The Carpet Weaver

The Carpet Weaver

no title has been provided for this book
Category:
Afghanistan, 1977. Kanishka Nurzada, the son of a leading carpet seller, falls in love with his friend Maihan, with whom he shares his first kiss at the age of sixteen. Their romance must be kept secret in a nation where the death penalty is meted out to those deemed to be kuni, a derogatory term for gay men. And when war comes to Afghanistan, it brings even greater challenges-and danger-for the two lovers.From the cultural…

To love and be loved is every human’s greatest desire. But what happens when one is not free to love? The Carpet Weaver by Nemat Sadat is one such love story, but at the same time, it is much more than a regular love story. It’s a story of grit, determination, and survival amidst war. It is also the tale of forbidden love, and the coming out story of a young man. And above all, it’s a masterpiece to cherish forever!

Set in Afghanistan in the 1970s, the story revolves around the lives of three boys and their families—Kanishka, Faiz, and Maihan.

Kanishka Nurzada, the son of a carpet weaver, is the main protagonist and narrator. He aspires to join his family business, much against his father’s wishes, who has bigger dreams and aspirations for his son. He is leading a dual life, hiding his identity from the world. Revealing his identity would be a danger not only to him but to his family as well. He is Kuni (gay) and in Afghanistan, homosexuality is a crime. 

The story traces Kanishka’s life across three timelines, and three locations–Kabul, Pakistan, and finally America. Every phase reveals the intricacies of Kanishka’s life. It’s a story filled with hope, as in the end, Kanishka is victorious after all the sufferings he has undergone.

The first part set in Afghanistan is a period of political uncertainty, where the 16-year-old is exploring his sexual identity. In the second phase, we find Kanishka amidst a political turmoil that pierces his family. Attempting to flee the country, Kanishka and his family end up in a prison camp in Pakistan. Their hopes dwindle as life in the camp is difficult and dangerous. His talents as a carpet weaver give him strength and hope. It’s finally in the promised lands of America that Kanishka learns to dream, accepts his identity, and learns to live his life.

Despite losing his home, his country, and everything dear to him; Kanishka comes out as a strong protagonist, never losing his resolve to fight and protect his mother and sister. 

It’s a remarkable debut for the plot, and the narrative is deeply engaging. The author’s descriptive style of writing brings the words to life as one can visualize not only the rugged trails but also feel the trials and tribulations the characters undergo. 

Sadat’s writing is truly magnificent, and he brings to fore the traditional, orthodox yet hypocritical Afghan society in an extremely hard-hitting yet honest manner in The Carpet Weaver.  

___________________________________

Buy the book here:

 

Latest posts by Chandra Sundeep (see all)

Let us know what you think about this story.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

© Penmancy 2018 All rights reserved.