Reviews

Sunlight on a Broken Column by Attia Hosain

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railla's review against another edition

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slow-paced

2.5

ankysbookbubble's review against another edition

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5.0

I read this book as part of my course book. Wasn't expecting to like it but I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, both as a student and as a reader.

femalemanipulator's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

abey's review against another edition

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Did not work for me. I found it a bit confusing and written quite dry. I didn't feel any type of way about any of the characters especially the main character

vaishsviews's review against another edition

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challenging emotional slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Really and truly, this should have been a DNF but I was too far through it that I decided to push through.

Sunlight on a Broken Column tells the story of Laila who is brought up in her grandfathers house before moving into her uncle’s house. The difference between her traditional grandfather and her liberal uncle leaves her trapped in the middle. Independence is just around the corner but she is trying to fight for her own amidst the ongoing political struggles.

I really wanted to enjoy this, particularly because it’s about the Partition that happened in India in 1947 but I don’t think it was done as well as I expected. One of my biggest problems was that I genuinely couldn’t remember the characters and how they are different from one another. Several characters blurred together, whether due to their beliefs, personality or their characterisation. There is also a brief glossary at the beginning which does help but it doesn’t help to explain familial relationships which lie at the heart of this story.

At some points, even the main character fell flat for me which was a shame because she was carrying this story. It felt like she just went through life, doing what she was told and thinking what she was told. Maybe that’s the point of her character but I couldn’t get along with it.

However, I did enjoy the brief comparisons of East vs West and how ideologies and behaviour and customs are adapted to fit in. There were moments about the price of independence, not only for the country but also for individuals but ultimately, I was past the point of being interested and just wanted it to be done with.

lateseptemberdawn's review against another edition

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slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Laila is very underwhelming as a 'protagonist' if she can even be called that. She had no opinions, no point of view, and lived in a world of self-pity. She had no agency at all. Even amongst her friends she was uninvolved and quick to judge, while she herself never had anything concrete to give. She simply existed, and after she fell in love, she existed for her lover; for him and him alone.

And after her lover died, I'd say that's when she really became <em>somebody<em>