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Night of Power
A portrait of a Muslim family--from the heady days in Uganda to hard times in a new country, and the tragic accident that forces them to confront the ghosts of the past.
It's 1998. And Mansoor Visram has lived in Canada for 25 years, ever since dictator Idi Amin expelled South Asians from Uganda. As a refugee with a wife and child, Mansoor has tried his best to recreate the life they once had, but starting over in Canada has been much harder than he expected. He's worked as a used car salesman, as a gas station attendant, and now he runs a small dry cleaner in suburban Calgary. But he's hatching plans for a father and son empire that will bring back the wealth and status the Visrams enjoyed in Uganda. The problem is, his son Ashif does not share his dreams, and he's moved across the country to get away from his father. He's a rising star at a multi-national corporation in Toronto, on the cusp of a life-changing promotion, but he can't seem to forget his girlfriend from long ago. Mansoor's wife, Layla, has spent the past decade running her own home cooking business and trying to hold her family together. But Ashif rarely comes home to visit and Mansoor's pride has almost ruined their marriage. As the fissures that began generations ago--and continents away--reappear, Mansoor, Ashif, and Layla drift further and further apart.
On the Night of Power, a night during Ramadan when fates are decided for the next year, a terrible accident occurs. Will the Visrams survive this latest tragedy?
Night of Power is a heart-wrenching story of a family in crisis. Gripping and unforgettable, Anar Ali's debut novel vividly illuminates the injustices of displacement and the nuances of identity--of losing a home and coming home again.
It's 1998. And Mansoor Visram has lived in Canada for 25 years, ever since dictator Idi Amin expelled South Asians from Uganda. As a refugee with a wife and child, Mansoor has tried his best to recreate the life they once had, but starting over in Canada has been much harder than he expected. He's worked as a used car salesman, as a gas station attendant, and now he runs a small dry cleaner in suburban Calgary. But he's hatching plans for a father and son empire that will bring back the wealth and status the Visrams enjoyed in Uganda. The problem is, his son Ashif does not share his dreams, and he's moved across the country to get away from his father. He's a rising star at a multi-national corporation in Toronto, on the cusp of a life-changing promotion, but he can't seem to forget his girlfriend from long ago. Mansoor's wife, Layla, has spent the past decade running her own home cooking business and trying to hold her family together. But Ashif rarely comes home to visit and Mansoor's pride has almost ruined their marriage. As the fissures that began generations ago--and continents away--reappear, Mansoor, Ashif, and Layla drift further and further apart.
On the Night of Power, a night during Ramadan when fates are decided for the next year, a terrible accident occurs. Will the Visrams survive this latest tragedy?
Night of Power is a heart-wrenching story of a family in crisis. Gripping and unforgettable, Anar Ali's debut novel vividly illuminates the injustices of displacement and the nuances of identity--of losing a home and coming home again.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 20, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
August 18, 2019
When my husband was stationed in Iraq many years ago, he and other military personnel were invited by local leaders to observe their Ramadan festivities. The stories he recounts from Ramadan are unbelievable and powerful. The photos and videos he has from different nights (the most exciting day being Eid, which included a festival where he was at) show scripture chanting, men inserting knives into their cheeks, music, prayer, a man protruding part of the skull with a sword, dancing, and other means of celebratory practices. Seeing this title, the Night of Power being the holiest of nights, I immediately knew I wanted to read it.
While the title itself connotes a religious and cultural tone, the book actually focuses on the social constructs within a family of refugees. The family in the story are India-Africa-Muslim, having been part of the Indian-Asian Ugandans who fled Uganda in 1972 under Ida Amin (the Butcher of Uganda). However, their past is not a central topic and is only mentioned in a flashback to provide a short background of where they came from. I thought that this might also include Indophobia because of the circumstances, however, Indophobia was not a theme or point that was brought up. The central theme revolves around the broken relationship between the family. It chronicles the dynamics between father, mother, and son.
The main characters alternate between three family members who live in Canada: Mansoor, Layla, and Ashif. The father of the household, Mansoor, strives for success in his business. He wants a better life for his family and is haunted by the memories of his own father. The mother, Layla, holds onto her heritage and religious roots although her husband has made it clear that heritage and religion are not needed in his house to be successful. Ashif, the son, grows to become a busy corporate suit, and his parents fall into his young adult life as ambiguous shadows of his past.
Different priorities and definitions of respect create friction between the family of three. They struggle to look beyond the scars of their relationships with each other in order to heal. Each character struggles with their own identity and assimilating into a new culture that often creates internal conflict.
There are a lot of Punjabi and Arabic words in this book, so I recommend reading it on a Kindle to translate if you are not familiar with Muslim customs.
I really wanted more from the characters and more from the story line, to go deeper and enter the complexity of a cultural climax but felt I only got a spoonful instead of the bowl. However, it was still an enjoyable read and I liked it. It's a short read, being only 240 pages. Many thanks to NetGalley, Viking, and Anar Ali for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
Fast Facts on Ramadan
While the title itself connotes a religious and cultural tone, the book actually focuses on the social constructs within a family of refugees. The family in the story are India-Africa-Muslim, having been part of the Indian-Asian Ugandans who fled Uganda in 1972 under Ida Amin (the Butcher of Uganda). However, their past is not a central topic and is only mentioned in a flashback to provide a short background of where they came from. I thought that this might also include Indophobia because of the circumstances, however, Indophobia was not a theme or point that was brought up. The central theme revolves around the broken relationship between the family. It chronicles the dynamics between father, mother, and son.
