Mackenzie - PhDiva Books's Reviews > A Place for Us
A Place for Us
by
by
I don’t know quite how to put into words how beautiful this book is. It worked its way into my heart. This story feels like it has become a part of me, as though it has changed the way I see the world and other people and cultures. The writing is absolutely breathtaking. I heard it described as “delicate, as though each sentence is spun from glass.” I couldn’t say it better! Each word and sentence is so perfectly chosen. Each character is someone I love, and want to cry with and laugh with, and someone I want to remind that they are a good person, even when they make mistakes. Because they care. Because they love. Because they hurt. Because they always try to do better.
How to describe a book like this??
It’s about a family and the complicated experiences that pull family members apart and also draw them back together. Layla and Rafiq had an arranged marriage, and Layla left her family in Hyderabad to move to the United States and start a family with Rafiq. The book begins with their eldest daughter Hadia’s wedding, and their second daughter Huda is helping her get ready. Hadia is marrying for love, a practice which is uncommon in many Muslim communities. On the eve of Hadia’s wedding, her younger brother Amar returns home. Amar has been estranged from his family for many years, but he has always shared a special connection with Hadia. When she reached out to him, he did not know what he would do. But he came for her, and for his family.
Reflection
There is so much to love about these characters. Layla is torn between the strict customs of her faith, and the desire for her children to have happy, comfortable lives. Rafiq is quiet and seems stern, but he loves and cares so deeply, though he struggles with showing it. Hadia is strong and exceptional, but worries that she will never be as good in her parents eyes because she is a daughter, and not a son. Huda is steady and confident in her beliefs and herself, and speaks the truth even when it may be difficult. And Amar is sensitive and stubborn, but kind and good to all people despite his struggles with his faith and his role in the family and community.
The way this book is written is so beautiful, not only in the words chosen, but in how the story is constructed. Mirza weaves through time as she tells the story of this family. She strings together stories like memories, each tied to each other by an emotion rather than time. Memories are not linear. We don’t remember things in the order they occurred. Sometimes the thread between two stories is delicate, but meaningful nonetheless. Other times it is taut and strong, charged with emotion and unresolved feelings.
As each story layers together, the picture of this family is built. They struggle with the balance between their religion, their family, their community, and themselves. They fear losing one another above all else. They each comb through their memories and thoughts, to try to make sense of Amar’s distance from the family. They each wonder if they are to blame, and if so, could they have prevented it? And most importantly, they love one another so purely. Even when they make mistakes. Even when they are angry. Even when they act from a place of fear or hurt.
This is a book filled with beautiful, breathtaking, heartbreaking, uplifting love.
I read this book with a group of my Traveling Sisters. I found that the discussions we had were so moving. Each person was on their own journey through the book, and had a unique lens through which they were able to find meaning in each scene. For some, it was about being a parent or a child. For others, it was about the feeling of repression. And for others, it was about love and heartache. I loved reading this book and discussing it with my Sisters so much. Even now, we are reflecting and gaining more from this experience. And what this book has done for each one of us is add more nuance to how we view families, love, religion, culture, and community.
I want to thank Sarah Jessica Parker, Fatima Farheen Mirza, SJP for Hogarth, Penguin Random House, and Goodreads for the opportunity to read this book in advance of publication.
I also want to thank the Traveling Sisters, and especially Brenda and Norma, for the opportunity to have such a wonderful reading experience and discussion.
How to describe a book like this??
It’s about a family and the complicated experiences that pull family members apart and also draw them back together. Layla and Rafiq had an arranged marriage, and Layla left her family in Hyderabad to move to the United States and start a family with Rafiq. The book begins with their eldest daughter Hadia’s wedding, and their second daughter Huda is helping her get ready. Hadia is marrying for love, a practice which is uncommon in many Muslim communities. On the eve of Hadia’s wedding, her younger brother Amar returns home. Amar has been estranged from his family for many years, but he has always shared a special connection with Hadia. When she reached out to him, he did not know what he would do. But he came for her, and for his family.
Reflection
There is so much to love about these characters. Layla is torn between the strict customs of her faith, and the desire for her children to have happy, comfortable lives. Rafiq is quiet and seems stern, but he loves and cares so deeply, though he struggles with showing it. Hadia is strong and exceptional, but worries that she will never be as good in her parents eyes because she is a daughter, and not a son. Huda is steady and confident in her beliefs and herself, and speaks the truth even when it may be difficult. And Amar is sensitive and stubborn, but kind and good to all people despite his struggles with his faith and his role in the family and community.
