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A review by bookph1le
Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin
3.0
3.5 stars
It is a truth universally acknowledged that if something is Jane Austen-esque, I'm gonna wanna check it out. So, not surprisingly, as soon as I saw the premise for this book, I was sold.
All in all, I applaud the shades of Pride and Prejudice that exist in this book. Some of the dialogue was, I think, lifted verbatim from that work--but that's not to say I found this derivative. I loved how the author took that great work and updated it, using it as a setting for a sweet and fun story about her Muslim characters.
When it's subtle, it's great. I really felt for Khalid, who's often ostracized for wanting to adhere to the tenants of the religious faith that are so important to him. I felt the sting every time someone brought up how he dressed or made comments about his bear. These are not problems that Christians have. If you walk around wearing a cross necklace, no one is going to racially profile you, and the NSA is not going to pull you out of the line at the airport so they can pat you down. And in Ayesha, we see a different approach to the same faith. It was very interesting to watch these two characters discuss their faith and their differing approaches to it.
However, when the book is not so subtle, it tips into over-the-top territory. I found Sheila to be a straight-up caricature. It's not that I don't believe people like her exist, because I do, but her horribleness is so obvious and blunt that it spoils some of the finer points of the story. In fact, I found her so off-putting that I almost quit reading this book--and I'm really glad I didn't. Critiquing this aspect of the book makes me feel a bit uncomfortable, since I am a white, non-Muslim woman, but while I can understand creating an obvious villain as a narrative choice, I think a more subtle villain who exposes the daily microaggressions people like Khalid and Ayesha face would have had more impact.
I liked things from the first half of the book, but I think it's a lot rougher than the second half, when I felt the book found its footing. Ayesha's struggles to figure out her life were relatable and interesting, and I really enjoyed her meditations on her feelings for Khalid, and his for her. I thought they had all the spark of Elizabeth and Darcy, and watching them interact with one another was extremely satisfying and gratifying.
There are many reasons why I'm happy about the renaissance of the rom com, and this book is on that list. I love reading about people falling in love, and I love it even more when I get to read a book that gives me a window into a world with which I'm unfamiliar. I definitely plan on keeping an eye out for Jalaluddin's next work.
It is a truth universally acknowledged that if something is Jane Austen-esque, I'm gonna wanna check it out. So, not surprisingly, as soon as I saw the premise for this book, I was sold.
All in all, I applaud the shades of Pride and Prejudice that exist in this book. Some of the dialogue was, I think, lifted verbatim from that work--but that's not to say I found this derivative. I loved how the author took that great work and updated it, using it as a setting for a sweet and fun story about her Muslim characters.
When it's subtle, it's great. I really felt for Khalid, who's often ostracized for wanting to adhere to the tenants of the religious faith that are so important to him. I felt the sting every time someone brought up how he dressed or made comments about his bear. These are not problems that Christians have. If you walk around wearing a cross necklace, no one is going to racially profile you, and the NSA is not going to pull you out of the line at the airport so they can pat you down. And in Ayesha, we see a different approach to the same faith. It was very interesting to watch these two characters discuss their faith and their differing approaches to it.
However, when the book is not so subtle, it tips into over-the-top territory. I found Sheila to be a straight-up caricature. It's not that I don't believe people like her exist, because I do, but her horribleness is so obvious and blunt that it spoils some of the finer points of the story. In fact, I found her so off-putting that I almost quit reading this book--and I'm really glad I didn't. Critiquing this aspect of the book makes me feel a bit uncomfortable, since I am a white, non-Muslim woman, but while I can understand creating an obvious villain as a narrative choice, I think a more subtle villain who exposes the daily microaggressions people like Khalid and Ayesha face would have had more impact.
I liked things from the first half of the book, but I think it's a lot rougher than the second half, when I felt the book found its footing. Ayesha's struggles to figure out her life were relatable and interesting, and I really enjoyed her meditations on her feelings for Khalid, and his for her. I thought they had all the spark of Elizabeth and Darcy, and watching them interact with one another was extremely satisfying and gratifying.
There are many reasons why I'm happy about the renaissance of the rom com, and this book is on that list. I love reading about people falling in love, and I love it even more when I get to read a book that gives me a window into a world with which I'm unfamiliar. I definitely plan on keeping an eye out for Jalaluddin's next work.