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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
OMG OMG OMG this book is everything. I picked up this book as per the recommendation of one of my favorite youtuber, Sumaiyya. Reading this book and a few other Islam-based fictions during the month of Ramadan felt like the right decision with everything that's going on in the world. Although in some parts of the book the writing feels a bit like anticlimactic, in general the writings were so beautiful. I love how the author weaves the topic (a heavy topic, I must say) seamlessly in a very comforting and light way that it managed to warm your heart. This is a book that I would reread for sure.
An easy read but with a little depth. Good story line but what makes the book is the character development.
Worth a go.
Worth a go.
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I bought this book a few years ago for 2 reasons:
1) I really loved this specific cover
2) I loved Sofia Khan Is Not Obliged by the same author, and was hoping for another win
It starts off on the wrong foot (for me) when Bilal's mother is on her death bed, and instead of using her last breaths to reaffirm her faith (something that all Muslims know about), the author makes it almost a haha funny moment where she decides to spend her final words on one last job for her son. That small, fairly insignificant moment, told me exactly what to expect from this book, which was probably a good thing, or I might have enjoyed it less.
Credits to the author, this is a very readable book. It's effortlessly engaging and entertaining, even though it deals with the enraging topic of small-mindedness within communities and Islamophobia. But it's also not a story that left a big impact on me by the end. I don't know if there was a better way to conclude the book, but it did feel a bit like a cop-out to me, a way to avoid actually dealing with the issue at the heart of this story. But I enjoyed my time with (most of) these characters nonetheless.
1) I really loved this specific cover
2) I loved Sofia Khan Is Not Obliged by the same author, and was hoping for another win
It starts off on the wrong foot (for me) when Bilal's mother is on her death bed, and instead of using her last breaths to reaffirm her faith (something that all Muslims know about), the author makes it almost a haha funny moment where she decides to spend her final words on one last job for her son. That small, fairly insignificant moment, told me exactly what to expect from this book, which was probably a good thing, or I might have enjoyed it less.
Credits to the author, this is a very readable book. It's effortlessly engaging and entertaining, even though it deals with the enraging topic of small-mindedness within communities and Islamophobia. But it's also not a story that left a big impact on me by the end. I don't know if there was a better way to conclude the book, but it did feel a bit like a cop-out to me, a way to avoid actually dealing with the issue at the heart of this story. But I enjoyed my time with (most of) these characters nonetheless.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Islamophobia, Grief
Moderate: Child death, Death of parent
Minor: Child abuse, Drug abuse, Suicide
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
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
This Green and Pleasant Land is a brilliantly insightful and heartwarming novel that explores identity, belonging, and the clash between tradition and change in a small English village. When Bilal, a British-Pakistani man, decides to fulfill his late mother’s wish by building a mosque in his idyllic, all-white village, tensions rise, friendships are tested, and hidden prejudices come to the surface.
Ayisha Malik masterfully balances humour and depth, using sharp wit to highlight serious themes of community, acceptance, and what it truly means to belong. The characters are richly developed—Bilal is a compelling lead, and his journey of self-discovery is both touching and thought-provoking. The supporting cast, from his pragmatic wife Mariam to the eccentric villagers, adds layers of complexity and charm to the narrative.
Malik’s storytelling is immersive, painting the village dynamics with authenticity and warmth. The novel doesn’t shy away from difficult conversations but does so with humanity, making it an engaging and meaningful read.
With its blend of comedy, social commentary, and emotional depth, This Green and Pleasant Land is a standout novel that lingers long after the final page. A beautifully written, insightful, and timely story about home, faith, and the power of understanding.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
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:
Complicated
Reasons to read:
1) You will already be a fan of [a:Ayisha Malik|14082906|Ayisha Malik|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1444044016p2/14082906.jpg] through the trials and, not so minor, tribulations of Sofia Khan
2) Like me, you are reading all of the Comedy Writers in Print 2020 prize - and this is a very deserving contender
3) You just like a blinking good, uplifting book
It is funny, but not in an obvious way. The humour is in the ordinary, the everyday that either makes us cry or makes us laugh, or makes us a dig a grave in the garden so we can lay in it and contemplate the meaning if it all.
A spiritual uplift. I will be buying the paperback to hug.
1) You will already be a fan of [a:Ayisha Malik|14082906|Ayisha Malik|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1444044016p2/14082906.jpg] through the trials and, not so minor, tribulations of Sofia Khan
2) Like me, you are reading all of the Comedy Writers in Print 2020 prize - and this is a very deserving contender
3) You just like a blinking good, uplifting book
It is funny, but not in an obvious way. The humour is in the ordinary, the everyday that either makes us cry or makes us laugh, or makes us a dig a grave in the garden so we can lay in it and contemplate the meaning if it all.
A spiritual uplift. I will be buying the paperback to hug.
Genuinely moving and nothing like what I expected!
A wonderful funny and very human story set in the fictitious English village of Babble’s End. Bilal and Maryam’s troubled marriage is struggling even before the sudden death of his mother, the return of Maryam’s ex-husband and the introduction of his non-English speaking elderly aunt who has spent the past 3 decades living a secluded existence in her sister’s house. When in the depth of his grief, Bilal a non-practicing Muslim seeking a post-mortem reconciliation with his deceased mother, a devout Muslim, suggests to the village council his intent to build a mosque - his mother’s dying wish, the bonds of community, friendship and personal relationships are tested.
Ayisha Malik is a talented writer, who spins a tale though seemingly light and humorous, touches on difficult subjects and gives the reader a hopeful message. Definitely recommend!
Ayisha Malik is a talented writer, who spins a tale though seemingly light and humorous, touches on difficult subjects and gives the reader a hopeful message. Definitely recommend!
slow-paced
I never thought I would say that about a book, but this one needed to be 150 pages shorter. It started off strong and I loved how the author played with hidden prejudices, buried racism, the notion of home and belonging so wisely, but the story dragged on and on for the last 150 pages and I couldn’t wait for it to be over. This would have been a 4-star read for sure, but I downgraded it to 3,5 for being unnecessarily long.
