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This isn't just a story of forbidden love, this is something else, this is the story of war and survival, about the horrors of being bullied, about Kanishka's father's principles, his Maoist be
In Afghanistan during the 1970s, the word GAY (Kuni), was often used as a way of insulting someone. In a place so stringent about homosexuality, this is the story of Kanishka Nurzada, a teenage boy in love with his best friend, Maihan, and how their lives take an unexpected turn due to the Saur Revolution.This isn't just a story of forbidden love, this is something else, this is the story of war and survival, about the horrors of being bullied, about Kanishka's father's principles, his Maoist beliefs, about Faiz's love for becoming an actor, life as a refugee in the camps of Pakistan where Kanishka labours as a carpet weaver, and about his dreams, of moving to America, to live a good life and to be with Maihan.
Nemat Sadat's way of creating characters is commendable. They seem real, interesting, and complicated, characters that you would care about, root for, try to empathise with but can not because we have it a thousand times better, and cry along as their misery and their sorrows are much greater than ours. It is almost like Nemat is shaming us by opening our eyes and showing how much we have taken this life for granted.
For all you Khaled Hosseini fans, this book is a must read.
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Thank you for the review copy @nematsadat :)
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There are so many things to like about this novel. Any story that has its roots in Afghanistan instantly becomes my favourite. I've read Khaled Hosseini's books for years now and through his eyes, I managed to see the country's beauty. The Carpet Weaver is another beautiful piece of work that makes you walk on the lands of Afghanistan without ever being there. @nematsadat is a gay Afghan author who now lives in the States. His debut The Carpet Weaver.
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Thank you for the review copy @nematsadat :)
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There are so many things to like about this novel. Any story that has its roots in Afghanistan instantly becomes my favourite. I've read Khaled Hosseini's books for years now and through his eyes, I managed to see the country's beauty. The Carpet Weaver is another beautiful piece of work that makes you walk on the lands of Afghanistan without ever being there. @nematsadat is a gay Afghan author who now lives in the States. His debut book has managed to bring the literary world to a standstill, in a good way.
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The story begins from the '70s and stretches till the '80s. Kanishka Nurzada is born into a well-known family in Afghanistan to a man who is a leader of the underground Maoist activity and a pious mother. His father makes wonderful carpets where Kanishka harboured dreams of taking over the store in the future. Kanishka has a secret to hide for the fear of being lynched to death if discovered. He falls in love with his best friend Maihan and dreams of a future where they can hold hands and proclaim love openly. But he knows it's impossible at the moment because being gay can get him killed. A big chunk of the story is about how Kanishka and Maihan fight against the odds to steal little memories of being together. But it all comes to an end soon when war enters the country.
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There are riots everywhere and with Kanishka's father being taken as a fugitive, his family collapses under the pressure. His relationship with Maihayn gets strained as they are separated for many years. The family faces severe setback when they're thrown into a prison camp where they're forced to make carpets. What follows is the family's fight in securing freedom. This book is intense and almost lyrical. The language used is soothing to the ears. The characters are very well constructed. This book focuses on love for things and people that are forbidden by quoting the verses of religious books. Love is love. And this book shows us why. A brilliant read.
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Rating - 4.2/5. ...more
Set in 1970s Afghanis
When you a read book and, that book leaves a lasting impression on you and that in a way changes your perception towards life is what I call a 'Book to keep on your shelf forever'. And Nemat Sadat's book 'The Carpet Weaver' is one such book. This book brought forth my emotions in torrent. I was struck with the brilliancy of the narrative. Despite the book being Nemat's debut, I was left awestruck with appreciation for his writing style, its pace and its creative profundity.Set in 1970s Afghanistan, 'The Carpet Weaver' is a coming out story of Kanishka, amidst this pours political disarray. This is also a story of love that is a transgression, even in high society of Afghanistan, where girls and boys mix freely yet homosexuality is frowned upon.
This coming of age story is divided in three parts. Three important life changing twists in Kanishka's life, which as the story gradually progresses, so progresses the years, and we along with the protagonist escape the once peaceful land of Afghanistan to the refugee camps in the far off ranges of the Baluchistan in Pakistan and then to the US 'Promised Land of America', where he slowly starts to rebuild his life.
