Nico’s Reviews > The Far Pavilions > Status Update

Louis addresses crowd. Choses "ringleader" to speak for the mass of Afghan fighters demanding the pay that was promised to them. He chooses the man with "a scar on his cheek". Again, another stereotype. Again, Afghans referred to as Barbarians. They were invaded, they were promised payment which they weren't getting. Most people would be outraged regardless of skin color and nationality.

Earlier segment author refers to Wally as "the boy", although he's old enough to fight and lead in battle. More ethnocentricity, IMO. The Colonists are not portrayed as "barbarians" even though they invaded Afghanistan as an act of aggression.

..."fanatical courage"... But, nowhere are the English portrayed as fanatics, even though their invasion is driven by pure blood lust. I do like this story overall, but I really struggle with the author's repeated insistence in portraying peoples by her own biased standards.

Battle: the Afghans are repeatedly referred to as "the enemy". The Indian troops, however, are invading to colonize another country. The writing style again leans toward ethnocentricity - painting Afghans as "wild eyed" and "howling". I think anyone in battle like this would feel how dire it was, their eyes would show it, as well as their voices. That is human. Just venting another frustration with cultural biases.

Adventure and war-faring continue, as do my criticisms. Ash is said to be "non-judgmental", but he's judgmental enough to cast Afghans as having a shifty look in their eyes, that they are thirsty for warfare...and the author continues along the same (racist) lines of gross generalizations. Including generalizations about blood-thirst and homosexual practices. The Brits are pretty bloodthirsty themselves, it seems.

So, the journey continues, and Ash's asshole behavior as well. Since my last update, Ash has thrown Juli against a wall, and slapped her. If you ask me, this is domestic abuse. Juli stays with him...because subservience is all she knows/culture? The day and age? Both, presumably. The author is making me dislike both Ash and Juli a lot. Ash for being a brute, and Juli for staying with this abuser.

This author loves her authoritarian and brutish Ash. "He reached out again and caught her wrists in a grasp that she could not break". I don't really understand how the author might expect the readers to feel sympathy for Ash. What compels the author to make him always be physically forceful with Juli? This is a man obsessed, not a man who truly loves, IMO. There's a huge difference.

I liked the young Ash(ok) best. This loner tortured soul character* is becoming tedious. There is another scene in a previous chapter, where out of his "love" for Juli he treats her violently, (shaking her so her teeth chatter). I'm not sure this kind of behavior has anything romantic in it, as it's aggressive, selfish and domineering. I'm enjoying the air of adventure, but dislike as stated above*

I enjoy the history, dynamics of cultures, & the insight into Colonial India. I knew I'd struggle with the "love interest" aspect of this book, because I always do with historic fiction -- the intertwined love stories are usually much too staged, predictable, and superfluous. The behaviors of Juli & Ash aren't plausible for me given their upbringing & the era. The sex scene on pg 432 sounds like rape to me.