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A review by _askthebookbug
Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin
4.0
Ayesha At Last.
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I purchased this book on a whim in Kochi. This book has been circulating across Instagram with mixed reviews and I had to see it for myself what all the hype was about. The cover is beautiful, that of a Muslim woman in her traditional hijab. The blurb already reveals that this story falls along the lines of modern re-telling of Pride and Prejudice so in a way we do know what to expect. It's a fast paced novel which I managed to finish in just two sittings. The author clearly has a flair to write gracefully. Though I enjoyed this read there were few obvious flaws.
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Ayesha is from a traditional muslim family who now lives in Toronto. After the mysterious death of her father, she moved with her mother, brother and grandparents to Canada to lead a better life. With the constant support of her uncle, her family finally finds roots in the new country. Ayesha is a simple woman in her late twenties with dreams of becoming a poet but settles for being a teacher instead. From a very young age she starts taking responsibility of looking after her uncle's children. Hafsa, her cousin of 20 lives in la la land and wants to marry a young and wealthy man while Ayesha holds no such desire. But her needs change when she meets 26 year old Khalid.
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Khalid is a religious young man who dresses in white robes and grows a beard as part of his religious requirements. Though he feels at peace in the attire, he only manages to draw stares from his fellow employees. Growing up with a controlling mother, makes him an introvert who leaves all the decision making responsibilities to her including choosing a bride for him. He believes in love after marriage and lives by the rules but soon enough his plans go awry as he finds himself falling in love with Ayesha. The storyline is quite simple where love blossoms between shy Khalid and bold Ayesha but the problem starts when the plot begins to look too filmy.
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I had no problem with Khalid's attire or his beliefs in Islam teachings. He seemed confident enough to embrace his individuality but when he gets a makeover at the end, I wasn't sure what to make of it. What was the need to change his clothes and hair-do? While the author has maintained a steady pace throughout the story, tiny blips like these made it a bumpy ride. Khalid's personal and family life seemed too complicated with his nagging mother and a desolate sister. While Farzana, his mother was initially portrayed as someone who wants to comtrol her son, she later turns into someone more monstrous. Few scenarios were dramatic, something that would happen only in soap operas. What could have been a lovely read fell short of a solid structure at the end. If you're looking for a good one-time fun read, this one's for you.
Rating - 3.8/5.
•
I purchased this book on a whim in Kochi. This book has been circulating across Instagram with mixed reviews and I had to see it for myself what all the hype was about. The cover is beautiful, that of a Muslim woman in her traditional hijab. The blurb already reveals that this story falls along the lines of modern re-telling of Pride and Prejudice so in a way we do know what to expect. It's a fast paced novel which I managed to finish in just two sittings. The author clearly has a flair to write gracefully. Though I enjoyed this read there were few obvious flaws.
•
Ayesha is from a traditional muslim family who now lives in Toronto. After the mysterious death of her father, she moved with her mother, brother and grandparents to Canada to lead a better life. With the constant support of her uncle, her family finally finds roots in the new country. Ayesha is a simple woman in her late twenties with dreams of becoming a poet but settles for being a teacher instead. From a very young age she starts taking responsibility of looking after her uncle's children. Hafsa, her cousin of 20 lives in la la land and wants to marry a young and wealthy man while Ayesha holds no such desire. But her needs change when she meets 26 year old Khalid.
•
Khalid is a religious young man who dresses in white robes and grows a beard as part of his religious requirements. Though he feels at peace in the attire, he only manages to draw stares from his fellow employees. Growing up with a controlling mother, makes him an introvert who leaves all the decision making responsibilities to her including choosing a bride for him. He believes in love after marriage and lives by the rules but soon enough his plans go awry as he finds himself falling in love with Ayesha. The storyline is quite simple where love blossoms between shy Khalid and bold Ayesha but the problem starts when the plot begins to look too filmy.
•
I had no problem with Khalid's attire or his beliefs in Islam teachings. He seemed confident enough to embrace his individuality but when he gets a makeover at the end, I wasn't sure what to make of it. What was the need to change his clothes and hair-do? While the author has maintained a steady pace throughout the story, tiny blips like these made it a bumpy ride. Khalid's personal and family life seemed too complicated with his nagging mother and a desolate sister. While Farzana, his mother was initially portrayed as someone who wants to comtrol her son, she later turns into someone more monstrous. Few scenarios were dramatic, something that would happen only in soap operas. What could have been a lovely read fell short of a solid structure at the end. If you're looking for a good one-time fun read, this one's for you.
Rating - 3.8/5.