'The Bones of Grace' : Last of Tahmima's trilogy launched

Internationally-acclaimed and award-winning author Tahmima Anam's latest novel “The Bones of Grace”, the last of her Bengal trilogy, was launched in Bangladesh yesterday.

Attending the ceremony, renowned academicians, litterateurs and critics praised her endeavour and hoped that the novel will bring further acclamation to her already celebrated career.

“The power of the novel lies in detailed descriptions,” said eminent academician Prof Syed Manzoorul Islam, while speaking as a panel discussant. She was able to engage readers through her writing, he said.

Greeting the author, eminent litterateur Selina Hossain said she [Tahmima] has taken Bangla literature to the international arena through English language.

She said the writer took herself to a unique position by presenting the history of the country's Liberation War to the world though she studied and lived abroad.

The ceremony was held at the capital's The Daily Star Centre. The 410-page novel, which depicts the dilemma of a Bangladeshi woman, is published by Daily Star Books.

The novel was first published in the UK in 2016 and earned rave reviews from international newspapers.

Tahmima's two other novels are -- “A Golden Age” (2007) and “The Good Muslim” (2011).

During the launching ceremony, Tahmima briefly pointed out the connection between the novels and read out excerpts from the novel.

The final instalment of the trilogy, The Bones of Grace encompasses lost love, history, and perseverance of a young Bangladeshi palaeontologist and Harvard graduate Zubaida Haque.

On the eve of her departure to find the bones of the walking whale -- the fossil that provides a missing link to our evolution -- Zubaida falls in love with Elijah Strong, a man she meets at a concert in Boston.

Despite differences, their connection is immediate and intense. Elijah belongs to a prototypical American family while Zubaida is the adopted daughter of a wealthy Bangladeshi family in Dhaka.

When a twist of fate sends her back to her hometown, the inevitable force of society compels her to take a different path -- she marries her childhood best friend and settles into a traditional Bangladeshi life.

US-based writer-critic Prof Ahrar Ahmad said Tahmima's first two books were “easy” for the readers while the latest one is “different and complex”.

Noted author Imdadul Haq Milon said Tahmima's trilogy is a significant literary contribution. “She has a golden pen in her hand. This pen will make her immortal.”

Prof Ferdous Azim, a teacher and chair of the Department of English and Humanities at Brac University, said Tahmima depicted a woman's struggle and inner conflict in a bold and brave way in the novel.

Chairing the ceremony, The Daily Star Consulting Editor Prof Fakrul Alam, who is responsible for the Literature and Book Review pages and Star Books, said they are very proud to have the novel in their book list.

The Daily Star Editor and Publisher Mahfuz Anam, also the proud father of Tahmima, said there is no better pleasure in life than to be outperformed by his own child.

The novel costs Tk 750. It is available at Prothoma and Pathak Shamabesh in Dhaka and Batighar in Chittagong.