The main characters alternate between three family members who live in Canada: Mansoor, Layla, and Ashif. The father of the household, Mansoor, strives for success in his business. He wants a better life for his family and is haunted by the memories of his own father. The mother, Layla, holds onto her heritage and religious roots although her husband has made it clear that heritage and religion are not needed in his house to be successful. Ashif, the son, grows to become a busy corporate suit, and his parents fall into his young adult life as ambiguous shadows of his past.
Different priorities and definitions of respect create friction between the family of three. They struggle to look beyond the scars of their relationships with each other in order to heal. Each character struggles with their own identity and assimilating into a new culture that often creates internal conflict.
There are a lot of Punjabi and Arabic words in this book, so I recommend reading it on a Kindle to translate if you are not familiar with Muslim customs.
I really wanted more from the characters and more from the story line, to go deeper and enter the complexity of a cultural climax but felt I only got a spoonful instead of the bowl. However, it was still an enjoyable read and I liked it. It's a short read, being only 240 pages. Many thanks to NetGalley, Viking, and Anar Ali for this advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
Fast Facts on Ramadan
June 25, 2020
2.5 stars
Not much to say about this story except that it just didn't work for me. I wanted more depth and emotion but instead it skirted around the edges never really amounting to it's full potential. A short novel about family, culture and intergenerational dynamics that I think others may enjoy much more than I did.
Not much to say about this story except that it just didn't work for me. I wanted more depth and emotion but instead it skirted around the edges never really amounting to it's full potential. A short novel about family, culture and intergenerational dynamics that I think others may enjoy much more than I did.
January 9, 2022
Geschichten dieser Art zerreissen mein Herz. Eine Familie, die mit so vielen Problemen zu kämpfen hat, dass sie komplett auseinander fällt. Nach der Flucht nach Kanada sieht es nach außen so aus als würde es der Familie gut gehen: Der Familienvater, Mansoor, hat sein eigenes kleines Unternehmen mit großer Hoffnung auf das große Geschäft, seine Frau, Layla, versucht die Familie mit allen Mitteln zusammenzuhalten und hat sich in der ismailitischen Community bequem gemacht, und der erwachsene Sohn, Ashif, hat mit eigenen Dämonen zu kämpfen, die nicht nur ein einfacher Generationskonflikt ist.
Die Geschichte ist sehr kurz, für mein Geschmack zu kurz. Es streicht kurz alle wichtige Themen an, schildert das Leben der einzelnen Familienmitglieder nachvollziehbar und lebhaft. Aber das Ende ist zu abrupt und insgesamt hat es sich angefühlt als hätte man nur die Oberfläche eines Eisbergs angekratzt. Es gibt große Pluspunkte dafür, dass das komplexe Gebilde von Kultur, religiösen Auseinandersetzungen und den Konflikten zwischen den Generationen von eingewanderten Familien klar und verständlich dargestellt wurde. Nur das Ende hätte ich mir persönlich anders gewünscht, es muss zwar kein Happy End sein, aber es hat einfach alles aufgerührt und dann war das Buch plötzlich fertig. Trotzdem fand ich es schön, dieses Buch gelesen zu haben und hoffe, dass viele Bücher dieser Art folgen werden.
** Dieses Buch wurde mir über NetGalley als E-Book zur Verfügung gestellt **
Die Geschichte ist sehr kurz, für mein Geschmack zu kurz. Es streicht kurz alle wichtige Themen an, schildert das Leben der einzelnen Familienmitglieder nachvollziehbar und lebhaft. Aber das Ende ist zu abrupt und insgesamt hat es sich angefühlt als hätte man nur die Oberfläche eines Eisbergs angekratzt. Es gibt große Pluspunkte dafür, dass das komplexe Gebilde von Kultur, religiösen Auseinandersetzungen und den Konflikten zwischen den Generationen von eingewanderten Familien klar und verständlich dargestellt wurde. Nur das Ende hätte ich mir persönlich anders gewünscht, es muss zwar kein Happy End sein, aber es hat einfach alles aufgerührt und dann war das Buch plötzlich fertig. Trotzdem fand ich es schön, dieses Buch gelesen zu haben und hoffe, dass viele Bücher dieser Art folgen werden.
** Dieses Buch wurde mir über NetGalley als E-Book zur Verfügung gestellt **
November 23, 2019
Anar Ali's Night of Power chronicles the journey of an Ismaili family with roots in India. Embarking on a dangerous journey across the Indian Ocean, Govindji Visram finds himself on the coast of Zanzibar in 1912. Snaking his way through the African continent, he opens a shop in a tiny village called Tororo on the Ugandan-Kenyan border. He gradually builds himself a business empire which his son Mansoor heralds to greater heights. However, all hell breaks loose in 1972, when Idi Amin expels the entire Asian community from Uganda. The Visram family seeks asylum in Canada, slowly rebuilding their life together.
