A review by cassiealexandra
Best of Friends, by Kamila Shamsie
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Zahra and Maryam have been friends since they were 4 or 5; their friendship goes back so far, they don't even remember their origin story. When we first meet them, the girls are 14, coming of age in 1988, Karachi. They are exploring what it means to become women during a politically charged time in Pakistani history, dealing with their family expectations, and dreaming of their futures. The second half of the book flashes forward over 30 years to 2019 London and the women have become powerful and influential (Zahra in civil liberties and Maryam in venture capitalism/technology). With so many differences in their upbringing, class, politics, and more, what holds these friends together over the decades?
This was a more serious and slow read for me. I'm not usually one to pick up a lot of historical fiction, but I didn't add this to my TBR knowing that half of it was set in the 1980s. Reading about the time period through the lens of adolescent girls who felt powerless was a great window into a location and political history I knew nothing about (1980s Pakistan). The connection these two characters had in childhood and as adults felt authentic and honest. The author perfectly captured the tensions of longtime friendships, the things left unsaid at times, the arguments, and the absolute support and love. I was captured by Zahra and Maryam, their development into strong and powerful women, and the exploration of their differences and love for one another. If deep relationships and character studies are your thing, this book will probably work well for you.
This was a more serious and slow read for me. I'm not usually one to pick up a lot of historical fiction, but I didn't add this to my TBR knowing that half of it was set in the 1980s. Reading about the time period through the lens of adolescent girls who felt powerless was a great window into a location and political history I knew nothing about (1980s Pakistan). The connection these two characters had in childhood and as adults felt authentic and honest. The author perfectly captured the tensions of longtime friendships, the things left unsaid at times, the arguments, and the absolute support and love. I was captured by Zahra and Maryam, their development into strong and powerful women, and the exploration of their differences and love for one another. If deep relationships and character studies are your thing, this book will probably work well for you.