This gut wrenching book will take you to the places, you'd never want to visit. The pain and emotions throughout the book is as vivid as reality. But also this book is a lesson unto itself. However heartbreaking it maybe, one has to stand for himselft. I was equally elated – for Kanshka stood for what he was and, heartbroken – because he had to leave his family.
Nemat's The Carpet Weaver reminded me so much of Khaled Hosseini's The Kite Runner. Both in their own way stirred us and showed us the stark reality of humanity.
This heartwrenching story has earned a 5 on 5 for author's sheer empathetic penmanship and the characters that were as alive as any of us. I say, read this fast paced book, which will compel you to search for the answers, for this book raised many questions.
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4 ⭐ Because of the story and the voices it represented- queer characters in politically heated environment and religious biases against them. The writing somewhat lacks lustre which made the characters look flat at places. Otherwise it is a book worth picking for readers looking for reading a diverse book representing LGBTQ+ community.
C.W: Physical and Sexual abuse, Violence, Bullying, Use of insulting slangs.
"𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒈𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒊𝒔 𝒂 𝒃
"𝑼𝒏𝒓𝒐𝒍𝒍 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒄𝒂𝒓𝒑𝒆𝒕𝒔, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰 𝒔𝒉𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒔𝒆𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒘𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒏 𝒊𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕."4 ⭐ Because of the story and the voices it represented- queer characters in politically heated environment and religious biases against them. The writing somewhat lacks lustre which made the characters look flat at places. Otherwise it is a book worth picking for readers looking for reading a diverse book representing LGBTQ+ community.
C.W: Physical and Sexual abuse, Violence, Bullying, Use of insulting slangs.
"𝑾𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒈𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒊𝒔 𝒂 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒔 𝒑𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒂𝒇𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒄𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘𝒍𝒆𝒅𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒕𝒉? 𝑴𝒂𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒊𝒇𝒖𝒍, 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒂 𝒑𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒐𝒓 𝒂 𝒔𝒊𝒏. 𝑰 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒎𝒚𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇."
- 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘢𝘳𝘱𝘦𝘵 𝘞𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘺 𝘕𝘦𝘮𝘢𝘵 𝘚𝘢𝘥𝘢𝘵
Also Posted on For The Love of Fictional Worlds
Disclaimer: A physical copy was provided via Penguin India in exchange for an honest review. The Thoughts, opinions & feelings expressed in the review are therefore, my own.
The Carpet Weaver is the debut novel of the author; and it takes guts to pick up a topic that looks to be not only emotionally eviscerating but also a coming of age experience that will deeply resonate with its readers.
The Carpet Weaver follows Kanishka Nurzada, a 16 yea
Also Posted on For The Love of Fictional Worlds
Disclaimer: A physical copy was provided via Penguin India in exchange for an honest review. The Thoughts, opinions & feelings expressed in the review are therefore, my own.
The Carpet Weaver is the debut novel of the author; and it takes guts to pick up a topic that looks to be not only emotionally eviscerating but also a coming of age experience that will deeply resonate with its readers.
The Carpet Weaver follows Kanishka Nurzada, a 16 year old boy, son of a Carpet Weaver in Afghanistan, who wants to continue in the family business; though his father has his own aspirations for his only son. He has his own secrets, one that his own religion will never accept and something he KNOWs his parents never will – that he is a 'Kuni'; a derogatory term for gay men in his religion (and his country!) – especially when his country has no tolerance were something that is considered abnormal.
When he falls for his best friend, Maihaan, a love that is as forbidden as it is tantalising for both, they can only enjoy a few weeks of bliss together, but in the background, Afghanistan is undergoing a turmoil that will shape not only its future, but also that of its citizens and its neighbouring countries.
The author has done quite an intriguing job of detailing the history of Afghanistan without losing the humanistic touch provided by Kanishka's life – his life, that shows the resilience of humanity against the difficult obstacles posed by the universe.
Kanishka looses his home, his country, his life and the love of his life; but never loses his need to fight – a strength that makes sure that his family, through trials and tribulations, find refuge in another country. 
Though there is a little bit of crudeness involved while Kanishka is exploring his own sexuality, which at times did become uncomfortable for me, as a reader – and there were times when the exploration of Kanishka's sexuality felt forced into the timeline, or rather more importantly, it wasn't as seamlessly included into the plot as it should have been.
The writing style of the author felt stilted at times, at least for the first half of the book – but it smoothens out in the second half of the book – which makes for an intriguing and a binge worthy read.
