Jamilia

Jamilia is a quick read. At around twenty-thousand words, the novella reads more like a short story with a little more build up. There's not much time for character development or setting, but that doesn't hinder the story in the slightest. Jamilia is a great piece of observation. It wonderfully captures the perspective of a child whose understanding of the world is rather juvenile. It also effectively shows a budding romance from an outside perspective. There's nothing thrilling or magical here, but it is a well-told story that introduces the reader to the people and traditions of Kyrgyzstan.