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Sharaf
The first volume of a gripping trilogy set in Saudi Arabia, this is a story of love, loyalty, intrigue, suspicion, and intolerance
Major-General Farhan Al-Balawi is a loyal soldier in the Saudi Arabian army who dotes on his beloved daughter, Maryam, his pride in her learning and independent spirit sharpened by the death of his elder son and his estrangement from the younger who has opted to pursue a hedonistic western lifestyle in the U. S. Despite the love she shares with her family, the pride she takes in her Arabian heritage, and her loyalty to Islam, Maryam yearns to travel and to continue her education in a European university. When Farhan announces that Maryam is to marry the son of a man who once saved his life, as the fulfillment of a promise made before she was born, Maryam endeavors to stifle her bitter disappointment and honor her father’s wishes. Then she meets Joe, an American dentist—and a Jew. As Joe and Maryam pursue an increasingly intimate clandestine relationship they dare to dream of freedom and of a life together. But Joe is gradually drawing the attention of the Muttawa , the feared religious police, and when Maryam realizes that she is pregnant, it is then that her trials really begin.
Major-General Farhan Al-Balawi is a loyal soldier in the Saudi Arabian army who dotes on his beloved daughter, Maryam, his pride in her learning and independent spirit sharpened by the death of his elder son and his estrangement from the younger who has opted to pursue a hedonistic western lifestyle in the U. S. Despite the love she shares with her family, the pride she takes in her Arabian heritage, and her loyalty to Islam, Maryam yearns to travel and to continue her education in a European university. When Farhan announces that Maryam is to marry the son of a man who once saved his life, as the fulfillment of a promise made before she was born, Maryam endeavors to stifle her bitter disappointment and honor her father’s wishes. Then she meets Joe, an American dentist—and a Jew. As Joe and Maryam pursue an increasingly intimate clandestine relationship they dare to dream of freedom and of a life together. But Joe is gradually drawing the attention of the Muttawa , the feared religious police, and when Maryam realizes that she is pregnant, it is then that her trials really begin.
- GenresFiction
384 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
3 people are currently reading
262 people want to read
About the author
Raj Kumar
3 books9 followersRaj Kumar was born in India but grew up in the UK.
At school he excelled in the Arts and Sciences but Maths and English were a challenge.
He left school at the age of seventeen to work in a variety of factories in the North of England but soon realised that this was not the life for him.
Through hard work and determination he succeeded in his exams and went on to university.
After graduating he worked in various jobs including that of a private tutor in London.
Travel and adventure beckoned when he answered an advertisement in a newspaper for a position in Saudi Arabia. This country and its people cast a spell over him for almost a decade. He learnt to speak Arabic and made lasting friendships. He also met his wife there.
On leaving Saudi Arabia he wrote his first novel— Sharaf. It was a long lonely journey of discovery driven by passion.
Today he is he is busy writing the second part of the Sharaf trilogy and says writing is painting with words.
At school he excelled in the Arts and Sciences but Maths and English were a challenge.
He left school at the age of seventeen to work in a variety of factories in the North of England but soon realised that this was not the life for him.
Through hard work and determination he succeeded in his exams and went on to university.
After graduating he worked in various jobs including that of a private tutor in London.
Travel and adventure beckoned when he answered an advertisement in a newspaper for a position in Saudi Arabia. This country and its people cast a spell over him for almost a decade. He learnt to speak Arabic and made lasting friendships. He also met his wife there.
On leaving Saudi Arabia he wrote his first novel— Sharaf. It was a long lonely journey of discovery driven by passion.
Today he is he is busy writing the second part of the Sharaf trilogy and says writing is painting with words.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 23, 2011
I wouldn't say that I loved this book, but I definitely liked it and enjoyed it a lot. I entered the giveaway here on GoodReads because the premise and the setting sounded so intriguing, even though "Sharaf" is not my usual favoured genre of novel and I was a bit concerned that it just wouldn't be my thing, but I try not to limit my literary forays and as it turns out I needn't have worried. I finished the book in three days of non-continuous reading, just picking it up here and there, but quite often I found myself picking it up whilst waiting to do other things and getting into that "just one more chapter" mind set and losing track of time. It was a page-turner, and I almost didn’t expect that given the story – it’s family drama and romance within a contemporary, albeit dangerous and restrictive setting – but it’s not a thriller or high-octane action novel. It’s filled with the incidentals of everyday life, to give it that down-to-earth, realistic feel of ordinary people dealing with secrets that begin to snowball into serious problems, and is more of a slow-burning page-turner than a rip-roaring one, but its story is fairly compelling nonetheless.