What the author gives us is a story and a protagonist that is full of hope, even through trying times and has the strength too recognise, to accept who he is, to fight for his own identity even against familial and religious pressure.
Nemat Sadat has talent for writing stories; and I am looking forward to seeing his journey as a writer in the future.
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As Af
Spanning over 7 years and moving from Afghanistan through Pakistan to America, The Carpet Weaver is a coming of age story of a young Afghan Boy, Kanishka as he confronts his sexuality and the world around. At the age of 16 he falls in love with his friend Maihan while also aware of the repercussions of such an affair. Boys like him are locally called kuni and there is no hope of a peaceful life for the like of him in the Islamic Afghanistan where he lives. America is the land of his dreams.As Afghanistan is shrouded in war and his father is taken away, Kanishka has to shoulder the responsibilities of the man in the house. His wish of a better life in America takes him to an internment camp in Pakistan where he labours as the carpet weaver. When he finally reaches America his hopes to reunite with Maihan are thwarted as he discovers that life seldom takes the shape of your dreams.
My Verdict
The novel primarily addresses two issues namely those of homosexuality and war. Through these the author has managed to raise many more questions. What is it that makes one a real man? If loving another man makes one less of a man, does killing another man qualify one for a real man? Does a change of geography makes it easy to cut yourself from your roots? Or do they go along with you in the grave?
The author has handled these questions very well and offered not just one but both the perspectives. The political situation of Afghanistan in the late 1970s has also been depicted well. The atrocities that are committed on people in Afghanistan after the Saur Revolution makes one think how life can change overnight. This coupled with the exploitation of the innocent people in the Pakistani camp show what life amidst war feels like.
I enjoyed the novel throughout. But I did have an issue with the narration in the first part. I found it hard to digest that the perspective offered to the readers was that of a 16 year old boy. Kanishka's understanding of the world around him (the political situation) and the turmoil inside him (as a homosexual) doesn't seem to be that of a 16 year old boy. Besides this, at times the author has used too many regional words (italicized in the book), which made certain sections less enjoyable.
Nevertheless this is a great debut that very deftly depicts the dilemmas that a homosexual has to face in a community that denies his very existence. Recommended for sure.
My Rating: **** (3.8/5)
-Originally published on https://booksnmyself.wordpress.com
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The narrative is intimately personal and political in its narrative touching on the fragmented history of Afghanistan as a country and its impact on the lives of its people. Through Kanishka, we see that the liberal air in his country and in the circle he circulates in is permissive of social drinking, of young girls and boys mixing together and even subtly encouraged but stringent when it comes to homosexual love.
The writing is lush and descriptive: the reader in me could feel the sense of confusion felt by the characters, the mood of the country, the shift in the society and the political turbulence but I specially loved the way writes about Afghani food and terms of endearments: the food descriptions or rather, just the names made me long to see the food and taste them to my fill. The chemistry of desire and tension between Kanishka and his love Maihan is palpable and is poignant, complicated and plain frustrating at times and so, compels you to their travails.
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Set in the 70's Afghanistan, The Carpet weaver is a coming of age story of Kanishka, son of a famous carpet weaver and a Maoist supporter. Kanishka, a homosexual who is in love with his best friend Manihan has to bear the consequences of the secret in a place where being gay could cost him a death penalty. The story takes us through their teenag
A bold, raw and one of a kind debut by Nemat Sadat. This is a story of loss, forbidden love, sexuality, politics, religion, dreams,family, war and hope.Set in the 70's Afghanistan, The Carpet weaver is a coming of age story of Kanishka, son of a famous carpet weaver and a Maoist supporter. Kanishka, a homosexual who is in love with his best friend Manihan has to bear the consequences of the secret in a place where being gay could cost him a death penalty. The story takes us through their teenage lives, school and the insult and threats for being a homosexual. A political turmoil changes their lives forever where survival is the aim.
The traditions of kabul, the festivals, art and cuisine was written beautifully with enchanting verses from Rumi's poetry. And like any other book set in Afghanistan you could walk through the lands there with its rich description. Kanishka's talents as a Carpet weaver and his quest and the irony that his Aim to be a Carpet weaver was his saving grace throughout was well portrayed.
From Afghanistan to Pakistan to America, this is a heartbreaking and explicit story but also a story of hope.
A much needed story for the queer community especially for the people in places like Afghanistan in current times.
3.5 from me for the storyline and writing.
