The book starts slow and draws you into what seems to be a typical family drama. At the edges of the story is the growing unrest of Bangladesh and cultural conflicts between Hindu/Muslim, but my focus was on the story of one mother, Rehana, and her relation with her two children. But suddenly, unexpectedly, the story took a change. Events unfold that move the conflict (now a war) to the forefront. The book became a story of one woman's reaction to the civil war in her country. From that point on, I was engrossed and couldn't put the book down. One thing the book does well is show you the war through Rehana's eyes. Even when you don't agree with her decisions or impulses, you can understand where they come from and empathize.

To be honest, I did not know much about Bangladesh or the Liberation War of 1971 prior to reading this book. A good historical fiction will prompt the reader to learn more about the events, which I did. I have more to learn, of course, but I enjoyed the process of learning more about a culture and time so different from my own. I'm interested in reading more like this.

Great novel but infinitely sad. I knew nothing of the war of independence of Bangladesh from Pakistan and of course I will not forget it ever again. At times it seemed as if the author was trying to distance herself from what she was telling, perhaps the story was sad for her also.

Romanzo molto bello ma infinitamente triste. Non sapevo niente della guerra di indipendenza del Bangladesh dal Pakistan e certo non me la dimenticheró piú. A volte mi sembrava quasi che l'autrice cercasse di prendere le distanze da quanto stava raccontando, forse la storia era pesante anche per lei.

This was such addictive reading. I've finished it in a couple of days, and I'm just sorry it's finished. I absolutely loved the main character, Rehana. And what a choice she's left with at the end, and the thing that she gives up. Although it seems through her life she has always been making sacrifices for other people.

This is mostly set in the 70s in Bangladesh... well, East Pakistan at the time, as this takes us through civil war within East Pakistan, between the East and West, and the eventual independence of Bangladesh from Pakistan. Rehana is a widow of many years, living in Dhakar with her two children, Maya and Sohail, who are in their late teens and at university, and so very pro independence and getting involved in the resistance. Rehana is nearing forty and her days revolve around keeping her kids safe, keeping house and living peacefully with her neighbours. The war changes things, with people's value and trustworthiness being dependant on what language they speak and what religion they follow.

Through her children, Rehana is drawn into more of the war and the resistance, allowing arms and supplies to be hidden on her property, allowing a wounded Major to shelter on her property for several weeks whilst he recovers, and eventually travelling across to Calcutta to stay with her daughter and to see the refugee camps at Salt Lake. From the experiences and disappearances of other characters, they learn of the torture and attrocities of the war.

It sounds all war, war, war, which it is. But this isn't a heavy book as it's as much about the family and the relationships between the characters. It brings it all down to a much more human level, seeing how these massive upheavals affect ordinary folk leading ordinary lives.

Having loved Anam's second book, 'The Good Muslim', I was on the lookout for her first book - 'The Golden Age'. Although The Good Muslim was a sequel, I had no trouble following the story line, and I hoped that The Golden Age wouldn't be rendered redundant by the fact that I had already read the sequel.

I needn't have worried. It is East Pakistan in 1971. Rehana Haque has just about started to breathe easy. Her two children, Sohail and Maya, who she struggled to keep with her and bring up, after she was widowed, have grown up and are in university. She now feels secure and comfortable, she has kept her children safe. The country is in the brink of a civil war. East Pakistan is fighting for independence and her children, she realizes, are right in the middle of it all. Not for them, the everyday worries of safety and security. Her sense of security vanishes overnight.

The life that she carefully tried to preserve, carefully nurtured, is all in pieces. Political upheavals seem to be mirrored in personal upheavals. Things which they took for granted are suddenly questioned.

While the sequel was largely about Maya and Sohail. The Golden Age, I would say, is mainly about Rehana. It is her story. Her struggles, her choices, and her life. Even when her choices seem wrong, it is difficult to judge her because her circumstances seem so tough on her. The ties that bind a mother to her children, and the extents to which people are forced to go because of their circumstances. Rehana finds herself part of a war, an upheaval that she wanted no part of, but is powerless to do anything about it.

I particularly liked the way the author has woven political incidents and upheavals into the story. Rehana's life in East Pakistan before it became Bangladesh is a window to life in East Pakistan and the way it all changed. Hindus who considered it their homeland, suddenly realized that they had to run for their lives. When suddenly everybody has to choose sides, and hope that they have chosen the right side. While the older generation struggles with the choices, the younger generation is the one with the spirit to fight for what they consider their right. I can't imagine what it must be to live through a war like this, but can only guess, that despite the tremendous losses, what they gained must be so very precious. A tale of love, heart-break, strife and hope.

A wonderful book. A book which I would recommend to everybody who likes books set in political situations and history. I especially love books of this sort, as it gives me an insight to how everyday life gets changed irrevocably by political decisions and political situations.

The characters were compelling, but I sometimes questioned the logic or accuracy of things. Like calling jaundice a very contagious disease? I mean, it’s not...right?