The Sound of Language: A Novel (Paperback)

by Amulya Malladi (Author)
Key Phrases: foundation wax, thousand kroner, bee season, Year of Keeping Bees, Sylvia Hoffmann, Khala Soofia (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Cold, wet Denmark is a strange land to Raihana, the widowed Afghan refugee at the center of Malladi's well-intentioned but wooden fifth novel. After her husband is killed by the Taliban, Raihana moves to Denmark, enrolls in language school and, with the help of a supportive teacher, lands an unusual apprenticeship helping Gunnar, a Danish widower and beekeeper, harvest his honey. Though their relationship is initially strained, Raihana and Gunnar soon develop a restorative friendship, but the road to redemption is not easy: Raihana feels pressure within the Afghan community to remarry, and the idea of an Afghan woman working alone with a Danish man soon has both their communities in a tizzy. Meanwhile, racial violence simmers day-to-day. Unfortunately, Malladi's treatment of cultural tension is one-dimensional at best; most of the supporting characters are xenophobic, if not flat-out racist, and their actions play into an overarching philosophy that expounds the benefits of tolerance and multiculturalism. Malladi means well, but her parable-like treatment of complex issues is too pat to resonate.
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Product Description
In this luminous story of bravery, tradition, and the power of language, an Afghan woman and Danish widower form an unexpected alliance.

Escaping the turmoil and heartbreak of war-torn Kabul, Raihana settles with distant relatives in the strange, cold, damp country of Denmark. Homesick and heartbroken, Raihana bravely attempts to start a new life, trying hard not to ponder the fate of her husband, who was taken prisoner by the Taliban and never heard from again.

Soon after arriving, Raihana finds herself in a language school, struggling to learn Danish, which she thinks sounds like the buzzing of bees. To improve her speaking skills, Raihana apprentices herself to Gunnar, a recent widower who is steadily withdrawing from the world around him, even neglecting the bee colonies he worked so hard to cultivate with his late wife. Over the course of the bee season, Raihana and Gunnar forge an unlikely relationship, despite the disapproval of their friends and relatives. But when the violence Raihana thought she had left behind in Afghanistan rears its head, she and Gunnar are forced to confront the ghosts of the past as they navigate the uncertain future.


Praise for Song of the Cuckoo Bird

“Mesmerizing . . . a sprawling, gorgeous intergenerational saga.”
–Jacquelyn Mitchard.

“An intelligent, absorbing novel.”
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Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Ballantine Books (December 26, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0345483162
• ISBN-13: 978-0345483164
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #370,973 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A solid read, February 11, 2008

By	S. Siraaj (Minneapolis, MN USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

While I wouldn't say this book was phenonmenal, it was enjoyable to read. Ms. Malladi developed characters who were interesting and intriguing. There was one thing that disturbed me about this book, however. I felt slightly annoyed with Ms. Malladi's portrayal of practicing, observant Muslims as extremists and non-practicing Muslims as preferable- the "good ones." The fact is the Muslim communuity is much more diverse than that and is far more complex. There are practicing Muslims who are outgoing, open-minded and tolerant. At one point in the book I thought Layla would serve as an example of such Muslims. Yet, when she is contrasted with the main character, Raihana, who does not wear hijab and wears "Danish clothing" it is clear that Raihana is the preferable Muslim. It's unfortunate that Ms. Malladi's characters fall into the same boring stereotypes of Muslim women. Nonetheless, The Sound of Language was a solid read.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating 5-star read, January 18, 2008

By	armchairinterviews.com (Minnesota) - See all my reviews

While it is not difficult to find books depicting the refugee/immigrant experience in the United States, Amulya Malladi has given this book a twist by setting it in Denmark. Raihana Khan is an Afghani woman who was able to leave her Taliban-controlled country. She is alone in a Pakistani refugee camp when she receives word that a cousin living in Denmark would take her in.

Raihana arrives in Denmark with no knowledge of the language or culture. To her ears the Danish language sounds like the hum of bees - completely unintelligible. But Danish law requires her to go to language class and learn to speak and read it. Her cousin's wife, Layla, is also in the class and is initially helpful in translating Danish into Dari - Raihana's native tongue.

She is a good student and her teacher, Christina, pairs her with an old friend who has recently lost his wife, to practice speaking Danish with a native speaker, and also to learn beekeeping. Gunner is not initially excited about his new assistant. He harbors several prejudicial ideas about what an Afghani woman might be like. But Raihana is bright, educated, hard working and truly interested in the bees. She wins him over and at the same time finds that she truly loves working with honeybees.

This book deals with the many difficulties of being a refugee and a widow - particularly in a small homogenous country such as Denmark. People are not generally happy to have an influx of non-Danish people in their midst. The refugees themselves are not sure they even want to be in this cold, damp place where everyone eats pork and seem to look askance at all Muslims. Malladi currently lives in Denmark and has firsthand immigrant experience.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The play of cultures was fascinating. I have read two other enjoyable novels by Malladi - Song of the Cuckoo Bird and Serving Crazy with Curry. This book is even better than those.

Armchair Interviews says: Well-written story that brings this person's struggle to life.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful and beautifully written, January 7, 2008

By	Reader_sr100 - See all my reviews

I have read almost all of Amulya Malladi's books and this one is a step above the others. The Sound of Language is the story of hope. Raihana's hope to find a better life, her friend Layla's hope to become Danish, Layla's husband, Kabir's hope to go back to Afghanistan some day, and Gunnar's hope to live after his wife's death. Beautifully written, this book introduces us to refugee life in Europe. Highly recommended!