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The story takes a turn for the worst with the beginning of the Russian invasion in Kabul, followed by Kanishka's adventures during the same. This is where the title of the story really comes through. Kanishka's talents as a carpet weaver is brilliantly portrayed as his sexuality is further explored in the course of the story.
However, in my opinion, the plot could've used more work in terms of being streamlined. The characters are not completely well-understood even towards the end of the story, and there could have been greater flushing out of the character storylines.
In appreciation, Kabul and the traditions and culture of Afghanistan are written wonderfully. The festivals, customs, and the food are wonderfully elaborated on and it was a pleasure to read about them.
It is worth a read if you are a first time explorer of Queer literature. It is also commendable that Nemat Sadat has penned the first work of Queer literature from Afghanistan. In that way, it is groundbreaking.
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This is a story of forbidden love. The love of Kanishka for Maihan. The love of Ghafoor for his ideals. The love of Faiz for his dreams of being an actor. And all forbidden love comes at a great cost, whether it is the loss of life, a way of living or one's sanity. We accom When does merely existing become an act of unsurpassable bravery? This is the question that this book explores in depth through the eyes of its protagonist, Kanishka Nurzada, a teenager growing up in Afghanistan of the 1970s.
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This is a story of forbidden love. The love of Kanishka for Maihan. The love of Ghafoor for his ideals. The love of Faiz for his dreams of being an actor. And all forbidden love comes at a great cost, whether it is the loss of life, a way of living or one's sanity. We accompany Kanishka as he flees pro-Soviet Afghanistan along with his mother and sister Benafsha, leaving behind the idyll of childhood and donning the mantle of adulthood far too soon, is led into a Pakistani refugee camp in the distant reaches of the Balochistan plateau, where he sees and experiences unspeakable horrors and from whence, he finally makes his way to the 'Promised Land of America', where he finally accepts himself and starts rebuilding his life.
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This book will leave you with a sinking feeling in your gut for most of its course, as you contemplate how governments and individuals alike can destroy lives in the pursuit of power and riches. How tradition can go from binding people together to being the noose around a person's neck. How we can become indifferent to injustice, if exposed to it often enough. However, it is also a story of hope, of courage, of what it means to actually 'be a man', of the indomitable spirit of the men and women who rise from the ashes to reclaim their place in the world.
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This is a book in the tradition of Khaled Hosseini's The Kite Runner. The writing is stark, heartfelt, vivid- so much, that even without having ever set your eyes upon the land, you grieve for the loss of a people, for the loss of a nation to the ravages of war and fundamentalism. ...more
Tracing a nuanced path, the book places you beautifully in an Afghanistan that is confused with its identity as a na
'The Carpet Weaver' has been greeting me practically everywhere. On Amazon. On newspapers. On book sites. I am a bit torn in my feelings about this book. I loved the beginning, which was rich with description and all Sedat's skill in bringing food alive made me quite hungry while reading this. *Note to self - I am not responsible for any weight gain issues after reading this book!Tracing a nuanced path, the book places you beautifully in an Afghanistan that is confused with its identity as a nation. And then, we have Kanishka who is not so confused about his identity, but struggles with the implications of being gay in a country whose religion views it as being 'haram.' This part of the book was utterly fascinating.
Somewhere, though, the story line falters a bit when too many elements were introduced - revolutions, Maoist views, violence, and escape into Pakistan, and stay in a forced labor camp. But where goes the love? I wish that Sedat had continued to weave in the story of Kanishka's quest for love rather than introduce what I think were heroic plot twisters. But that's a minor quibble.
A very promising, readable book and extremely important in this day and age.
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Read my full review here https://ofbookbabiesandmore.wordpress...
One of the best middle east and LGBTQ literature in the recent times. The presentation of the ideas, the treatment of the concept is done to the tee.Read my full review here https://ofbookbabiesandmore.wordpress...
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I'd still recommend it if you wish to read queer literature from the perspective of a POC from Afghanistan.
Nemat's debut 300-page book draws you in with every line, precisely because when you think you know where the narrative is heading, there is a whirldwind that disrupts the life of our protagonist, Kanishka.
Nemat charts out the life of Kanishka, a 16-year-old Afghan boy at the cusp of adulthood, who harbours a deep, dark secret. Kanishka, Maihan and Faiz are three carefree friends from well-to-do families and the scene opens to Kanishka's 1 Is this a story of love or strife? Or the strife in love?
