawera born at midnight ironical to her name, was given away for adoption immediately after birth. Though born in Pakistan, Sawera moves to Saudi as a kid, with her new family, with dreams of luxurious life away from her dingy neighborhood. That was her first brush of Bahir, moving abroad with a hope of earning better and, hence leading a better life. As she feels neglected by her adopted family once they have their own kids, Sawera turns into a rebel and gets expelled from school losing her chance for a proper education.
Even though she gets abused and used by all the men she ever meets and trusts to love her, she keeps waiting for that Farishta she dreamt of all her life, who would hold her hand and care for her. What keeps Sawera going inspite of all the setbacks life throws at her, is going Bahir the happily-ever-after it is assumed to be, forms the rest of the story.
Bahir is as much the story of Sawera as could be of any of us who moves abroad with hopes of a better life than the one in our home country. For a person like Sawera who is naive and impulsive, the lows she sees would have meant an end to their life. Instead, there is a distinct fighter instinct that Sawera possess, an unending hope that makes her pick herself up every time life hits her badly.
The story is entirely narrated from Sawera’s perspective and she keeps it very raw and real by announcing and accepting her flaws. The narrative is gripping and engages the reader completely. A lot of characters and loose ends are tied up by the author towards the end, thus making the story wholesome. The story is emotional and heart wrenching at places as Sawera gets abused again and again by those she trusts; however, her persistence to move away from toxic situations and her never-give-up attitude while grabbing every available opportunity is truly inspiring.
A story of the woman who acknowledges her flaws and mistakes but keeps going till she reaches her goal, Bahir is a gritty story of despair and hope, love and hate but ultimately of the human spirit.
June 29, 2020
"Hazaaron khwahishen aisi ke har khwahish pe dam nikle
Bahut niklay mere armaan, lekin phir bhi kam nikle!"
If eyes could tell, what would be your story? 'Bahir', which has hindi (sanskrit origin) meaning, 'Away.' So is the title of Monisha K Gumbers' fictional work, BAHIR ! This is author's first craft of fiction. I got fascinated by its cover that has a woman's picture on it. Her huge expressive eyes and beauty is itself foretells that it must be having a self-portrait of a woman. Its protagonist will take readers away with her on a not so fictional journey.
The book sheds light upon the struggle of the (woman) protagonist of the book and with glances of her kin and other confidantes. Whole self journey of her sails round and around to Gulf countries and who shares boundaries like India and Pakistan; same with her companions. Her story has strong emotional appeal, boldness, women-centric, living in patriarchy world, and illiteracy these are the basic axis of the book. Characters are relatable or we mostly sees them. That's what made it more realistic than fictional. Unfortunate events turns into fruitful future. "A tale of utter desperation and fierce hope", this is a perfect one liner (blurb) for it. I liked the narrative technique of author and her storytelling technique. Scenarios, conditions escalates tensions, decisions, absurdity of situations, rollercoaster of emotions, and Character's vulnerabilities are brilliantly portrayed by the author.
Overall, the book have some supplementary also, it contains Mirza Ghalibs' couplets, famous indian idoms/phrases, and if readers are not familiar in the end of it has a glossary to help for urdu words. A story of miracles or to believe into them with unbroken hope!!
Well, this is my second book about Gulf Nations. I recommend this book to those who wants to read something about survival, dreams, and Gulf countries as well. 'Sawera', will lead your path to a new light, like her name. In a simple language.
Happy reading!
Bahut niklay mere armaan, lekin phir bhi kam nikle!"
If eyes could tell, what would be your story? 'Bahir', which has hindi (sanskrit origin) meaning, 'Away.' So is the title of Monisha K Gumbers' fictional work, BAHIR ! This is author's first craft of fiction. I got fascinated by its cover that has a woman's picture on it. Her huge expressive eyes and beauty is itself foretells that it must be having a self-portrait of a woman. Its protagonist will take readers away with her on a not so fictional journey.
The book sheds light upon the struggle of the (woman) protagonist of the book and with glances of her kin and other confidantes. Whole self journey of her sails round and around to Gulf countries and who shares boundaries like India and Pakistan; same with her companions. Her story has strong emotional appeal, boldness, women-centric, living in patriarchy world, and illiteracy these are the basic axis of the book. Characters are relatable or we mostly sees them. That's what made it more realistic than fictional. Unfortunate events turns into fruitful future. "A tale of utter desperation and fierce hope", this is a perfect one liner (blurb) for it. I liked the narrative technique of author and her storytelling technique. Scenarios, conditions escalates tensions, decisions, absurdity of situations, rollercoaster of emotions, and Character's vulnerabilities are brilliantly portrayed by the author.
