*REVIEW* The Pearl that Broke Its Shell by Nadia Hashimi

* I received a hardback copy of this book for my honest review*

Afghan-American Nadia Hashimi's literary debut novel, The Pearl that Broke Its Shell is a searing tale of powerlessness, fate, and the freedom to control one's own fate that combines the cultural flavor and emotional resonance of the works of Khaled Hosseini, Jhumpa Lahiri, and Lisa See.

In Kabul, 2007, with a drug-addicted father and no brothers, Rahima and her sisters can only sporadically attend school, and can rarely leave the house. Their only hope lies in the ancient custom of bacha posh, which allows young Rahima to dress and be treated as a boy until she is of marriageable age. As a son, she can attend school, go to the market, and chaperone her older sisters.

But Rahima is not the first in her family to adopt this unusual custom. A century earlier, her great-aunt, Shekiba, left orphaned by an epidemic, saved herself and built a new life the same way.

Crisscrossing in time, The Pearl the Broke Its Shell interweaves the tales of these two women separated by a century who share similar destinies. But what will happen once Rahima is of marriageable age? Will Shekiba always live as a man? And if Rahima cannot adapt to life as a bride, how will she survive?

MY THOUGHTS

I admit this is different from what I usually read but it sounded so interesting that I just couldn't pass up the chance to review it and I have to say I am happy I read this.  It is good and kept me reading. It isn't one I would read again and it isn't one I would have picked up and bought at the store because it isn't a kind of book I would normally read. 

I give this 4 out of 5

You can purchase this online in stores like BookDepository and in stores near you