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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
I love the original Pride and Prejudice, and I enjoy reading spin-offs and re-tellings immensely. Ayesha at Last did not disappoint. I appreciated the way the author incorporated quotes from Shakespeare and Pride and Prejudice into the story and the writing style was very readable. Now, there are obviously differences, as the original novel is intensely Euro-centric and also historical while this book is not, but I think that overall these changes are very well done and needed for this particular novel.
That being said, the one weakness I found in the story as a whole was the Mr. Wickham story arc. Many people would say you can't have a Pride and Prejudice adaptation without a Mr. Wickham and something that fits his whole story well. And I can almost agree with that. But due to the relationships between characters (e.g., the "Bennett sisters" not being actual sisters or all related, Lady Catherine being Mr. Darcy's mother rather than aunt, etc.,) the traditional Wickham doesn't fit well. I think the author did a good job with certain aspects of her arc such as the porn website and how Khalid dealt with it, but the connection with Zareena and his subsequent actions towards Farzana seemed just a bit far-fetched (which maybe shouldn't be considering how far-fetched the original storyline actually is) and fell short for me.
Aside from Mr. Wickham and my slight issues with that, I loved how the author was able to create the same story as the original Pride and Prejudice with relatable modern characters that were part of a culture that is very different from the one in the original. I read this book in a single day (yes, I stayed up too late to finish it) and I am very hopeful that the author will continue to write books (whether they're original stories or more re-tellings)!
That being said, the one weakness I found in the story as a whole was the Mr. Wickham story arc. Many people would say you can't have a Pride and Prejudice adaptation without a Mr. Wickham and something that fits his whole story well. And I can almost agree with that. But due to the relationships between characters (e.g., the "Bennett sisters" not being actual sisters or all related, Lady Catherine being Mr. Darcy's mother rather than aunt, etc.,) the traditional Wickham doesn't fit well. I think the author did a good job with certain aspects of her arc such as the porn website and how Khalid dealt with it, but the connection with Zareena and his subsequent actions towards Farzana seemed just a bit far-fetched (which maybe shouldn't be considering how far-fetched the original storyline actually is) and fell short for me.
Aside from Mr. Wickham and my slight issues with that, I loved how the author was able to create the same story as the original Pride and Prejudice with relatable modern characters that were part of a culture that is very different from the one in the original. I read this book in a single day (yes, I stayed up too late to finish it) and I am very hopeful that the author will continue to write books (whether they're original stories or more re-tellings)!
Overall I liked this book.
A few things were kind of annoying.
1. I hated how often the author included "[character speaking], she responded/answered/spoke in Urdu". Ok I get it, grandma (and others) speak Urdu at home. I can use my imagination that everytime grandma speaks, it's in Urdu but the book itself is in English, so stop pointing it out!
2. The name mixup went a tad too long for my taste.
3. There are some unanswered questions - did Zarina have a moment with mom? Did the Mosque get saved? Does Ayesha stay a teacher?
4. Lastly, I wish it was fleshed out more why Khalid decided to make some changes (intentionally vague to be spoiler-free). He said he was starting to question what all his mother had lied about/influenced/forced/convinced him... did this include introspection about his religion and religious presentation? It's a bit open-ended and I would have liked it to be more fleshed-out because otherwise it's more that he made changes for a revenge moment.
A few things were kind of annoying.
1. I hated how often the author included "[character speaking], she responded/answered/spoke in Urdu". Ok I get it, grandma (and others) speak Urdu at home. I can use my imagination that everytime grandma speaks, it's in Urdu but the book itself is in English, so stop pointing it out!
2. The name mixup went a tad too long for my taste.
3. There are some unanswered questions - did Zarina have a moment with mom? Did the Mosque get saved? Does Ayesha stay a teacher?
4. Lastly, I wish it was fleshed out more why Khalid decided to make some changes (intentionally vague to be spoiler-free). He said he was starting to question what all his mother had lied about/influenced/forced/convinced him... did this include introspection about his religion and religious presentation? It's a bit open-ended and I would have liked it to be more fleshed-out because otherwise it's more that he made changes for a revenge moment.
This was a really fun read. Perfect for the pool/beach!
4.5 stars. I really enjoyed it until the end which was mostly great but had some silly things I wish hadn’t been so over-the-top: mainly Tarek’s video reveal. Now, the revenge on Tarek, on the other hand, was superbly done. Overall a very cute story that I had trouble putting down!
when i first started this, i liked it, but i wasn't sure that it was a true pride and prejudice adaptation. (and if you know me, you know i love two kinds of adaptations above all others: cinderella and p&p). then the other pride and prejudice elements fell into place and i found myself enjoying myself even more. this was so fun, and i definitely recommend it!!
