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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
‘This country, she thought disbelievingly, was full of absurd surprises’.
Shahnaz Ahsan does an incredible job in portraying the emotions of a new immigrant’s discovery of a foreign country. The awe, love, trepidation, fear and excitement was tangible and to be honest, as a migrant myself (in a completely different era and condition), a number of these emotions resonated nostalgically with myself.
You are certainly thrown into the family, and feel a part of the relations right up until the end. Definitely an enjoyable read, and for me, the end probably did the story justice. That far down the line, closure perhaps, was not an option.
Thanks NetGalley and John Murray for a review copy.
Shahnaz Ahsan does an incredible job in portraying the emotions of a new immigrant’s discovery of a foreign country. The awe, love, trepidation, fear and excitement was tangible and to be honest, as a migrant myself (in a completely different era and condition), a number of these emotions resonated nostalgically with myself.
You are certainly thrown into the family, and feel a part of the relations right up until the end. Definitely an enjoyable read, and for me, the end probably did the story justice. That far down the line, closure perhaps, was not an option.
Thanks NetGalley and John Murray for a review copy.
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
An insightful and eye opening read on joining the UK in the 60s as a Bangladeshi family (at that time Pakistan) the culture shock, racism, different beliefs and day to day difference they have to learn to cope/deal with. Beautiful story, hard to read at times, uncomfortable to read the things they suffered and sad to say a lot is still common, such an engaging story. Recommended reading.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
This is in many ways a gentle book, yet it is in others a novel that shows brutality and intolerance at their very core. This is a strange wall to straddle but at the very heart of this story, it works. When Hashim comes to England in the 1960’s, he had a clear goal in mind. He plans to stay for no more than five years: to work and send much needed money back home or ‘dish’. It doesn’t occur to him that he might bring his bride to this strange country or that he might make a home and a family of his own in Britain. That’s what happens though and so we are treated to a tale that crosses generations and can perhaps make us question what it is that makes Britain ‘great’.
This is a tale of family; both of blood and that of friendship. A young man comes to England to make something of himself and instead learns much of himself instead. But Hashim and Family is exactly that; it is a novel that interweaves family ties. Some we choose, some are all but forced upon us; some we accept, some we run from. It is a novel that confronts the harsher edges of culture; the rise of nationalism, of those with a different coloured skin feeling afraid to leave their homes alone. Ahsan doesn’t spare us the details of young men beaten and prosecuted simply for the sin of looking different. But they don’t stint on the intricacies of a loving home either. It is a tale of two halves; of inclusion and exclusion, of faith and hard graft, of hatred and forgiveness.
Where it falls down is in the sudden shifts between places. The first time seems natural; you follow Hashim from Bangladesh to England and you stay there for a good thirty percent of the novel. Then you are hammered back to Bangladesh with a character you have little sympathy for, one you barely know by this point. It’s an awkward and bumpy transition, particularly when you are then forced into the wartime politics and atrocities of the time and region. The melding of the two places and cultures is done far more smoothly in the following narratives, but it is that initial culture shock that knocks this down from stunning to very, very good. The story there is powerful, but too much was lost simply because the reader hadn’t had a chance to acclimatise.
You already dislike the character and then suddenly you are thrust into politics that the average English reader has no prior knowledge of. They are important and Ahsan explains them well, but the power is lost. By the time you are made to care again, it is all more or less over. There is huge potential here to become something spectacular and I feel it has been missed by inches. Some scenes will stay with me, haunting in their tragedy and power, but they are scenes. The ‘interlude’ fails to become part of the whole and it really, really deserves to be in exactly that whole. It’s therefore a shame that when you come back to the narrative in England it feels like coming home. It shouldn’t and it doesn’t later. Later both places feel like home and Ahsan comes to the fore with their writing once more.
This is four solid stars and it really could have been five without question. Thanks need to go NetGalley and the publishers for my free copy of this novel. I believe this author can go far and I will definitely look out for further publications.
