Capturing the forced and grim realities facing women in India today, along with the raw emotional power of great drama, Amina: The Silent One by award-winning author Fiza Pathan proves an incredibly powerful read from the start. An unblinking look at lives no human being should be required to lead, she avoids the temptation to concoct prescriptive characters and instead shows us, without compromise, the depth of their pain and the totality of their suffering. It wouldn’t be disingenuous to say there are times when Pathan’s novel is harrowing, cruel and incredibly sobering as she allows her story to develop organically. In this respect, Pathan’s novel fits the classical definition of tragedy, the daily desolate reality her characters have no option but to face, and within which they must find some degree of dignity. For many readers, unfamiliar with the machinations of Indian culture, Pathan’s words will leave an indelible mark that’ll linger long beyond the last page turned, and yet it’s the kernel of hope manifested in Amina’s extraordinary gift that ultimately prevails.

A truly remarkable work of fiction that touches heart and mind, Amina: The Silent One is sure to engender much thought and discussion. It is recommended without reservation.

Pathan’s strength is her ability to perfectly describe the slums Amina’s family lives in. Whether it’s the horrible odors of the neighborhood, the trash heaps lining the streets, or the cramped quarters of the shanty that the family lives in, it is easy to picture the setting where Amina spends her days. Pathan is also able to effectively cultivate a character that is natural to root for – Amina deserves to be appreciated for her musical gift and not denigrated simply for being a woman. In the novel, Pathan successfully shows the dichotomy of being a woman in this culture; they’re forced to undergo many tragedies but often do not receive any appreciation or even protection from dangerous outside forces.

AMINA: THE SILENT ONE is a beautiful and thought-provoking novel that shines light on important issues facing women in India today.

~IndieReader

“Amina: The Silent One” by Fiza Pathan tells a haunting tale of the degradation and inhumane treatment of women in India today.  Though the story is fiction, the bitter realities behind the narrative cannot be ignored.

The story opens with Jaffar, who is lamenting over the fact that his wife just gave birth to their third daughter.  With no thoughts of how to provide for yet another “ungainful” mouth, Jaffar and his wife take their yet unnamed daughter to see Jaffar’s mentor, Dr. Rahim Muhammad Sheikh, for advice.  The doctor is incensed at the couple’s dehumanization of their daughter, and shames the new parents for their backwards attitude towards their girls.  Dr. Sheikh’s adopted son, Jumman, names the baby Amina, after Dr. Sheikh’s own grandmother, and the couple is sent home with the advice to allow their daughters every opportunity in life, beginning with a decent education.  Years later, tragedy strikes the family and Jaffar never recovers.  Amina’s already delicate world is shattered in an instant, and yet it is only the beginning of the horror she will soon come to know as her life.

I have read a number of horror books in my time, and they all pale in comparison to this story.  The author opened my eyes to the atrocities faced by women in India every day. I stand in utter disbelief that evil of this element still exists in this world.  Given my own devices, I could not even begin to imagine the extent of physical and psychological abuse of the women in India, yet it is spelled out ever so clearly, through the exceptional writing talent of Fiza Pathan. The characters are so authentic I was affected by every single one of them, and the amazing use of creative elements made me feel like I was right there in the slums with Amina and her family.

"Amina: The Silent One" by Fiza Pathan is one of the most socially relevant books on the market today in my opinion, and I highly recommend it.  I could not put this book down.  I was totally captivated throughout the entire story, and Amina and her family will be in my head, and on my heart for some time to come.

Amina: The Silent One is a gritty, powerful story written in a wonderfully engaging way. The writing style is extremely readable and I couldn’t put the book down; I read it all in one go. Fiza has succeeded tremendously in portraying the conditions of women in India and other similar male-dominated societies. I really appreciated the fact that a book like this truly brings to light the many severe issues that women face in over half of the world such as female infanticide, the practice of dowry and arranged marriages, the second-class status of women in society, an utter lack of basic and fundamental human rights, sexual harassment and abuse, and lack of education and opportunities for women. All in all, this is an outstanding book and one that I would very highly recommend to everyone. Reviewed by Gisela Dixon for Readers' Favorite

Pathan’s writing is exceptional, and this book is a revelation into what life is like in the Indian slums and more, particularly the inhumane ways in which girls and women are viewed and treated by many in Indian society. The author holds nothing back in her harrowing descriptions of appalling abuse. The result is an eye-opening, gripping and heart-breaking story. Pathan has a captivating writing style. The characters she creates are totally real to the reader, and the world in which they live becomes very vivid too. I love the quote by Maria Augusta von Trapp at the start of the book: “Music acts like a magic key, to which the most tightly closed heart opens,” which speaks of the healing properties of music. Amina’s music not only softens the hearts of her abusers, to some extent, but also propels her forward and prevents her soul from being completely broken. Amina: The Silent One is a powerful story with a message that needs to be told, one that will stay in your mind. It deserves an award. Reviewed by Hilary Hawkes for Readers' Favorite