Adil Najam
We are planning a more detailed review of Mukhtaran Mai’s book In the Name of Honor: A Memoir
However, I can’t resist the temptation to put up this picture from an Islamabad bookstore, published in the Daily Times (15 November, 2006) that shows the two books displayed side by side. I will not over diagnose it right now, but I find the portraits of both Mukhtaran and Gen. Musharraf interesting depictions, especially when placed side-by-side. I would also love to find out which book the gentleman in the background in reading.
So do keep an eye on this space for more on Mukhtaran Mai’s book
[quote comment="10053"]Mukhtaran Mais book is published by teh same people at Musharafs book (Simon and Schuster). Also the subtitle of the two is the same (A Memoir). Also, the titles are very similar (In the… ‘Line of Fire’ and ‘Name of Honor’). Coincidence?[/quote]
My word!
I read the (both German and French) Mukhtar’s Mai book. I liked it as it made me to believe that author did not play with the words to make the book as piece of some scholaristic stuff but tried to tell the real story. I was feeling that Mukhtar Mai was sitting and telling me her story. (A simple woman with her simple words telling the truth)!
Little Prince was a book which is very simply written but gives a very strong message to us. Same is with Mukhtar’s Mai book which looks very simple but gives a very strong message to its reader and only one can get that who will not see it as a piece of art or Novel.
Farzana,
Kristoff wrote an introduction to the book. The book is written down by two French interviewers who listened to Mukhtaran Mai’s narrative of her story. The book was then translated from French to English.
It becomes very obvious as you read it that it was written by a Western eye. It’s a very basic novel (I think a fourth grader could read it), perhaps because a lot of depth got lost in translation. The outcome is an assumption that because she is a village girl, she is simple.
I didn’t like the book at all, but I’ll save any more critique for the actual book review on ATP.
Farzana,
If Musharraf had to have ghost writers (not one but two)to write his book how do you expect poor and illiterate Mukhtaran to write a book. Obviously, it is written by someone else.
The book being thumbed in the background does not seem to be a law book because law books are usually not embellished. Maybe the Sharia Law books are. I don’t know. But how is the book in the background relevant to all this?
Can someone please cconfirm if this book is by Muskhtaran Mai herself or by Kristoff. I followed the link to Amazon and it said Kristoff I do not think that is corect.
The book being read in the background is probably not the quran which is ussually thicker in this size. A lot of local law books tend to have cobers like this.
From the cover, the book in the background seems like a copy of the Qur’an or a book of Hadith or something–with the gold embossed text on it…
Mukhtaran Mais book is published by teh same people at Musharafs book (Simon and Schuster). Also the subtitle of the two is the same (A Memoir). Also, the titles are very similar (In the… ‘Line of Fire’ and ‘Name of Honor’). Coincidence?
The cover of Mukhtara’s book seems much more striking. A look of graceful determinantion on her face. Symbolizes her very well.