Scan barcode
alidottie's review against another edition
5.0
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am really happy to know that I will get more of Mr & Mrs Ali because this is the first in a series!
It is fun to 1)be on the arranging side of arranged marriages instead of hearing about it from someone in one and 2)see how this part of the Indian culture is changing to fit into modern times. I'm glad I stumbled on this little gem!
It is fun to 1)be on the arranging side of arranged marriages instead of hearing about it from someone in one and 2)see how this part of the Indian culture is changing to fit into modern times. I'm glad I stumbled on this little gem!
samantha_leon's review against another edition
Very interesting insights on some cultural differences, some were challenging. Made me laugh out loud a few times.
ssdeo's review against another edition
4.0
I would have liked him to develop the second storyline more.
soniapage's review against another edition
4.0
I was in the mood for a happy-ending book and this fulfilled that. Not too much happens and there is a lot of repetition but it is a fun, sweet story. Especially interesting were Mrs. Ali's English lesson essays at the back of the book which explained Indian culture and the caste system. A glossary would also have been helpful.
ridgewaygirl's review against another edition
4.0
Mr. Ali is retired and bored. His wife is frustrated with his continual presence disrupting her long-standing routine. So Mr. Ali sets up a small business as a marriage arranger to keep himself busy. He's soon busy and his wife finds him an assistant to help him. The story line is pleasant to read, but not slight. While the emphasis is on the light-hearted joys and tribulations of finding the right matches for his clients, Farahad Zama doesn't shy away from the more difficult aspects of Indian society. Mr. Ali's son is involved in protests around a planned industrial park and his assistant, Aruna, as well as his maid, have problems produced by poverty. Mr. Ali is a stubborn man, more so when he knows he is in the wrong.
The best thing about this book is the effortless way that it gives the reader a peak at daily life and marriage customs in India. Zama is Indian, but has lived for sixteen years in Britain. He understands what benefits from a brief description and writes well enough that those explanations flow naturally within the story. He writes vividly of the what, adding bits of why as needed. From a trip to shop for a new sari, to attending both a muslim and a hindi wedding, the reader is given a valuable and entertaining glimpse into another culture.
The best thing about this book is the effortless way that it gives the reader a peak at daily life and marriage customs in India. Zama is Indian, but has lived for sixteen years in Britain. He understands what benefits from a brief description and writes well enough that those explanations flow naturally within the story. He writes vividly of the what, adding bits of why as needed. From a trip to shop for a new sari, to attending both a muslim and a hindi wedding, the reader is given a valuable and entertaining glimpse into another culture.
cassf's review against another edition
4.0
I liked it, but not as much as some other books I've read recently, such as The Lowland.
jaipal's review against another edition
4.0
This book might be a bit cliched but has gems of wisdom in it. A good book if you want to learn about the diverse cultures in India, especially when it comes to marriage. I would recommend this book.
nglofile's review against another edition
4.0
A charming village story, one that hits the right notes of character and setting. No big surprises, but the experience is so engaging I can't imagine any real complaints. A sincere recommendation.
Marriage is a most sacred relation...Remember the verse in the Quran: Your wives are a garment to you as you are a garment to them. The garment is worn next to our bodies; so should a husband and wife be. Just as a garment hides our nakedness and defects, so should the husband and wife keep each other's secrets from the rest of the world. Just as clothes provide comfort in inclement weather, a wife and husband should comfort each other against the trials of the world. Just as clothes add beauty and grace to our looks, so does a wife to her husband and a husband to his wife. (p.197)
Marriage is a most sacred relation...Remember the verse in the Quran: Your wives are a garment to you as you are a garment to them. The garment is worn next to our bodies; so should a husband and wife be. Just as a garment hides our nakedness and defects, so should the husband and wife keep each other's secrets from the rest of the world. Just as clothes provide comfort in inclement weather, a wife and husband should comfort each other against the trials of the world. Just as clothes add beauty and grace to our looks, so does a wife to her husband and a husband to his wife. (p.197)