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3.88 AVERAGE
3.88 AVERAGE
#OwnVoices
This enjoyable tale is both culturally and religiously diverse and a much-welcome addition to the limited number of novels about Muslim families living in the Western hemisphere. This is an unapologetic adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, a tale which is a comedy of manners about issues of arranged marriages, class, and more.
Appreciated the constant use of cultural references including clothing, food, acceptable jobs, attitudes toward marriage and elders, as well as allusions to the worlds their parents had lived in (other countries). This is wonderfully insightful to the needs and barriers that young Muslims face or overcome, both in their families and in public. It painfully illustrates, too, how poorly they are often treated by Caucasians.
Jalaluddin brings it on: alcoholism, abortion, women in the workplace, problems with clothing, scaring Caucasians accidentally, religious expectations, roles within families, sexual purity, and workplace discrimination.
This is a timely and even brave novel to write. Who is it directed to? Well, non-Muslims will come away with a better understanding of societal pressures facing the youth. Young Muslims will come hopefully come away with a sense that they are not the only Muslims navigating their way through some difficult territory. Using humor and romance, these elements give the story a sense that there is something for every reader.
This is a debut novel and I think it is well written, but that perhaps her next book will be that much more polished. The cousin's antics get a bit far-fetched, the story is mostly romantic-comedy but it dips into some darker territory with a journalist's death, and Kahlid (very smart and capable) seems to be a bit too clueless too many times both where Ayesha and his mother are concerned. Small critiques in a novel that sings.
This enjoyable tale is both culturally and religiously diverse and a much-welcome addition to the limited number of novels about Muslim families living in the Western hemisphere. This is an unapologetic adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, a tale which is a comedy of manners about issues of arranged marriages, class, and more.
Appreciated the constant use of cultural references including clothing, food, acceptable jobs, attitudes toward marriage and elders, as well as allusions to the worlds their parents had lived in (other countries). This is wonderfully insightful to the needs and barriers that young Muslims face or overcome, both in their families and in public. It painfully illustrates, too, how poorly they are often treated by Caucasians.
Jalaluddin brings it on: alcoholism, abortion, women in the workplace, problems with clothing, scaring Caucasians accidentally, religious expectations, roles within families, sexual purity, and workplace discrimination.
This is a timely and even brave novel to write. Who is it directed to? Well, non-Muslims will come away with a better understanding of societal pressures facing the youth. Young Muslims will come hopefully come away with a sense that they are not the only Muslims navigating their way through some difficult territory. Using humor and romance, these elements give the story a sense that there is something for every reader.
This is a debut novel and I think it is well written, but that perhaps her next book will be that much more polished. The cousin's antics get a bit far-fetched, the story is mostly romantic-comedy but it dips into some darker territory with a journalist's death, and Kahlid (very smart and capable) seems to be a bit too clueless too many times both where Ayesha and his mother are concerned. Small critiques in a novel that sings.
lighthearted
sad
tense
fast-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
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I never read Pride and Prejudice so I can't compare for good or bad. I enjoyed this book so much. The archetypes were all there but interlaced with modern motives and complexity.
Ayesha Shamsi is a modern Muslim and is quite talented as a poet and has the opportunity to share her poetry. However, she works as a substitute teacher. She longs to get married but is not keen on the process involved with her family and her faith. However, Ayesha is behaving quite conscientiously. When she and her family arrived in in Canada, from India, her uncle helped in tremendous ways, something that she makes her feel deeply indebted. She hopes her job as a teacher will allow her to begin to pay her uncle back. Meanwhile, Ayesha cannot get away from her family, because her cousin Hafsa is front and center in her life. Hafsa is presented as having far more to offer than Ayesha and has been receiving numerous marriage proposals.
Khalid Mirza is a conservative and devout Muslim man. He is doing his best to follow the rules of his culture and tradition in his manner of dress and style and by allowing his mother to arrange marriage for him. When Khalid meets Ayesha, she affects him so much that he forgets to breathe, However, she is nowhere near as traditional as Khalid, so therefore, he finds her unacceptable and never once wants to trust the feelings he cannot help but to have for her.
