RISE AND RISE AGAIN By Atiyya Dawood Karbelkar : BOOK REVIEW
WHEN I GOT SENT A COPY OF THIS BOOK, I KNEW I WOULD ENJOY IT. Reason being, that I had followed this lovely young lady and her various short stories she had kindly shared with us on my WATALOTWEGOT facebook group.
This is her 1st published book, RISE AND RISE AGAIN, and oh what treat it was. A short story, based in the cities of Durban and Johannesburg, South Africa, Atiyyah delivers a riveting read with this one. The protagonist in this tale, is young RAZINA, who is a new MUSLIM REVERT, and we follow her journey through life.
Rise and Rise Again, has a wonderful flow to the storyline, based on current society issues that many South Africans, and the World, can relate too. Razina takes us on an emotional roller coaster ride, as we experience the numerous ups and downs she has to contend with. A tale that will have you in tears, like it did me a couple of times. And the most refreshing bit of this book, is the beautifully penned poems that Atiyya has slotted in after each chapter, a poem that cleverly highlights a crucial lesson learnt from each chapter.
It is often said, that a book cover should speak to you, I LOVE this choice of book cover, which is SO APT, for RISE AND RISE AGAIN. Just as we have come to accept the EBB AND FLOW of nature’s tide, so too should we Accept, and HOPE for the best, with every EBB AND FLOW in our LIVES. With each CRASH of a WAVE>>>We are guaranteed the next WAVE would RISE AGAIN, Through he will of the ALMIGHTY.
This is a must read if you are a fan of short stories, and local budding South African Authors, Rise and Rise Again, is an easy read, and time permitting, that can be read in a day.
THIS BOOK GETS A FOODEVA MARSAY RATING OF…
🌟🌟🌟🌟OUT OF 5 STARS
(@foodeva-marsay)
And Then… I WAS PRIVILEGED TO BE GRANTED AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR, ATIYYA D. KARBELKAR … READ ON TO LEARN A LITTLE MORE ABOUT ATIYYA AND HER NEW BOOK, RISE AND RISE AGAIN.
(FM) FIRSTLY CONGRATULATIONS ATIYYAH, ON THE PUBLICATION OF YOUR NEW BOOK RISE AND RISE AGAIN. FOR THOSE THAT DO NOT KNOW YOU YET, TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF AND WHERE YOU HAIL FROM.
(ATIYYA) : I am a Mother to an amazing hyperactive set of 2 year old twins. I grew up Lenasia and still reside in Lenasia. A few years ago I completed my diploma in Human Resource Management and thereafter went into the recruitment field. I then specialised in IT recruitment before quitting my career to be a full time mother to my babies. Little did I know that quitting my job to be with my family would lead me to setting alight a piece of myself that was dormant.
(FM) WHEN DID YOU START WRITING, I MEAN HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WRITING?
(ATIYYA) : I started writing poetry when I was 14 years old. It got me through most of the challenges that high school had to offer. A few years later when I was completing my tertiary education I suffered from writers block and eventually stopped writing altogether. It was only when my babies were 6 months old that I found the will again to pick up the pen. (Or rather type on the keyboard). Since then I haven’t stopped. My kids are two years and the minute I complete a story my mind begins conjuring up another. I’m addicted, there’s no turning back. I just got to keep on doing what I do and write.
(FM) WOW, 14 YEARS OLD! THAT IS IMPRESSIVE. Rise and Rise Again…WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO WRITE THIS BOOK?
(ATIYYA) : There are a few reasons that I have that hold inspiration for this book.
- My husband inspired me to write a book. He is the pushing force behind my faltering self confidence. He gave me the will power to try. I quote his words that constantly run through my mind. “Never fail to try, try first and then fail.”
- Islam. I wanted to showcase Islam in a different light. Most people know that we pray 5 times a day, however they don’t know why. My book enlightens many regarding the Islamic religion digging to the core to help many understand and answer the question of ‘why?’
- Women empowerment. My aim is to give women the strength to let go of things and people that no longer provide them with strength and positivity. To eliminate the fear that leaving an abusive marriage means THE END.
(FM) ALHAMDULILLAH FOR WONDERFUL HUSBANDS! NOW, DESCRIBE YOUR TYPICAL WRITING DAY, AND HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU SPEND WRITING?…
(ATIYYA) : Writing day? What’s that? Being a Mother to twins mean that I have one baby pulling my arm and another pulling my leg while they both scream “Mummy” and “Mimi” at different intervals. I usually get my work done at night, when the world is asleep and my family has been taken care off. I usually spend around 2 hours 3 night’s to 4 night’s a week.
I am a wife and a mother before I am a writer. I love my family and I love writing, however I won’t sacrifice my writing for my family. It would be the other way around. I should be thankful that I don’t have to sacrifice anything because it all just works out fine. Destiny, you know.
(FM) EVERY WRITER GOES THROUGH THIS AT SOME POINT IN THEIR CAREERS, TELL US HOW DO YOU HANDLE LITERARY CRITICISM?
(ATIYYA) : I am always open to criticism, however it needs to be constructive criticism on my grammar, spelling and writing work itself. I don’t accept criticism regarding my story lines and characters. These are a creation from my mind and no one but me knows my characters best. In the writing world when addressing relative issues that plague society and hit people’s soft spots you have 2 choices. You can either allow one person to walk all over you and encourage the masses to do the same or you can stand up and discuss taboo topics so that it can eliminate the fear of “what will people say”.
(FM) IS THERE A SPECIFIC GENRE YOU PREFER WRITING ?
(ATIYYA) : I love writing Fiction, however I don’t limit myself to a specific genre. I love going out there and trying new things and I feel the same way about my writing.
(FM) THAT’S GOOD TO KNOW! COMING BACK TO THIS BOOK, RISE AND RISE AGAIN…. WHAT DO YOU HOPE READERS TAKE AWAY FROM THIS BOOK?
(ATIYYA): Hope. I want every one to take away ‘hope’ from my book. Never stop hoping, never stop believing, especially in yourself. I want my readers to always know that as long as you have God on your side, the world is yours to conquer. I never thought that I could pull off writing a book and raising two kids, but I did. Nothing is impossible!
(FM) I HAVE TO ASK…WHO IS YOUR ‘ALL TIME’ FAVOURITE AUTHOR AND WHY?
(ATIYYA) : I don’t have an all time favourite author. I like many authors for different reasons.
> I like Jane Austen for her use of Old English that forces me to read aloud in order for it all to make sense.
> I like Cassandra Clare and “The mortal instruments” series because her make believe world is so enticing.
> I like Khalid Hosseini’s books because of the way he conveys emotion in his books. If it’s a sad story, he will make you cry. If it is a story of rejection, you will feel rejection etc.
> Lastly Eva Ibbotson. My favourite author as a child. Her use of description makes you feel as if you have travelled with her character to each destination around the world. Her use of detail leaves you spellbound, wanting more and more.
(FM) LOVELY CHOICE OF AUTHORS!!! SO I AM WONDERING… WILL THERE BE A SEQUEL TO THIS STORY, RISE AND RISE AGAIN?, IF NOT, ARE YOU WORKING ON ANOTHER BOOK?
(ATIYYA): Sequel? I’m still on leave. I can only hope that there will be a sequel. If not I won’t leave my readers in distress. As a writer I always feel that there is so much in society that needs to be addressed, and I won’t stop addressing it.
(FM) LASTLY, PLEASE LET MY READERS KNOW, WHERE THEY CAN PURCHASE THIS BOOK AND HOW THEY CAN CONNECT WITH YOU VIA SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS.
(ATIYYA) : Firstly you can FIND me on Facebook, however I haven’t yet gotten the chance to investigate the other media platforms that are available. FOLLOW ATIYYA ON FACEBOOK
> I am in the process of arranging my books to be available at local bookstores, however in the mean time, you can order it ONLINE FROM AMAZON. Alternatively, readers can CONTACT MY AGENT SAALEHA ON 084 765 1945.
(FM) THIS HAS TRULY BEEN A WONDERFUL INSIGHT ATIYYAH, THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS INTERVIEW WITH ME, I WISH YOU ONLY THE BEST FOR FUTURE ENDEAVOURS.
(ATIYYA): Thank you, Marriam, for taking the time out to read Rise And Rise Again and for reviewing my book. May this be the first of many reviews.
(FM) …AMEEN💕
That was a beautiful and inspiring Interview with a budding local South African Author, Atiyya D, Karbelkar.
(PICTURE CREDIT TO AUTHOR ATIYYA)
… AND I HAVE SOME EXCITING NEWS, IF YOU WANT TO WIN YOURSELF A COPY OF THIS BOOK, RISE AND RISE AGAIN, ENTER MY FOODEVA MARSAY FACEBOOK PAGE GIVEAWAY, AND MY WATALOTWEGOT FACEBOOK GROUP …WHERE ONE LUCKY SOUTH AFRICAN READER, WILL STAND A CHANCE TO WIN, VIA A LUCKY DRAW. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS SUBSCRIBE TO FOODEVA MARSAY BLOG, WITH YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS … GOOD LUCK!!!
HAVE YOU READ ANY OF ATIYYA’S OTHER SHORT STORIES SHARED ON FACEBOOK???