Paradise is not a place, but a state of mind

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 PARADISE

Abdulrazak Gurnah




“They offered me freedom as a gift. She did. Who told her she had it to offer? I know the freedom you are talking about. I had that freedom the moment I was born. When these people say you belong to me, I own you, it is like the passing of the rain, or the setting of the sun at the end of the day.”

    These touching words are an excerpt from 2021 Nobel Prize Winning  'Paradise' by Tanzanian Writer Abdulrazak Gurnah. It follows around Yusuf , a Muslim teenage boy , in East Africa. He is unknowingly sent with his 'Uncle Aziz' , just to know later that he has been sold to him by his parents for money and a temporary escape from poverty. Life isn't easy. He has to travel long to reach his destination. Even after reaching their life isn't easy. It is the story of coming of age of Yusuf against the backdrop of an Africa of myth, dreams and Biblical and Koranic tradition. The book also ends with a creeping in of corruption and colonialism. The author has successfully crafted each character with their own unique intelligentia and feelings. This book will also remain special to me for years. It so happened that during a book fair, while getting into a store , I had a chance to see the great author himself leaving. The great man who played with his words . But luck was that I got one of his limited books that had been signed moments ago. Hence, the book has a  special place in my heart. She's a 9/10 but for the ending. I would recommend this book to any reader, who has admiration for a great piece of work .

Comments

  1. AnonymousNovember 27, 2024 at 5:01 PM

    Yes of course, paradise is a state of mind.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousNovember 27, 2024 at 5:24 PM

    Well narrated 🩷

    ReplyDelete
  3. Roleen AlexNovember 28, 2024 at 3:28 PM

    Indeed another excellent book review from your side. Keep it up.

    ReplyDelete

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