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lifeinsilver's review
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
avoyageforknowledge's review
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
beytwice's review against another edition
5.0
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC! An Isolated Incident is an absolutely underrated diamond and the first e-book I have read which I now feel the need to buy a hard copy for. Kamal presents by no means an 'easy' book to consume and I often found myself processing bite-sized portions of the story rather than deep-diving into chunks at once. The prose is beautiful and I've seen the general style and atmosphere compared to Khaled Hosseini (though I haven't read his work yet).
The story of Zari (and by extension the Nabi family) is by no means light and fluffy, with heavy trigger warnings for self harm, rape, child abuse, graphic violence, etc. but aptly depicts the power struggle for Kashmir and really helped enlighten me to many cultural and regional aspects I was unaware of. I was fully invested in the characters and their arcs and am surprised this book hasn't gained more traction for the tale it tells.
The story of Zari (and by extension the Nabi family) is by no means light and fluffy, with heavy trigger warnings for self harm, rape, child abuse, graphic violence, etc. but aptly depicts the power struggle for Kashmir and really helped enlighten me to many cultural and regional aspects I was unaware of. I was fully invested in the characters and their arcs and am surprised this book hasn't gained more traction for the tale it tells.
juliaglez's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
En general me gustó, está bellamente escrito, y Zari me pareció maravillosa; es increíblemente fuerte, y yo realmente deseaba que todo le saliera bien. Caso contrario el de Billy. Me pareció insoportable desde el principio, ingenuo, egoísta, en fin, todo lo que su hermana piensa de él, y por eso no me podía importar menos lo que le pasara. También sentí que al libro le sobraron unas 100 páginas (las de Billy), y me hubiera gustado ver a Zari acercarse más a la terapia, casi me pareció milagrosa su recuperación.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Gun violence, Rape, Death, and War
indywrites's review against another edition
4.0
The name Isolated Incident is just so simple a name for something that is not so isolated at all. It is not just that the book talks of how insurgency and terrorism has affected lives but how anywhere in the book no one is accused and never points fingers. Just the desolation and depression, mind numbing sadness that follows and these incidents that are not just for Kashmir, but so many more parts of the world are affected.
No, it is not an Isolated Incident but it sure does isolate a lot of people.
Zari is just a girl, a simple fun loving just engaged girl and suddenly her world crashes around her overnight. Facing the cruel odds dealt to her, she manages to survive but to survive is the last thing on her mind.
A poignant tale…..I have read these words so many times yet they are inadequate in describing the devastation & desolation Zari faces. Not losing her family but her whole way of life too. She and her suitcase travel across seas to find solace and begin anew but and the journey may just be her undoing.
The praise the book is garnering from all over is quite justified. I wanted to read the book as the desperate future Kashmir faces troubles me, our very own crown, the Taj of India is being tarnished by selfish, intolerant bigots. The book sheds a whole new light on the suffering of the residents, the people who want to live there, and who had a life there.
The only thing I found a bit surreal was the stint Billy had in Afghanistan and Pakistan as he had it a bit too easy in the land of mercenaries with bombs and shelling and cut throats. He gets in and out of there so smoothly; I am surprised the immigration guys did not grill him for a few weeks on arrival!!
This book is not a reminder of the wrongs going on in Kashmir but talks of how life goes on for those who have suffered. Pain makes us stronger and even though we suffer loss, it takes us towards new directions.
Soniah Kamal has written the pain, anguish and desperation of Zari and Billy with such ease that it feels the characters of the book are themselves talking. The sorrow and helplessness expressed or the understanding and love they find. How the families are affected or how they react, the handling of all aspects of violence is done with a lot of care and I am very impressed with the delicate way Soniah had balanced it and stopped it from being just another story of violence and abuse. Many times I had to put down the book just to absorb all the emotion spilling out, collect myself and read ahead hoping for Zari, wishing for Zari.
A deeply introspective story written with love meant to spread love and hope, faith that every little positive step matters. A good read, indeed!
b00kr3vi3ws's review
4.0
http://www.b00kr3vi3ws.in/2014/11/IsolatedIncident.html
‘An Isolated Incident’ follows the life of Zari Zoon, a Kashmiri girl. She could the girl next door, with a typical life and typical problems even while living under the threat of terrorism at all times. That is until an incident changes her life forever and she is sent abroad for a new beginning. But the new life and the journey towards it could tangle up Zari’s life yet again.
