Not sure if you remember but I’m trying to read more books this year, actually just read more period. So I joined the Take A Chance Challenge to help me out. This book doesn’t fit in one of the challenge subjects but its still a book and they are challenging me to read so I”ll give them the credit anyway.
Genre: Fiction: Contemporary Woman
Pages: 232
Author: Shaila Abdullah
From the Book Jacket:
“You don’t know you’re a misfit until you are marked as an outcast.From the darkest hour of American history emerges a mesmerizing tale of tender love, a life interrupted, and faith recovered. Arissa Illahi, a Muslim artist and writer, discovers in a single moment that no matter how carefully you map your life, it is life itself that chooses your destiny. After her husband’s death in the collapse of the World Trade Center, the discovery of his manuscript marks Arissa’s reconnection to life. Her unborn son and the unfinished novel fuse in her mind into one life-defining project that becomes, at once, the struggle for her emotional survival and the redemption of her race. Saffron Dreams is a novel about our ever evolving identities and the events and places that shape them. It reminds us that in the midst of tragedy, our dreams can become a lasting legacy.”
My Thoughts:
To be honest I didn’t know what to expect from this book. I was interested in the perspective of it being from a Muslim’s point of view and I was right that was interesting. But it was mostly about the grief and mourning process, about how difficult it is to move on especially with a child. I found it very relateable but maybe that is just because I’m a widow. I liked reading the emotions and the memories and knowing that even though my process was much shorter than hers it was similar and I was “normal.”
I really liked how it addressed the religion often through out the story but at the same time it was a non-issue. It was woven through out the story so naturally. Obviously it was a big part of her process, being accused, watched, judged but at the same time she was ‘just another widow.’ It talks about the process of giving up parts of your old life to create a new life for yourself and ultimately to be content with who you are and what is your life.
I enjoyed this book a lot and become more committed to it with every page. Its not my normal, fast paced book but that was a good thing. Plays into the healing process and the process Arissa goes through.
Also I will let you know there are a few “love scenes” but I say that loosely there are no full blow s-e-x scenes and the few ‘love scenes’ are understandable to build the relationship and intimacy in the story. But I wanted to warn you.
All in all it was a great book and I would recommend it. If your looking for a thought provoking yet not to heavy book this would be a good one.
I was provided a copy of this book to read and review but these opinions are all my own.
Hi Amber,
Thanks for your kind words on behalf of Shaila and myself. I did not realize that you were a widow as well and your review brings a unique perspective to the book that we haven’t seen before. Thanks again and I hope you’ll be interested in other titles we have in the future.
Regards
Victor R. Volkman
Modern History Press
http://www.ModernHistoryPress.com