'These letters end in tears' - And they did.

There's just something about reading a book, centering on a controversial topic, and at some experiences narrated in the book, you are left with an opinion stronger than that that's always been there. For us, who consume more fiction, than we do non-fiction and actually would love to get a two-in-one package, from our fictional books, coming across authors that manage to satisfy both our thirst for knowledge and entertainment through fiction is like a dream come true. Musih Tedji Xaviere, the author of the book behind this review, is one of those amazing authors.

These Letters End in tears, by Musih Tedji Xaviere, is a book that consists of several letters written to Fatima, by her wife Bessem in the fourteen years since Fatima went missing. Fatima and Bessem met in high school, and together they experienced a love so beautiful, had it not been cut so short. Living in a community where homosexuality is seen as the vilest of sins, Fathia and Bessem have to hide their lovely relationship from the face of the public. But thanks to Fatima's brother, who accosts them on a warm Friday afternoon, after the best date of their lives, their relationship is brought to an abrupt end, leaving Fatima's whereabouts unknown.

This isn't my first time getting into a book due to how captivating I found it's title. The title of this book - These letters end in tears captivated me. I don't know if it's that part of me that likes to torture myself that pushed me into reading it, or my brain needed something tragic to make up for all the happy endings I've been consuming. but I picked up this book, had the audacity to keep my hopes up, for an actual happy ending in a book whose title states that everything ends in tears. Kudos to the author, I was indeed, left in tears, after reading the letters.

One of the themes, this book centered on is homosexuality. You see I've always had this issue with people that persecute homosexuals for being homosexuals. Why exactly are you crucifying someone for being gay? In my part of the world, some human will upload videos of a particular gender beating up the other gender, because of their sexuality and I begin to wonder how someone's sexuality should even become a reason for violence. I remember being told one day of how four men gang-raped a girl, so in their words, they could remove the "gayness" out of her. Aren't these the kind of people society should work towards their deliverance?

I am someone that believes every individual deserves to be happy. So, wherever an individual finds his or her happiness, as long as it's not in a vice, I'm happy for you. This book touched on the hostility people are subjected to, due to their sexuality. Fatima's story was a really really heartbreaking one. How would you have a brother that would do everything to prove he loves a side of you, but that side of you, which is most important, his hatred for you, is at it's highest. And to think, he kept hiding himself under the disguise of religion. I haven't hated a character in a long time, with such intensity as I did him. The story explored love and religion so intricately linked to one another, and how some people claim to serve God, at the same time, being perpetrators of evil.

Although this book had me bawling my eyes out at the end, it would definitely be making it to my top reads for the year. The author wrote with so much emotion and intellectuality, that halfway, I skipped through to know if it's her autobiography or something. Alas it was just her, pouring her creativity into her character's world. This is my first read of hers and I'll be sure to check out her other works since I really enjoyed it.

The book for me, ended somewhat on a cliffhanger. What Bessem did at the end was befitting but it would have been nicer if we saw how it affected the villain. But actually, this didn't make it any less unsatisfying. I enjoyed it nonetheless. So, everyone is welcome to read this book. Provided you're open to heartbreaking books. It is worth it in my opinion and you, dear reader should check this one out.

Thanks for reading.

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Image is a screenshot from my e-library.

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