This is a tale of family; both of blood and that of friendship. A young man comes to England to make something of himself and instead learns much of himself instead. But Hashim and Family is exactly that; it is a novel that interweaves family ties. Some we choose, some are all but forced upon us; some we accept, some we run from. It is a novel that confronts the harsher edges of culture; the rise of nationalism, of those with a different coloured skin feeling afraid to leave their homes alone. Ahsan doesn’t spare us the details of young men beaten and prosecuted simply for the sin of looking different. But they don’t stint on the intricacies of a loving home either. It is a tale of two halves; of inclusion and exclusion, of faith and hard graft, of hatred and forgiveness.
Where it falls down is in the sudden shifts between places. The first time seems natural; you follow Hashim from Bangladesh to England and you stay there for a good thirty percent of the novel. Then you are hammered back to Bangladesh with a character you have little sympathy for, one you barely know by this point. It’s an awkward and bumpy transition, particularly when you are then forced into the wartime politics and atrocities of the time and region. The melding of the two places and cultures is done far more smoothly in the following narratives, but it is that initial culture shock that knocks this down from stunning to very, very good. The story there is powerful, but too much was lost simply because the reader hadn’t had a chance to acclimatise.
You already dislike the character and then suddenly you are thrust into politics that the average English reader has no prior knowledge of. They are important and Ahsan explains them well, but the power is lost. By the time you are made to care again, it is all more or less over. There is huge potential here to become something spectacular and I feel it has been missed by inches. Some scenes will stay with me, haunting in their tragedy and power, but they are scenes. The ‘interlude’ fails to become part of the whole and it really, really deserves to be in exactly that whole. It’s therefore a shame that when you come back to the narrative in England it feels like coming home. It shouldn’t and it doesn’t later. Later both places feel like home and Ahsan comes to the fore with their writing once more.
This is four solid stars and it really could have been five without question. Thanks need to go NetGalley and the publishers for my free copy of this novel. I believe this author can go far and I will definitely look out for further publications.
PUBLISHER’S DESCRIPTION:
“It is New Year's Eve, 1960. Hashim has left behind his homeland and his bride, Munira, to seek his fortune in England. His cousin and only friend, Rofikul, introduces Hashim to life in Manchester - including Rofikul's girlfriend, Helen. When Munira arrives, the group must learn what it is to be a family.
Over the next twenty years, they make their way in the new country - putting down roots and building a home. But when war breaks out in East Pakistan, the struggle for liberation and the emergence of Bangladesh raises questions about identity, belonging and loyalty.
Hashim & Family is a story of family ties, of migration and of a connection to home, and is the debut of an extraordinary new talent.”
NO SPOILERS
Hashim and Family is not an in-depth, insightful study of the difficulties encountered by immigrants when beginning a new life somewhere unknown - the casual and organised racism, the fear of getting it wrong, of making a mark but being inconspicuous. It is simply the tale of Hashim, who came to Britain in 1961, and the following twenty years. The difficulties faced are written about, as they were, and sadly still are, a part of everyday life, but we are given little insight into the feelings of those involved and I found there to be little empathy for the characters. But this is not “that” book and is by no means the poorer for it.
It is not wordy or crafted but is a quick, easy and enjoyable read. A concise family saga with ups and downs, tears and laughter.
As the daughter of a white English mother and an Asian/Caribbean father, who came this country a few years before this story begins, I was looking forward to reading Ahsan’s debut novel. I did feel, however, that the tales told seemed detached, as if told by a friend of a friend of a friend. Perhaps I am too close to the subject matter to be objective.
Thank you to NetGalley and John Murray Press for the Advanced Reader Copy of the book, which I have voluntarily reviewed.
“It is New Year's Eve, 1960. Hashim has left behind his homeland and his bride, Munira, to seek his fortune in England. His cousin and only friend, Rofikul, introduces Hashim to life in Manchester - including Rofikul's girlfriend, Helen. When Munira arrives, the group must learn what it is to be a family.
Over the next twenty years, they make their way in the new country - putting down roots and building a home. But when war breaks out in East Pakistan, the struggle for liberation and the emergence of Bangladesh raises questions about identity, belonging and loyalty.