I found Raj Kumar's writing style quite unusual and different – though maybe that’s because I don’t read much contemporary fiction. I couldn't help but notice the use of imagery was sparing throughout, yet unexpected and fresh when used, and thus innovative and impactful. This, from one of the opening chapters, has to be among my favourites: "A silk prayer mat unfurled over the marble floor spreading a wave of colour... A cockerel crowed among the palm trees and a whisper of pink heralded the birth of another day. Fiery, gossamer clouds unwrapped the newborn sun. On the horizon, a jagged silhouette of mountains tore at the sky, their peaks glinting in the morning light."
The otherness of the setting gives the story great appeal, the richness of the exotic culture permeated by centuries of tradition but undergoing profound change in the modern world, provoking in the reader a desire to learn more, and putting a unique spin on the plot - the challenges that the protagonists face are not the usual challenges characters might face in a Western setting, and yet many of the themes are universal; love, hate, intrigue, hidden secrets, difficult choices.
The conclusion of the story kept me guessing right until the final page, and I was thoroughly surprised at the ending as I was half-convinced that a particular scenario would play out which did not come to pass in fact, and the twist in the tale was rather thought-provoking. I liked the fact that the ending was so unexpected; novels that I can guess the ending of from only 50 pages in are too easy and predictable for my tastes.
Any negatives? I couldn't quite put my finger on it but I felt like the book could have been even better; the characters explored a little more, the love story expanded upon. Some disturbing events take place in the novel but I almost wanted them to be dirtier, grittier, grimier, darker. One or two scenes I felt like I ought to be on the edge of my seat, gripped with worry for the characters and needing to know what happens next, and whilst I felt compelled to keep turning the pages occasionally I didn't feel quite as scared for the characters as I wanted to be. I wanted the story to engross me and engage me even more than it did. This left me with a vague sense that there was room for improvement.
All in all however; in places fresh and innovative, an intriguing setting, and a compelling page-turner of a novel that keeps you guessing until the end.
Additional note added later: I feel that it is definitely worth mentioning that Sharaf reminds of the novel Escape by James Clavell, which is an epic tale of escape from Iran during the 1979 revolution and contains a love story between a Finnish man and an Iranian woman. Escape, along with all of Clavell's novels, I found to be absolutely compelling and fantastically well-written, so the fact that Sharaf reminds me of Escape is a really good indicator of its quality.
I found Raj Kumar's writing style quite unusual and different – though maybe that’s because I don’t read much contemporary fiction. I couldn't help but notice the use of imagery was sparing throughout, yet unexpected and fresh when used, and thus innovative and impactful. This, from one of the opening chapters, has to be among my favourites: "A silk prayer mat unfurled over the marble floor spreading a wave of colour... A cockerel crowed among the palm trees and a whisper of pink heralded the birth of another day. Fiery, gossamer clouds unwrapped the newborn sun. On the horizon, a jagged silhouette of mountains tore at the sky, their peaks glinting in the morning light."
The otherness of the setting gives the story great appeal, the richness of the exotic culture permeated by centuries of tradition but undergoing profound change in the modern world, provoking in the reader a desire to learn more, and putting a unique spin on the plot - the challenges that the protagonists face are not the usual challenges characters might face in a Western setting, and yet many of the themes are universal; love, hate, intrigue, hidden secrets, difficult choices.
The conclusion of the story kept me guessing right until the final page, and I was thoroughly surprised at the ending as I was half-convinced that a particular scenario would play out which did not come to pass in fact, and the twist in the tale was rather thought-provoking. I liked the fact that the ending was so unexpected; novels that I can guess the ending of from only 50 pages in are too easy and predictable for my tastes.
Any negatives? I couldn't quite put my finger on it but I felt like the book could have been even better; the characters explored a little more, the love story expanded upon. Some disturbing events take place in the novel but I almost wanted them to be dirtier, grittier, grimier, darker. One or two scenes I felt like I ought to be on the edge of my seat, gripped with worry for the characters and needing to know what happens next, and whilst I felt compelled to keep turning the pages occasionally I didn't feel quite as scared for the characters as I wanted to be. I wanted the story to engross me and engage me even more than it did. This left me with a vague sense that there was room for improvement.
All in all however; in places fresh and innovative, an intriguing setting, and a compelling page-turner of a novel that keeps you guessing until the end.
Additional note added later: I feel that it is definitely worth mentioning that Sharaf reminds of the novel Escape by James Clavell, which is an epic tale of escape from Iran during the 1979 revolution and contains a love story between a Finnish man and an Iranian woman. Escape, along with all of Clavell's novels, I found to be absolutely compelling and fantastically well-written, so the fact that Sharaf reminds me of Escape is a really good indicator of its quality.
