Review of Written in the Stars

Written in the Stars by Aisha Saeed (2015)

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Love is about the good moments, but it’s about holding on to each other during the difficult ones too. – Naila

 It is my hope that this novel, like all good books, will transport readers to a new world, but also provide a voice for so many girls who see themselves in Naila and who shouldn’t have to suffer in silence. – Aisha Saeed, Author’s Note

I’m in two minds about Written in the Stars. I felt like the books ending was rushed like Mrs Saeed didn’t know where to go, how to end, even where to end but as a book to raise awareness of a silent issue it is amazing. I felt weird reading the book like I was complicit in Naila’s unhappiness, she spends a large chunk of the time unaware of why the family has travelled to Pakistan, but the reader is aware only from the blurb, but the reader has some awareness of what is coming we don’t have the naivety of a character. Her family were endlessly aggravating, I wanted to cry for her because of their actions.

I like to look at this book as a window to a different world. To cultures where forced marriage is an acceptable and reasonable way to save the reputation of a family. For that Written in the Stars is brilliant with a likeable protagonist and a supporting cast that are human running the gauntlet from saviour to the devil incarnate and everything in between. *spoiler* Amin, the man Naila is forced to marry, is a fantastic character. He refuses to touch her knowing that Naila is not accepting of his advances especially once he finds out it was a forced marriage with her drugged at the ceremony. Until familial pressure becomes too much leading to rape. I am actually grateful for that scene, it shows the stakes, the realism. And allows him humanity, not a good humanity but humanity none the less. *spoiler* There is a definite personal touch to this, Mrs Saeed feels deeply about this issue.

My own personal reading of this was coloured. I have known people I have known people in (by all appearances) happy semi-arranged marriages (both Indian, both through my work) but knew little about it. This is fiction but intended to raise awareness. My just submitted academic assessment was stressful, otherwise, this would have been maybe a 3 or 4 day read. But importantly I am trained to be a librarian. My first instinct is to help. This is a book that shows me another group of people, largely young and female that we may fail. Also, I worked with girls that remind me of Naila, last year. It was a bit disconcerting, how many of them may end up married young and not fully willingly?

This is not a book to read if you are heartless. The whole point seems to be to raise awareness of the plight of the estimated 15.4 million people living in forced marriage globally (International Labour Office, 2017). It is not going to win any awards, it is not fantastically written and there are some inconstancies, but you know what if even one other person reads it and starts thinking about the issues it raises than I’m fine with that. If it prompts young people, those that can start creating change, to look into the statistics then I’m fine with that.

This is a book that I think should be spoken about, made available to people of all ages. And if the idea of reading off the beaten path and for your good appeals to you then try Written in the Stars.

My reading experience in a gif:

I’m sorry after here this changes a bit. I went down a marriage rabbit hole. Because I’m in educator mode and can’t find the off switch.

So before ending the review a word on marriages. Mrs Saeed states in the author note that she happily married and her marriage was semi-arranged. So what are they? Arranged marriages but simply “means your family or an extended family member/friend sets up your marriage with someone you had little or no contact with whatsoever” (Mehmood, 2017). In a semi-arranged marriage “the suitable match being found for the guy/girl. The difference now is that many individuals are able to exchange numbers and have actual face to face meetings before any serious decisions are made.”(Mehmood, 2017). With boundaries in place to protect familial honour. To a westerner, it feels more personable. The issues arise from the concept of forced marriage.

“A forced marriage is when a person gets married without freely and fully consenting. They may have been coerced, threatened or deceived or may not able to understand the nature of the marriage ceremony. This may be because of their young age or because of other factors that make it hard for them to understand what marriage means. Forced marriage is not limited to any particular cultural group, religion or ethnicity. Anybody can be a victim of forced marriage, regardless of their age, gender or sexual orientation.” - ("Understanding forced marriage," n.d.)

 I want to add a video from Iris which has 3 survivors of child/forced marriage speaking about their experiences.

Crossposted from Goodreads

References

Cover for 9780147513939. (n.d.-c). Penguin Random House. [Image File]. Retrieved from https://images.penguinrandomhouse.com/cover/9780147513939

International Labour Office. (2017). Global estimates of modern slavery: Forced labour and forced marriage. Retrieved from https://www.alliance87.org/2017ge/modernslavery#!section=0

Iris. (2018, March 20). Survivors of child marriages and forced marriages speak out: Iris. [YouTube Video]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvrrMzJOTwI

McPherson, C. (2018g, April 21). Catherine McP's review of Written in the Stars. Goodreads. [Goodreads Review]. Retrieved from https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2359948335

Mehmood, H. (2017, December 2). Semi-Arranged marriage … What is it? Does it even exist? [Blog post]. Retrieved from https://hirasaysdotdotdot.wordpress.com/2017/12/02/semi-arranged-marriage-what-is-it-does-it-even-exist/

Saeed, A. (2015). Written in the stars. New York, NY: Speak.

thatgirlshyzon. (2013). Frustrated Lizzie McGuire. tumblr. [Image File]. Retrieved from https://78.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lx1ba0qIoi1qkv4zy.gif

Understanding forced marriage. (n.d.). In 1800RESPECT. Retrieved April 21, 2018, from https://www.1800respect.org.au/inclusive-practice/forced-marriage/

Gaming in Libraries

This is my first post on what I’m calling choice diversity. The elements of ourselves that make us different by choice.

