4.25

Under the Tamarind Tree follows the lives of four childhood friends, with a focus on Rozeena, a young doctor whose family fled to Pakistan during partition.
It's told in dual timelines, both set in Karachi. The earlier timeless being in 1964 leading up to an event which shaped the lives of the charactees and the later timeline set in 2019 after Rozeena has retired, and forms a bond with the granddaughter of one of her old friends.

From the beginning I found this book intriguing. I haven't read a lot about partition and the effects it had for years afterwards on those affected by it. However, it's an area of history that I've been wanting to learn more about.

One thing I loved so much about this novel was how believable and fleshed out the characters were. That along with the compelling setting kept me interested throughout.

I will say that I did enjoy the historical timeline more than I did the modern day sections, which often happens to me with dual timeline books like this one.

However, overall this was a throughly enjoyable novel about societal pressures, friendship, secrets and how history impacts generations. Definitely glad I read it.

The download date was unfortunately missed, I would be happy to re-review if it became available again. I have awarded stars for the book cover and description as they both appeal to me. I would be more than happy to re-read and review if a download becomes available. If you would like me to re-review please feel free to contact me at thesecretbookreview@gmail.com or via social media The_secret_bookreview (Instagram) or Secret_bookblog (Twitter). Thank you.

There is no statutory requirement for UK schools to teach about the Partition of India in 1947 so, unless you have a school or teacher unusually commited to exposing the horrors of British imperialism (and thus highlighting the overt racism of one of Britain's favourite sons, Winston Churchill), the onus is going to be on you to educate yourself. This is why historical fiction is one of the most important genres in the contemporary literary canon: it has the power to break down barriers of language, culture and time and, in the hands of talented authors such as Nigar Alam, it can give us beautiful, painful stories of the human experience which transcend these differences and leave the reader enlightened as well as entertained.

In Under the Tamarind Tree, Alam - whose own parents fled across the border into the newly formed Pakistan in 1947 - crafts an ambitious narrative which spans decades and continents, following the fortunes of one woman, Rozeena, from her childhood in India to her life as a retired doctor in Karachi.

The story begins when Rozeena receives a phone call from one of her oldest friends, Haaris, whom she hasn't heard from in many years, asking for a favour - will Rozeena take Haaris' granddaughter Zara, in Karachi for the summer following the death of her brother at home in Minnesota, under her wing? Sure that Haaris is not telling her the full story, Rozeena nevertheless reluctantly agrees, only to find herself forming a friendship with Zara which turns out to be just what each of them needs. Rozeena is an old lady and Zara a teenager, but both bear the guilt of feeling responsibile for their brother's death, and the burden of inheriting their parents' hopes and dreams for their sons.

The events of that summer are intercut with chapters telling the story of the summer of 1964, when Rozeena and Haaris - along with their friends Aalya and Zohair - were in their mid twenties and poised on the brink of decisions which would shape the rest of their lives. Each chapter is ominously titled 'Three Days Before', etc, so we know that we are building up to a seismic event, one which will presumably shed light on the relationship between Rozeena and Haaris. In the present day too, secrets abound - why has Rozeena's son been emailing Haaris for months? Why is Rozeena so cagey when asked about her old neighbourhood friends?

Alam's writing vividly captures the details of Karachi at two different points in Pakistan's history, describing the food, the clothes and the places with great care. She conveys the excitement many Muslims felt about the formation of a country for them, governed by them, and how the excitement turned to terror when they experienced the violence and chaos of Partition. She paints a picture of the rigid class system and regressive gender politics which bound the city in the mid-1960s, and which pre-determined the prospects of every Muslim child born - from whom they could marry to whether they would go on to higher education or, for women, whether they would get married and have children, forgoing a career entirely. Most importantly, Under the Tamarind Tree is the story of the human impact and long-lasting trauma caused by Partition. As the author herself states in her note, with fewer and fewer survivors remaining, it is imperative that those who can keeping their stories alive.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bedford Square Publishers for the opportunity to read and review an ARC of this book.

Family, duty, young love, friendship. Themes often found in this type of books. Loyalty to parents taken almost to extreme(especially from a Western point of view), impacting lives in irredeemable ways; corruption and moral corruption playing havoc with people finding themselves in lower positions in life, in a part of the world where the divide between rich and poor is literally killing people(even today!). From my point of view there were quite a few issues with this novel. First the pace: way too slow, the first 50% of the book felt as a sort of introduction to the characters and their connecting story, the first bit of excitement coming square in the middle and the resolution again taking forever to make an apparition. Secondly, I found that the author didn't add anything new to the narrative about Pakistan, the partition, the moral dilemmas facing that part of the world... But maybe that was not the aim of the author. But if the aim was to deliver a nice story, a personal touch, then that wasn't achieved either, as again, this story is way too familiar to stand out! Also more work was needed at the emotional level. Despite this being a very emotive story, I didn't really connect with the characters and failed to truly feel their drama, their heartbreak. In fact everything felt a bit uni-dimensional, in the sens that their suffering was implied but not actually transmitted to the reader, taking away anther layer that would have helped this story to make an impact!