The way this book is written is so beautiful, not only in the words chosen, but in how the story is constructed. Mirza weaves through time as she tells the story of this family. She strings together stories like memories, each tied to each other by an emotion rather than time. Memories are not linear. We don’t remember things in the order they occurred. Sometimes the thread between two stories is delicate, but meaningful nonetheless. Other times it is taut and strong, charged with emotion and unresolved feelings.
As each story layers together, the picture of this family is built. They struggle with the balance between their religion, their family, their community, and themselves. They fear losing one another above all else. They each comb through their memories and thoughts, to try to make sense of Amar’s distance from the family. They each wonder if they are to blame, and if so, could they have prevented it? And most importantly, they love one another so purely. Even when they make mistakes. Even when they are angry. Even when they act from a place of fear or hurt.
This is a book filled with beautiful, breathtaking, heartbreaking, uplifting love.
I read this book with a group of my Traveling Sisters. I found that the discussions we had were so moving. Each person was on their own journey through the book, and had a unique lens through which they were able to find meaning in each scene. For some, it was about being a parent or a child. For others, it was about the feeling of repression. And for others, it was about love and heartache. I loved reading this book and discussing it with my Sisters so much. Even now, we are reflecting and gaining more from this experience. And what this book has done for each one of us is add more nuance to how we view families, love, religion, culture, and community.
I want to thank Sarah Jessica Parker, Fatima Farheen Mirza, SJP for Hogarth, Penguin Random House, and Goodreads for the opportunity to read this book in advance of publication.
I also want to thank the Traveling Sisters, and especially Brenda and Norma, for the opportunity to have such a wonderful reading experience and discussion.
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Reading Progress
June 2, 2018
–
Started Reading
June 8, 2018
– Shelved
June 8, 2018
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-50 of 52 (52 new)
message 1:
by
Kaceey
(new)
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rated it 5 stars
Jun 08, 2018 11:02AM
Beautiful review Mackenzie! Loved reading this one with you and all of our sisters!💖
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Gorgeous, heartfelt review, Mackenzie ;) This one definitely goes onto “must read” shelf. So glad you absolutely loved it!!! 💝
Fabulous review, Mackenzie! Absolutely loved reading this book with you and the rest of our sisters! 💕
Kaceey - Traveling Sister wrote: "Beautiful review Mackenzie! Loved reading this one with you and all of our sisters!💖"
Thank you, Kaceey! This is by far my favorite sister read I have gotten to do with you all! Everyone has had such wonderful thoughts and ideas to contribute!!!
Thank you, Kaceey! This is by far my favorite sister read I have gotten to do with you all! Everyone has had such wonderful thoughts and ideas to contribute!!!
Wonderful review, Mackenzie! I’m glad you enjoyed it! I have seen so many glowing reviews for this book and look forward to reading it soon!
Maureen wrote: "Stunning review Mackenzie 👍🏻"
Thank you so much, Maureen! I hoped to do this amazing book justice. It was hard to articulate how much I got out of this story!
Thank you so much, Maureen! I hoped to do this amazing book justice. It was hard to articulate how much I got out of this story!
Mackenzie, beautiful review! I’ve got to get caught up on a few others arcs and hope to get to this soon .
Absolutely beautiful heartfelt review Mackenzie! I just loved reading this with you and our sisters, sharing our thoughts and feelings for this superb book!
Kenzie: your review made me tear up all over again! *chills* It’s a lovely tribute to both this wonderful story and our group read! SO very beautiful, my dear friend! 💕❤️ I had the best time discussing this, and still continue to do so ☺️
Kenzie beautiful beautiful review! I am at about 50% and I think it is a beautiful book as well and I could not of said any of that better and I probably won’t, LOL 😘
Melisa - Traveling Sister wrote: "Beautiful review, Mack! So lovely."
She does have quite a writing style, eh?
She does have quite a writing style, eh?
I’m going to have to find a time to read this since I missed reading it with you! Awesome review Mackenzie! 😊
Absolutely gorgeous review, Mackenzie! I’ve loved reading this with you. It is a part of me as well, now. ❤️
I just finished my review today too... and was so hard to write it! Lol. You did wonderful with you review and this book truly is such a gem! Can’t wait to have more reads with you! 💛💚
Miriam wrote: "Fabulous review Mackenzie 👍"
Thank you, Miriam!!!
KAS wrote: "Gorgeous, heartfelt review, Mackenzie ;) This one definitely goes onto “must read” shelf. So glad you absolutely loved it!!! 💝"
Thank you so much, KAS! I wanted to do this one justice, but its hard with such a beautiful book!
Stacey wrote: "Fantastic review! I'm reading great things about this one."
Stacey--it is better than the hype. It's so beautiful and moving, I absolutely loved it!
