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A review by amandashestokes
Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin
3.0
This is an extremely solid and entertaining 3 star book. I read it in one day and was visibly irritated when my husband invited me outside to the patio he had been working so hard on for 4 days to enjoy cocktails and a cheese board. So there's no doubt I found it engaging.
So, why just the 3 stars? Because this is not a Pride and Prejudice retelling. To only take a few elements of what is a beautifully crafted and intelligent story and modernize those while ignoring the rest is doing both books a disservice.
Though Jalaluddin succeeded in writing an entertaining story with characters I enjoyed getting to know, her writing is not on par with Austen's. Not an insult - most people's aren't. However, when a novel is being compared to Austen, I'm expecting so much more than a love story that starts out with 2 people who hate each other, but end up falling in love at the end.
That being said, there are some aspects I loved.
I enjoyed getting the male protagonist's perspective right from the start. Being able to see his inner turmoil while he's always saying the wrong thing got me invested in him more quickly.
I love that it took place in a modern day Muslim community - as a white American woman, I've never struggled to find myself represented in literature, but I know that's not everyone's experience. Note to publishers - WE WANT MORE!
The way Jalaluddin wrote the scenes where Khalid and Ayesha slowly and quietly fell in love were swoon worthy. Specifically, the paratha making lesson. I really believed these two characters developed real feelings and it was done beautifully.
All in all, I enjoyed it. Though I checked it out from the library, I'll buy it because I'll want to revisit it again. What the hell, 3.5 stars.
So, why just the 3 stars? Because this is not a Pride and Prejudice retelling. To only take a few elements of what is a beautifully crafted and intelligent story and modernize those while ignoring the rest is doing both books a disservice.
Though Jalaluddin succeeded in writing an entertaining story with characters I enjoyed getting to know, her writing is not on par with Austen's. Not an insult - most people's aren't. However, when a novel is being compared to Austen, I'm expecting so much more than a love story that starts out with 2 people who hate each other, but end up falling in love at the end.
That being said, there are some aspects I loved.
I enjoyed getting the male protagonist's perspective right from the start. Being able to see his inner turmoil while he's always saying the wrong thing got me invested in him more quickly.
I love that it took place in a modern day Muslim community - as a white American woman, I've never struggled to find myself represented in literature, but I know that's not everyone's experience. Note to publishers - WE WANT MORE!
The way Jalaluddin wrote the scenes where Khalid and Ayesha slowly and quietly fell in love were swoon worthy. Specifically, the paratha making lesson. I really believed these two characters developed real feelings and it was done beautifully.
All in all, I enjoyed it. Though I checked it out from the library, I'll buy it because I'll want to revisit it again. What the hell, 3.5 stars.