Title: The Pearl That Broke Its Shell
Author: Nadia Hashimi
ISBN: 9780062244758
Publisher: William Morrow
“Books are the plane, and the train, and the road. They are the place where we can go whenever we want, wherever we want, as many times as we want.” – Southern Living
NASEEB – destiny. How far are you willing to let it run your life, or are you going to be the one who runs it? In the tragic historical fiction book ‘The Pearl That Broke Its Shell’ by Nadia Hashimi, the narrative often blames – or thanks – naseeb for any misfortune or fortune that comes along the way. I find that trivial, because to what extent do we rely on fate to arrange the paths of our lives?
The book tells the story of two different yet similar characters from different timelines: Shekiba, from the late 1800s to the early 1900s, and Rahima, from the 1980s onwards. Both face the societal challenges of being women in Afghanistan – denied opportunities simply because they were born into what many considered the “unwanted” gender: female.
Growing up, both women were regarded by their families as bacha posh (a girl who lives as a boy). Shekiba became one for her father to lean on after the deaths of her mother and brothers. Rahima, on the other hand, was made into a boy so she could attend school and protect the family’s name.
Interestingly, in both eras, boys were highly regarded in society. Families who couldn’t bear sons and were shamed for it were often more than willing to convert their daughters into boys. I find that denial intriguing – because no matter what, a female is still a female. Once menstruation began, the bacha posh identity could no longer continue.
During Rahima’s time as Rahim, she was loved by her opium-addicted father, who worked for a warlord named Abdul Khalid. Despite this affection, her true gender couldn’t remain hidden forever. Eventually, her father arranged marriages for her and her two older sisters – all to men several decades older.
Rahima herself was wed to the warlord, Abdul Khalid. Her life possibilities dwindled, and she often missed the freedom she once had as a boy – running in the streets, playing, and learning alongside other boys.
Meanwhile, Shekiba’s fate was no better. After her father’s death, she was passed from one household to another – from her grandmother to a family friend, and then to the King, where she served as a woman-man guard for his harem.
Though she enjoyed her time at the palace after enduring years of enslavement, she eventually married a man obsessed with fathering a son.
In the story, Khala Shaima serves as a bridge between Shekiba and Rahima, telling the latter about her great-grandmother’s courage to defy fate and carve a better life. The novel speaks of women’s bravery in a land where they are shamed for the smallest things – whether or not they actually committed them. It also explores the intricacies of Islamic teachings and how they were interpreted and applied in Afghanistan.
In both eras, the author shows how women had no power – and when they did, it was only because they were puppets to men. If a woman couldn’t bear sons, she was deemed useless. Land owned by a father couldn’t be passed to his daughters; instead, it reverted to his brothers or mother. A woman walking alone in the streets was shamed and seen as worthless.
The book ends with Queen Soraya – King Amanullah’s wife – speaking about women’s equality in Afghanistan and how every woman deserves a voice and access to education. Hearing the speech, Shekiba in the early 1900s felt inspired, believing that the future would be different for Afghan women.
But it was not – as Rahima’s story shows, despite the fact that women were technically allowed in parliament during her era.
Nevertheless, ‘The Pearl That Broke Its Shell’ is a powerful and meaningful story that encourages women to seize every opportunity and recognise their worth.
The story is also loosely based on both historical figures and real contemporary citizens. Although Nadia said that the book is fictional, there’s no doubt that much of it is based on reality – more than we’d like to believe.
A mind-boggling read
Reading through it, many thoughts crossed my mind – like how women in Afghanistan were once forbidden even from watching television. I was struck by how men in power could use their physical strength against women without consequence, and how mothers-in-law condoned abuse against their daughters-in-law, as if they themselves had never been women.
I find this deeply troubling. And while I hope such practices no longer exist, I cannot ignore the possibility that they still happen in some parts of the world. Still, one thing is clear – women are rising. They are asserting their place in the world, and men are beginning to see that too – as shown in the book ‘I Am Malala’ by Malala Yousafzai.
One quote from Nadia’s novel stands out to me: “Naseeb is what people blame for everything they can’t fix.” It’s a statement that deserves to be questioned. Fate, while seemingly predetermined, can be changed. It takes courage and empowerment to do so. Shekiba comes to realise her worth, while Rahima escapes her abusive husband and mother-in-law.
Overall, the book is a riveting read that captures the harsh realities of being a woman in a restrictive country across two different eras. It’s definitely worth reading – for its message of women’s empowerment, resilience, and the fight to reclaim one’s own narrative.