First and most important element of this book is the character of Zari. She belongs to Kashmir – a state under the constant threat of terrorism. Even with everything going on around her, she manages to build a somewhat normal life for herself only for it to be snatched away from her. She then embarks upon a new life in a new place, yet the threat never really goes away. Zari is such a character that you cannot help but feel for. The author has done an admirable job in building her up and portraying her life. Then there is Billy with his own fair share of baggage. Billy’s character could do with a bit of polish and fine tuning. I failed to connect with this character and his decisions.
The plot in itself is another fantastic element that includes a lot of issues. For instance, it gives us a look into the lives of the Kashmiris in general. It also includes a glimpse into the world of a girl who is sequestered by a, sadly enough, a very common incident and it makes you wonder about our society that is such an expert at victimizing the victims. The author has done an incredible job of portraying the situations without pointing fingers or sounding preachy. There were twists and turns in the novel that were easy to spot and though the ending was quite predictable too, it was really interesting to take this journey with Zari.
This is a well written novel with crisp language and detailed narratives. The author has set the book in multiple locations and each come with enough description so as to help the readers’ imagination. It was also a refreshing change from reading the commercial love stories that flood the Indian markets constantly.
Overall this was one hell of an emotional roller-coaster ride that wrenches your heart.
‘An Isolated Incident’ follows the life of Zari Zoon, a Kashmiri girl. She could the girl next door, with a typical life and typical problems even while living under the threat of terrorism at all times. That is until an incident changes her life forever and she is sent abroad for a new beginning. But the new life and the journey towards it could tangle up Zari’s life yet again.
First and most important element of this book is the character of Zari. She belongs to Kashmir – a state under the constant threat of terrorism. Even with everything going on around her, she manages to build a somewhat normal life for herself only for it to be snatched away from her. She then embarks upon a new life in a new place, yet the threat never really goes away. Zari is such a character that you cannot help but feel for. The author has done an admirable job in building her up and portraying her life. Then there is Billy with his own fair share of baggage. Billy’s character could do with a bit of polish and fine tuning. I failed to connect with this character and his decisions.
The plot in itself is another fantastic element that includes a lot of issues. For instance, it gives us a look into the lives of the Kashmiris in general. It also includes a glimpse into the world of a girl who is sequestered by a, sadly enough, a very common incident and it makes you wonder about our society that is such an expert at victimizing the victims. The author has done an incredible job of portraying the situations without pointing fingers or sounding preachy. There were twists and turns in the novel that were easy to spot and though the ending was quite predictable too, it was really interesting to take this journey with Zari.
This is a well written novel with crisp language and detailed narratives. The author has set the book in multiple locations and each come with enough description so as to help the readers’ imagination. It was also a refreshing change from reading the commercial love stories that flood the Indian markets constantly.
Overall this was one hell of an emotional roller-coaster ride that wrenches your heart.
indywrites's review against another edition
4.0
The name Isolated Incident is just so simple a name for something that is not so isolated at all. It is not just that the book talks of how insurgency and terrorism has affected lives but how anywhere in the book no one is accused and never points fingers. Just the desolation and depression, mind numbing sadness that follows and these incidents that are not just for Kashmir, but so many more parts of the world are affected.
No, it is not an Isolated Incident but it sure does isolate a lot of people.
Zari is just a girl, a simple fun loving just engaged girl and suddenly her world crashes around her overnight. Facing the cruel odds dealt to her, she manages to survive but to survive is the last thing on her mind.
A poignant tale…..I have read these words so many times yet they are inadequate in describing the devastation & desolation Zari faces. Not losing her family but her whole way of life too. She and her suitcase travel across seas to find solace and begin anew but and the journey may just be her undoing.
The praise the book is garnering from all over is quite justified. I wanted to read the book as the desperate future Kashmir faces troubles me, our very own crown, the Taj of India is being tarnished by selfish, intolerant bigots. The book sheds a whole new light on the suffering of the residents, the people who want to live there, and who had a life there.
