Book Curious ®

Kamila Shamsie     Pages: 274    Published: 2017

The book: After years of raising her twin siblings Aneeka and Parvaiz, Isma can now follow her own dreams and pursue a PhD at University in America. There she meets the charismatic Eamon, whose father is a British politician. Back in London, Parvaiz, has disappeared. He is not with family in Pakistan, as he told people; he is in fact in Syria at a training camp. Can Parvaiz be saved? Will Eamon factor into Isma’s life?

You might like it because: It’s a well-written, fast-paced, story about family, love, disconnection, the need to belong, and betrayal. It leaves the reader with a lot to think about.

What did other people say?
“This is a haunting novel, full of dazzling moments and not a few surprising turns, that manages to be suspenseful despite its uneven momentum.”
– The Washington Post

“Shamsie’s timely fiction probes the roots of radicalism and the pull of the family.”
– O, the Oprah Magazine

Awards & Recognition:
Winner of the 2018 Women’s Prize for Fiction
Longlisted for the Man Booker Prize
A New York Times Notable Book of 2017

How quickly will you get into the book? The story starts as Isma is trying to leave the UK. The first few pages got my attention, and 20 pages in I was all in till the end.

You might not like it because: This is a relatively short read, but we have 5 main characters. Whilst we get an understanding of them all, and probably more of Isma than the others, we never get into real depth about what makes them tick, so we never fully understand some of their motivations and actions.  That might leave some readers frustrated.

What might you read next?
Shamsie did an interview for the Man Booker Prize. She was asked,“What is your favorite Man Booker-winning novel?” She replied, “I wouldn’t want to live in a world that makes me choose between Midnight’s Children and The English Patient.”

Why not read Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie, which won the Man Booker Prize in 1981.

Or try Michael Ondaatje’s The English Patient, which won in 1982 and then won the Golden Man Booker in 2018.

© Bookcurious.com 2018