Good Reads / Community Library Notes
The Storm
Ari Anwar
Review by Priscilla Comen
The Storm
Ari Anwar
Review by Priscilla Comen
The Storm, by Ari Anwar, is the story of Honufa and Jamir, who live in East Pakistan in 1970. Honufa gathers their belongings as she has heard a storm is coming. Her mother-in-law takes Honufa’s young son to a safe house. Jamir is out in a fishing boat where he works for Abbas who assures him he will always have work for him as his captain. In 2004, in Washington D.C., Shar delivers his daughter Anna back to her mother’s house after spending the weekend with her. Author Anwar weaves his characters together as the story unfolds. Time is running out on Shar’s visa, and if he doesn’t have a job he must leave the country. He hires a lawyer who can help him remain here.
In August, 1946, Rahim is on his way to work with his driver. At this time in Calcutta there is talk of a strike between Hindus and Muslims. Hindus oppose a division along religious and ethnic lines when the British abandon the country’s leadership, and Muslims will suffer as minorities in an undivided India. Author Anwar sets his story against the background of political unrest. Rahim is offered a promotion to managing director. Rahim’s car is surrounded on the way home by a mob of angry Hindus. The mob sends Rahim’s driver home to tell his wife they want a large sum of money as ransom. He and his wife, Zahira, live in a large house and have many servants. They are privileged, but have no children after three years of marriage. She calls Mr. Drake, Rahim’s superior at his office. He sends an inspector. Zahira does not like him as he advises her to wait and not to call the English. The inspector says he will work on the case. The driver swears he was not involved in Rahim’s kidnapping. Zahira decides to pay the ransom herself.
Meanwhile, Theodore and his wife Claire are evacuated from their home as the Japanese are expected to attack and occupy their city of Burma. Ishiri is the Japanese officer who will occupy Burma. He misses his homeland and when he and a friend go on leave from their camp, they both question this war. They walk for many miles and visit magnificent temples and meet a monk who talks about war and following one’s country or God. Ishiri discovers many things about himself. He is given an assignment to fly low and send leaflets to the ground, but he crashes and is taken prisoner. Claire is his nurse in a military hospital.
What will happen to all these characters from across the world? Fate has brought them together. As has author Anwar. Will Shar find a way to stay in the U.S.? The storm in Bangladesh killed half a million people. Find this fascinating debut novel on the new fiction shelf of your Mendocino Community Library.
In August, 1946, Rahim is on his way to work with his driver. At this time in Calcutta there is talk of a strike between Hindus and Muslims. Hindus oppose a division along religious and ethnic lines when the British abandon the country’s leadership, and Muslims will suffer as minorities in an undivided India. Author Anwar sets his story against the background of political unrest. Rahim is offered a promotion to managing director. Rahim’s car is surrounded on the way home by a mob of angry Hindus. The mob sends Rahim’s driver home to tell his wife they want a large sum of money as ransom. He and his wife, Zahira, live in a large house and have many servants. They are privileged, but have no children after three years of marriage. She calls Mr. Drake, Rahim’s superior at his office. He sends an inspector. Zahira does not like him as he advises her to wait and not to call the English. The inspector says he will work on the case. The driver swears he was not involved in Rahim’s kidnapping. Zahira decides to pay the ransom herself.
Meanwhile, Theodore and his wife Claire are evacuated from their home as the Japanese are expected to attack and occupy their city of Burma. Ishiri is the Japanese officer who will occupy Burma. He misses his homeland and when he and a friend go on leave from their camp, they both question this war. They walk for many miles and visit magnificent temples and meet a monk who talks about war and following one’s country or God. Ishiri discovers many things about himself. He is given an assignment to fly low and send leaflets to the ground, but he crashes and is taken prisoner. Claire is his nurse in a military hospital.
What will happen to all these characters from across the world? Fate has brought them together. As has author Anwar. Will Shar find a way to stay in the U.S.? The storm in Bangladesh killed half a million people. Find this fascinating debut novel on the new fiction shelf of your Mendocino Community Library.