Mansoor is a broken man. He remains haunted by the ghost of his long dead father who continuously berates him for not being good enough. An incident witnessed when he was a wisp of a boy turns out to etch itself in his very impressionable mind and many years later, drives a deep chasm between him and Leyla, his wife. Ashif, his prodigal son with a fancy job at a fancy MNC, has done him proud, but there is an unfathomable gap between them which bewilders him, angers him.
On the 23rd night of the month of Ramadan, the Leilat ul Qadr, where the devout spend the night remembering the Creator, Ashif returns home, on his way from a business trip. The belief is that prayers offered on this night are so powerful that this night is better than a thousand nights. The events that unfold on this night turn out to drastically alter the story of the Visrams.
The writing is effortless, poetic even in parts. Ali writes about Mansoor's veins - a map of frozen rivers in the bitter cold of Alberta's vast prairies, and ever since that image has been deeply engrained in my mins. She paints a poignant picture of Leyla, once an elegant charming young lady in Kampala, now reduced to a whisper of a woman, walking on eggshells because she does not know what will tick Mansoor off. Ashif, whom I thought would be like Gogol from The Namesake - dismissive of his family, indifferent to his roots- turns out to be much more considerate and caring - it's almost endearing seeing him crave his father's approval as a child, but as the pages unfold, one understands the reasons for the distance he has created, both geographical and emotional.
Night of Power is a compelling read which offers plenty of food for thought to the reader. It made me think of family ties, religion, faith, and roots. In one particular instance, Leyla is sitting in the jama'atkhana , a prayer for help to Imam Ali hovering over her lips - Ya ali, maddad kar! This broke my heart simply because of how human it is, to break down, to feel helpless, vulnerable. There are also a few references to Rumi and Shams of Tabrez which delighted my very Sufi self. The only downside to the book is facing a void once done with it; Ashif and Leyla linger on the mind for long after.
Mansoor is a broken man. He remains haunted by the ghost of his long dead father who continuously berates him for not being good enough. An incident witnessed when he was a wisp of a boy turns out to etch itself in his very impressionable mind and many years later, drives a deep chasm between him and Leyla, his wife. Ashif, his prodigal son with a fancy job at a fancy MNC, has done him proud, but there is an unfathomable gap between them which bewilders him, angers him.
On the 23rd night of the month of Ramadan, the Leilat ul Qadr, where the devout spend the night remembering the Creator, Ashif returns home, on his way from a business trip. The belief is that prayers offered on this night are so powerful that this night is better than a thousand nights. The events that unfold on this night turn out to drastically alter the story of the Visrams.
The writing is effortless, poetic even in parts. Ali writes about Mansoor's veins - a map of frozen rivers in the bitter cold of Alberta's vast prairies, and ever since that image has been deeply engrained in my mins. She paints a poignant picture of Leyla, once an elegant charming young lady in Kampala, now reduced to a whisper of a woman, walking on eggshells because she does not know what will tick Mansoor off. Ashif, whom I thought would be like Gogol from The Namesake - dismissive of his family, indifferent to his roots- turns out to be much more considerate and caring - it's almost endearing seeing him crave his father's approval as a child, but as the pages unfold, one understands the reasons for the distance he has created, both geographical and emotional.
Night of Power is a compelling read which offers plenty of food for thought to the reader. It made me think of family ties, religion, faith, and roots. In one particular instance, Leyla is sitting in the jama'atkhana , a prayer for help to Imam Ali hovering over her lips - Ya ali, maddad kar! This broke my heart simply because of how human it is, to break down, to feel helpless, vulnerable. There are also a few references to Rumi and Shams of Tabrez which delighted my very Sufi self. The only downside to the book is facing a void once done with it; Ashif and Leyla linger on the mind for long after.
October 26, 2019
A well-written story with a crisp writing style, Night of Power is a beautiful book with very real characters. It tells the story of a Muslim family with Indian roots, that migrated from Uganda to Canada. The diversity of the characters, along with the author's splendid work on developing them throughout the book, makes for a touching read.
I love that we get to see three different sides of depiction of the Islamic faith. Mansoor's father Govind was a convert He converted from Hinduism to Islam, forcing his wife to do the same. Mansoor, though not a believer himself, marries a devote Muslim woman named Layla. His son Ashif is also not very keen on his faith. We get the reflections of the Ismaili community and their practices through three various perspectives. The difficulty that comes with migrating, and the generation gap between Ashif and his father, is also well depicted.
Though there isn't a solid story to follow through, the book narrates the difficulties of family life, of adjusting to a different culture and successfully shows the message of loving one's parents, but moreover, loving oneself in the onset of a society that's always depreciating you. Definitely recommended.
I love that we get to see three different sides of depiction of the Islamic faith. Mansoor's father Govind was a convert He converted from Hinduism to Islam, forcing his wife to do the same. Mansoor, though not a believer himself, marries a devote Muslim woman named Layla. His son Ashif is also not very keen on his faith. We get the reflections of the Ismaili community and their practices through three various perspectives. The difficulty that comes with migrating, and the generation gap between Ashif and his father, is also well depicted.
