A review by mayamahdi
Lifting the Veil by Kamila Shamsie, Ismat Chughtai

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

This collection of short stories - although written well before I was born - tells the story of women around the world. As a Muslim Syrian-American woman reading these stories, I struggled to understand all the lingo. However, I found the themes of the stories still communicable. Without any satisfying, perfectly tied-up ending, these stories introduce fluctuation into the values we think we hold vehemently. There are a wide range of stories covering a wide range of topics including political independence, disability, death, standing up for your values, lesbianism, shame, and social pressure. Reading this collection requires contemplation. I was eager to finish the book because I was so intrigued and captivated, but in hindsight this book is meant to be read slowly and over time with much consideration and deliberation.