Listen to the reed, how it complains…telling a story of separation…Misha is a rising star at Moscow University. Preparing to become a doctor. He entertains his fellow students by putting on satirical shows. It is not until the University Rector spies Mischa using an image of the great leader Brezhnev as toilet paper. Life takes an unexpected turn. Disgraced and shamed, Mischa is sent to war torn Afghanistan to fight the Mujahedeen.The horrors of war surround him. Gone are the battlefields of WWII. In the unforgiving mountains of Afghanistan, Misha’s Russian heritage and beauty attract the attention of the paedophile mujahi-deen. They allege he is a spy and inflict upon him the most degrading forms of torture they can devise.Unsure what destiny has in store for him, Mischa crosses paths with the independent and alluring Aryana and a spiritual wanderer known only as the Master, a man with insights few possess. Under his teachings, Mischa comes closer to unlocking his true potential. Lost in the strange place between peace and violence, Mischa is on the verge of emerging from darkness and illuminating the world. If he survives.Back in Moscow, Mischa is presumed dead. The Deputy Minister of Defense presents Mischa’s mother with the Hero of the Soviet Union medal only to have it cast back at his face. Enraged, he orders her arrested and taken to the psychiatric hospital. Fate intervenes when a university friend of Mischa’s, Yaakov, gets the Russian Premiere involved. But with each act complications arise. One man’s fate hangs in the balance and with it the future of the entire world. Does Mischa have the strength to become more than he ever imagined?
Title: The Plait
Author: Tawab Adam
Pages: 385
My review
The Plait is a masterpiece novel. This is a very interesting story narrated in an exceptional way. Misha, the young university student is unwillingly dragged into a variety of incidents such as politics, greed, racism, nuclear war, and conspiracy. I really liked the satirical take on politics throughout the story.
Misha was unexpectedly dragged into this drama. His quiet and peaceful life is quickly turned into pathetic and terrible. Life pushed him into his limit. But there is always light at the end of the tunnel. At some points, I was desperate for a twist in Misha’s life. Because he doesn’t deserve any of those tortures. Everything happens for a reason. His whole life was changed because of these terrible incidents. He was able to unlock the next level of spirituality only because of this.
The climax was a perfect conclusion for this story. It felt like a circle, coming back to where all of this started. But this new Misha came back with an enlightened spirit and energized mind. His intelligence was increased multifold. Everything falls into its own place at the end.
This large story touched many contemporary concepts and issues. One major highlight is political drama. The author has portrayed the unadulterated dark side of power politics. The change was inevitable. The journey of Misha ends with achieving that change.
All the characters are developed very well, especially Misha’s. His emotions, frustrations, and fears are convincingly portrayed. This gave depth to this character. The story is narrated smoothly from beginning to end. The author has carried the central theme of this story perfectly to its climax. Overall, this is a very good read.
Rating:5/5
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