Reading a thought provoking and taboo themed novel during Ramadan felt eye opening. The book is about three women and their journeys, while also showing how human rights are seen in Malaysia.
Professor Suliza is an activist academic who uses her position to speak about human rights. As a feminist, she is often judged and misunderstood. The trauma of her friend’s rape and suicide still haunts her and shapes who she becomes. Hashimah, a cleaner, lives with an abusive husband who is known as a religious and respected man outside the home. Dalila is a liberal feminist working on a novel about feminist and human rights topics. Both Hashimah and Dalila are also close to Professor Suliza.
I have always liked the author’s writing, and his voice is very clear in this book. He adds some academic style writing to make the story stronger and more meaningful. As he said, readers should not focus only on the storytelling, but also on the message. This book really makes us reflect on different perspectives of human rights.
The story also answers many questions, including what happened to Professor Suliza and how Dalila tries to understand herself again after losing her memory. Her sudden marriage to Jebat shows how lost and dependent she feels. The ending is riveting.
The timeline may confuse some readers, but I personally enjoy this kind of creative writing. It’s not your typical story. The book mixes different themes like politics, relationships, and serious social issues. A powerful read. 4.5 ⭐