I enjoyed this novel with dual timelines. It is a very interesting read on historical fiction centered around the Partition, origins of Pakistan and how the people who lived during that time might have felt. Themes of friendship, keeping family secrets, societal expectations, cultural traditions, making mistakes and facing its consequences.


Thank you to Netgalley and Bedford Square Publishers for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

I was looking forward to this book but unfortunately it wasn't quite what I was expecting. I thought it would cover more of the partition than it did. The partition that took place in India in 1947 is something I'd seen briefly covered in other books I've read, but none of them went into any great detail.

I found it rather slow. The story alternates between the two timelines with Rozeena, one of the main characters, featuring both as a young paediatrician living with her mother in the family home and then much later when Rozeena is in her 80's.

We are aware that Rozeena has a secret she is desperate to keep from her son and the story set in 1964 takes us back through all the events leading up to Rozeena's secret. There are in fact quite a few revelations throughout the story but it takes a good part of the book before the reader finds anything out of any great consequence. I found the story OK, and as chapters came to a suspenseful end, it does keep the reader wanting to know more and to keep turning the pages, nevertheless, I personally found it a somewhat depressing read and preferred the chapters set in the present day. I would class the book as a family saga, which isn't really my thing.

3.5 stars as the book is very atmospheric with a good sense of time and place.

A charming inter generational story about love, betrayal and culture, set in Pakistan. I loved the difference between the past and the present and how the past shaped the future. I began by enjoying the chapters in the future but then wanted to know more about the past. I loved how the author counted down in months to the big tragedy. I chose this book because of the timeless and cover and it did not disappoint.

I found this novel slow to start and it took me some time to get to know the characters. Several times I needed to search a name to remind myself of their role in the story.

The dual timeline worked well, especially the countdown in 1964 to the dramatic event which changed everything for the protagonists, and its aftermath. The 2019 chapters I found less satisfying, the parallels between the old woman and child feeling somewhat contrived.

I really wanted to love this book with its important themes of status and power, the stigma of poverty, impossible love, domestic volence, but somehow it did not come alive for me.

This book examines the lingering effects of the traumatic Partition of India in 1947 on a group of people who mostly end up in Pakistan - or rather, West Pakistan, as that wing of the country was known at the time.

Rozeena and her parents flee India for Pakistan, only to become one of the uncounted casualties of that historical event. Because, along the way, Rozeena's brother Faysal loses his life, leaving the horrified survivors to make their way to the new country without him. But Faysal's presence continues to be felt in his family's lives, perhaps most strongly visible through Rozeena's grief at the loss of her sibling.

In Pakistan, Rozeena is close to her three friends Haaris, Aalya, and Zohair, but as they reach adulthood, those bonds begin to fray. While Rozeena's family arrived as refugees, they were able to move straight into a house because they had relatives there, rather than living in the refugee camp. This and other once-minor differences between Rozeena and her friends gradually begin to take on a much heavier cast, culminating in one disastrous night, when somebody dies, and their lives change forever.

First forward some decades, and Rozeena receives the most unexpected phone call, requesting her help with a friend's granddaughter. Although the assistance asked for is forthcoming, it has unexpected consequences, both good and not so good...

This is an emotional and at times surprising story. While some aspects are heavy on the drama, others are more subtle, particularly in terms of the blossoming bond between the older Rozeena, a retired doctor, and her young visitor. Lost relationships and long held secrets make up key themes in an interesting story that spans decades.

There are certain books that make you want to immediately start another book after, and then there are books that you want to fully savour before starting another one because they're THAT good - Under the Tamarin Tree falls under the latter. A wonderful meditation on what it means to be a friend and human and one that will stick with me for long after I read the last page.

Very moving

A story of two parts set in Karachi, Pakistan following the Partition. T
First in 1964 and then in 2019. Four childhood friends who grow up and apart as their country does.
Later someone looks back at that time and tells the rest of the story of these friends

Moving

Under the Tamarind Tree by Nigar Alam weaves a tale that beautifully balances the intricacies of South Asian culture with universal human experiences. Its authentic portrayal of relationships, struggles, and moments of joy struck a chord with me. The storytelling is both poignant and relatable, making it a fantastic read for anyone. It's the kind of book you'd gladly share at a family gathering.

I would like to thank the publisher for providing me with an ARC through NetGalley. As always, my opinions are entirely my own.

3.5 stars. This is a really emotional book and I think it will be more impactful depending on your personal situation.

A story encompassing dual timelines, Under the Tamarind Tree tells the post-partition story of Rozee and her group of friends in Karachi, Pakistan and Rozee's life in 2019.

In 1964, Rozee is a pediatrician and has set up her own clinic. She lives with her mother and aunt. Aalya, Zohair and Haaris are her neighbours and the story revolves around the lives of these four friends. Along the way they suffer personal loss, face challenges and in Haaris' case, achieved success due to belonging to an affluent family.

Throughout the book, Nigar Alam builds up suspense leading up to a night where all of their lives change.
In 2019, Rozee gets a phone call from Minnesota-based Haaris, asking her to take his teenage grand daughter Zara under her wing for a few weeks. What follows is a beautiful and heartfelt friendship between Zara and Rozee.

Under the Tamarind Tree is a captivating read. Nigar Alam has truly brought the characters to life; highlighting the painful loss of loved ones during partition and the disparity between social classes in the 1960's.