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munatunes's review
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
africanbookaddict's review
3.0
Check out -> http://africanbookaddict.wordpress.com/2014/10/28/minaret-by-leila-aboulela/
I preferred the beginning of this novel. The storyline towards the middle got a bit annoying. Najwa (the protagonist) falling in love with Tamer, her employer’s son was a bit strange to me. Why is this almost 40 year old in love with a 19 year old university student? I found Tamer way too judgmental as he thought he was a better muslim than others. Najwa was a little too naiive for my liking. Her fate was very sad, as she was orphaned quite early in the novel, due to political instability in Sudan. I didn’t find Najwa to be a strong muslim woman I could learn from. Surely, she had her strengths- like how to keep her cool, act meek, she was very kind and regarded others' feelings. Throughout the novel, she was growing spiritually and trying to become a better person, muslim. But by the end, I didn’t really see a lot of growth.
Leila Aboulela is a great writer. I loved the calmness and simplicity in her writing. It made me appreciate the muslim culture and the importance of women wearing hijabs and tobes. I just wish the love story between Tamer (the 19 year old) and Najwa was more realistic and didn’t take up 3/5ths of the storyline. But I still look forward to reading more Aboulela books.
I preferred the beginning of this novel. The storyline towards the middle got a bit annoying. Najwa (the protagonist) falling in love with Tamer, her employer’s son was a bit strange to me. Why is this almost 40 year old in love with a 19 year old university student? I found Tamer way too judgmental as he thought he was a better muslim than others. Najwa was a little too naiive for my liking. Her fate was very sad, as she was orphaned quite early in the novel, due to political instability in Sudan. I didn’t find Najwa to be a strong muslim woman I could learn from. Surely, she had her strengths- like how to keep her cool, act meek, she was very kind and regarded others' feelings. Throughout the novel, she was growing spiritually and trying to become a better person, muslim. But by the end, I didn’t really see a lot of growth.
Leila Aboulela is a great writer. I loved the calmness and simplicity in her writing. It made me appreciate the muslim culture and the importance of women wearing hijabs and tobes. I just wish the love story between Tamer (the 19 year old) and Najwa was more realistic and didn’t take up 3/5ths of the storyline. But I still look forward to reading more Aboulela books.
nafisahajjateeumar's review
5.0
The character arch was phenomenal. I experienced a lot of feelings while reading this but more than anything I felt a complete sense of sadness for Najwa
l_barasa's review
informative
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
bookofcinz's review
dark
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
4.0
An exceptionally beautiful read that will break your heart and renew your spirit
I will read anything Leila Aboulela writes, she is treats her characters with care and and offers us a nuanced insight into their lives. In Minaret we meet Najwa who is living in London after her family fled from Khartoum. She grew up rich in Khartoum, lived amongst expat and they had to flee when her father got arrested in a coup. For the most part her family was no practising Muslims, while they observed certain holidays, they weren't a part of the community.
After fleeing to London Najwa's family experienced a shift in fortune, and in order to keep a roof over their heads she takes up work as a housekeep for a rich family. The book goes between their lives then and now, you see what changes and how she works hard to carve out a life. She turns to religion and leans into her community, we see her goes from nonchalence to a practising Muslims. The author offers a truly beautiful look into her life.
I really loved this book, it felt real, it felt authentic- I loved every moment of it.
I will read anything Leila Aboulela writes, she is treats her characters with care and and offers us a nuanced insight into their lives. In Minaret we meet Najwa who is living in London after her family fled from Khartoum. She grew up rich in Khartoum, lived amongst expat and they had to flee when her father got arrested in a coup. For the most part her family was no practising Muslims, while they observed certain holidays, they weren't a part of the community.
After fleeing to London Najwa's family experienced a shift in fortune, and in order to keep a roof over their heads she takes up work as a housekeep for a rich family. The book goes between their lives then and now, you see what changes and how she works hard to carve out a life. She turns to religion and leans into her community, we see her goes from nonchalence to a practising Muslims. The author offers a truly beautiful look into her life.
I really loved this book, it felt real, it felt authentic- I loved every moment of it.
rakoerose's review
3.0
This was an interesting read, with intriguing choices in the execution of themes and plot.
If I feel young it is because I have done so little. What happened stunted me.
I can definitely see the merits of Najwa’s experiences, how her naivety undercuts the harsh truths she had to be exposed to as a young woman. How her faith morphs and changes as she ages, as her concept of reality changes. And yet we see how she remains incredibly superficial even as an older adult, constantly obsessed with her outward appearance and what others think of her, instead of how she wants to view herself. A complex image of a woman who is, altogether, both likeable and unlikable in stride.
Yet, I also found myself questioning certain choices. Tamer, Najwa’s “love interest” for a portion of this novel, is over a decade younger than her, a college student and, in my opinion, not someone she should view as a romantic interest. The gap is too wide. And her other love interest, Anwar, is so self-absorbed and doesn’t care at all for her feelings. Bulldozing her every choice and desire. I’m saddened that Najwa never got anything better, but perhaps this narrative is meant to show the extremes? How her oscillation between identities has led to men of opposites? I don’t know.
I do like how much emphasis there was on the appreciation of your fellow women within the Muslim culture as Najwa attended events at the Mosque. I appreciate when women are not always pitted against each other but celebrate one another, help one another, protect one another.
All this being said, please take my opinions with a grain of salt! I am not part of any community mentioned within these pages, and as a white individual I could be missing a lot. I’ll be reading some other reviews here too to see what I may be ignorant to.
In the end, as I said, very interesting! I would love to read more novels incorporating Sudanese history or Muslim influences in the future, to broaden my understanding even more.
If I feel young it is because I have done so little. What happened stunted me.
I can definitely see the merits of Najwa’s experiences, how her naivety undercuts the harsh truths she had to be exposed to as a young woman. How her faith morphs and changes as she ages, as her concept of reality changes. And yet we see how she remains incredibly superficial even as an older adult, constantly obsessed with her outward appearance and what others think of her, instead of how she wants to view herself. A complex image of a woman who is, altogether, both likeable and unlikable in stride.
Yet, I also found myself questioning certain choices. Tamer, Najwa’s “love interest” for a portion of this novel, is over a decade younger than her, a college student and, in my opinion, not someone she should view as a romantic interest. The gap is too wide. And her other love interest, Anwar, is so self-absorbed and doesn’t care at all for her feelings. Bulldozing her every choice and desire. I’m saddened that Najwa never got anything better, but perhaps this narrative is meant to show the extremes? How her oscillation between identities has led to men of opposites? I don’t know.
I do like how much emphasis there was on the appreciation of your fellow women within the Muslim culture as Najwa attended events at the Mosque. I appreciate when women are not always pitted against each other but celebrate one another, help one another, protect one another.
All this being said, please take my opinions with a grain of salt! I am not part of any community mentioned within these pages, and as a white individual I could be missing a lot. I’ll be reading some other reviews here too to see what I may be ignorant to.
In the end, as I said, very interesting! I would love to read more novels incorporating Sudanese history or Muslim influences in the future, to broaden my understanding even more.
annindo_underthesun's review
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
rasoa_simiyu's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5