December 1, 2013
I am suffering through this book because I refuse to give up after reading almost half of it already. I just have a few things to say....Who says "hells bells?". WHO? The writing is bare bones and does nothing to delve into the complexity of character that would make the novel gripping. This book is what I imagine Fifty Shades of Grey would be if it took place in the Middle East. Simply a romanticization of Middle Eastern culture intended for the Western consumer. The main character seems all too willing to be the sexual fantasy of the token white Prince Charming. The book, so far, barely challenges stereotypes of Saudi culture, and so on all fronts is insufferable.
I might have just convinced myself not to continue reading.
I might have just convinced myself not to continue reading.
May 9, 2011
I enjoyed this book although I have not read this style of book for some time (last century even). I asked for this book under the giveaway scheme as the background setting in Suadi Arabia sounded interesting. The book did not disappoint, indeed it was most enjoyable and I finished it in three sittings.
I enjoyed the authors style. This is a page turner of a book. As the blurb says it is a romance set in Saudi. In true romance style, the heroine is promised to one by her father, but falls in love with another - a white jew. The book is her quest to have her true love but at the same time she must preserve the honour (Sharaf) of her family. There are interesting twists and turns along the way - not all obvious. I was guessing and interested to the end.
Apart from the quest for the true love, we also learn in a non didactic way about the Islam religion and how it is practised in Saudi Arabia. This was interesting and examined from different perspectives. In general it seemed balanced although there was no good word that I recollect about the religous police.
I would recommend this book as an enjoyable quest for true love through many obstacles with the side bar interest on the Islamic religion.
Would I read another book by this author? Yes, for when I would like a light hearted read for the beach.
I enjoyed the authors style. This is a page turner of a book. As the blurb says it is a romance set in Saudi. In true romance style, the heroine is promised to one by her father, but falls in love with another - a white jew. The book is her quest to have her true love but at the same time she must preserve the honour (Sharaf) of her family. There are interesting twists and turns along the way - not all obvious. I was guessing and interested to the end.
Apart from the quest for the true love, we also learn in a non didactic way about the Islam religion and how it is practised in Saudi Arabia. This was interesting and examined from different perspectives. In general it seemed balanced although there was no good word that I recollect about the religous police.
I would recommend this book as an enjoyable quest for true love through many obstacles with the side bar interest on the Islamic religion.
Would I read another book by this author? Yes, for when I would like a light hearted read for the beach.
April 29, 2011
I was interested in this novel because I feel like reading the literature of a culture is one way to learn about it. Unfortunately, I did not realize that the the author is only a visitor to the culture of Saudi Arabia, or I might have passed this up.
The writing was bizarre, the situations over the top and unbelievable, and the characters often times felt like mouthplates for criticism of Saudi culture and American influence over it. Then there's the sex. I've never read a novel with so much sex in it, and sure as hell didn't expect it in a Muslim setting. The abaya has never been sexier, but at times I wondered if it wasn't just the author having a little fun (like when our protagonist spends time admiring her nude body in front of a mirror).
There were a lot of extraneous scenes that needed to be cut. There was a tendency to introduce multiple characters at once, and point of view shifted from one paragraph to the next, leading to confusion over who was thinking or talking at any given moment. There were a lot of typos, too; I'm pretty sure this wasn't an ARC, so I'm mentioning it.
I was disappointed, overall, and I'm writing a somewhat disappointing review because the first one got eaten by the internet, so my apologies for being incoherent and/or not touching on everything. I will, however, hang on to my copy if only for the handy Arabic reference in the front.
The writing was bizarre, the situations over the top and unbelievable, and the characters often times felt like mouthplates for criticism of Saudi culture and American influence over it. Then there's the sex. I've never read a novel with so much sex in it, and sure as hell didn't expect it in a Muslim setting. The abaya has never been sexier, but at times I wondered if it wasn't just the author having a little fun (like when our protagonist spends time admiring her nude body in front of a mirror).
There were a lot of extraneous scenes that needed to be cut. There was a tendency to introduce multiple characters at once, and point of view shifted from one paragraph to the next, leading to confusion over who was thinking or talking at any given moment. There were a lot of typos, too; I'm pretty sure this wasn't an ARC, so I'm mentioning it.
I was disappointed, overall, and I'm writing a somewhat disappointing review because the first one got eaten by the internet, so my apologies for being incoherent and/or not touching on everything. I will, however, hang on to my copy if only for the handy Arabic reference in the front.