I literally tore through this book in a day, and couldn’t wait to get back to it the moment I had to put it down. It’s a great read: entertaining, smart, funny, interesting, and also educational.
Ayesha At Last is a romantic comedy that is very loosely based on Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. It takes place in Toronto, within the large Muslim South Asian/Canadian population that resides there. The main character, Ayesha, is a poet who has resigned herself to a life working as a teacher and isn’t particularly interested in marrying anyone. And then she meets Khalid, who she initially rejects due to his appearance as a very conservative and devout Muslim, and his judgmental attitude. But it doesn’t take long for her to revise her judgment of him and for the two of them to learn more about each other. Both Ayesha and Khalid have fun, interesting, warm, but also tedious family members and friends, and deception and intrigue rules their relationship from the get go. Will they end up together? I know because I finished this delightful novel, but I’m not planning on spoiling it for you, as I want everyone to read it!
I loved the fine balance between romance and serious topics, and Uzma Jalaluddin handled them so gracefully. Immigration stories, South Asian culture mixed with Canadian life, family intrigue and secrets, strong familial ties, religion and different ways of interpreting religion, Islamophobia in the workplace, alcoholism, friendship, and coming of age are some of the big themes in the novel, and I’m sure I missed a few. On paper that may sound a little overwhelming but I enjoyed the depths that Uzma Jalaluddin went to in order to engage the reader in a multitude of different issues that one may be faced with in today’s world.
I love how Uzma Jalaluddin writes - engaging, funny, exuding warmth and depth, making you want to hold on until the very last word. I saw a lot of my younger self in Ayesha, and in some of the decisions she makes. I really, really love a good novel that is relatable, interesting, and sweet. I can totally see this becoming a movie too, one that I would definitely be excited to see!
Ayesha At Last is a romantic comedy that is very loosely based on Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. It takes place in Toronto, within the large Muslim South Asian/Canadian population that resides there. The main character, Ayesha, is a poet who has resigned herself to a life working as a teacher and isn’t particularly interested in marrying anyone. And then she meets Khalid, who she initially rejects due to his appearance as a very conservative and devout Muslim, and his judgmental attitude. But it doesn’t take long for her to revise her judgment of him and for the two of them to learn more about each other. Both Ayesha and Khalid have fun, interesting, warm, but also tedious family members and friends, and deception and intrigue rules their relationship from the get go. Will they end up together? I know because I finished this delightful novel, but I’m not planning on spoiling it for you, as I want everyone to read it!
I loved the fine balance between romance and serious topics, and Uzma Jalaluddin handled them so gracefully. Immigration stories, South Asian culture mixed with Canadian life, family intrigue and secrets, strong familial ties, religion and different ways of interpreting religion, Islamophobia in the workplace, alcoholism, friendship, and coming of age are some of the big themes in the novel, and I’m sure I missed a few. On paper that may sound a little overwhelming but I enjoyed the depths that Uzma Jalaluddin went to in order to engage the reader in a multitude of different issues that one may be faced with in today’s world.
I love how Uzma Jalaluddin writes - engaging, funny, exuding warmth and depth, making you want to hold on until the very last word. I saw a lot of my younger self in Ayesha, and in some of the decisions she makes. I really, really love a good novel that is relatable, interesting, and sweet. I can totally see this becoming a movie too, one that I would definitely be excited to see!
An easy and fun read, but more like 2.5 stars. It seems that this book was written more for people who don't know anything about the culture within it, although I did appreciate how some things were left for the reader to research and understand, like food names or clothing items. Overall, for me it had the same issue most romantic novels have for me-it's not clear to me why the leads fall in love, we're just told they are falling. However, I'm hoping reading these brown retellings of Pride and Prejudice will finally motivate me to read the original story.
this was such a cute romance that was very slow burn but has so much greatnesses in it. Loved the poetry in it, workplace drama, confusion and family drama, understand of one's self, religion, customs and traditions, and end with a great HEA.
The writing is wonderful for a debut and can't wait for more of her books!
Overall, 4 stars and no steam
The writing is wonderful for a debut and can't wait for more of her books!
Overall, 4 stars and no steam
The pacing for the first few chapters were quite slow I had to put it down a few times because I was bored but during the climax the pacing picked up and it was so interesting I couldn't stop reading and was way reading past my bed time.
Even though the description of the book says its an adaptation of pride and prejudice, this book still has its originality with Indian and Muslim cultures being heavily incorporated into the book. The plot progress smoothly and the characters are all very well developed. Everything gets resolved properly in the end and it left with me feeling satisfied and content
Even though the description of the book says its an adaptation of pride and prejudice, this book still has its originality with Indian and Muslim cultures being heavily incorporated into the book. The plot progress smoothly and the characters are all very well developed. Everything gets resolved properly in the end and it left with me feeling satisfied and content
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes