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librarydosebykristy's review against another edition
4.0
Read this in a weekend! A lovely read. I enjoyed the comforting familiarity of Pride and Prejudice combined with the details of another culture. A true pleasure.
readingwithstardust's review against another edition
4.0
Really enjoyed this retelling immersed in Pakistani culture.
pipn_t's review against another edition
Just not in the mood for contemporary fiction right now
candacesiegle_greedyreader's review against another edition
5.0
This witty, clever novel will delight you with every page. Soniah Kamal has reset "Pride and Prejudice" in the Pakistani town of Dilipabad (recently renamed in homage to a popular movie star) where the Binat family has had to move after a financial scandal in the capital. Mrs. Pinkie Binat is in a panic trying to find matches for her five daughters, Jena, Alysba, Mari, Quitty, and Lady, who, by living in a backwater, find their options greatly reduced. Fortunately, it's 2000 and not 1812, and the older Binat girls can get jobs, which they have, teaching English at a British School Group school. Their accents are excellent!
Kamal's choice of names for the characters is priceless--Joergeullah Wickaam, the inimitable Begum Beena dey Bagh for Lady Catherine de Burgh--there are so many. She's updated the story to include crazy rich Pakistanis and their insane expenditures on everything, especially weddings. The Binat sisters have modern personalities--Mari is a budding fundamentalist, Quitty a plus-sized comicbook artist, and Lady, that kid who won't shut up and has no impulse control whatsoever. Alys is the core of the family, the one who has managed to keep them all afloat, cutting her hair, and escaping her family mayhem by jogging.
I don't know why "Unmanageable" is set in 2000 as opposed to today (what has changed in Pakistan during that time--maybe social media?) We do get a hint of what happens to everyone after the final scenes, and it's perfect.
So, Soniah Kamal, what's next? I'm ready!
~~Candace Siegle, Greedy Reader
Kamal's choice of names for the characters is priceless--Joergeullah Wickaam, the inimitable Begum Beena dey Bagh for Lady Catherine de Burgh--there are so many. She's updated the story to include crazy rich Pakistanis and their insane expenditures on everything, especially weddings. The Binat sisters have modern personalities--Mari is a budding fundamentalist, Quitty a plus-sized comicbook artist, and Lady, that kid who won't shut up and has no impulse control whatsoever. Alys is the core of the family, the one who has managed to keep them all afloat, cutting her hair, and escaping her family mayhem by jogging.
I don't know why "Unmanageable" is set in 2000 as opposed to today (what has changed in Pakistan during that time--maybe social media?) We do get a hint of what happens to everyone after the final scenes, and it's perfect.
So, Soniah Kamal, what's next? I'm ready!
~~Candace Siegle, Greedy Reader
laura_cs's review against another edition
5.0
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
"It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single woman in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a husband!"
Unfortunately, that is not the case for the Binat sisters: pretty Jena, sensible feminist Alys, devoutly religious Mari, fat and picked on Quitty, and wild-child Lady. Once the Binat family had it all, and money for more. All of that is gone when Mr. Binat's older brother took everything from them ten years ago. Now, Mrs. Binat is sure that their luck is about to change: they have been invited to the wedding of the year, and her daughters are sure to be snapped up by husbands! While Jena captures the attention of a rich young entrepreneur named Bungles, Alys engages in a battle of wits, pride, and prejudice with one Mr. Valentine Darsee.
Unmarriageable is a wonderful retelling of Pride and Prejudice, set in early 2000s Pakistan. Ms. Kamal has her characters discuss how many of the best works of literature (Austens' among them) transcend culture, time, and place due to universal concepts regarding humanity, while flawlessly executing what she preaches. Even though based off the characters of Pride and Prejudice, each character feels completely original, unique, fascinating, and realistic. No doubt Ms. Austen herself would approve, and perhaps love to spend many afternoons with Alys, sipping chai and discussing the importance of women's education.
Unmarriageable is a book you do not want to miss!
"It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single woman in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a husband!"
Unfortunately, that is not the case for the Binat sisters: pretty Jena, sensible feminist Alys, devoutly religious Mari, fat and picked on Quitty, and wild-child Lady. Once the Binat family had it all, and money for more. All of that is gone when Mr. Binat's older brother took everything from them ten years ago. Now, Mrs. Binat is sure that their luck is about to change: they have been invited to the wedding of the year, and her daughters are sure to be snapped up by husbands! While Jena captures the attention of a rich young entrepreneur named Bungles, Alys engages in a battle of wits, pride, and prejudice with one Mr. Valentine Darsee.
Unmarriageable is a wonderful retelling of Pride and Prejudice, set in early 2000s Pakistan. Ms. Kamal has her characters discuss how many of the best works of literature (Austens' among them) transcend culture, time, and place due to universal concepts regarding humanity, while flawlessly executing what she preaches. Even though based off the characters of Pride and Prejudice, each character feels completely original, unique, fascinating, and realistic. No doubt Ms. Austen herself would approve, and perhaps love to spend many afternoons with Alys, sipping chai and discussing the importance of women's education.
Unmarriageable is a book you do not want to miss!
masch212's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A light-hearted retelling of Pride & Prejudice.
marshmallowbooks's review against another edition
4.0
I very much enjoyed this Pride and Prejudice retelling, which takes place in early 2000's Pakistan. Since I don't know much about the area or culture, knowing the general storyline was helpful so I could focus a bit on the cultural additions to the story. The author uses a similar naming technique, which isn't exactly "necessary" on such a well-known story - it would be easy to determine which character in the re-telling represents the original characters even without similar naming - but I liked seeing what the supposedly culturally equivalent names might be (although I really have no reference for how common the Pakistani names used actually are).
amykay_kenny's review against another edition
5.0
I’m a sucker for P&P reimaginings and this was no different!
melanie_books's review against another edition
3.0
"O'Connor, Austen, Alcott, Wharton. Characters' emotions and situations are universally applicable across cultures, whether you're wearing an empire dress, shalwar kurta, or kimono."
Alysba Binat is a young, independent woman living in small town Pakistan with her family - her slightly detached father, four wildly different sisters, and a well-meaning mother who has spent their whole lives teaching them to "grab it" and find wealthy husbands. Sparks fly when Alys meets the aloof Valentine Darsee at a wedding in her hometown and overhears his opinion of her.
This is my third adaption of Jane Austen's classic Pride & Prejudice in a row and by far my favorite. Soniah Kamal was able to show the numerous similarities between Regency England and 2001/2002 Pakistan while maintaining the unique cultural elements of the setting, all the while honoring the integrity of Austen's work. I thoroughly enjoyed the story!
Alysba Binat is a young, independent woman living in small town Pakistan with her family - her slightly detached father, four wildly different sisters, and a well-meaning mother who has spent their whole lives teaching them to "grab it" and find wealthy husbands. Sparks fly when Alys meets the aloof Valentine Darsee at a wedding in her hometown and overhears his opinion of her.
This is my third adaption of Jane Austen's classic Pride & Prejudice in a row and by far my favorite. Soniah Kamal was able to show the numerous similarities between Regency England and 2001/2002 Pakistan while maintaining the unique cultural elements of the setting, all the while honoring the integrity of Austen's work. I thoroughly enjoyed the story!
jackiehorne's review against another edition
4.0
3.5
See full review at:
http://romancenovelsforfeminists.blogspot.com/2019/07/pride-and-prejudice-3-ways-soniah.html
See full review at:
http://romancenovelsforfeminists.blogspot.com/2019/07/pride-and-prejudice-3-ways-soniah.html