January 2, 2012
Sharaf is the tale of a woman's life in Saudi Arabia and the hardships she runs into because of forbidden love. Throughout the beginning of the book, we learn why it is forbidden and many facets of Saudi society are explained as a result. Apart from the great story line, I really enjoyed learning about life in Saudi Arabia and how so much of family life is based on Sharaf - or honor. There were so many aspects of the Saudi society that one - especially us Westerners - really doesn't expect that the author really highlights in several parts of the book, like the drug rings, prostitution, corruption, the lives of women, etc. In some instances, I wished the author would elaborate a bit more on the story or go more in depth into one of the characters; it kind of felt like the beginning was very detailed and then the last part of the book finished quickly without much thought. The style of the book was interesting; it jumped around telling the story of one character and then to another to underline other parts of Saudi life unknown to most. Altogether though, it was a great romantic story that kept me turning pages.
October 19, 2012
I found it a fascinating look into another culture, some of which I am familiar with having spent 6 mos in neighbouring but much more liberal Dubai. Never take your freedom for granted.
September 12, 2017
Una piacevole sorpresa! Molto ritmo, belle (si fa per dire!) le descrizioni delle abitudini e dei modi di vita dei sauditi e dei personaggi, anche se qui ci troviamo mi pare negli anni '90 e non oggi. A tratti la storia richiama un po' una soap opera, con drammi famigliari e segreti, poi mescola le carte aggiungendo un tocco di thriller politico. La parte finale è molto avvincente, anche se tutto il libro intrattiene senza momenti di noia. Belli anche i dialoghi, scritti bene e realistici. Unico 'neo', trovo il personaggio del dottore americano un tantino stucchevole e anche sciocco: ha reazioni strane, sembra non particolarmente sveglio! La protagonista femminile, Maryam, gli ruba la 'scena' e da un senso a tutta la storia. E' anche un personaggio forte e ben delineato. Si legge che il libro fa parte di una trilogia, ma degli altri si sono perse le tracce ed è un peccato. Spero che l'autore li scriva e che vengano tradotti.
December 8, 2021
The premise is interesting but I take offence to how the characters are written. The females are sexualised and fantastical , and the men are mostly brutalizer. There is no nuance in the culture or the settings and while I think the author depicted Islam and how its being practised quite truthfully, a sense of humanity is also lacking for all.
My favorite was Turki and Zaki the dog. I only care what happened to them.
I think the most honest he had written is when he is writing from the view of the foreign worker.
My favorite was Turki and Zaki the dog. I only care what happened to them.
I think the most honest he had written is when he is writing from the view of the foreign worker.
August 10, 2025
storia molto emozionante ma bella
dnf
August 7, 2011I am probably over reacting as most people got past it, but when I hit the 2 percent point on my kindle and the girl rubbed her nephew's penis to get him to go back to sleep, that was it for me. I was too afraid to continue. I don't care if it is tradition over there. Over here, that's child molestation and I was grossed out. That one sentence just ruined it for me. TMI. I suggest putting something like that further into the book when readers will already be hooked.
Thus, no rating or anything. As I said, I seem to be the only one bothered by it. Don't be deterred just because of me.
Thus, no rating or anything. As I said, I seem to be the only one bothered by it. Don't be deterred just because of me.
October 31, 2014
Got much better in the end, although dialogue/interaction remains dubious. Flawed writing and plot in the first half of the book, and way too many errors (there's a difference between then/than, for instance), and let's not mention the initially repeated imagery of trees being pregnant with fruit.. not done. But, there were some interesting passages of social/political commentary, and in particular in the second half these were phrased very nicely. All in all, not a terrible read, but not a recommendation either. It's that I bought the book, so I felt compelled to finish it ;)
March 13, 2016
Do i love it? Believe me, i tried but it's just somehow too good to be true especially when Dr. Joe and Mariam having a secret relationship. The overused words of 'Habibi' irritated me alot. I did learn arabic a bit and i know it is referred as my love but author should try to use other words to replace the repetitive term. The story is good but the writing could have been better.
June 25, 2013
Ти благодарам Миленче за изборот, и се восхитував на Марјам, во секоја наредна страница, за истрајноста која ја доведе до Џо!!! Поздрав друшка....
November 6, 2013
Od mene 5ka za Arabjankite od Gospod poveke! Fala Viki za knigata preubava bese i so netrpenie ke go cekam vtoriot del ...
June 7, 2015
An exciting story. The author introduces a lot of characters at first, but then pulls all threads together beautifully. A mixture of romance, thriller and crime drama.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews