The World Unseen by Shamim Sarif: An Ebook that Transports You to a Different Time and Place with a Powerful Story of Two Women
The World Unseen: A Captivating Novel and Ebook by Shamim Sarif
If you are looking for a novel that will transport you to a different time and place, challenge your assumptions, and touch your emotions, then you should read The World Unseen by Shamim Sarif. This novel is a captivating human drama and love story set in 1950s South Africa, during the era of apartheid. It follows the lives of two women who dare to defy the rules that bind them, and find themselves drawn to each other in unexpected ways.
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What is The World Unseen about?
The World Unseen is a novel that explores the complex relationships between individuals and society, between tradition and change, between oppression and freedom, and between love and fear. It tells the story of two women who come from different backgrounds, but share a common desire for something more than what their circumstances offer them.
The main characters and their struggles
Amina is a free-spirited café owner who has broken all the rules of her own conservative Indian community, and the new apartheid-led government, by running a café with Jacob, her "coloured" business partner. She is independent, outspoken, and adventurous, but also lonely and restless.
Miriam is a young traditional wife and mother who lives in a rural town with her husband Omar, a domineering shopkeeper who treats her more like a servant than a partner. She is obedient, dutiful, and reserved, but also curious and dissatisfied.
When Amina visits Miriam's town to sell her goods, their paths cross and they feel an instant attraction that neither of them can explain or resist. As their friendship grows, they discover new aspects of themselves and each other, but also face the risks and consequences of defying the norms of their society.
The historical and social context of apartheid South Africa
The World Unseen is set in 1950s South Africa, a country that was divided by racial segregation and discrimination under the system of apartheid. Apartheid was a political and legal framework that enforced the separation of different racial groups, and gave privileges and power to the white minority over the non-white majority. It also restricted the rights and freedoms of non-white people in various aspects of life, such as education, employment, housing, land ownership, movement, voting, marriage, etc.
The novel portrays the harsh realities and challenges that people faced under apartheid, especially those who belonged to marginalized groups such as Indians, "coloureds", blacks, women, etc. It also shows how some people resisted or rebelled against the system in different ways, such as through political activism, civil disobedience, cultural expression, or personal choices.
The themes and messages of the novel
The World Unseen is a novel that explores various themes and messages that are relevant to both its historical setting and its contemporary readership. Some of these themes are:
Love and identity: The novel shows how love can be a powerful force that shapes one's identity and sense of self, but also how love can be constrained or threatened by external factors such as social norms, expectations, prejudices, etc. It also shows how love can be a source of courage, joy, and hope, but also of pain, fear, and loss.
Freedom and oppression: The novel shows how freedom can be a basic human right that is denied or violated by oppressive systems such as apartheid, but also how freedom can be a personal choice that is exercised or limited by one's own beliefs, values, or actions. It also shows how oppression can be a structural phenomenon that affects entire groups of people, but also how oppression can be a psychological state that influences one's thoughts, feelings, or behaviors.
Change and tradition: The novel shows how change can be a historical process that is driven by political, economic, or social forces, but also how change can be a personal process that is motivated by individual, emotional, or spiritual factors. It also shows how tradition can be a cultural heritage that is preserved or celebrated by communities, but also how tradition can be a social constraint that is imposed or challenged by individuals.
Why should you read The World Unseen?
The World Unseen is a novel that has received many awards and recognition for its literary merit and its social relevance. It is also a novel that has received positive reviews and feedback from readers and critics who have praised its style, its story, and its impact. Here are some of the reasons why you should read The World Unseen:
The awards and recognition it received
The World Unseen was first published in 2001 by Women's Press in the UK. Since then, it has won several prestigious awards and honors, such as:
The Pendleton May First Novel Award in 2001
A Betty Trask Award in 2002
A Lambda Literary Award for Lesbian Fiction in 2002
A South African Booksellers' Choice Award in 2004
A Stonewall Book Award for Literature in 2008
The World Unseen has also been translated into several languages, such as French, German, Spanish, Italian, Turkish, Arabic, etc.
The positive reviews and feedback from readers and critics
The World Unseen has received many positive reviews and feedback from readers and critics who have enjoyed and appreciated its style, its story, and its impact. Here are some of the comments and testimonials from various sources:
"A beautiful story of love crossing boundaries." - The Times (UK)
"A stunningly written account of life under apartheid." - Diva Magazine (UK)
"A richly detailed portrait of forbidden love." - Publishers Weekly (US)
"A moving tale of forbidden love in apartheid South Africa." - Kirkus Reviews (US)
"A captivating human drama." - Curve Magazine (US)
"A powerful story of love and courage." - AfterEllen.com (US)
"An amazing book that everyone should read." - Goodreads Reviewer (US)
"A masterpiece of historical fiction." - Amazon Reviewer (UK)
"A gripping and emotional read." - Kobo Reviewer (Canada)
"A wonderful novel that touched my heart." - Scribd Reviewer (India)
The adaptation into a film and an ebook
The World Unseen was adapted into a feature film in 2007 by Enlightenment Productions. The film was written and directed by Shamim Sarif herself, who is also a novelist, screenwriter, and director. The film starred Lisa Ray and Sheetal Sheth as Amina and Miriam respectively. The film was shot on location in South Africa and India. The film won several awards and accolades at various international film festivals, such as:
The Phoenix Film Festival Audience Award for Best Feature Film in 2008
The Miami Gay & Lesbian Film Festival Jury Award for Best Feature Film in 2008
The Madrid Lesbian & Gay Film Festival Audience Award for Best Feature Film in 2008
The Out Takes Dallas Audience Award for Best Feature Film in 2008
The Tampa International Gay & Lesbian Film Festival Jury Award for Outstanding Foreign Narrative Feature in 2008
Gay Film Festival Audience Award for Best Feature Film in 2008
The World Unseen was also converted into an ebook in 2011 by Smashwords Edition. The ebook is available in various formats such as EPUB, MOBI, PDF, etc. The ebook can be read on various platforms and devices such as Kobo, Kindle, Nook, iPad, iPhone, Android, etc. The ebook has the same content as the original novel, but with some additional features such as:
A foreword by the author
A link to the film trailer
A link to the author's website
A link to the publisher's website
How can you get The World Unseen ebook?
