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A review by nebulous07
The Centre by Ayesha Manazir Siddiqi
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The Centre by Ayesha Manazir Siddiqi is thought-provoking, unnerving and surprising.
It follows the journey of Anisa, a Pakistani immigrant based in London who feels something is missing in her life. Her values oscillate time and again. We begin the book by reading about Anisa as a girlfriend to Adam, a talented linguist. When Adam speaks better Urdu than Anisa, she compels him to reveal the secret of him being so advanced in a language within a few weeks. Fast forward to The Centre, an immersive, holistic and secretive school that makes Anisa feel weird and unsettled despite the excellent food.
The mysterious working of the place is all revealed with continuous encounters with the school's manager. I appreciated the rabbit hole the protagonist goes through in figuring out this relationship. I must admit the reveal was completely unexpected and jaw-dropping. The suspense and horror elements are etched throughout the pages, and Siddiqi's narration is well executed. The protagonist is relatable and etched in contradictions, fiercely self-absorbed and selfless, contemplating the working of the class system while standing to benefit from the existing structure. However, the ending was too vague, and I yearned for something more tangible.
If you're looking for something mysterious to read, pick this book up on 11th July.
Thank you, NetGalley & Zando Projects, and Gillian Flynn Books, for providing an e-ARC. This honest review is left voluntarily.
It follows the journey of Anisa, a Pakistani immigrant based in London who feels something is missing in her life. Her values oscillate time and again. We begin the book by reading about Anisa as a girlfriend to Adam, a talented linguist. When Adam speaks better Urdu than Anisa, she compels him to reveal the secret of him being so advanced in a language within a few weeks. Fast forward to The Centre, an immersive, holistic and secretive school that makes Anisa feel weird and unsettled despite the excellent food.
The mysterious working of the place is all revealed with continuous encounters with the school's manager. I appreciated the rabbit hole the protagonist goes through in figuring out this relationship. I must admit the reveal was completely unexpected and jaw-dropping. The suspense and horror elements are etched throughout the pages, and Siddiqi's narration is well executed. The protagonist is relatable and etched in contradictions, fiercely self-absorbed and selfless, contemplating the working of the class system while standing to benefit from the existing structure. However, the ending was too vague, and I yearned for something more tangible.
If you're looking for something mysterious to read, pick this book up on 11th July.
Thank you, NetGalley & Zando Projects, and Gillian Flynn Books, for providing an e-ARC. This honest review is left voluntarily.