Book # 13: A Blonde Bengali Wife - Anne Hamilton
"They all said that Bangladesh would be an experience... For Anne Hamilton, a three-month winter programme of travel and "cultural exchange" in a country where the English language, fair hair, and a rice allergy are all extremely rare was always going to be interesting, challenging, and frustrating. What they didn't tell Anne was that it would also be sunny, funny, and the start of a love affair with this unexplored area of Southeast Asia."
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This book doesn't fit the requirements of my challenge at all. The writer is Irish. It's a "travelogue" of her three month journey to Bangladesh. When I selected this book, I was skeptical. I really wanted to avoid an outsider's view of a country. But I looked and failed to find a book written by a Bangladeshi native that's been translated to English. And the reviews for this book are pretty good.
Overall, I was pleasantly surprised. There are unavoidable limitations - Hamilton is not a native, and she doesn't pretend to be. But she does try to present Bangladesh fairly. That is to say, it's not a book full of stereotypes. I found myself not exactly wanting to visit Bangladesh, but certainly wishing I could meet Munnu, the Bangladshi man who takes Anne under his wing and escorts her around the country, ensuring that she is always fed, always has transportation, and always has access to a toilet. Their friendship is funny, touching, and provides a really valuable lens through which to see the country. I also want to meet the Hoque family, who play host to Anne and her Australian travel partner, Christine. Hasina, the family matriarch, is warm, caring, and absolutely runs her traditional Muslim family - as is so often the case.
I certainly learned a lot about Bangladesh. I'll miss the people I "met" in this book.
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