Giants of the Monsoon Forest by Jacob Shell

Geographer Jacob Shell delves deeply into the study of Asian elephants, largely to examine the longstanding human-elephant relationship that has existed over hundreds of years in southeast Asia.  While he gathered information from many historical texts on elephants, he also ventured deep into the remote forests of Burma, India and other countries to meet mahouts (riders) and their elephants.  In doing so, he created a wide-ranging commentary on animal behavior, geopolitics, history, wars, ethnic groups, and conservation.

The book is divided into thematic chapters covering the uses of elephants for logging, transportation, and war along with being pack animals for gems and military materiel. It shows that in the best circumstances (most often seen in the regions in Burma and India), there is a symbiotic relationship that is profiting the human “employers” while protecting elephants’ survival. 

Once trained, elephants have an eight-hour work day, then they are released into the surrounding forest to forage, to be with other elephants, and to mate.  Because humans move these working animals through areas where they might not go without assistance (for example, through populated areas), it allows elephants to mate with a wide group of wild elephants and keep a strong stock. 

Elephants’ intelligence is undeniable, and it is seen time and again through stories about their ability to problem solve, to make daring rescues, and to remember things from the distant past.  In addition, they also show tremendous compassion and understanding, as evidenced in numerous accounts from World War II, where—unbidden—elephants carried their deceased mahouts dozens of miles back to the mahouts’ homes.  It is these kinds of stories of animal behavior that are of most interest to me and which I could have read more about. 

Shell concludes with a chapter on the future of elephants, which he considers bleak.  Mahouts, and their understanding of elephants, could play a strong role in this future, but they are often left out of discussions on this topic as they are constrained by their animal charges in the forests. 

An excellent index makes this extremely valuable to researchers, as this book is aimed primarily at specialists rather than general readers.  There is so much to absorb, and the unfamiliar geography and language made it a more difficult read for me, who’s not as familiar with Asian history outside of China.  Still, there are fascinating chapters to read, and the research in the book is remarkable for its scope.  Readers who are interested in a particular topic, such as the use of elephants during the Vietnam War, could easily turn to that section and get a great account. 

General readers who want to know more about elephants and their behavior could start with Lawrence Anthony's The Elephant Whisperer: My Life with the Herd in the African Wild, although author Shell does point out the vast differences between these two species of elephants. 

Thanks to W.W. Norton and NetGalley for an advanced copy.  This will be published on June 11. 

Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin

Welcome to the Toronto suburb of Scarborough, home of the cast of characters of Uzma Jalaluddin’s new novel that is a riff on Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.  Ayesha Shamsi (Elizabeth Bennet) is 27 years old, almost “on the shelf” in terms of traditional Muslim marriages, and is an aspiring poet and reluctant high school English teacher.  This hijab-wearing woman is surrounded by her loving family, including her hard-working widowed mother, her Shakespeare-quoting grandfather, and her gentle grandmother.

Ayesha is especially indebted to her uncle, who has supported her family since the early death of her father, meaning that Ayesha lovingly obliges his requests for assistance with his younger, demanding, and very flighty daughter, Hafsa, who is determined to turn down at least 100 rishtas (marriage offers). 

Khalid Mirza is the Mr. Darcy equivalent, who observes Ayesha from afar, until circumstances—and a mutual friend—put them in each other’s way.  Khalid is a traditional, observant Muslim whose white robe and untrimmed beard represents his spiritual faithfulness; other people see him differently, including Ayesha who considers him as a “freak” and “bearded fundy.” His reserved demeanor is off-putting to many, the butt of jokes for his office mate and non-observant Muslim friend Amir, and the target of his new supervisor, Sheila “the Shark."  He is deeply challenged when the women from a successful lingerie company for plus-size figures specifically request him for the creation of their new website and online marketing.

Modern versions of Pride and Prejudice only succeed if they capture the flavor and intent of the original but offer the reader something new; Ayesha at Last succeeds on both counts.  The author skillfully creates a main couple who have their own prejudices about marriage, about religion, about life goals, and need to work them out as they dance around a relationship that stretches the bounds of propriety (in a conservative Muslim way).  The novel, like P&P, describes a specific time and place and community that is strongly occupied with idea of marriage and the roles of men and women, expressed in multiples ways by many different characters.

But you don’t need to know anything about Austen’s novel to enjoy this one; it works on so many levels.  It has a really strong plot line, as well as humor, and a vast array of characters who show how diverse and varied the Muslim world is (one of my favorite characters was the Hawaiian-shirted imam). The Muslim life-style is interesting to read about and consider, and the novel contains thoughts on immigrants, the universal issue of falling attendance in religious communities, and religious prejudices.  The Canadian setting adds another dimension and a fresh perspective to this entire mix.

To be published June 4 by Penguin Random House.

The novel was optioned by Pascal Pictures, home to Spider-Man, The Post, and the forthcoming Little Women.

https://www.uzmajalaluddin.com/