I don't know where to start about this book. It is full of so much . . . characters, heartbreak, unrest, war, bigotry, love, death . . . ultimately every part of life. The story covers the years of unrest between the Hindus and Muslims including some of the darkest and most violent episodes like the Kashmir Insurgency between the Kashmiri and the government of India. The story begins with the birth of a son to a doctor and his wife. Aftab is intersexed and becomes a hajira who takes the name Anjum to live as a woman with a group of other hajiras. From there the story introduces more characters including hunger-striking protesters, vicious military personnel and rebel agents, a journalist, and so many others. The story is ultimately about people and their relationships and the fact that love of our fellow humans is the only way to put an end to all the dissension in the world. I listened to the audiobook read by the author and it was often hard to keep track of which character was which. At one point I found myself confused about what was going on in the story. I feel I should go back and reread it in print to get the full effect.