Nemat's debut 300-page book draws you in with every line, precisely because when you think you know where the narrative is heading, there is a whirldwind that disrupts the life of our protagonist, Kanishka.
Nemat charts out the life of Kanishka, a 16-year-old Afghan boy at the cusp of adulthood, who harbours a deep, dark secret. Kanishka, Maihan and Faiz are three carefree friends from well-to-do families and the scene opens to Kanishka's 16th birthday. The trio love swaying to Akbar Ramish tunes, indulging in romantic banter about schoolmates and "dance, sing karaoke and drink alcohol" until they pass out. Sadat has a way with words that helps you instantly conjure the intimacy of everyday Afghan life that from an authentic, lived experience.
"Maadar, Benafsha and I sat down and whetted our appetites, dipping pita bread in burta under the heat of the sun. Suzie and Zaki jaan returned with thick cuts of Uzbeki-style lamb soused in Shashlik marinade with zereshk challaw mottled with red-gold saffron, crunchy potato wafers and crusty rice from the bottom of the pot."
The trio sometimes even indulge in daring transgressions such as dressing up Faiz in his late mother's clothes. But there is always a line no one dared cross, as Zaki Jaan, Faiz's father, dramatically announces in the opening line of the book,
"...the one thing I know is that Allah never forgives sodomy."
Tensions rise, as Kanishka falters between what his heart yearns for and the necessity to keep his family's honour by marrying a woman chosen by his parents and to procreate to keep the bloodline alive. While publicly expressing same-sex love is condemned with death (there are 71 countries that still deem homosexuality illegal, with homophobic incidents in many 'progressive' societies remaining alarmingly high at ~1.2-1.3k/year in the USA between right from the 1960's until 2019), there is subdued homoeroticism right through the veneer of societal propriety: from the covert hammams (communal steam baths) where Kanishka's father held reunions with fellow Maoists to references to Kandahari boys, from Rumi's deep love for Shams to Babar's attraction towards young, male adolescents. While Kanishka had to deal with transgressions in love, his father had to pay for covertly being on the wrong side of the communist divide: as the Saur Revolution of 1978 would go on to show. The family is uprooted: and what ensues is a gripping tale of escaping to a new country and being drawn into an unforgettable tragedy. What is incredible though, is how Kanishka adapts to his tough circumstances by doing what his Baba (father) had taught him at the Alibaba carpet store they ran: how to channel his rare talent to envision designs for carpets and translate them, through the weave of the thread, into carpets worth tens of thousands of dollars. While Kanishka undergoes abuse for his sexuality, it is moments of tenderness: of when he steals kisses from his lover under the starlight, of when he reveals his secret to his 14-year-old sister under a refugee tent and all he gets is her concern for his well-being and of when his mother puts up a brave fight to defend her son from demeaning accusations of "corruption and depravity."
One can resonate with Kanishka, Maihan and Faiz precisely because their emotions are not overstated. They have their foibles, they are imperfect and their struggles of keeping Afghaniyat and family pride are very real. Kanishka's longing for companionship, yearning for the warmth of sleeping in the arms of someone he loves and desire to let loose the unbridled fantasies of his mind were not ring-fenced into what boundaries defined by society: 'gender', 'politics', 'religion' or 'morality': as we are led through the undulations of feelings that Kanishka harbours towards an expansive array of characters.
There are several elements of the book that are appealing: from gems of Rumi's poetry, "lovers don't finally meet somewhere, they're in each other all along" (page 202) to the wonderfully evocative cover page by Prabha Mallya. The illustration, for me, depicted the struggle Kanishka faced: between the modernity of a pair of jeans, a T-shirt and a watch to the responsibility of holding up tradition: depicted through the shalwar kameez and brocaded jacket. The pomegranates in the background symbolise friendship, childhood, innocence, shelter and the fertile love that slowly blossoms as the narrative builds up, while the belligerant helicopeters and rough terrain speak of impending doom.
The essence of the story helping define Kanishka's life as one of finding peace and acceptance within himself, inspite of the impossibly disturbing circumstances he is thrust headlong into. I found untold poignancy in the simple declaration Kanishka makes in page 237:
"I could understand Rustam's pain like no one else could- just as he could discern mine."
