- Author: Nadya A.R.
- Paperback: 272 pages
- Publisher: Rupa Publications India (23 August 2017)
- Language: English
BLURB as on Goodreads
As Karachi burned in the 1990s, the painfully shy Noor Kamal found refuge in an antique jade mirror stolen from Daisy, her social butterfly mother. One fateful day, the violence hits home as a motley crew of burglars storm the Kamal residence, killing Joseph, the faithful driver who tried to shield Noor and kidnapping Daisy in the process.
Traumatized by the turn of events and succumbing to familial pressure, Noor reluctantly agrees to start life afresh in Singapore as the wife of Meekaal Kalim, an investment banker. Trapped in a loveless marriage, Noor finds succor in studying psychotherapy.
Her attempt to heal others brings her close to Ella, her neighbor, and Jake, a handsome American who is struggling to deal with his emotional breakdown. As she tries to exorcise ghosts from the past and break free from the shackles, where will Noor’s longing for love take her? Would she be able to liberate herself from her strong cultural values and ties?
A saga of love and trials, against a rich contrasting background, Invisible Ties is sure to appeal to the readers.
I had heard a lot about Invisible Ties and readers raving about it. Also, the magnificent cover has always intrigued me. So when I got an opportunity to review it, I was more than happy to do it. But to my dismay, the book didn’t come out as well as I anticipated.
The book revolves around Noor who is shy, timid, and had a sad childhood. Her mom usually blabbers and her father is indebted to her mother. Her life turns upside down when a burglary takes place at her house and she loses her driver, Uncle Joseph, whose ghost haunts her. She’s married off to an obnoxious man Meekal and moves to Singapore. Her mother-in-law gives her a hard time and consequently, she reveals that this loveless marriage happened only to get a nurse for mother-in-law.
I began the book with high expectations and it all came crashing down. I was a bit impressed when the curtains raised but as the show went on, I was utterly confused about what was happening in the book. The protagonist Noor left me baffled. I just could not understand what did she want. Agreed that she’s a feeble character but then, there had to be some substance. It took me a while to adjust to the backdrop of the book and as the story progressed, I thought of confronting something serious and substantial. Alas! I found nothing.
The characters with their eccentric personalities didn’t impress me. The concept of loveless marriage mirrors the truth of the society but fails to elicit a reaction out of me. I found over detailing of the clothes and places digressing the readers from the main plot. Moreover, the dialogues in the story containing vague meanings didn’t create an impact. Honestly, they were unnecessary and shallow. The equations of Noor with other characters were strangely unclear to me. By the end, I was just wondering what was the highlight of the whole book and how in the world the title is related to all of it.
But keeping my rant aside, I commend the author for her impeccable writing and flawless narration. Her command over language is absolutely charming. I would have loved the book had there been a convincing plot along with the fancy narrative.
MY RATING: 3/ 5
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