Friday, 12 February 2016
A Blonde Bengali Wife by Anne Hamilton
Release Date: Oct 2010 / Reprinted 3rd November 2015
Genres: Travel Memoir
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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
rare in the extreme 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.
A Blonde Bengali Wife shows the lives beyond the
poverty, monsoons and diarrhoea of Bangladesh and charts a vibrant and
fascinating place where one minute Anne is levelling a school playing field ‘fit
for the national cricket team,’ cobbling together a sparkly outfit for a formal
wedding the next.
Along
with Anne are the essential ingredients for survival: a travel-savvy Australian
sidekick, a heaven-sent adopted family, and a short, dark, and handsome
boy-next-door. During
her adventures zipping among the dusty clamour of the capital Dhaka, the
longest sea beach in the world at Cox’s Bazaar, verdant Sylhet tea gardens, and
the voluntary health projects of distant villages, Anne amasses a lot of
friends, stories...and even a husband?
A Blonde Bengali Wife is the ‘unexpected travelogue’
that reads like a comedy of manners to tell the other side of the story of Bangladesh.
Let me start off by saying that this is not the usual type of book I would have read. So, as you can imagine I was a bit dubious about reviewing it. But, being open minded to new reading experiences I wanted to give it a go. And, I am so glad I did! I loved it!
Anne Hamilton has captured the essence and character of a country and its people to the point where at times I swear I could smell the smells and hear the sounds of this fascinating place! The writing style is humorous but serious where it needed to be. During the opening chapters I kept wondering if Anne Hamilton was truly mad going to Bangladesh on her own! I struggle going to places in the UK on my own! Anne has truly inspired me and although I know I'll never have the opportunity to travel to too many far flung places, I'll remember her bravery! One can't help but admire her tenacity throughout the book. I kinda feel I was there with her now!
At the beginning of the book Anne has just arrived and is met by a throng of people. The most notable for me was the lovely policeman who has really given a whole new meaning to I LOVE YOU! That really was one of many laugh out loud moments when reading this book. Although written as a travel memoir, this book is so much more than that. Anne's love for the people of Bangladesh is evident throughout and the love affair she has with this fascinating place just jumps off the pages. Highly recommended!
PLEASE NOTE: All proceeds of this book are donated to the charity Bhola's Children.
ABOUT ANNE HAMILTON
Anne Hamilton wrote A Blonde Bengali Wife after she fell in
love with Bangladesh on her first (of many) visits there. The travelogue
inspired the charity, Bhola’s Children, and continues to support it. Before she
became a full time writer, editor and tutor, Anne’s career was in social work
and community health – which led to many of her earlier international
travels. Anne can never quite decide if
she comes from the East of England or the West of Ireland, so she compromises
by living in Scotland, with her small son; they still travel when they can.
Anne has a PhD in Creative writing from the University of Glasgow, and is the
editor of local online magazine, Lothian
Life. She is currently revising and seeking representation for her first
novel, Chasing Elena, and working on
her second.
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/ablondebengaliwife
Twitter:
@Anne_ABBW &
@AnneHamilton7
www.bholaschildren.org
Thanks for such a lovely review, Debbie! And, indeed, for organising a wonderful blog tour! Anne