Review: Saffron Dreams by Shaila Abdullah

Last word first: A mesmerizing story about one woman's struggle to rebuild her life after devastating loss. Not to be missed. (5/5)

Would Joe like this? Yes. Though this could be described as a women's novel, I think the story and perspectives would be fascinating to anyone with an interest in modern history.

From the back cover: 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.

My thoughts: This was a truly moving novel in a number of ways, largely because the protagonist, Arissa, wears so many roles throughout the story. She is a resident of New York City reeling in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. She is a new widow struggling to cope with the loss of her husband. She is a mother tending to a special-needs child. She is an immigrant among people who suddenly regard her as an enemy. Perhaps most of all, she is a woman seeking direction in life. Arissa's challenges and triumphs are woven together in a seamless narrative that I found myself relating to, even as it opened new perspectives for me.

SAFFRON DREAMS is told from Arissa's perspective, in non-chronological fashion that ties together moments in time that relate in Arissa's mind. We read about her childhood in Pakistan, her courtship with her husband-to-be, and her married life, though these events take place only in memory. Abdullah truly has a gift for giving the flavor of Pakistani culture without making the story incoherent to a North American like myself.

Overall, this was an excellent story that I highly recommend to anyone.

About Shaila Abdullah: Abdullah was born in Karachi, Pakistan in 1971. She has a bachelors degree in English literature and a diploma in graphic design. She also has a diploma in freelance writing. At present, she works as a media design associate for SEDL --a nonprofit research, development, and dissemination organization in Austin, Texas. She is the proud mother of one daughter, Aanyah Sarah. -from the bio on her website.