The Blindman's Garden by Nadeem Aslam

I have been told that Nadeem Aslam is a magician with a pen for a wand. After reading this book I can vouch for the said statement. 

With a prose that is simple yet lyrical, he weaves a story of Joe and Mikal, brothers not by birth, lost in the jungle of terrorism. Set in Pakistan and Afghanistan, we are taken through a world filled with deception, violence and hatred. When Joe and Mikal leave for Afghanistan with the intention of tending to the sick, little do they realize that it is not easy to escape the clutches of the violence. 

The birds trapped in the contraptions in Rohan’s (Joe’s father) garden are merely symbolic of the present situation of the subjects in these nations. The story that begins with the entry of Joe and Mikal in to Afghanistan and subsequently into the heart of the terror central. We also witness the lives of those they leave behind. A family that suffers in their absence and yearns for their return. A nearly blind father whose memories of his dead wife are cruel reminders of his religious beliefs and her secular convictions. It gives way to pages of internal debate on religion and fundamentalism. Also portrayed with great sensitivity is the woman who is central to both Joe and Mikal’s life and much stronger than we initially consider her to be. The book is cruel and violent in its description but so is the world. I don't think there is any way to sugar coat and make the experiences nicer for the convenience of the readers. It is what it is.

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