While Ayesha is indeed drawn to Khalid, there are indeed obstacles that would prevent her from ever considering anything further with him. For one thing, there is much gossip about Khalid and his family, so bad, in fact, that Ayesha wants to be as far away from him as possible. She also knows that his mother has other plans for Khalid. Beyond that, Ayesha has very good reasons never to trust her heart.
Ayesha at Last is a multi-layered story. The stories intertwine quite well. The reader will be able to see things like Ayesha and her relationship with her cousin. Then there Khalid's mother and how she strives to orchestrate everything in his life. Meanwhile, he is facing huge adversity on his job. The fact that his boss shows remarkable aversion to him simply because of his religion and appearance was nothing less than despicable.
This debut novel was absolutely incredible! I can barely believe that Uzma Jalaluddin could write such an amazing book. So many scenes in this book are permanently imprinted in my brain. I learned about the culture and how, in today's society, things such as planned marriages still exist here in the United States. All I wanted was for Ayesha and Khalid to find love. For the author to write a book with so many conflicts and the resolutions that occurred, well, it was done expertly.
What an amazing book! If this is what this extraordinary author has to offer her readers, no doubt I will be first in line for any book she dares to pen. So, if you cannot tell already, I highly recommend this read. If one is overly concerned about the fact that this involves a situation where faith is often mentioned, they need not worry. What they will get is a book with real people, in real situations, with even some humor, oh, and beautiful poetry, finding their way to love just like any other romance novel one would read. Lastly, I would be remiss if I did not mention that this is a modern-day Pride and Prejudice retelling.
Many thanks to HarperCollins and to Edelweiss for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.
Khalid Mirza is a conservative and devout Muslim man. He is doing his best to follow the rules of his culture and tradition in his manner of dress and style and by allowing his mother to arrange marriage for him. When Khalid meets Ayesha, she affects him so much that he forgets to breathe, However, she is nowhere near as traditional as Khalid, so therefore, he finds her unacceptable and never once wants to trust the feelings he cannot help but to have for her.
While Ayesha is indeed drawn to Khalid, there are indeed obstacles that would prevent her from ever considering anything further with him. For one thing, there is much gossip about Khalid and his family, so bad, in fact, that Ayesha wants to be as far away from him as possible. She also knows that his mother has other plans for Khalid. Beyond that, Ayesha has very good reasons never to trust her heart.
Ayesha at Last is a multi-layered story. The stories intertwine quite well. The reader will be able to see things like Ayesha and her relationship with her cousin. Then there Khalid's mother and how she strives to orchestrate everything in his life. Meanwhile, he is facing huge adversity on his job. The fact that his boss shows remarkable aversion to him simply because of his religion and appearance was nothing less than despicable.
This debut novel was absolutely incredible! I can barely believe that Uzma Jalaluddin could write such an amazing book. So many scenes in this book are permanently imprinted in my brain. I learned about the culture and how, in today's society, things such as planned marriages still exist here in the United States. All I wanted was for Ayesha and Khalid to find love. For the author to write a book with so many conflicts and the resolutions that occurred, well, it was done expertly.
What an amazing book! If this is what this extraordinary author has to offer her readers, no doubt I will be first in line for any book she dares to pen. So, if you cannot tell already, I highly recommend this read. If one is overly concerned about the fact that this involves a situation where faith is often mentioned, they need not worry. What they will get is a book with real people, in real situations, with even some humor, oh, and beautiful poetry, finding their way to love just like any other romance novel one would read. Lastly, I would be remiss if I did not mention that this is a modern-day Pride and Prejudice retelling.
Many thanks to HarperCollins and to Edelweiss for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.
A fun, refreshing read. I also found relatability to, one one hand, Ayesha’s struggles to honour her family and culture while also forging her own path, and on the other hand, the discrimination and micro-aggressions, as well as pressures to assimilate that’s experienced by the characters.
Eliza Bennett meets Mr. Darcy in the 21st century, and religion plays a major role, as does the required miscommunication. Nothing unexpected happens here, it is a romance after all, but the freshness of the community setting is all kinds of enjoyable.
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-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:
Yes