There is little doubt of the popularity of video games in modern culture. Whether you understand it or not people enjoy playing games, often with other people, on a couch or online as a way to socialise or just have fun. There are many people who upload videos of themselves online playing, with varying levels of skill. Eurogamer and Outside Xbox both showcase a variety of games. Platform32 is a different beast, he is known for his weekly “Sausage Streams” where Ian and his mates play Player Unknowns Battlegrounds (badly) for comedic value, you don’t watch the Sausage Squad for the skill you watch them for the laughter and idiocy. In Australia, Bond University studies video gaming in Australia annually providing useful infographics for pushing back against people saying it is only young people or men playing (it really isn’t). Many public libraries now embrace video games, loaning them and some having consoles for use in the branch. I’m not here to talk about that I’m here to talk about pen and paper gaming. (D&D fans look away now I’m not a player, I have had to cobble this together).

So in this context pen and paper games is referring to the tabletop role playing games the most famous of which is Dungeons and dragons. For the sake of attempted brevity, I will only talk about that. The best description I’ve read for D&D comes from the website “The Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game is about storytelling in worlds of swords and sorcery. It shares elements with childhood games of make-believe. Like those games, D&D is driven by imagination. It’s about picturing the towering castle beneath the stormy night sky and imagining how a fantasy adventurer might react to the challenges that scene presents.” ("Player's basic rules," 2014). D&D is about people creating a unique character and fighting in a world created by a Dungeon Master (DM), who unlike most games is in the room and just another person usually the role of DM is moved around a group of friends. The biggest and most confusing aspect of D&D is the playing materials D&D uses 6 different polyhedral dice in different situations but like all good games, the rules explain everything (and it is a hefty rulebook).

There will be two ways to get the best understanding of D&D read introduction to the basic rules or watch people play it. This video is the first of OxBoxtra’s (the conjoined name for Outside Xbox and their sibling channel Outside Xtra) second of D&D adventure but the first with Egbert the Careless.

I wanted to include this because I can see a huge amount of potential for libraries to become a hub for tabletop RPG gamers. It suits the libraries interest in fair play, creativity, imagination and fun, I really can’t think of a place this sort of gaming is more at home than a library. While dressing up is an option it isn’t mandatory, libraries often have the space to run this sort of event and if the library was to advertise for a DM they may get a volunteer it doesn’t need to be a staff member (not to say it couldn’t be). Johnny Chiodini, the OxBoxtra DM and Eurogamers resident pen and paper fan, created a How to DM a Pen and Paper RPG video for people wanted to get started.

Something to keep in mind next time your library is running a tabletop gaming day maybe you might want to put feelers out and see if there is a local group of tabletop RPG gamers that want to come and showcase a little adventure. Try local game shops selling tabletop RPG materials, flyers, social networking sites, your own staff may be a staff member is a gamer and hasn’t said anything. No one ever said video gamers should have the monopoly of the libraries attention.

Sorry, I know this one was long and a bit waffly, and possibly not all that useful as a description.

References

Brand, J. E., Todhunter, S., & Jervis, J. (2017a). DA18: Digital Australia report 2018. Retrieved from https://www.igea.net/2017/07/digital-australia-2018-da18/

Brand, J. E., Todhunter, S., & Jervis, J. (2017b). DA18: Digital Australia report 2018: Key findings and infographic. Retrieved from https://www.igea.net/2017/07/digital-australia-2018-da18/

Eurogamer. (2018a, April 19). Home [YouTube Channel]. Retrieved April 20 2018, from https://www.youtube.com/user/Eurogamer

Eurogamer. (2018b, January 13). How to DM a pen and paper RPG: 9 tips to get you started. [YouTube Video]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoiNewMMyhQ

outsidexbox. (2017, December 29). Dungeons & Dragons: A spot of bother!: Ep. 1 of 3. [YouTube Video]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJxyayCAhNE

outsidexbox. (2018, April 20). Home [YouTube Channel]. Retrieved April 20 2018, from https://www.youtube.com/user/outsidexbox

Platform32. (2018, April 18). Home [YouTube Channel]. Retrieved April 20 2018, from https://www.youtube.com/user/PlatformThirtyTwo

Player's basic rules. (2014). In Dungeons & Dragons. Retrieved April 20, 2018, from http://dnd.wizards.com/products/tabletop/players-basic-rules