Overall, the book have some supplementary also, it contains Mirza Ghalibs' couplets, famous indian idoms/phrases, and if readers are not familiar in the end of it has a glossary to help for urdu words. A story of miracles or to believe into them with unbroken hope!!
Well, this is my second book about Gulf Nations. I recommend this book to those who wants to read something about survival, dreams, and Gulf countries as well. 'Sawera', will lead your path to a new light, like her name. In a simple language.
Happy reading!
July 9, 2020
BAHIR - A Heart Touching and Realistic Story of a Woman
A heart touching Story of a Pakistani girl 'Sawera' was adopted by a couple in Pakistan, who strives to be successful in life. This story is loosely based on some real-life events. It starts in Pakistan in a lower-middle-class family of 5 members. Where Sawera and her family move to Gulf countries for a living and eventually get married to a guy from Pakistan and gives birth to 4 children, where she faces some terrible situations at her in-law's place until one day her father calls her and asks her help to come and take care of her sick mother. Later goes to Saudi to look after her mother and starts working for a beauty salon to support her father who is financially low in Saudi, which is where she meets a guy 'Hamid', a taxi driver.
Now, that her visa is going to expire, she explains her situation to the beauty salon owner and asks her to sponsor a work visa and she moves to Pakistan along with her children. Later, 'Hamid' helps Sawera and her children sending some Riyadhs every month to meet expenses. After getting betrayed a couple of times, she waits for a call from her sponsor. After a couple of months, she gets her visa and moves to Saudi leaving her children at her sister's place to take care of them for twenty thousand Pakistani rupees a month. In Saudi she finds no sight of Hamid and stays in salon for 2 months.
Amidst these circumstances, Sawera goes back to Pakistan and starts working for a beauty salon with her experience as a beautician in Gulf. A guy from the salon promises Sawera to show her an opportunity to go to Bahrain, which is where she meets 'Adnan Sahab', who is a rich man, pays her for her body. Later she seems to be depressed. Adnan calls her brother Omar in Pakistan, pays him some money, and asks him to take care of Sawera.
This is how the story ends.
P.S. - This is such a lengthy review, yet it deserves it. There are twists and turns in the story that I have not written here. However, this is a heart touching and realistic story that I've read in recent times.
A heart touching Story of a Pakistani girl 'Sawera' was adopted by a couple in Pakistan, who strives to be successful in life. This story is loosely based on some real-life events. It starts in Pakistan in a lower-middle-class family of 5 members. Where Sawera and her family move to Gulf countries for a living and eventually get married to a guy from Pakistan and gives birth to 4 children, where she faces some terrible situations at her in-law's place until one day her father calls her and asks her help to come and take care of her sick mother. Later goes to Saudi to look after her mother and starts working for a beauty salon to support her father who is financially low in Saudi, which is where she meets a guy 'Hamid', a taxi driver.
Now, that her visa is going to expire, she explains her situation to the beauty salon owner and asks her to sponsor a work visa and she moves to Pakistan along with her children. Later, 'Hamid' helps Sawera and her children sending some Riyadhs every month to meet expenses. After getting betrayed a couple of times, she waits for a call from her sponsor. After a couple of months, she gets her visa and moves to Saudi leaving her children at her sister's place to take care of them for twenty thousand Pakistani rupees a month. In Saudi she finds no sight of Hamid and stays in salon for 2 months.
Amidst these circumstances, Sawera goes back to Pakistan and starts working for a beauty salon with her experience as a beautician in Gulf. A guy from the salon promises Sawera to show her an opportunity to go to Bahrain, which is where she meets 'Adnan Sahab', who is a rich man, pays her for her body. Later she seems to be depressed. Adnan calls her brother Omar in Pakistan, pays him some money, and asks him to take care of Sawera.
This is how the story ends.
P.S. - This is such a lengthy review, yet it deserves it. There are twists and turns in the story that I have not written here. However, this is a heart touching and realistic story that I've read in recent times.
May 24, 2020
Bahir in Urdu means abroad. This single word is very powerful. It captures the essence of the feeling when someone desperately dreams of going to a foreign country and getting settled there with prosperity.
Justifying the title, this beautiful book by Monisha Gumber will rip your heart into millions of pieces when you will hear the poignant story of Sawera. From Pakistan to Saudi Arabia to Bahrain, this beautiful girl suffered torture, humiliation, and abuse from her own family and strangers. When she wished to give herself and her children a beautiful life, she has to pay a hefty price of her body for her not so extraordinary desire.
While you will have pity and sympathy for Sawera, the characters in the story sees her with hatred and disrespect. She kept running from one job to another, from this life to that life to catch hold of peace and happiness.
From the title to the cover to the complete story, this book keeps the reader glued to it. After reading so many books with Indian and Western characters, it was refreshing to read the story of a very beautiful Pakistani girl. The author has done a good job in catapulting different incidents to hit various emotions in Sawera’s life.