More than the dramatic crescendoes, it is the subtle moments of shared compassion and empathy that really bring out the tragedy and irony of Kanishka's story, an account that opens up an entirely unheard voice and untold story. ...more
Matters are made worse when his father is arrested for colluding with communists. To escape persecution, Kanishka and his family flee their home, hoping to make their way to the US, only to
A historical fiction that delves into the socio-political terrain of Afghanistan in the 1970s, The Carpet Weaver is a heartrending survival story. Kanishka Nurzada is in love with his bestfriend, Maihan. But he soon realizes that the land he calls home is one where divergence is met with stringent punishment.Matters are made worse when his father is arrested for colluding with communists. To escape persecution, Kanishka and his family flee their home, hoping to make their way to the US, only to find that the path ahead is filled with fatal obstacles.
I have a soft spot for books set in Asia. It's always enlightening to learn about different cultures, as written by the own voices authors. While conservativism and communal clashes are frequently found in a lot of Asian literature, you also get to see just how vibrant and diverse communities are. And that fills me with hope.
The Carpet Weaver paints a vivid picture of LGBTQ+ identities and what it takes to hold your ground in a society that is ready to eradicate even the tiniest instance of non-adherence.
Kanishka's friendship with Maihan and Faiz is explored at length. It showcases how each of them reacts to the austere system in their own way and... Read the rest of the review on my blog
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When I first read that the book is where The Kite Runner comes in, I was at my prime as it being my all time favorite book and this book, the carpet weaver, does justice to what it says - A Powerful Tale of Love and Redemption
A story about this gay man and the brutality & betrayal he faced for the sake of li
This book is one hell of an adventure I've ever read! I didn't even realised that the protagonist are all grown ups by the end of the book and that years passed by in the story I was reading.When I first read that the book is where The Kite Runner comes in, I was at my prime as it being my all time favorite book and this book, the carpet weaver, does justice to what it says - A Powerful Tale of Love and Redemption
A story about this gay man and the brutality & betrayal he faced for the sake of living in a war torn world. I've felt all kinds of emotions while reading this book and the character's feelings spoke to me between the lines. A beautiful, heart wrecking and brilliant portrait of the 1970s and what it would have been for a person to be a homosexual when the political tension were at its highest!
The book revolves around family, faith, friendship, loss, cruelty and ,of course, love. It loudly talks about the struggles LGBTQ community have faced and are still facing in this world. To all the homophobic people, you need to calm down! They are humans just like you and me or any other person out there. Stop calling and picking on them! Like Taylor Swift said, "Shade never made anybody less gay"
The story is set in Afghanistan, Pakistan and the final venture to US. The side scenes are described in a very beautiful and abstract way. Talking about the cover and the name of this book, it couldn't have had been more accurate. The cover itself shows how hesitant yet passionate these two boys are, not to miss put on the helicopters which shows the war is going to take over their peace. And as you read this book, you'll understand how fate meets what you desire somehow-somewhere. The parts where Nemat keeps quoting Rumi's poetry to describe emotions are one of my favorite.
Also, the book literally made me cry thrice. You cannot imagine what kind of pain the family had gone through. And the thought that this fictional story might possibly be an actually story back then makes my heart ache.
I would recommend every person to read this insanely brilliant debut work by Nemat Sadat. Very smooth, intimate, rich in storyline and vocabulary. Go and read this book. I vouch for it!
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As much as I wanted to love this book, it really made it very difficult for me to do so. The first hundred pages of every book are very important. It forms the foundation to the plot and the characters. There are so many sexist remarks in this book that I can quote. The misogyny entrenched in the characters which is showcased quite casually from the very beginning made it really hard for me to feel bad for the characters. Phrases like "loose Hindu girls" and the romanticised take o
Rating: 2.5⭐/5As much as I wanted to love this book, it really made it very difficult for me to do so. The first hundred pages of every book are very important. It forms the foundation to the plot and the characters. There are so many sexist remarks in this book that I can quote. The misogyny entrenched in the characters which is showcased quite casually from the very beginning made it really hard for me to feel bad for the characters. Phrases like "loose Hindu girls" and the romanticised take on physical and sexual abuse in the book only made it worse. Instances where Kanishka's father rebukes one of his friends for using vulgar slang in front of his son but later asks his son if he has the "hots" for a girl and encourages him to seduce women only left me baffled. The romance is really badly written and so is the queer representation. Every time Kanishka sees a man, he cannot seem to control his erection. And that being his knee jerk reaction to any male stranger in his vicinity made me feel appalled. It is one thing to feel attracted to someone you see and another to imagine undressing them in your head while staring at them.
