Paperback blurb: In this luminous story of bravery, tradition, and the power of language, an Afghan woman and a Danish widower form an unexpected alliance.
Escaping the turmoil and heartbreak of war-torn Kabul, Raihana settles with distant relatives in the strange, cold, damp country of Denmark.
Homesick and heartbroken, Raihana bravely attempts to start a new life, trying hard not to ponder the fate of her husband, who was taken prisoner by the Taliban and never heard from again.
Soon after arriving, Raihana finds herself in a language school, struggling to learn Danish, which she thinks sounds like the buzzing of bees.
To improve her speaking skills, Raihana apprentices herself to Gunnar, a recent widower who is steadily withdrawing from the world around him, even neglecting the bee colonies he worked so hard to cultivate with his late wife.
Over the course of the bee season, Raihana and Gunnar forge an unlikely relationship, despite the disapproval of their friends and relatives.
But when the violence Raihana thought she had left behind in Afghanistan rears its head, she and Gunnar are forced to confront the ghosts of the past as they navigate the uncertain future.
About the author: Amulya Malladi was born and raised in India. She lived in the United States for several years before moving to Denmark in 2002. She now lives in Copenhagen with her husband and two sons. More information and her other books can be found on her official website.
My take: Beautifully and sensitively written.
The strength of the story lies in the portrayal of the interactions and relationship between two different people from differing backgrounds, traditions, nationalities and cultures and also with their families, friends and in their community.
Anyone who has emigrated or had to seek refuge in a foreign land will identify with the difficulties and problems, even discrimination, that Raihana and her relatives faced. Certainly, the language is one of the major barriers facing these immigrants, especially a language like the Danish language.
The story also highlights the challenges facing the increasing number of refugees everywhere. The author said that when she first moved to Denmark, she was struck by how refugees and immigrants in general are treated there. She herself found it a difficult country to immigrate to because as an immigrant, you are expected to leave where you come from totally and completely and become Danish. Hopefully, Danes will come to realize that immigrants have hopes and dreams just as much as the next person. I think the story ends on a perfect note.
For some light-heartedness, there are facts about bees and how to keep them throughout the extremely harsh weather conditions of this small Scandinavian country to keep the story intriguing.
This has been an immensely enjoyable read for a quiet stay-at-home Sunday.
The Sound of Language is Malladi's fifth book published in 2007.
Take time to read.
Rating: 4/5
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