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Like a Diamond in the Sky
Deen and his partner in crime, AJ, ride high on acid and amphetamines, philosophize in the university canteen, party in a politician's posh pad and contemplate God at a roadside tea stall. From Maria, a chemically imbalanced diva, to a rickshaw-walla who reflects on the importance of positive energy, to a group of fakirs who sing about love, and a detective who has his own take on addiction, the characters in Shazia Omar's debut novel crackle with life. They represent the despair, hopes and aspirations of a generation struggling to survive in the harsh realities of life in modern Dhaka. Hard-hitting and intensely moving, this is an extraordinary novel, and one that is destined to launch Omar as a major contemporary voice from South Asia.
254 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
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97 people want to read
About the author
Shazia Omar
9 books29 followersShazia Omar is a Bangladeshi novelist. Her debut novel, Like a Diamond in the Sky was published by Penguin India and Zubaan in 2009. She studied at Dartmouth College and the London School of Economics. She currently lives in Bangladesh.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
December 10, 2015
2.5 stars. This debut novel reads very much like a first novel and really needed help from a good editor. I would not have finished it except that as a newcomer to Dhaka, I enjoyed seeing the descriptions of scenes, places and events that I encounter on a daily basis. If I were not living in Bangladesh, I would have not been able to make any sense of the book from the beginning as what it describes seems just too weird--ATMs guarded by men with rifles, barbed wire on the road, a chaos of rickshaws, Mercedes, embassies, beggars, shepherds and goats--yet that is absolutely realistic. The flaws in the book are not that (she is, after all, not necessarily writing for an international market), but rather a tendency to over-write, to use a lot of purple prose and to oversimplify the characters. The characterization is often too broad and lacks the subtlety and insight into human psychology to make the characters believable. These flaws signify a lack of maturity in the writing, but this may well come in time. The author does show a lot of promise. Her writing is energetic, often lyrical and she makes interesting use of pop culture, especially song lyrics. This is an author I will keep an eye on, but I will want to read reviews to ensure that her potential is becoming realized before investing time in her future efforts.
June 18, 2015
One of the worst books I have forced myself to read. I picked it up because she is a fellow Bangladeshi and I really wanted to be able to enjoy and recommend a book by a Bangladeshi to my friends. The character doesn't develop, the story never picks up and I just had to force myself to finish it because I kept hoping it will get better. For me it was hours wasted.
January 14, 2018
Oh God this was so bad, where do I even start?
This is my second Shazia Omar book, first one was Dark Diamond, which I loved a lot. Probably this is why I had high expectations.
1. The narration lacked continuity. One moment the characters were in a certain setting and the next suddenly everything has changed. The author it seems to make the storytelling fast paced turned it into an absurd mess.
2. Repetition of expressions: "A shadow fell on the earth and darkness surrounded her." This line alone was repeated 3 times in 6 pages.
The story itself touched an issue that is not addressed by authors much, however, the plot and narration was absurd at times. Set in the capital city Dhaka (where I currently reside), it turned the city into a place I barely know. Then again, I am not a junky like the protagonist of the book. Maybe junkies look at the world this way and maybe their lives are as absurd as the book states.
Long story short, I wouldn't have finished this book if I didn't have this weird habit to finish reading a book that I start.
This is my second Shazia Omar book, first one was Dark Diamond, which I loved a lot. Probably this is why I had high expectations.
1. The narration lacked continuity. One moment the characters were in a certain setting and the next suddenly everything has changed. The author it seems to make the storytelling fast paced turned it into an absurd mess.
2. Repetition of expressions: "A shadow fell on the earth and darkness surrounded her." This line alone was repeated 3 times in 6 pages.
The story itself touched an issue that is not addressed by authors much, however, the plot and narration was absurd at times. Set in the capital city Dhaka (where I currently reside), it turned the city into a place I barely know. Then again, I am not a junky like the protagonist of the book. Maybe junkies look at the world this way and maybe their lives are as absurd as the book states.
Long story short, I wouldn't have finished this book if I didn't have this weird habit to finish reading a book that I start.
October 9, 2012
This book is set in my home town Dhaka city! It is a very realistic as well as dark look into the lives of the local people here with a western sort of appeal towards the well to do of society going down the wrong path. The descriptions of the streets of the city are accurate and exciting as dramatic action takes place along the streets I travel everyday. This is a story of growing up, being a teenager and addiction in my home town. I recommend this book to all of my friends especially local Dhaka lads like me. Loved this book it hit me right at home!
July 25, 2018
I don’t know what to feel about this book. The characters are so flat and shallow, it’s painful. The plot confused me; was it meant to be grim, dark, intense but grossly missed the mark? The writing was very substandard. Disappointed in Penguin and Zubaan for letting this book to be published. I’m sorry, I know I’m being harsh but it really was the most forgettable,meaningless book I’ve read this year.
September 13, 2016
3.5 stars
I felt that the author was ranting and complaining about GOB and the living conditions in BD throughout her whole book.All the male characters were egoistic including Pervez and the characters were not well developed and the instalove was a mood killer . Nevertheless the book was a page turner and enjoyable.
I felt that the author was ranting and complaining about GOB and the living conditions in BD throughout her whole book.All the male characters were egoistic including Pervez and the characters were not well developed and the instalove was a mood killer . Nevertheless the book was a page turner and enjoyable.
