Book Review: ‘Shattered’ by Hanif Kureishi

Book Title: Shattered
Author: Hanif Kureishi
Publisher: Hamish Hamilton Ltd
Number of Pages: 336
ISBN: 978-0241667958
Date Published: Oct. 31, 2024
Price: INR 619

Book Review

Hanif Kureishi’s “Shattered” chronicles a year of unimaginable challenges following a life-altering fall on Boxing Day 2022, which left him paralyzed. Through this memoir, Hanif recounts his time confined to hospital wards in Italy, where he depended entirely on others for care. Stripped of the ability to write or even move unaided, he dictated his thoughts to family members, creating a series of dispatches that captured his raw experience with extraordinary clarity. These writings later expanded and interwoven with new reflections, exploring themes of loss, resilience, and the redefinition of self amid a profound transformation.

Initially, Hanif Kureishi’s dispatches focus on his immediate surroundings—hospital routines, medical procedures, and the people he encountered. As his reflections deepen, his tone becomes more introspective, addressing universal themes of dependence, dignity, and the human spirit’s capacity for adaptation. He examines the delicate balance between seeking care and feeling like a burden, shedding light on societal dynamics, especially the disproportionate caregiving roles women often assume. These observations enrich the narrative, making it both deeply personal and socially resonant.

Despite his physical limitations, his incisive intellect remains undiminished. He delves into the complexities of writing in an era of heightened political correctness, offering thought-provoking commentary on creative freedom. Interspersed with his hospital reflections are vivid explorations of art, sex, identity, and family dynamics. His candid accounts of navigating a world reshaped by disability provide a compelling lens through which readers can understand the interplay of pain, humor, and the enduring need for human connection.

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Hanif Kureishi’s “Shattered” carves its path, avoiding false optimism and embracing the unvarnished truth of living with a disability. The prose flows seamlessly, and its brevity enhances its impact, inviting readers to revisit key passages. Hanif Kureishi’s ability to weave clarity, courage, and wit into his narrative makes “Shattered” a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring strength of a writer’s voice, even in the face of profound adversity.

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