The only thing I found a bit surreal was the stint Billy had in Afghanistan and Pakistan as he had it a bit too easy in the land of mercenaries with bombs and shelling and cut throats. He gets in and out of there so smoothly; I am surprised the immigration guys did not grill him for a few weeks on arrival!!
This book is not a reminder of the wrongs going on in Kashmir but talks of how life goes on for those who have suffered. Pain makes us stronger and even though we suffer loss, it takes us towards new directions.
Soniah Kamal has written the pain, anguish and desperation of Zari and Billy with such ease that it feels the characters of the book are themselves talking. The sorrow and helplessness expressed or the understanding and love they find. How the families are affected or how they react, the handling of all aspects of violence is done with a lot of care and I am very impressed with the delicate way Soniah had balanced it and stopped it from being just another story of violence and abuse. Many times I had to put down the book just to absorb all the emotion spilling out, collect myself and read ahead hoping for Zari, wishing for Zari.
A deeply introspective story written with love meant to spread love and hope, faith that every little positive step matters. A good read, indeed!
litficwithellie's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
AD, gifted
I was gifted a free eARC* of this book by the publisher, via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
I was gifted a free eARC* of this book by the publisher, via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
*eARC: electronic Advanced Readers Copy.
TWs: rape, murder (of family), self-harm, violence, freedom fighters/terrorism.
When I requested this book on NetGalley, I was unaware that Own Voices reviewers were regularly being declined for OV books. In future I will be more mindful when requesting, and I truly hope that me being granted this book didn’t take away an opportunity from an OV reviewer. I still wanted to read and review this book to hopefully shine a spotlight on it, and I didn’t want the book to lose the chance of a review as I felt that would be unfair to the author.
An Isolated Incident by Soniah Kamal tells the story of Zari Zoon, a Muslim Kashmiri girl who loses her family in a terrible act of violence perpetrated by a group with unknown affiliation, and for reasons unknown. As such, from the start, this is a heavy book to read. Fortunately, I’m not one to shy away from books that address difficult topics, and I knew very little about Kashmir, so I was intrigued from the start. As the book goes on, the situation Kashmir is in becomes clearer, with Pakistan and India fighting over the territory, while a third faction fights for Kashmir’s independence. Zari, however, is left with nothing in her home nation, having lost her extended family, friend, and fiance in the same horrific incident. She ends up moving to America, having been offered a home by the Nabis, friends of Zari’s family, where much of the story takes place.
While a lot of this story takes place in America, Kashmir remains present throughout in many different ways. The scenes that take place in Kashmir build a great image of a war-torn country, juxtaposing family life with the violence and destruction caused by the struggle for power. The images of Kashmir are haunting and devastating. While this book is about Kashmir, the violence that occurs there in the fight for control over the region is certainly not unique, and knowing these things have happened, and continue to happen across the world filled me with horror. Kamal builds an incredibly powerful image of Kashmir, one that I am sure will stay with me for a long time.
While this book is unable to offer any hope or redemption for Kashmir in an ongoing power struggle, there is hope and redemption to be found for individuals. Zari and Billy (the son of the Nabis), the central characters, both experience severe trauma throughout the course of the book. The depiction of mental health issues in this book was really sensitively dealt with, and it also addressed the cultural stigma that came along with these issues for the characters. The culture around shame and purity came into play a lot in this novel due to the trauma Zari goes through, and I loved that the younger generation were really fighting against these stigmas, and the older generation were also able to move past the stigmas and accept Zari. The conflict the older generation had around this was really interesting to me. While they take Zari in, and treat her kindly and appear to reserve judgement, they are shown to have internalised stigmas attached to rape victims. This internalisation is something that crops up throughout the novel, and is something that the characters work towards overcoming.
The characters in this book were really complex, well-written characters. Even the supporting characters feel really well drawn out, and there’s a lot of character development (and even a nice bit of character regression!) throughout the book that kept me on my toes. Zari, as the protagonist did really stand out, as did Billy, but Billy’s sister Salsabil also really stood out to me, as did Fahad and Billy’s aunt Babara. Even the least likeable of characters were still captivating. The stories and secrets that gradually unravel throughout the book, family secrets kept hidden away adds to the complexity of the narrative and makes for some amazing character development.
Continued on my blog.
This review also posted to GoodReads and NetGalley.
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