Thank you, Miriam!!!
KAS wrote: "Gorgeous, heartfelt review, Mackenzie ;) This one definitely goes onto “must read” shelf. So glad you absolutely loved it!!! 💝"
Thank you so much, KAS! I wanted to do this one justice, but its hard with such a beautiful book!
Stacey wrote: "Fantastic review! I'm reading great things about this one."
Stacey--it is better than the hype. It's so beautiful and moving, I absolutely loved it!
Norma * Traveling Sister wrote: "Fabulous review, Mackenzie! Absolutely loved reading this book with you and the rest of our sisters! 💕"
Me too, Norma!!! This was one of my favorite reading experiences in my lifetime! The discussions have been amazing :)
Me too, Norma!!! This was one of my favorite reading experiences in my lifetime! The discussions have been amazing :)
Holly wrote: "Wow! Stellar review Mack! sounds like this one really touched you."
It did, Holly! Such a great sister read and discussion!!!
Brandice wrote: "Wonderful review, Mackenzie! I’m glad you enjoyed it! I have seen so many glowing reviews for this book and look forward to reading it soon!"
I can't wait for you to read it, Brandice! It is so beautiful, I think you'll love it!
It did, Holly! Such a great sister read and discussion!!!
Brandice wrote: "Wonderful review, Mackenzie! I’m glad you enjoyed it! I have seen so many glowing reviews for this book and look forward to reading it soon!"
I can't wait for you to read it, Brandice! It is so beautiful, I think you'll love it!
Awesome review! I’ve been hearing so many good things about this and your review makes me want to read it even more!
Angela M wrote: "Mackenzie, beautiful review! I’ve got to get caught up on a few others arcs and hope to get to this soon ."
Thank you, Angela!!! I think you'll love it, but definitely start it when you have time to enjoy, because it is dense and beautiful :)
Thank you, Angela!!! I think you'll love it, but definitely start it when you have time to enjoy, because it is dense and beautiful :)
Susanne wrote: "Absolutely beautiful heartfelt review Mackenzie! I just loved reading this with you and our sisters, sharing our thoughts and feelings for this superb book!"
Me too, Susanne!!! You all have had such beautiful stories to share and insights into the book--I felt like I learned even more from the discussion, and that is irreplaceable for me!
Me too, Susanne!!! You all have had such beautiful stories to share and insights into the book--I felt like I learned even more from the discussion, and that is irreplaceable for me!
Brenda - Traveling Sister wrote: "Such a beautiful review, Mackenzie! I love it!"
Thanks so much, Brenda! And thank you for including me in such a wonderful discussion!!!
Thanks so much, Brenda! And thank you for including me in such a wonderful discussion!!!
Kristin (KC) - Traveling Sister wrote: "Kenzie: your review made me tear up all over again! *chills* It’s a lovely tribute to both this wonderful story and our group read! SO very beautiful, my dear friend! 💕❤️ I had the best time discus..."
Thanks so much, Kristin!! That means a lot--I wanted others to know how special this book is. I loved reading this together :)
Thanks so much, Kristin!! That means a lot--I wanted others to know how special this book is. I loved reading this together :)
Jaline wrote: "Beautiful and moving review, Mackenzie!"
Thank you so much, Jaline!! That warms my heart! 💕
Thank you so much, Jaline!! That warms my heart! 💕
What a lovely review, Kenzie! I so appreciated your perspective during the discussion too--especially regarding the timeline and comparing those to memories--really made me look at things a bit differently. Looking forward to our next TSR. 😊
Melisa - Traveling Sister wrote: "Beautiful review, Mack! So lovely."
Thanks so much, Melisa! I loved reading this together!!
Thanks so much, Melisa! I loved reading this together!!
Lindsay - Traveling Sister wrote: "Such a lovely review Mackenzie! 💜"
Thank you, Lindsay!!! This was a wonderful sister read!!
Thank you, Lindsay!!! This was a wonderful sister read!!
Mary Beth *Traveling Sister* wrote: "Fabulous review, Mackenzie! Just love it! It really made me feel."
Thanks so much, Mary Beth!!! Its so hard to review a book this beautiful, but I did my best!!!
Thanks so much, Mary Beth!!! Its so hard to review a book this beautiful, but I did my best!!!
Berit☀️✨Traveling Sister✨ wrote: "Kenzie beautiful beautiful review! I am at about 50% and I think it is a beautiful book as well and I could not of said any of that better and I probably won’t, LOL 😘"
Thanks so much, Berit!!! I'm so glad you're loving it as well!
Thanks so much, Berit!!! I'm so glad you're loving it as well!