Albeit, there were parts of the book that I really enjoyed reading. After the first 100 pages, the story gets really intense. In an attempt to overthrow the government, the communist groups in Afghanistan, with the help of military leaders, wages a war against the system. This leads to a humongous loss of lives and leads people to flee the country as a result. Kanishka and his family, in an attempt to flee get caught up in a trap and get placed in a slave encampment. After years of turmoil at the hands of the torturers, Kanishka and his family escape the camp and move to America. Kanishka is left at a crossroads in his life where he has to choose to live his life his own way or live a lie for his family and the customs that come with his religion. The history blends in really well and the author did a great job writing it.
The story is moderately paced. The writing is coherent, easy to follow but could be better. It is highly problematic. The story is told in Kanishka's perspective and spans through the years 1977-1984. It is entertaining and it keeps you hooked. Although, I was disappointed.
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In fact, secrets seem to be all over the novel, with Kanishka and Maihan trying to hide their sexuality, Kanishka's father hiding his Maoist sympathies or later the plan to escape to the US from a refugee camp in Pakistan. While the novel is
Nemat Sadat's The Carpet Weaver tries to blend the public and private lives of a young homosexual boy in Afghanistan in the 70s. Kanishka, the son of a carpet weaver in a regular teenager in the Afghanistan of the 70s with one secret-his sexual orientation.In fact, secrets seem to be all over the novel, with Kanishka and Maihan trying to hide their sexuality, Kanishka's father hiding his Maoist sympathies or later the plan to escape to the US from a refugee camp in Pakistan. While the novel is set in 3 countries, the most vibrant and engaging part of the novel is definitely the one set in Afghanistan.
Sadat really portrays the tone of life in Afghanistan beautifully-complete with descriptions of parties and shops and festivals. The social and political history of the country is blended well into the microcosm of Kanishka's life- the book does a great job of showing how interconnected our private and individual lives are with the larger setting of the nation.
Kanishka makes for an interesting protagonist and narrator of his story. I particularly liked how his relationship with the other characters was explored- his parents, his sister, Faiz and of course Maihan. One of my favourite scenes was when Kanishka finally came out to his sister- it was such a short scene yet Sadat managed to convey the emotions beautifully.
The book in general though was OK, not great. It gave the impression that Sadat had picked up too many topics and couldn't adequately focus on all of them. It gives this impression of struggling with all the changes that's happening.
...more Being unique in the sense that the story of homosexual love comes from the ravaged land of Afghanistan, the novel is a must read for anyone; from straights trying to discern the meaning of true love and the plight and "The Carpet Weaver" deals with many issues that appear in Khaled Hosseini's "The Kite Runner", but while Hosseini's Amir finally gets a chance to make amends, Kanishka's battle for acceptance goes on even after he reaches the land of freedom . . . An honest and compassionate story.
Being unique in the sense that the story of homosexual love comes from the ravaged land of Afghanistan, the novel is a must read for anyone; from straights trying to discern the meaning of true love and the plight and struggles of LGBTQ+ community, to the LGBTQ people longing for a story that could express their emotions of love and struggle and for a story that can inspire them to accept and to be their true selves. ...more
Set in Afghanistan in the 1970s, the story revolves around the lives of thr
To love and be loved is every human's greatest desire. But what happens when one is not free to love? The Carpet Weaver by Nemat Sadat is one such love story, but at the same time, it is much more than a regular love story. It's a story of grit, determination and survival amidst war. It is also the tale of forbidden love, and the coming out story of a young man. And above all, it's a masterpiece to cherish forever!Set in Afghanistan in the 1970s, the story revolves around the lives of three boys and their families—Kanishka, Faiz and Maihan.
The story traces Kanishka's life across three timelines, and three locations – Kabul, Pakistan and finally in America. Every phase reveals gives important glimpses into Kanishka's life.
Despite losing his home, his country, and everything dear to him; Kanishka comes out as a strong protagonist, never losing his resolve to fight and protect his mother and sister.
It's a remarkable debut for the plot, and narrative is deeply engaging. The author's descriptive style of writing brings the words to life as one can visualize not only the rugged trails but also feel the trials and tribulations the characters undergo.
