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A review by readingwithkt
Once Upon an Eid: Stories of Hope and Joy by 15 Muslim Voices by S.K. Ali, Aisha Saeed
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This is a delightful collection of short stories - and one comic - telling tales of hope and joy, from Muslims celebrating or anticipating the celebration of Eid. I listened to the audiobook which was truly lovely (though I personally preferred Siiri Scott's narrative style to that of Neil Shah... totally personal preference). I started a story most days on my daily walk and ended up finishing the collection while cleaning the house and baking. It was a really nice companion in these bleak times, a reminder that joy is possible and it was truly a comforting read. I'm not Muslim so I did find myself also learning some things about Eid and about Islam more generally.
I would also say that if you have young people in your house: this one might really help them. A lot of the stories are from the perspective of children and young adults as they try to navigate small and big problems, which I thought was refreshing and sweet. I liked that the collection showed a real range in terms of people's backgrounds, and though it seemed largely focused on US/Canadian/so-called-Western Muslims, I felt this was important from the point of view that a lot of Muslims live in "the Western world" and experience real Islamophobia. To counter that with joy, hope, and celebration felt quietly radical and I loved it.
My favourites from the collection include:
- Yusuf and the Great Big Brownie Mistake by Aisha Saeed
- Gifts by Rukhsana Khan (the commentary on class and privilege here was brilliant)
- Not Only an Only by Huda Al-Marashi
- Maya Madinah Chooses Joy by Ayesha Mattu
I really recommend this one! Especially if you are feeling low and need something sweet, short, and comforting to get you through a tricky time. Just lovely! I'll definitely be looking out for more from all of the authors in the collection.
I would also say that if you have young people in your house: this one might really help them. A lot of the stories are from the perspective of children and young adults as they try to navigate small and big problems, which I thought was refreshing and sweet. I liked that the collection showed a real range in terms of people's backgrounds, and though it seemed largely focused on US/Canadian/so-called-Western Muslims, I felt this was important from the point of view that a lot of Muslims live in "the Western world" and experience real Islamophobia. To counter that with joy, hope, and celebration felt quietly radical and I loved it.
My favourites from the collection include:
- Yusuf and the Great Big Brownie Mistake by Aisha Saeed
- Gifts by Rukhsana Khan (the commentary on class and privilege here was brilliant)
- Not Only an Only by Huda Al-Marashi
- Maya Madinah Chooses Joy by Ayesha Mattu
I really recommend this one! Especially if you are feeling low and need something sweet, short, and comforting to get you through a tricky time. Just lovely! I'll definitely be looking out for more from all of the authors in the collection.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Islamophobia
Parent relationship breakdown