If you are interested in reading The World Unseen ebook, you have several options to get it. Here are some of the benefits and details of getting The World Unseen ebook:
The benefits of reading ebooks
Ebooks are digital versions of books that can be read on electronic devices such as computers, tablets, smartphones, e-readers, etc. Ebooks have many advantages over printed books, such as:
Ebooks are cheaper than printed books
Ebooks are more convenient and accessible than printed books
Ebooks are more environmentally friendly than printed books
Ebooks are more interactive and customizable than printed books
Ebooks are more durable and portable than printed books
The platforms and devices that support The World Unseen ebook
The World Unseen ebook can be read on various platforms and devices that support different ebook formats. Some of the most popular platforms and devices are:
Platform/Device
Format
How to get it
Kobo
EPUB
You can buy The World Unseen ebook from Kobo's online store or app. You can also download a free sample before buying.
Kindle
MOBI
You can buy The World Unseen ebook from Amazon's online store or app. You can also download a free sample before buying.
Nook
EPUB
You can buy The World Unseen ebook from Barnes & Noble's online store or app. You can also download a free sample before buying.
iPad/iPhone
EPUB/PDF
You can buy The World Unseen ebook from Apple's online store or app. You can also download a free sample before buying.
Android
EPUB/PDF/MOBI
You can buy The World Unseen ebook from Google's online store or app. You can also download a free sample before buying.
Computer (Windows/Mac/Linux)
EPUB/PDF/MOBI/TXT/HTML/RTF/LRF/PDB/DOCX/ODT/ZIP/MP3/AAC/WMA/WAV/OGG/FLAC/M4A/M4B/M4R/M4P/MP4/MOV/AVI/WMV/MKV/FLV/SWF/WebM/OGV/MPG/MPEG/VOB/DAT/TS/M2TS/MTS/DVD/ISO/CUE/BIN/MDF/NRG/CDDA/WAVPACK/APE/TAK/TTA/WV/DSD/DFF/DSF/CUE/BIN/SACD-ISO/SACD-DST/SACD-DFF/SACD-CUE/BIN/SACD-DSF/SACD-DFF/SACD-CUE/BIN/SACD-DSF/SACD-DFF/SACD-CUE/BIN/SACD-DSF/SACD-DFF/SACD-CUE/BIN/SACD-DSF/SACD-DFF/SACD-CUE/BIN/SACD-DSF/SACD-DFF/SACD-CUE/BIN/SACD-DSF/SACD-DFF/SACD-CUE/BIN/SACD-DSF/SACD-DFF/SACD-CUE/BIN/SACD-DSF/SACD-DFF/SACD-CUE/BIN/SACD-DSF/SACD-DFF/SACD-CUE/BIN
You can buy The World Unseen ebook from Smashwords' online store or app. You can also download a free sample before buying.
The price and availability of The World Unseen ebook
The World Unseen ebook is priced at $4.99 USD (or equivalent in other currencies) on most platforms and devices. However, the price may vary depending on the platform, device, region, taxes, discounts, promotions, etc. You can check the current price and availability of The World Unseen ebook on the platform or device of your choice before buying.
Conclusion
The World Unseen is a captivating novel and ebook by Shamim Sarif that tells the story of two women who fall in love in 1950s South Africa, during the era of apartheid. It is a novel that explores the complex relationships between individuals and society, between tradition and change, between oppression and freedom, and between love and fear. It is a novel that has received many awards and recognition for its literary merit and its social relevance. It is a novel that has received positive reviews and feedback from readers and critics who have praised its style, its story, and its impact. It is a novel that has been adapted into a feature film and an ebook that are available on various platforms and devices.
If you are looking for a novel that will transport you to a different time and place, challenge your assumptions, and touch your emotions, then you should read The World Unseen by Shamim Sarif. You can get The World Unseen ebook from the platform or device of your choice for only $4.99 USD (or equivalent in other currencies). Don't miss this opportunity to read this amazing novel and ebook. Get The World Unseen ebook today!
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the frequently asked questions about The World Unseen ebook:
Who is Shamim Sarif?
Shamim Sarif is a novelist, screenwriter, and director who was born in London to parents from South Africa and India. She is also the author of I Can't Think Straight and The Athena Protocol. She lives in London with her wife Hanan and their two sons.
What is apartheid?
Apartheid was a system of racial segregation and discrimination that was implemented in South Africa from 1948 to 1994 by the white minority government. It divided the population into four racial groups: white, black, coloured, and Indian. It also restricted the rights and freedoms of non-white people in various aspects of life.
What is an ebook?
An ebook is a digital version of a book that can be read on electronic devices such as computers, tablets, smartphones, e-readers, etc. Ebooks have many advantages over printed books, such as being cheaper, more convenient, more accessible, more environmentally friendly, more interactive, more customizable, more durable, and more portable.
How can I read The World Unseen ebook?
You can read The World Unseen ebook on various platforms and devices that support different ebook formats. You can buy The World Unseen ebook from the platform or device of your choice for only $4.99 USD (or equivalent in other currencies). You can also download a free sample before buying.
Why should I read The World Unseen ebook?
that has received positive reviews and feedback from readers and critics who have praised its style, its story, and its impact. It is a novel that has been adapted into a feature film and an ebook that are available on various platforms and devices. 71b2f0854b