Sadat's writing is truly magnificent, and he brings to fore the traditional, orthodox yet hypocritical Afghan society in an extremely hard-hitting yet honest manner
.Detailed review here-
https://wordsopedia.com/the-carpet-we...
(4.5/5)
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Reasons to love this book/What to expect:
- The voice of the 16 yr old seems believable: right amount of ambition and wisdom, hope and despair, the correct reaction to every situation
Honest narration, unlike which is expected in a first POV
- Translations have been done beautifully
- A lot of commentary on Afghanistan's culture... The food, the clothes, the childhood games, the festivals throughout the It's a story about coming of age, first love, identities, love, family, culture, and religion.
Reasons to love this book/What to expect:
- The voice of the 16 yr old seems believable: right amount of ambition and wisdom, hope and despair, the correct reaction to every situation
Honest narration, unlike which is expected in a first POV
- Translations have been done beautifully
- A lot of commentary on Afghanistan's culture... The food, the clothes, the childhood games, the festivals throughout the year, the landscape of Afghanistan- translations provided wherever possible.
- The contrast which is drawn between Afghanistan and America in those little everyday things, it's beautiful!
- Continual quotes from songs and quawallis and sayings from Quran about Carpets and Weaving (an extra mark for keeping this up till the very end!)
- Calling out the hypocrisy of those in power
- There is a right amount of emotion, I mean when to hold on and when to let go...
- The discovery of one's identity. And sticking to what you belief in. Fighting the world for it.
- I am glad for the way the story ended, and where it ended. Perfecto!
Worth a re-read once I've learnt to write proper reviews. It's good!
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The narration is simple, quick, and touching. There are times when we have to ga Carpet Weaver - is a beautiful LGBTQ story set in Afghanistan during the late 1970s. The narrator Kanishka is falling in love with his best friend Maihan, which is one of the most shameful sins in Islamism, for a strict country like Afghanistan. The story gives an empathetic and detailed view on Saur Revolution, horrible prison camps held in Pakistan, the refuge camps, and the freedom they enjoy ultimately in the US.
The narration is simple, quick, and touching. There are times when we have to gather all our courage, to stand still and take a decision which we feel good for ourselves and not to be a people pleaser. The story enlightens and gives such a small confidence and pleasure. ...more
It was so tragic to see the frustration he had to
The Carpet Weaver by Nemat Sadat is about love, friendship, homosexuality, hatred, struggles, and war. Initially set in Afghanistan in the 70s, the story follows the life of Kanishka Nurzada who has just turned sixteen and his family is already expecting him to be the 'man' but what he is hiding is that he has feelings for his best friend, Maihan. He is scared for his life because in his religion it's a sin to be a Kuni, an offensive term for gay.It was so tragic to see the frustration he had to go through and to become an idealized man who loves someone of the opposite sex. He was threatened, beaten up and sexually abused for what he was. There were some brutal and visually disturbing scenes that it was so difficult to go through them.
Now, with all this going on in his personal life, the country is also in war crisis. People are fleeing the country, leaving their homes behind and some are imprisoned and questioned for being Maoist. The war was followed by camps in Pakistan and then the life in the U.S. A lot of things were going on in the story and I think it became difficult to keep it all intact.
Also, I think the author could have explored the LGBTQ theme more because, after a time, the war became the central theme as opposed to the starting where LGBTQ was the main theme. But overall, I think the story did manage to leave an impact. Apart from this, It was delightful to witness their culture, how they celebrate their festival and their different delicacies and I loved the way the story did justice to the title.
Quoting something from the story here. "Why we must be like them? Just because they followed the people before them doesn't mean we have to. It's as if our limbs are their limbs, our minds are their minds, and our hearts theirs too." It's true to its core, isn't? Why are we supposed to follow the same path that our ancestors had followed? Why do we have to abide by their beliefs? And this was something with which Kanishka, Faiz, Maihan and all other young kids struggled all their lives. Kanishka quoted Rumi a lot of times when he felt loved, lost, and abandoned. And he has shown a great deal of bravery when everything was falling apart by sticking to his beliefs and questioning the religion.
Finally, I would say it's not just a story of Kanishka but of all those people who have to live with secrets in their hearts because of their culture, family, and society not being open enough to accept them. It's also about how political conflicts destroy families and how hope is the only way of survival.
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So I will settle with 2/5
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Source: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/46196054-the-carpet-weaver
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