Hashim & Family is a story of family ties, of migration and of a connection to home, and is the debut of an extraordinary new talent.”
NO SPOILERS
Hashim and Family is not an in-depth, insightful study of the difficulties encountered by immigrants when beginning a new life somewhere unknown - the casual and organised racism, the fear of getting it wrong, of making a mark but being inconspicuous. It is simply the tale of Hashim, who came to Britain in 1961, and the following twenty years. The difficulties faced are written about, as they were, and sadly still are, a part of everyday life, but we are given little insight into the feelings of those involved and I found there to be little empathy for the characters. But this is not “that” book and is by no means the poorer for it.
It is not wordy or crafted but is a quick, easy and enjoyable read. A concise family saga with ups and downs, tears and laughter.
As the daughter of a white English mother and an Asian/Caribbean father, who came this country a few years before this story begins, I was looking forward to reading Ahsan’s debut novel. I did feel, however, that the tales told seemed detached, as if told by a friend of a friend of a friend. Perhaps I am too close to the subject matter to be objective.
Thank you to NetGalley and John Murray Press for the Advanced Reader Copy of the book, which I have voluntarily reviewed.
A story about immigration in the 1960’s is going to appeal to me. That the family are from East Pakistan/Bangladesh is slightly different from my own family, but them moving to a big northern city is highly relatable.
Hashim comes to Manchester to stay with his cousin, Rofikul. Hashim’s wife Munira comes over to stay, while Rofikul dates an Irish white girl, Helen. The novel covers about twenty years of their lives as the family grows and changes.
I know a little of partition and the later birth of Bangladesh and this book does a good job of fictionalising some of the horrors of war. I wish there had been a little more of the racism in the UK, especially with how it is today, but I understand not getting bogged down in those details.
The novel really comes to life with the characters. They’re all well-developed complex people and I found myself caring about their lives.
Hashim comes to Manchester to stay with his cousin, Rofikul. Hashim’s wife Munira comes over to stay, while Rofikul dates an Irish white girl, Helen. The novel covers about twenty years of their lives as the family grows and changes.
I know a little of partition and the later birth of Bangladesh and this book does a good job of fictionalising some of the horrors of war. I wish there had been a little more of the racism in the UK, especially with how it is today, but I understand not getting bogged down in those details.
The novel really comes to life with the characters. They’re all well-developed complex people and I found myself caring about their lives.
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
“She felt him in his absence, every pinprick of grief a homage to the time they had had together. She was starting to settle into it, wearing the cocoon of loss as a comfort, in some ways - a mantle of memory that she warmed herself in.”
First of all, let me tell you that I absolutely adored this book! I find it very hard to believe that this is Shahnaz’s debut novel. It is extremely intricate, endearing and beyond beautiful. It is perhaps one of the best books I’ve read in a long longgg time!!
The book begins as Hashim leaves his home in East Pakistan and joins his cousin Rofikul in the UK. We follow them and their families for the next twenty years or so, as they grapple with love, loss, identity, racism, nationalism… Shahnaz’s depiction of the creation of Bangladesh is honest and powerful and poignant.
I am struggling to accurately describe this book. It packs so many heavy themes like Partition and racism, yet they never overpower the characters and their lives. Essentially, it is a book about love, heartbreak and identity - in all their various forms. It is certainly a highly ambitious novel with a lot of components, but Shahnaz ties them all seamlessly.
The writing seems simple but it will settle into your heart and you won’t be able to put the book down. It is so immersive that I absolutely did not want the book to ever end. Can’t possibly recommend this enough.
Eagerly waiting for Shahnaz to come out with another novel!
PS This book was shortlisted for The Guardian’s ‘Not the Booker Prize 2020’
First of all, let me tell you that I absolutely adored this book! I find it very hard to believe that this is Shahnaz’s debut novel. It is extremely intricate, endearing and beyond beautiful. It is perhaps one of the best books I’ve read in a long longgg time!!