Though there isn't a solid story to follow through, the book narrates the difficulties of family life, of adjusting to a different culture and successfully shows the message of loving one's parents, but moreover, loving oneself in the onset of a society that's always depreciating you. Definitely recommended.
January 9, 2020
I think this book just missed being very good. This is the story of an immigrant family forced to leave Uganda by the implacable and ruthless Idi Amin in the 1970's. They eventually end up in Canada but the indignities they suffer threaten to drive them apart. In the main it is the story of the family patriarch, Mansoor, who driven by dreams of financial success instilled in him by his short-sighted father and by the family's painful expulsion from Uganda, hurts his kindly wife amd alienates his son. A reckoning arrives on a single bitterly cold Alberta night when Mansoor makes a series of miscalculations which will cost him everything. The novel is called Night of Power because Mansoor's mistakes occur on a Muslim holy night, in which prayers are offered fo thanks and success. Mansoor cut off from his culture and his faith makes several fatal decisions which ultimately will free his family from their past and from him. It is about the price we pay when our dreams threaten those around us and alienate us from reality. I liked the book because it was set in Canada and because we saw in it the very human side of a Muslim immigrant family.
November 15, 2021
Wow. Amazing.
I found this book inconspicuously amongst some library shelves, and honestly, I wasn’t expecting much given the randomness with which I chose this book. First off, I’d like to note that the setting is very close to home, literally. This is the first piece of fiction I’ve read that takes place in Alberta. As someone born and raised here, the references and bits of Alberta were very much appreciated and immersive. This felt like a story I would find in my local newspaper.
Even if you’re not from Alberta, this book has a lot to offer. The writing is incredible. Scrumptious, even. Love it. The plot? Pretty good. It’s not outrageously shocking or groundbreaking, but it’s believable. I do find a lot of merit in fiction stories that are believable. It’s one of the things I liked most about this book: the characters, the events, and histories were all fascinating BECAUSE of their grounding in/resemblance to reality.
I’m really surprised I had never even heard of this book before. The fact that it was never shortlisted for any national literary prizes is a crime. Seriously, I have never encountered a book that perfectly portrays ‘Berta life than this book, perhaps even suburban life in general. Probably the best fiction book I read this year.
I found this book inconspicuously amongst some library shelves, and honestly, I wasn’t expecting much given the randomness with which I chose this book. First off, I’d like to note that the setting is very close to home, literally. This is the first piece of fiction I’ve read that takes place in Alberta. As someone born and raised here, the references and bits of Alberta were very much appreciated and immersive. This felt like a story I would find in my local newspaper.
Even if you’re not from Alberta, this book has a lot to offer. The writing is incredible. Scrumptious, even. Love it. The plot? Pretty good. It’s not outrageously shocking or groundbreaking, but it’s believable. I do find a lot of merit in fiction stories that are believable. It’s one of the things I liked most about this book: the characters, the events, and histories were all fascinating BECAUSE of their grounding in/resemblance to reality.
I’m really surprised I had never even heard of this book before. The fact that it was never shortlisted for any national literary prizes is a crime. Seriously, I have never encountered a book that perfectly portrays ‘Berta life than this book, perhaps even suburban life in general. Probably the best fiction book I read this year.
March 18, 2024
OK EPIC
March 21, 2024
i meant to spread this out over like three days before we discuss it in class but i couldn't stop reading what a great book to end the course on
December 25, 2019
A very quick read (5 hours?) about a family chased from Uganda by Idi Amin who then settles in Calgary. A story about boys needing to live up to their father’s expectations but inevitably repeating their father’s mistakes.
August 22, 2019
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Mansoor and his family were forced to leave Uganda in 1972 under the order of Idi Amin, South Asians were no longer welcome despite having contributed to the economy and building a solid life there. Being sent to refugee camps in Europe and eventually being welcomed by Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau (current Prime Minister’s father) to Canada meant starting over with very little. The family now with a small child move to Calgary after weighing the benefits of each of the Provinces. Mansoor is determined to be a productive citizen and show his son Ashif how hard work can lead to success just as his father taught him. Cultural and religious differences make it difficult for his wife, Layla, to absorb into the Canadian culture but she finds open arms within the Ismaili community and doesn’t feel the same need as Mansoor to bridge the gaps between cultures. Ashif has listened to his father’s words and is now an executive doing well for a blue chip company in Toronto but to the physical and emotional distance now to his parents. On a very special religious night of the year, Lailatul Qadr (Night of Power), a tragic event happens that will break open Mansoor’s family. How the family handles this event and what changes they make to their lives will determine their future.
With the exception of a few minor irritating changes to the time period this short novel was a beautiful story about intention, family and community. There was a genuine honesty to the story that drew me in chapter after chapter.
Thank you to @netgalley and @penguinrandomhousecanada for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review. This book is now available at your local bookstore.