The story is well-paced and every chapter has been written beautifully with the right seasoning of characters and emotions. The story is narrated by Sawera herself so while reading it felt like she was sitting in front of me and was taking me inside her life chapter by chapter.
Bahir is a reader’s charm and I bet it will intrigue every genre of the reader. So, without further ado, go ahead, keep the kettle on the stove to make yourself a hot cuppa tea, grab your copy of Bahir and plonk on your beanbag.
Open the book and let Sawera start talking about her life between those relishing sips of cardamom tea.
Justifying the title, this beautiful book by Monisha Gumber will rip your heart into millions of pieces when you will hear the poignant story of Sawera. From Pakistan to Saudi Arabia to Bahrain, this beautiful girl suffered torture, humiliation, and abuse from her own family and strangers. When she wished to give herself and her children a beautiful life, she has to pay a hefty price of her body for her not so extraordinary desire.
While you will have pity and sympathy for Sawera, the characters in the story sees her with hatred and disrespect. She kept running from one job to another, from this life to that life to catch hold of peace and happiness.
From the title to the cover to the complete story, this book keeps the reader glued to it. After reading so many books with Indian and Western characters, it was refreshing to read the story of a very beautiful Pakistani girl. The author has done a good job in catapulting different incidents to hit various emotions in Sawera’s life.
The story is well-paced and every chapter has been written beautifully with the right seasoning of characters and emotions. The story is narrated by Sawera herself so while reading it felt like she was sitting in front of me and was taking me inside her life chapter by chapter.
Bahir is a reader’s charm and I bet it will intrigue every genre of the reader. So, without further ado, go ahead, keep the kettle on the stove to make yourself a hot cuppa tea, grab your copy of Bahir and plonk on your beanbag.
Open the book and let Sawera start talking about her life between those relishing sips of cardamom tea.
January 23, 2022
I read Bahir by Monisha K Gumber as a part of the HBB paperback review program.
Bahir is the story of Sawera - a girl born in a Pakistani family and brought up in the middle east, who was adopted by her aunt as soon as she was born, loved and then neglected after her adoption mother had her own kids; who ended up doing everything in her power, in her tryst to feel loved and wanted. It is the story of a girl who faced adversities and betrayal at every step and in every relationship in her life, a girl who was abused and lied to by the men in her life; a girl who didn't give up in spite of all the struggles life threw at her, and raised her kids bravely and never gave up on her dreams. It is the story of a girl who never gave up on love, even though love bluffed and betrayed her several times; a naïve girl who never gave up on life, in spite of all the twists and turns life had in store for her. It is the story of the girl who wanted to make it 'Bahir' (meaning foreign), - who wanted freedom from the clutches of the society she was born in to, by hook or crook, and who was successful in achieving the life she always dreamed of and one which she rightfully deserved after all her struggles.
Bahir is a engrossing ride, taking us through the stages of innocence and naivety through the protagonist of the story; subtly showing us the harsh truths and the ugly side of our society in plain words. The book is an emotional roller coaster ride, and projects the stark ugly side of a society, where in spite of all the struggles it is possible to find happiness and hope, even though it may feel absurd and impossible from the outside. The book leaves the reader gobbling up pages, wanting to find where they lead. It is indeed a thrilling read, set up nicely by the author, definitely leaving the reader hooked up and wanting more.
Bahir is the story of Sawera - a girl born in a Pakistani family and brought up in the middle east, who was adopted by her aunt as soon as she was born, loved and then neglected after her adoption mother had her own kids; who ended up doing everything in her power, in her tryst to feel loved and wanted. It is the story of a girl who faced adversities and betrayal at every step and in every relationship in her life, a girl who was abused and lied to by the men in her life; a girl who didn't give up in spite of all the struggles life threw at her, and raised her kids bravely and never gave up on her dreams. It is the story of a girl who never gave up on love, even though love bluffed and betrayed her several times; a naïve girl who never gave up on life, in spite of all the twists and turns life had in store for her. It is the story of the girl who wanted to make it 'Bahir' (meaning foreign), - who wanted freedom from the clutches of the society she was born in to, by hook or crook, and who was successful in achieving the life she always dreamed of and one which she rightfully deserved after all her struggles.
Bahir is a engrossing ride, taking us through the stages of innocence and naivety through the protagonist of the story; subtly showing us the harsh truths and the ugly side of our society in plain words. The book is an emotional roller coaster ride, and projects the stark ugly side of a society, where in spite of all the struggles it is possible to find happiness and hope, even though it may feel absurd and impossible from the outside. The book leaves the reader gobbling up pages, wanting to find where they lead. It is indeed a thrilling read, set up nicely by the author, definitely leaving the reader hooked up and wanting more.
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