A review by theengineerisreading
The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani

5.0

Engaging and moving.

This is the type of book I would highly recommend to my future son or daughter or niece or nephew for this presents a more realistic version of the world.

In this book, Nisha and her family has been part of the mass migrating Indian Hindus who travelled from the then-India-now-Pakistan area to India after the British monarchy granted freedom to the Indians. However, top country leaders, including those who represent the Indian Muslim and Indian Hindus, have divided opinion on how to achieve peace and true freedom with some saying that free India be divided into two new countries where one is for the Muslim and one is for the Hindus while others staying true to the united India as there is no need to divide a country after being seized by conquerors for more than two hundred years. But the former decision overpowered the latter and a new country, Pakistan, has been added to the world. This caused the largest mass migration in Earth's history to transpire. With Nisha's family one of the Indian Hindu families who travelled from Mirphur Khas, area in now Pakistan, to Jodhpur in new India to avoid the rising conflict.

I think what made this book a great read is the fact that it paints a new picture of the world before. That there are previous events that made what our planet a stronger version of it is now. Though the main aim of this book is to insist that we have made the mistakes before by letting us be divided by religion, this book is also an informative read with a lot of factual references that made this book enjoyable.

I liked Nisha's character in a way that she is brave in her own unique path. Nisha made us see that sometimes, sticking to what you feel is right can make you do right things. And amid all the hardships she encountered, she remained as steady as a rock and even become tougher.

I also enjoyed reading the supporting characters like Amil whom I think is a representation of a dyslexic person (as per the author's first few chapters' description) and Nisha's Papa and Dadi and Kazi and Rashid Uncle and Hafa and even Sabeen and her newgfpund friend Sumita. Every character in this book felt so perfect in the setting and storyline created by the author herself.

Lastly, if you want to know how I feel about the book in general, well... i absolutely loved it and will highly recommend it to friends who are doing #yarc2019 because this is the historical fiction we need to read to know what happened before. This his-fic version of THUG set in India with a blend of Stephen Chbosky's The Perks of Being a Wallflower in format will surely make you gasp and nod and symphatize with the characters knowing the journay they had and the sacrifice they made to do something that is not essential in the first place if not for the people who always go with animosity than promoting valies and equality. Ciao.

Rating: 5 stars