Mansoor and his family were forced to leave Uganda in 1972 under the order of Idi Amin, South Asians were no longer welcome despite having contributed to the economy and building a solid life there. Being sent to refugee camps in Europe and eventually being welcomed by Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau (current Prime Minister’s father) to Canada meant starting over with very little. The family now with a small child move to Calgary after weighing the benefits of each of the Provinces. Mansoor is determined to be a productive citizen and show his son Ashif how hard work can lead to success just as his father taught him. Cultural and religious differences make it difficult for his wife, Layla, to absorb into the Canadian culture but she finds open arms within the Ismaili community and doesn’t feel the same need as Mansoor to bridge the gaps between cultures. Ashif has listened to his father’s words and is now an executive doing well for a blue chip company in Toronto but to the physical and emotional distance now to his parents. On a very special religious night of the year, Lailatul Qadr (Night of Power), a tragic event happens that will break open Mansoor’s family. How the family handles this event and what changes they make to their lives will determine their future.
With the exception of a few minor irritating changes to the time period this short novel was a beautiful story about intention, family and community. There was a genuine honesty to the story that drew me in chapter after chapter.
Thank you to @netgalley and @penguinrandomhousecanada for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review. This book is now available at your local bookstore.
September 11, 2021
1998 in Calgary. Es ist Lailat al-Qadr, die Nacht der Bestimmung, die wichtigste Nacht im Ramadan, welche Layla selbstverständlich in ihrer ismailitischen Gemeinde feiern möchte. Ihr Mann Mansoor wird sie wie immer nicht begleiten, Religion ist für ihn nur Aberglaube und außerdem muss er sich um das Geschäft kümmern. Auch ihr Sohn Ashif wird nicht mitkommen, obwohl er just an diesem Tag aus Toronto gekommen ist. Es ist – wieder einmal – die entscheidende Nacht, die ihr Leben grundlegend verändern wird. Wie auch bereits in der Vergangenheit. Aber dieses Mal sind die Konflikte zwischen Vater und Sohn auf dem Höhepunkt und die Entscheidung, ob sich Ashif endlich wird befreien können oder ob Mansoor ihn, wie es sich für einen ordentlichen Sohn gehört, an das gemeinsame Geschäft wird binden können, steht unmittelbar bevor.
„Nacht der Bestimmung“ ist der erste Roman der kanadischen Autorin Anar Ali, die für ihre Kurzgeschichtensammlung bereits auf der Shortlist für mehrere renommierte Literaturpreise stand. Es ist die Geschichte einer Familie, die quer über den Globus immer wieder in der Ferne – mal freiwillig, mal unfreiwillig – das Glück sucht. Egal wie viele Kilometer jedoch zwischen altem und neuem Wohnort liegen, die Geister der Vergangenheit können sie nicht loswerden.
Layla und Mansoor sind, von indischen und kenianischen Familien abstammend, aus Uganda nach Europa geflüchtet, bevor sie Anfang der 1970er in Kanada landen. Auch wenn Mansoor sich als fortschrittlich ansieht, ist er doch so stark durch die gnadenlose und harte Erziehung seines eigenen Vaters geprägt, dass er dessen Stimme immer noch drohend im Hinterkopf hat. Egal wie sehr er sich auch bemüht, beruflich Fuß zu fassen ist schwierig, vor allem, da er das Dasein als Angestellter verachtet und nur Unternehmertum als angemessen ansieht. Dafür muss dann eben auch die ganze Familie Einschnitte in Kauf nehmen.
Sein Sohn soll es besser haben, weshalb er ihn ebenfalls streng erzieht und auf eine gute Bildung Wert legt. Irgendwann werden sie gemeinsam die Wäscherei führen und dies auf hübschen Visitenkarten sichtbar machen. Doch Ashif hat andere Träume, die schönen Künste und Literatur faszinieren ihn schon als Teenager. Vor allem jedoch will er nicht wie der Vater werden, der nicht aus seiner Haut kann und in seiner Verzweiflung auch die eigene Ehefrau verprügelt – ein Verhalten, was über Generationen weitergegeben und von den Söhnen beobachtet wurde und sie als Erwachsene gleichermaßen handelt lässt. Ashif will den Fluch brechen, doch auch er trägt in sich, was Jahrhunderte zuvor in die Gene geschrieben wurde.
Layla ist eine tüchtige und clevere Frau. Sie kennt ihren Platz in der Welt ihres Mannes und hat sich arrangiert; er muss nicht alles wissen, nach Jahrzehnten der Ehe haben sie sich ohnehin auseinandergelebt, kaum mehr etwas zueinander zu sagen und leben nur noch nebeneinander. Stumm und stoisch erträgt sie das Schicksal, denn sie lässt sich von ihrem Glauben leiten, der ihre Rolle als Gattin klar definiert. Ein Ausbruch ist nicht vorgesehen, nur das Schicksal kann ihre Gebete erhören und sie befreien.
Alle Mitglieder der Familie sind gefangen in ihren Vorstellungen und den engen Mauern, die sie selbst gezogen haben. Sie glauben von größeren Kräften bestimmt zu sein und versuchen gar nicht erst, die Mauern einzureißen und sich zu befreien. So warten sie, bis der Tag kommt, an dem ihnen den Ausweg ermöglicht, denn selbst sind sie dazu nicht in der Lage.