The book begins as Hashim leaves his home in East Pakistan and joins his cousin Rofikul in the UK. We follow them and their families for the next twenty years or so, as they grapple with love, loss, identity, racism, nationalism… Shahnaz’s depiction of the creation of Bangladesh is honest and powerful and poignant.
I am struggling to accurately describe this book. It packs so many heavy themes like Partition and racism, yet they never overpower the characters and their lives. Essentially, it is a book about love, heartbreak and identity - in all their various forms. It is certainly a highly ambitious novel with a lot of components, but Shahnaz ties them all seamlessly.
The writing seems simple but it will settle into your heart and you won’t be able to put the book down. It is so immersive that I absolutely did not want the book to ever end. Can’t possibly recommend this enough.
Eagerly waiting for Shahnaz to come out with another novel!
PS This book was shortlisted for The Guardian’s ‘Not the Booker Prize 2020’
Hovering somewhere between a 3.5 and a 4 on this one - very readable and enjoyable, would definitely recommend to people who want accessible, family-based historical fiction.
If there's one word for this book it's"duality". But, one word fails to capture the nuances and details that make this such a glorious read.
Hassim & Family covers over 20 years of, well, Hassim and his family's lives. In 1960 Hassim leaves, what was then the Dominion of Pakistan, and moves to England. Meeting up with his cousin, Rofikul, in Manchester. The story follows their lives and those of their friends and family. It's simple but fascinating. There are the inevitable cultural differences between England and their home, but there are more as the world changes, with the birth of Bangladesh far away and the perceptions of immigrants as time elapses.
Which brings us to the most powerful duality in this book. The family bonds are beautiful - there is a warmth in the writing that is comforting, especially in our turbulent world today. And yet it is also punctuated by horrific violence - both racist attacks in the UK and the Bangladesh Liberation War half the globe away. Ahsan seems to offer them out of necessity; aware that these stories can't be told without such events no matter how unpleasant. And, somehow she manages to still find ways to deliver love and hope despite the brutality. It is disturbing, saddening, and incredibly well written. At least from my perspective anyway - those more closely affected by such attacks undoubtedly have a clearer perspective on their representation in this book and I defer to their judgement.
But I do return to that sense of optimism that runs through the entire book. A sense that, no matter what is happening, no matter how much hurt there is, this little family, unconventional and non-traditional as it may be, can rally around and care for each other. That time and distance can't break such bonds. It is wonderful and heartwarming.
It's carefully written, and the author shows a deep connection with her characters. It's unpretentious and even a little indulgent. Pick this up and enjoy it. It's a luxury and a treat right now, but one that can bring a little cheer despite everything.
Hassim & Family covers over 20 years of, well, Hassim and his family's lives. In 1960 Hassim leaves, what was then the Dominion of Pakistan, and moves to England. Meeting up with his cousin, Rofikul, in Manchester. The story follows their lives and those of their friends and family. It's simple but fascinating. There are the inevitable cultural differences between England and their home, but there are more as the world changes, with the birth of Bangladesh far away and the perceptions of immigrants as time elapses.
Which brings us to the most powerful duality in this book. The family bonds are beautiful - there is a warmth in the writing that is comforting, especially in our turbulent world today. And yet it is also punctuated by horrific violence - both racist attacks in the UK and the Bangladesh Liberation War half the globe away. Ahsan seems to offer them out of necessity; aware that these stories can't be told without such events no matter how unpleasant. And, somehow she manages to still find ways to deliver love and hope despite the brutality. It is disturbing, saddening, and incredibly well written. At least from my perspective anyway - those more closely affected by such attacks undoubtedly have a clearer perspective on their representation in this book and I defer to their judgement.
But I do return to that sense of optimism that runs through the entire book. A sense that, no matter what is happening, no matter how much hurt there is, this little family, unconventional and non-traditional as it may be, can rally around and care for each other. That time and distance can't break such bonds. It is wonderful and heartwarming.
It's carefully written, and the author shows a deep connection with her characters. It's unpretentious and even a little indulgent. Pick this up and enjoy it. It's a luxury and a treat right now, but one that can bring a little cheer despite everything.