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Synopsis (From Goodreads):
AYESHA SHAMSI has a lot going on. Her dreams of being a poet have been set aside for a teaching job so she can pay off her debts to her wealthy uncle. She lives with her boisterous Muslim family and is always being reminded that her flighty younger cousin, Hafsa, is close to rejecting her one hundredth marriage proposal. Though Ayesha is lonely, she doesn’t want an arranged marriage. Then she meets Khalid who is just as smart and handsome as he is conservative and judgmental. She is irritatingly attracted to someone who looks down on her choices and dresses like he belongs in the seventh century.
When a surprise engagement between Khalid and Hafsa is announced, Ayesha is torn between how she feels about the straightforward Khalid and his family; and the truth she realizes about herself. But Khalid is also wrestling with what he believes and what he wants. And he just can’t get this beautiful, outspoken woman out of his mind.
Review:
When I read the description for Ayesha At Last, by Uzma Jalaluddin, that it was a twist on the classic, Pride and Prejudiced, I immediately requested it from NetGalley. While I wouldn't say this novel stayed exactly true to the Jane Austin book, it did have many similar plot points and situations that made me smile. The author also had lots to say about cultural misunderstandings and intolerance, and included characters I connected with easily. I really enjoyed this book.
What I Liked:
Points of View:Like S.K. Ali's book, Love From A to Z, Ayesha At Last has points of view from two Muslim young people: Ayesha and Khalid. While Ali's book really focuses on the female's choice to wear a hijab, this book spotlights the male character's traditional choices of attire and his adherence to Islam. The characters, as well as the reader, must confront their own preconceived notions and prejudices about Muslim men.
Characters:
Ayesha and Khalid have a lot in common. Both have lost a father, dress more conservatively, and are quick to make assumptions. But Ayesha is a more modern person. She isn't in a hurry to get married, but she feels the disapproval of her relatives and her community. Khalid feels somewhat out of place as well because he has placed all his faith in having his domineering mother arrange a marriage for him.
I also liked all the secondary characters, and how they fit into the Pride and Prejudice inspired story. There is cousin Hafsa (a combination of Lydia and Charlotte from P & P), Hafsa's hysterical, bragging mom (like Elizabeth Bennett's mother), and my personal favorite, Masood.
Masood has the clueless Mr. Collins role in the story. I found the author's re-imagining of him so fun. He is now a professional wrestling life coach, completely serious, and oblivious to how silly he is. I loved that this character is written with such affection, without making him a buffoon.
Story:
The story matches much of what happens in Pride and Prejudice, but with some added twists. Rather than just some terrible first impressions, the story has Khalid thinking that Ayesha is actually her cousin Hafsa. There are also subplots about the Toronto Muslim community, and Khalid being discriminated at work for his traditional attire. I enjoyed all of it. This was such a fun book that had me rooting for Ayesha, Khalid and their families. I raced through it.
Rating:
Release Date: June 4th, 2019
Author: Uzma Jalaluddin
Publisher: Berkley Books
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Page Length: 368 Pages
Source: NetGalley
Format: E-Book
Recommendation: A fun retelling of Pride and Prejudice with the added bonus of it taking place in a under-represented community. Romantic, but also relevant to our time. I loved it.
This sounds like my kind of book! It sounds like an old classic but totally relevant to life today!
ReplyDeleteI'm currently on hold at my library for this book and I can't wait to read it! Great review!
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