Die Autorin erzählt von einem schicksalhaften Tag im Leben der Familie, die Rückblenden erlauben ihre Zuspitzung hin zu diesem Moment nachzuvollziehen und die Charakterentwicklung zu verfolgen. Intergenerationale Konflikte, die Suche nach der eigenen Identität in einem neuen Land mit dem Gepäck der Vergangenheit, aber auch die Angst vor dem eigenen Mut – elegant verpackt Anar Ali diese in eine dramatische Geschichte.
„Nacht der Bestimmung“ ist der erste Roman der kanadischen Autorin Anar Ali, die für ihre Kurzgeschichtensammlung bereits auf der Shortlist für mehrere renommierte Literaturpreise stand. Es ist die Geschichte einer Familie, die quer über den Globus immer wieder in der Ferne – mal freiwillig, mal unfreiwillig – das Glück sucht. Egal wie viele Kilometer jedoch zwischen altem und neuem Wohnort liegen, die Geister der Vergangenheit können sie nicht loswerden.
Layla und Mansoor sind, von indischen und kenianischen Familien abstammend, aus Uganda nach Europa geflüchtet, bevor sie Anfang der 1970er in Kanada landen. Auch wenn Mansoor sich als fortschrittlich ansieht, ist er doch so stark durch die gnadenlose und harte Erziehung seines eigenen Vaters geprägt, dass er dessen Stimme immer noch drohend im Hinterkopf hat. Egal wie sehr er sich auch bemüht, beruflich Fuß zu fassen ist schwierig, vor allem, da er das Dasein als Angestellter verachtet und nur Unternehmertum als angemessen ansieht. Dafür muss dann eben auch die ganze Familie Einschnitte in Kauf nehmen.
Sein Sohn soll es besser haben, weshalb er ihn ebenfalls streng erzieht und auf eine gute Bildung Wert legt. Irgendwann werden sie gemeinsam die Wäscherei führen und dies auf hübschen Visitenkarten sichtbar machen. Doch Ashif hat andere Träume, die schönen Künste und Literatur faszinieren ihn schon als Teenager. Vor allem jedoch will er nicht wie der Vater werden, der nicht aus seiner Haut kann und in seiner Verzweiflung auch die eigene Ehefrau verprügelt – ein Verhalten, was über Generationen weitergegeben und von den Söhnen beobachtet wurde und sie als Erwachsene gleichermaßen handelt lässt. Ashif will den Fluch brechen, doch auch er trägt in sich, was Jahrhunderte zuvor in die Gene geschrieben wurde.
Layla ist eine tüchtige und clevere Frau. Sie kennt ihren Platz in der Welt ihres Mannes und hat sich arrangiert; er muss nicht alles wissen, nach Jahrzehnten der Ehe haben sie sich ohnehin auseinandergelebt, kaum mehr etwas zueinander zu sagen und leben nur noch nebeneinander. Stumm und stoisch erträgt sie das Schicksal, denn sie lässt sich von ihrem Glauben leiten, der ihre Rolle als Gattin klar definiert. Ein Ausbruch ist nicht vorgesehen, nur das Schicksal kann ihre Gebete erhören und sie befreien.
Alle Mitglieder der Familie sind gefangen in ihren Vorstellungen und den engen Mauern, die sie selbst gezogen haben. Sie glauben von größeren Kräften bestimmt zu sein und versuchen gar nicht erst, die Mauern einzureißen und sich zu befreien. So warten sie, bis der Tag kommt, an dem ihnen den Ausweg ermöglicht, denn selbst sind sie dazu nicht in der Lage.
Die Autorin erzählt von einem schicksalhaften Tag im Leben der Familie, die Rückblenden erlauben ihre Zuspitzung hin zu diesem Moment nachzuvollziehen und die Charakterentwicklung zu verfolgen. Intergenerationale Konflikte, die Suche nach der eigenen Identität in einem neuen Land mit dem Gepäck der Vergangenheit, aber auch die Angst vor dem eigenen Mut – elegant verpackt Anar Ali diese in eine dramatische Geschichte.
August 23, 2019
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Mansoor and his family were forced to leave Uganda in 1972 under the order of Idi Amin, South Asians were no longer welcome despite having contributed to the economy and building a solid life there. Being sent to refugee camps in Europe and eventually being welcomed by Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau (current Prime Minister’s father) to Canada meant starting over with very little. The family now with a small child move to Calgary after weighing the benefits of each of the Provinces. Mansoor is determined to be a productive citizen and show his son Ashif how hard work can lead to success just as his father taught him. Cultural and religious differences make it difficult for his wife, Layla, to absorb into the Canadian culture but she finds open arms within the Ismaili community and doesn’t feel the same need as Mansoor to bridge the gaps between cultures. Ashif has listened to his father’s words and is now an executive doing well for a blue chip company in Toronto but to the physical and emotional distance now to his parents. On a very special religious night of the year, Lailatul Qadr (Night of Power), a tragic event happens that will break open Mansoor’s family. How the family handles this event and what changes they make to their lives will determine their future.
