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
- 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
- Globe & Mail, Canada
