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lauren_dots 's review for:
Ayesha at Last
by Uzma Jalaluddin
3.5 stars. What began with a strong start and engaging body ended with somewhat of a fizzle for me, but on the whole I enjoyed the cast of characters, how laugh-out-loud ridiculous some moments were, and the development of the protagonists.
Sooo...*cringes and hides* I've never read [b:Pride and Prejudice|1885|Pride and Prejudice|Jane Austen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1320399351l/1885._SY75_.jpg|3060926], of which this book is an adaptation. I don't even know what it's about. I know, I know...so I can't speak to the parallels between Ayesha at Last and P&P. The story follows Ayesha and Khalid, two Muslims living in Toronto who are opposites that DON'T attract (at first). But what I can say is that aside from tackling the world of arranged marriages and existing within the Muslim community, this story felt different. While both characters were attracted to each other, it wasn't a tired played-out insta-love relationships based almost entirely on looks I see a lot in romance novels. There was a magnetism between the two. It felt like something deeper, and like a relationship everyone should have--one that makes you grow.
However, this book wasn't without its faults. I found the climax of this book to be totally convoluted with too many characters, it had too much deception and back-and-forth 'gotcha' moments, and it was too over the top. I also didn't understand the character of Sheila, Khalid's racist boss. She wasn't a believable character to me--and don't get me wrong, I believe there are plenty of racist bosses out there, but it seems unthinkable someone as overtly racist like Sheila could ever get to a position like the one she has living in Canada. Maybe I'm naive about that, but her character seemed off.
While the ending was rocky, ultimately I'm glad to have read Ayesha at Last, because I learned about the complexities and ideological differences that can exist within the Muslim community. Now that I've put this book down, I'm ready to make all the delicious traditional meals Jalaluddin describes (seriously though, this whole book made me STARVING)!!
Sooo...*cringes and hides* I've never read [b:Pride and Prejudice|1885|Pride and Prejudice|Jane Austen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1320399351l/1885._SY75_.jpg|3060926], of which this book is an adaptation. I don't even know what it's about. I know, I know...so I can't speak to the parallels between Ayesha at Last and P&P. The story follows Ayesha and Khalid, two Muslims living in Toronto who are opposites that DON'T attract (at first). But what I can say is that aside from tackling the world of arranged marriages and existing within the Muslim community, this story felt different. While both characters were attracted to each other, it wasn't a tired played-out insta-love relationships based almost entirely on looks I see a lot in romance novels. There was a magnetism between the two. It felt like something deeper, and like a relationship everyone should have--one that makes you grow.
However, this book wasn't without its faults. I found the climax of this book to be totally convoluted with too many characters, it had too much deception and back-and-forth 'gotcha' moments, and it was too over the top. I also didn't understand the character of Sheila, Khalid's racist boss. She wasn't a believable character to me--and don't get me wrong, I believe there are plenty of racist bosses out there, but it seems unthinkable someone as overtly racist like Sheila could ever get to a position like the one she has living in Canada. Maybe I'm naive about that, but her character seemed off.
While the ending was rocky, ultimately I'm glad to have read Ayesha at Last, because I learned about the complexities and ideological differences that can exist within the Muslim community. Now that I've put this book down, I'm ready to make all the delicious traditional meals Jalaluddin describes (seriously though, this whole book made me STARVING)!!