With the exception of a few minor irritating changes to the time period this short novel was a beautiful story about intention, family and community. There was a genuine honesty to the story that drew me in chapter after chapter.
Thank you to @netgalley and @penguinrandomhousecanada for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review. This book is now available at your local bookstore.
Mansoor and his family were forced to leave Uganda in 1972 under the order of Idi Amin, South Asians were no longer welcome despite having contributed to the economy and building a solid life there. Being sent to refugee camps in Europe and eventually being welcomed by Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau (current Prime Minister’s father) to Canada meant starting over with very little. The family now with a small child move to Calgary after weighing the benefits of each of the Provinces. Mansoor is determined to be a productive citizen and show his son Ashif how hard work can lead to success just as his father taught him. Cultural and religious differences make it difficult for his wife, Layla, to absorb into the Canadian culture but she finds open arms within the Ismaili community and doesn’t feel the same need as Mansoor to bridge the gaps between cultures. Ashif has listened to his father’s words and is now an executive doing well for a blue chip company in Toronto but to the physical and emotional distance now to his parents. On a very special religious night of the year, Lailatul Qadr (Night of Power), a tragic event happens that will break open Mansoor’s family. How the family handles this event and what changes they make to their lives will determine their future.
With the exception of a few minor irritating changes to the time period this short novel was a beautiful story about intention, family and community. There was a genuine honesty to the story that drew me in chapter after chapter.
Thank you to @netgalley and @penguinrandomhousecanada for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review. This book is now available at your local bookstore.
September 5, 2019
Night of Power By Anar Ali
Night of Power is a heart-wrenching story of a family in crisis. Gripping and unforgettable, Anar Ali’s debut novel vividly illuminates the injustices of displacement and the nuances of identity–of losing a home and coming home again.
Xx
I don’t usually read books about different cultural backgrounds nor do I really have an interest in religion myself., but Night of Power by Anar Ali really set a good bar for what I can expect out of these books now, and well, I truly enjoyed it.
It was also cool to read about how dreams can be shared but they can be reached by different people in different ways. Mansoor had fled to Canada with his wife and child to create a better life but working towards ‘better’ was harder than he thought it would be. Once he decides that he could actually start something new and create something for his culture, he turns to his son for remorse and support but his son has other ideas and already a life of his own.
I found this book more surrounding families in crisis and how just because you live in a different country than your original people, you can still make life worth living. Mansoor just had a harder time as his wife had her own plans as well as his son. With a different perspective in the book as we watch from above as the reader and not through the characters eyes, I found myself enjoying this perspective of the book as if I were watching the characters interact before my eyes.
I would recommend this book for those who love a good family tale with a hint of culture and a whole whack of twists! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and look forward to seeing more work from Anar Ali in the future.
Night of Power is a heart-wrenching story of a family in crisis. Gripping and unforgettable, Anar Ali’s debut novel vividly illuminates the injustices of displacement and the nuances of identity–of losing a home and coming home again.
Xx
I don’t usually read books about different cultural backgrounds nor do I really have an interest in religion myself., but Night of Power by Anar Ali really set a good bar for what I can expect out of these books now, and well, I truly enjoyed it.
It was also cool to read about how dreams can be shared but they can be reached by different people in different ways. Mansoor had fled to Canada with his wife and child to create a better life but working towards ‘better’ was harder than he thought it would be. Once he decides that he could actually start something new and create something for his culture, he turns to his son for remorse and support but his son has other ideas and already a life of his own.
I found this book more surrounding families in crisis and how just because you live in a different country than your original people, you can still make life worth living. Mansoor just had a harder time as his wife had her own plans as well as his son. With a different perspective in the book as we watch from above as the reader and not through the characters eyes, I found myself enjoying this perspective of the book as if I were watching the characters interact before my eyes.
I would recommend this book for those who love a good family tale with a hint of culture and a whole whack of twists! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and look forward to seeing more work from Anar Ali in the future.
May 11, 2021
3.5/5
This story was not at all what I expected! It was also definitely better than I thought it would be.
I enjoyed how the story jumped back and forth between people and points in time. A tale that was woven together with a certain power indeed.
The book is full of an interesting mix of characters, some lovable and others not so much.
I did find Layla's portrayal of her devotion to the Imam a little odd at times. Perhaps other people are devoted in this way (e.g. the secret recipe for the Imam) but it felt odd for me. That was of course until Ali provided a bit more of a back story to Layla and then it made a little more sense. It did feel rather strong and out of place in the beginning though.
I was sad when the story ended and not because of the events that transpired, but rather because I wanted to know what happened to the rest of the characters. Perhaps I am too accustomed to happily ever afters, but did Layla and Ashif find joy?
This story was not at all what I expected! It was also definitely better than I thought it would be.
I enjoyed how the story jumped back and forth between people and points in time. A tale that was woven together with a certain power indeed.
The book is full of an interesting mix of characters, some lovable and others not so much.
