By: Suzanne Fisher Staples Publisher: Laurel Leaf Average Rating: Binding: Mass Market Paperback Label: Laurel Leaf Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 336 Publication Date: May 16, 1995 Reading Level: Young Adult Release Date: May 16, 1995
Product Description: The world of Newbery Honor book Shabanu is vividly re-created in this novel of a young Pakistani woman's heartbreaking struggle against the tyranny of custom and ancient law. Shabanu, now a mother at 18, faces daily challenges to her position in her husband's household, even as she plans for her young daughter's education and uncertain future. Then, during a visit to the haveli, their home in the city of Lahore, Shabanu falls in love with Omar, in spite of traditions that forbid their union.
In the Islamic Man's world a woman needs to be clever This books states the Islamic women's rights issues very well: 1) a girl forced to marry her idiot cousin because of land ownership 2) a young girl given in marriage as reward to an Islamic lord for doing justice 3) lack of legal rights or status for even the wives of rich men 4) wives terrorized by older wives with killing of pets ( a dog and a deer). and lies about loyal servants. The inbreed blood of Pakistani/ Punjab families runs thin. One uncle, Nazir, is clearly mad and a sociopath. The idiot is Ahmed, the only son of Rahim who marries Zabo, the daughter of Nazir. The one cousin with an American education is set to marry Shabanu's enemy Leyla. Nazir shoots Zabo as she and Shabanu are tring to escape. Shabanu has to pass that death off as her own, to protect her family from the still powerful Nazir who had killed her 42 year older husband Rahim. This books is a small education in a culture that is stuck in a time warp by traditions that stunt Islam while allowing it modern weapons.
Haveli -- Good but needs something more I liked the first book and had to have the sequel, Haveli. While Shabanu could have stood on its own and the reader left to answer questions, too many are left at the end of Haveli. For the most part, Haveli is too predictable during the main part of the story and the ending left too open. Another book would be nice to close the loose ends of this second book and bring things full circle. What happens to Mumtaz? Does Omar ever go up to the top of the haveli and discover its newest "ghost"? And the aunt can't live forever. What will happen the the haunted haveli then? It's a good read and a good source for discussion on what happens next.
A mother's sacrifice Haveli, by Suzanne Fisher Staples takes place in the traditional culture of present-day Pakistan and tells the story of Shabanu, the youngest wife of the elderly, powerful leader, Rahim. Shabanu and her young daughter, Mumtaz are forced by Rahim to live under the harsh judgment and jealous taunting of his other wives. This life of humiliation changes when her best friend is forced into marriage and Shabanu is asked to help prepare for the wedding in distant comfort of the city. Knowing that she will soon return to her life with the wives, she plans to run away with Mumtaz to save her from their taunting. Soon her escape to freedom is stopped by her husband's jealous brother and Shabanu must live in hiding, running from his authority to save her daughter from living a life like her own.
Heroine and princess Shabanu, a true problem solver, applies a little cunning and remains self-assured and dignified despite the oppressive forces persistently against her. Her sincerity and gracefulness attract the respect of people she encounters along the way. Although she often finds disagreement with the man she was forced to marry, Shabanu respects him for his sense of duty and responsibility for his family (just as her father throughout "Shabanu").
A sophisticated read with it's complex sentence structures yet wonderfully poetic. An ongoing element of mystery ensues. I particularly enjoyed the anticipation and reread passages trying to piece together a puzzle of relationships.
The very ending was actually quite suprising and put me in a state of contemplation for a few days (I'm a sucker for love stories).
Haveli Forced to become the wife of a man old enough to be her grandfather, Shabanu struggles to keep her young daughter safe from her husband's four other wives. Set in modern Pakistan, Haveli explores relationships between men and women, women's friendships, and ultimately the resourcefulness required to survive in a setting where women have very limited choices. Readers can identify with Shabanu, a strong, intelligent character who stays true to her own values even in the most difficult situations. I didn't like this book as much as Staples' first novel, Shabanu, because I thought the plot moved too slowly, but I think readers who enjoyed the first book will be interested to read more of the life of this compelling character.
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