So. What do you think? How did you like this book?
I really enjoy this section. In addition to her return home and reunion with Mahmud, it's neat at the beginning to get Buran's perspective on some of the events from Part 2, especially insight on Amin and his attitude towards her.
Rather interesting what happened to her cousins, isn't it? Hassan's situation was especially sad. What do you think of her revenge on all of them, and the unforeseen advantage it would give her later? At one point after arriving home, she laments,
"I wept of the lonely years that stretched in front of me like an empty track through the desert. Of what use was it to be rich as the caliph is there was to be no one in the world that loved me best, no one in the world whom I loved best? The revenge I'd achieved on Hassan was as empty as death. I'd have given it over in a instant for five minutes with Mahmud. What good is revenge when you're alone at night?" (p. 196 of my book)
Any thoughts on this? Have any of you ever sought revenge and achieved it? Would you be willing to share how you felt?
Did anyone look into where Orontes is located? I checked it out and it is a river in Syria. But I don't really understand why someone would say they were from a river. Also, she's shocked at how far away the man from Orontes had come just to court her, but from what I could tell on a map, she'd had other suitors that were from places not much farther away: Aleppo, Damascus... Just a random thought there.
Well, I hope you enjoyed this book! Thanks for reading it with me!
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6 comments:
I loved this book, it was beautiful and powerful, and I will definitely recommend it. I also enjoyed the switch back to Buran's perspective, and how she felt about everything, from Amin and his jealousy to Mahmud and his little tests. I was also amused at how her reputation preceded her and stayed long after she left, just for being a shrewd trader and being able to make so much money.
The not-so-nice part of me was pointing and laughing at her revenge, because her cousins and more especially her uncle richly deserved it, and I kind of expected it to turn out that way with them. It reminded me very much of the prodigal son in the Bible, but with a less forgiving outcome. I've contemplated revenge before, and joked about it, but never done anything real. As angry as I may be, it's not my job to punish people. They'll get what they deserve.
I'll admit that I was annoyed at the attitude the men were still showing her after she returned home, assuming that just because she was home she was suddenly back being her father's property, though he owed her his fortune. All these suitors are insisting that she has no say in who she marries, and I would not have been nearly so polite. I'm also glad that Mahmud did show up and find her, since I'm a sucker for the happy romantic ending.
Thank you so much for sharing this book with us, Ruth, I loved it and am so glad I bought a copy so that I can read it again.
I figured that we'd see the sons get their just desserts with the title of the book being what it is.
I had someone hurt me horribly many years ago, and I didn't want revenge so much as I wanted to prove to her that she made a mistake in hurting me. Basically, I was harboring a grudge, although I didn't realize that was what it was until my husband told me to drop it already. And, I did. I dropped it. When I heard some time later that this friend of mine had suffered some unfortunately events, I felt truly saddened for her, and I was glad that I was no longer angry at her. I was happy that I wasn't compelled to forgive her because of some bad things happening to her but that I had forgiven her well before any of that happened and that I felt genuine sorrow for her situation. So, I felt I could identify with Buran about wanting if not revenge, to prove herself to her cousins' loss (loss in that they weren't worthy of her hand), but I could also identify that such revenge is really hollow. You don't feel whole when you are angry at others. It's more of a reflection on yourself. People hurt each other. That's part of learning to get along. And people, out of ignorance or plain stupidity, say and do dumb things that they shouldn't have done. But, it's up to us to let it go or harbor it and stay angry. Those are just my thoughts and I felt that this story was in line with my own experience.
Finally, I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I love a happy ending, but more than that, I love a book that deserves a happy ending, and this one certainly did. Also loved that the wealth and status Buran obtained didn't go to her head. She was sensible from day one and I liked that. Thanks for having us read this book, Ruth!
Yeah! I'm so glad you enjoyed this book.
Angela, I'm totally with you on being annoyed with everyone that expected her to defer to her father after coming home. She'd just spent a year or two as a free man! AND, it's because of her that her family's situation improved so much. Of course, no one but her family could really understand that, but I respect the fact that her father understood it and gave her the freedom she deserved. I really like her father.
Kate...I'm so impressed at how you were able to drop a grudge. I had to do that in college (you actually probably know the person), and it was quite a learning experience, but one I'm very glad I had. The grudge was eating me up and making me so unhappy.
If I've ever taken revenge, it was probably for silly, stupid offense from a sibling. However, there were some kids in middle school who were mean to me (and others), and I used to daydream a lot about beating the snot out of them.
Can I just say how much I enjoy this reading group?
I apologize for being so late with my response!
I really enjoyed this book, thanks for the recommendation.
I was surprised (and pleased) that there wasn't more outrage about what she had done. When I first read about her plan, I thought it seemed so risky because the gender roles in the society are very strictly separate. I figured if and when people found out she would suffer somehow. But in the end it earned her a great amount of admiration and respect. I guess because it's all about the money for most? Which leads me to my next point... why was it that was all anyone cared about? They seemed to be such a religious people, always speaking of Allah, and yet it really bothered me that many of the characters were dishonest and would do anything to improve their financial standing.
Anyway, those are the main thoughts I kept coming back to while reading. I thoroughly enjoyed the romance and happy ending, and even the bit of revenge she got on her cousins made me smile, although I did think it sad that it was made known widely what she had done. Kate, you make some great points about grudges and revenge - they are never truly satisfying. (Reminds me of The Count of Monte Cristo.)
Thanks for another great read!
The issue about money was something I thought about, too. And, the only thought that's really come to mind about it is that maybe they associate wealth with blessings or being in favor with Allah. Or perhaps that's how those that are more religious justify their wealth and their status, while others are just after money like so many other people all the world over.
The Count of Monte Cristo...that book is seriously calling to me. :D
Lynnette, you bring up a good point about money. I'm kind of embarrassed to admit that the issue didn't cross my mind. I agree that it's disheartening that money is so powerful. I mean, in Buran's case, her concern was that lack of money would prevent her sisters from marrying good men. But it's unfortunate that there's the perceived notion that there are not good men who don't have money. At some point though, Buran's mother talks about how she was poor and had the fortune of marrying a wonderful man who was also poor. But she also feels like she is an exception to the rule.
It's a theme that reminds me of Pride and Prejudice. Though the heroines in that book still managed to get their man without monetary wealth.
Wait, I just had an AHA moment. In Pride and Prejudice the women were able to socialize and interact with their men, therefore the men had opportunites to overlook money issues. However in Buran's society, the only thing the courting men knew about the young ladies, other than what they heard about them, was how much money the ladies could contribute to the marriage. It's almost like these other standards had backed the society into a corner where became one of the only ways to judge someone. Like Kate said, did money show whether they blessed or cursed by Allah even though it's a very superficial standard by which to gauge someone? And then we get back to the discussion of blessings and curses...
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