August 1, 2020
My review of this book for the Dhaka Tribune:
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my link text
February 22, 2017
A different but real perspective of fascinating country
July 15, 2022
Easy and enjoyable read despite a gloomy theme. The author illustrates greatly the disillusion of a youth affected by drugs and addiction in Dhaka, and questions the moral and discriminal vindication of corruption and religion, and how they run society in the background.
The tempo, and the somewhat messy descriptions I find ingenuous and totally relate to the chaotic and overwhelming life in Bangladesh's capital.
For an international audience, future editing could include more footnotes to provide better context and define some of the used terms.
The tempo, and the somewhat messy descriptions I find ingenuous and totally relate to the chaotic and overwhelming life in Bangladesh's capital.
For an international audience, future editing could include more footnotes to provide better context and define some of the used terms.
October 18, 2013
This book glorifies drug addicts and justifies with complete contemplation why addicts get high. At one point, one must ponder where this book wants to take its reader to: sympathize with drug users?; or should you hit drugs and experience what getting high would feel like?
November 17, 2019
A powerful and complex book. Really far from the Bangladesh we could have thought of. And also a beautiful love story.
December 6, 2022
We are all more or less aware of big words such as ‘existentialism’ being thrown around once in a while. And yet, the crisis that we (as citizens of Dhaka) go through; demands a different version of this crisis. I have a vague theory that we are all going through a perpetual existential crisis as life in Dhaka becomes unbearable. Shazia Omar’s 2009 novel puts this Eurocentric idea into newer and more familiar perspectives. She talks about such residents of Dhaka grappling with the very idea of their existence in an otherwise unwelcoming city. As Omar herself says, that the novel “explores their feeling of alienation in the chaotic metropolis of Dhaka city.”
Deen (translates to earthly life) is a heroin addicted protagonist who comes from the more privileged parts of the city and is in a perpetual crisis as he grapples with the cruelties of the city. He keeps on waiting for a miraculous cure to this feeling of hopelessness – but naturally is unable to cope with his missing ‘Godot.’ And therefore, he goes through a never-ending cycle of destructive heroin use as a form of blissful distraction. But of course, the addiction cripples him, instead of bringing him any kind of solace. He tries to drown out the noise of corruption, pollution, religious extremism, poor infrastructure, poverty and hunger; around him in Dhaka. But he fails, and he fails again. Deen is an epitome of twinkling diamonds. He is depressed with his present condition of life, almost lost in drug addiction and disturbed with the existing systems of institutions like education sector, politics and so on. Deen is noticed to compare GOD and GOB. GOD is the chief of religious order while GOB is the government of Bangladesh. Both GOD and GOB are silent and therefore they are criticized by Deen. He says, “God-forsaken. GOB-forsaken” (p.113).
Thus, Omar writes, “Bangladesh was trapped in an ideologically vicious cycle.” (122). And boy, do I agree. The vicious cycle of Deen’s addiction permeates the lives of people in Dhaka. You strangely begin to relate to the junkie; we are all trying to live on top of each other while batting an eye to the viciousness surrounding us.
I am always in the pursuit of reading more contemporary Bangladeshi female writers – because of a lack of writings from this lens. Like a Diamond in the Sky came to me like a diamond itself, because of how accurately it encapsulated the perpetual underpinnings that we go through living in this strange city. It gave perspective and language to my sensations. And I whole-heartedly thank Omar for doing so.
Deen (translates to earthly life) is a heroin addicted protagonist who comes from the more privileged parts of the city and is in a perpetual crisis as he grapples with the cruelties of the city. He keeps on waiting for a miraculous cure to this feeling of hopelessness – but naturally is unable to cope with his missing ‘Godot.’ And therefore, he goes through a never-ending cycle of destructive heroin use as a form of blissful distraction. But of course, the addiction cripples him, instead of bringing him any kind of solace. He tries to drown out the noise of corruption, pollution, religious extremism, poor infrastructure, poverty and hunger; around him in Dhaka. But he fails, and he fails again. Deen is an epitome of twinkling diamonds. He is depressed with his present condition of life, almost lost in drug addiction and disturbed with the existing systems of institutions like education sector, politics and so on. Deen is noticed to compare GOD and GOB. GOD is the chief of religious order while GOB is the government of Bangladesh. Both GOD and GOB are silent and therefore they are criticized by Deen. He says, “God-forsaken. GOB-forsaken” (p.113).
Thus, Omar writes, “Bangladesh was trapped in an ideologically vicious cycle.” (122). And boy, do I agree. The vicious cycle of Deen’s addiction permeates the lives of people in Dhaka. You strangely begin to relate to the junkie; we are all trying to live on top of each other while batting an eye to the viciousness surrounding us.
I am always in the pursuit of reading more contemporary Bangladeshi female writers – because of a lack of writings from this lens. Like a Diamond in the Sky came to me like a diamond itself, because of how accurately it encapsulated the perpetual underpinnings that we go through living in this strange city. It gave perspective and language to my sensations. And I whole-heartedly thank Omar for doing so.
January 27, 2015
A valiant effort to portray the urban youth in Dhaka, and there are some good bits strewn throughout the books, but the characters are not developed, some aspects are erratic at best, and many elements stretch boundaries of credibility. So, apart from the descriptions which Bangladeshis would be nodding in recognition, it's a mediocre novel. Only for those who are feeling homesick and would like to read something to remind them of Dhaka, even if those bits are seedy and not appealing.
January 11, 2013
2012-12-19 -- First half was slow, but the storyline picked up pace in the second half.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews