The Moonlit Cage

Book Review

The Moonlit Cage, by Linda Holeman

The Moonlit Cage, by Linda Holeman, tells the story of Daryâ, a Muslim girl in mid-nineteenth-century Afghanistan. I could summarize this amazing story but I’d rather not ruin it for first time readers. But I will say I have read this book twice now, and it remains one of my favourite reads. The first time I read this story was five years ago, and it struck me as a wonderful page turner, full of adventure, about survival, struggle, and love. However, this time around, it wasn’t the story that captivated me as much as the character of Daryâ and her struggle for independence.

I admired Daryâ’s courage and strength and was impressed with her inquisitiveness. Her character is timeless, and despite the difference in era, culture and beliefs, I found that I could still relate to Daryâ and in many ways, which drew me into the story further than before. Daryâ was raised to believe that “Men are created to enjoy; women to give enjoyment to them”.  But, she dared to challenge this time and time again. For example, when Daryâ asks her mother about her role in the bedroom, her mother’s response is that women are expected to be comforted by cooking, cleaning and child bearing, and that the enjoyment of sex is reserved solely for men. But, Daryâ questions this, and asks “could it not be possible for a woman to enjoy both things?” Personally, I feel that I, as a western woman in my late 20’s, still question the sexual role I am expected to play by society as well.

But the line that I related to most, was when Daryâ thought to herself, “Surrounded by strangers and yet alone, I left the only life I knew”.  I have been travelling and moving around for the past five years and haven’t spent more than eight months in the same place. That same thought crosses my mind constantly. Although I am quite social and typically make friends wherever I go, I often still feel alone. Then, when I come home to Vancouver, it feels that aside from family and a few very close friends, most of the people I once knew are mere acquaintances. It is something I have been struggling with lately and was pleasantly surprised to have that feeling portrayed in this story.

                -Samantha Smolen.

Additional Reviews

“Holeman’s talent is evident in her attention to detail and mood. The Moonlit Cage is a well-paced, creative and addictive novel, with enough substance and depth to engage the cynic and the romantic alike.”
- Winnipeg Free Press

“This sweeping 1850s saga… contains most of the elements necessary to provoke thoughtful discussion: suspense, intrigue, passion, lust and extreme hate peppered with violence, combined with exotic travel and the beauty and grime of several different cultures, makes this a compelling and exciting read….This is definitely a book you want to talk about.”
- Globe & Mail, Canada