I did find Layla's portrayal of her devotion to the Imam a little odd at times. Perhaps other people are devoted in this way (e.g. the secret recipe for the Imam) but it felt odd for me. That was of course until Ali provided a bit more of a back story to Layla and then it made a little more sense. It did feel rather strong and out of place in the beginning though.
I was sad when the story ended and not because of the events that transpired, but rather because I wanted to know what happened to the rest of the characters. Perhaps I am too accustomed to happily ever afters, but did Layla and Ashif find joy?
October 4, 2020
A book with subtle emotion, and the exploration of the painful connections and burdens family can hold over each other, mixed in with the complications of love. I felt I wanted a bit more from this story, more depth. Though I recognize the feeling that the book skimmed over the surface of the characters' joys and pains possibly could have had more to do with the fact that I read it in 5-10 minute sittings, not allowing myself to sink in. I finally had some time toward the end to sit and read for almost an hour, and I definitely connected more to the characters than at any other point through the book.
Either way, a compelling read, and one I think I'll come back to in a few years to relive the experience.
Either way, a compelling read, and one I think I'll come back to in a few years to relive the experience.
July 8, 2021
The night of power
I listened to the audiobook, which is told in a quiet stoic tone but the book is filled with emotional dynamics. It touches upon several themes, immigration, the hardship of integrating and starting a life in a new country, marriage, parenthood, loyalty, friendship, religion, and identity. The protagonist’s lack of self-awareness and the dynamics between him and the other two main characters, his wife and son, are well described. Where does your love and loyalty to your parents stops and your own life start? Through the story of this family, the book gives some insight into the culture of Ismaili Muslims, the struggles of people that were expelled from Uganda by Idi Amin, and the hardship to build a new life in Canada.
I listened to the audiobook, which is told in a quiet stoic tone but the book is filled with emotional dynamics. It touches upon several themes, immigration, the hardship of integrating and starting a life in a new country, marriage, parenthood, loyalty, friendship, religion, and identity. The protagonist’s lack of self-awareness and the dynamics between him and the other two main characters, his wife and son, are well described. Where does your love and loyalty to your parents stops and your own life start? Through the story of this family, the book gives some insight into the culture of Ismaili Muslims, the struggles of people that were expelled from Uganda by Idi Amin, and the hardship to build a new life in Canada.
October 12, 2019
This is a sensitive portrayal of what I think is likely the experience of many immigrant families: the wife/mother clings to the religious/cultural practices of the old country, the husband not so much as he is out in the world and wants to fit in, the son not at all as he has lived all his life in Canada, to the point where his Mom has trouble sometimes understanding him because of his Canadian accent! They are all good people but the “normal” generation gap is exacerbated by these cultural differences. I liked the way the flashbacks were used to illuminate the past and how the perspective of each of the main characters comes through.
November 25, 2019
Gave it 3 stars because it was a good read, strong characters and story. Would have been a 4 star from me but for the comment in the book that struck me; when Mansoor was unable to get a bank loan but got one from "Abrahams & Abrahams at a high interest rate" which to me whispered of anti-semitism of money ending Jews such as Shylock. I am not sure why the author found it necessary to choose these names in her story but I am sorry she did.
September 17, 2019
I cannot say this book was great, or that I would really recommend it. HOWEVER, it was good for what it was, and it introduced me to a family that was so very much struggling, to which I could relate very much. It both portrays the dreams and fears of immigrant families, and how it divides families.
A fast read.
A fast read.
December 7, 2021
Getting to know the 3 main characters was very interesting: immigrant father with a goal to succeed, immigrant mother trying to make it all work, Canadian-born son making his way in the new world at what cost. The story unravelled the life this family in a compelling way. And, now I know about the Night of Power.
April 23, 2023
Absolutely loved this book. I was so sorry for Mansoor and his family and what they been through for them to have a life here in Canada. Definitely makes you think about what immigrants go through when they get here or anywhere.
August 31, 2019
Great read! Fast paced with lots of twists and turns!
Really enjoyed all of the references to Indian cuisine and Ismaili religious practices.
Really enjoyed all of the references to Indian cuisine and Ismaili religious practices.
September 19, 2019
Such a strange and interesting book.
January 10, 2020
Set in 1998, this story centres on three members of a Muslim family who emigrated from Uganda to Calgary 25 years earlier. It's heart-wrenchingly tragic.
April 26, 2020
It was an interesting story. I did not like the way The author moved from the present to the past..
May 13, 2021
3.5
Abrupt ending. Needed more depth.
Abrupt ending. Needed more depth.
Read
June 16, 2021Interesting, sad, engrossing story of an immigrant /refugee family, their struggle to succeed in anew country, generational conflicts, and the tragectory of their lives.
December 11, 2022
1. The treatment of Gulzar at the hands of her husband and accountant is one of the most moving scenes I have ever read.
2. Also very moving Layla’s rationalisation of her miscarriages.
Ashif and his Dad Mansoor and Mom Layla.
2. Also very moving Layla’s rationalisation of her miscarriages.
Ashif and his Dad Mansoor and Mom Layla.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 28, 2024
Good story, but has a very abrupt ending.
Mansoor is not a pleasant character.
Mansoor is not a pleasant character.
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