This is the heart-wrenching story of Bilal, who wants to create an atmosphere of peace for his dying father, as India is rocked by tension in the countdown to the Partition. The story touches on themes of friendship, prejudice, tolerance, truth, and a son’s love for his father. Glossary, Maps, Author’s Note.

Bilal’s father is dying, and he doesn’t want his father to know the problems being faced by his beloved India. Partition is coming, but Bilal hopes if his father is kept ignorant of the news, he will die peacefully and not from a broken heart. He plans to lie about what is going on in the village and the world to make sure this happens.

Read the rest of my review at: http://shouldireaditornot.wordpress.com/2012/09/03/a-beautiful-lie-irfan-master/ ( )

Set in India in 1947 at the time of Partition. Although the backdrop is this key event in Indian history, the novel touches on the importance of tolerance, love and family, as Bilal goes to extreme lengths to hide the political situation from his dying father. At times violent, exciting and thought provoking. ( )

Bilal té el pare molt malalt, terminal, i no vol que sàpiga que l'Índia està a punt de dividir-se per qüestions religioses. Ell, amic de tothom, no ho pot entendre, i fa l'impossible perquè el seu pare no ho arribi a saber.
Està bé que retrati aquest moment de la història de l'Índia, però no té gaire ritme i es fa una mica pesat ( )

An incredibly powerful, heartbreaking story set in India in 1947 in the days leading up to the partition of the country. Thirteen-year-old Bilal goes to elaborate lengths to keep his dying father from hearing the news about the imminent division of his beloved Mother India. Particularly poignant is the depiction of the unraveling social fabric as tensions between Hindus and Muslims escalate into open hostilities. An exceptional historical novel. ( )