[RJU]⇒ PDF Unmarriageable A Novel edition by Soniah Kamal Literature Fiction eBooks

Unmarriageable A Novel edition by Soniah Kamal Literature Fiction eBooks

Download As PDF : Unmarriageable A Novel edition by Soniah Kamal Literature Fiction eBooks

In this one-of-a-kind retelling of Pride and Prejudice set in modern-day Pakistan, Alys Binat has sworn never to marry—until an encounter with one Mr. Darsee at a wedding makes her reconsider.

“A fun, page-turning romp and a thought-provoking look at the class-obsessed strata of Pakistani society.”—NPR

A scandal and vicious rumor concerning the Binat family have destroyed their fortune and prospects for desirable marriages, but Alys, the second and most practical of the five Binat daughters, has found happiness teaching English literature to schoolgirls. Knowing that many of her students won’t make it to graduation before dropping out to marry and have children, Alys teaches them about Jane Austen and her other literary heroes and hopes to inspire the girls to dream of more.

When an invitation arrives to the biggest wedding their small town has seen in years, Mrs. Binat, certain that their luck is about to change, excitedly sets to work preparing her daughters to fish for rich, eligible bachelors. On the first night of the festivities, Alys’s lovely older sister, Jena, catches the eye of Fahad “Bungles” Bingla, the wildly successful—and single—entrepreneur. But Bungles’s friend Valentine Darsee is clearly unimpressed by the Binat family. Alys accidentally overhears his unflattering assessment of her and quickly dismisses him and his snobbish ways. As the days of lavish wedding parties unfold, the Binats wait breathlessly to see if Jena will land a proposal—and Alys begins to realize that Darsee’s brusque manner may be hiding a very different man from the one she saw at first glance.

Told with wry wit and colorful prose, Unmarriageable is a charming update on Jane Austen’s beloved novel and an exhilarating exploration of love, marriage, class, and sisterhood.

Praise for Unmarriageable

“Delightful . . . Unmarriageable introduces readers to a rich Muslim culture. . . . [Kamal] observes family dramas with a satiric eye and treats readers to sparkling descriptions of a days-long wedding ceremony, with its high-fashion pageantry and higher social stakes.”—Star Tribune

“Thoroughly charming.”—New York Post

“[A] funny, sometimes romantic, often thought-provoking glimpse into Pakistani culture, one which adroitly illustrates the double standards women face when navigating sex, love, and marriage. This is a must-read for devout Austenites.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Unmarriageable A Novel edition by Soniah Kamal Literature Fiction eBooks

First a disclaimer, I am a major Austen fan AND I have been to Pakistan numerous times AND was myself married in Lahore in 1987. I think that qualifies me as an expert and I felt like an insider as I read this book. This story is so amazing. A charming retelling of Pride and Prejudice. Themes such as we find in classic books, translate across cultures and times. Classics are timeless whether it's a classic book or a classic dress! I cannot love the character names enough. Absolutely creative play on words. I had not read P and P in many years, so I refreshed my memory of the characters on Wikipedia. Ms. Kamal is spot on. The dialog just made the story even more complete. At least for me, I could hear the voices in my head, while reading. The idioms used are things that my husband and his family use, so I can assure you, this dialog is genuine. The dialog helped the story leap off the page. There is no doubt, Pakistan is a marriage market. I have seen the process in its various forms and Unmarriageable has captured it to a T. I hope that this story will also open reader's eyes to a Pakistan not often presented on our skewed news sources. Bravo Ms. Kamal on a gorgeous retelling that will provide an authentic glimpse of Pakistani culture and society. Thank you to Net Galley and the author for the ARC, opinions expressed are my own


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Unmarriageable A Novel edition by Soniah Kamal Literature Fiction eBooks Reviews

I enjoyed this book because it was the telling of a classic story but the author put her own spin on it.
Unmarriageable is a highly entertaining read that will make you laugh out loud at times at the frivolities of superficial Pakistani society life and yet also draws one into thinking about the darker aspects of being an unmarried woman in that society and the expectations we force on women in general . The first half of the book is much better because it was so original in how it develops the setting and characters as related to Pakistan . For example , I especially liked the way Alys, the main character is introduced by the way she teaches her students to put a twist on Austen’s famous opening line, ‘ It is a truth universally acknowledged ..’ and how she interprets their answers . Her best friend , sherry was also more interesting and well developed than Austen’s Charlotte . The story felt a little rushed in the later chapters , almost as if the author realized suddenly that she had transgressed off into her own descriptive reverie and had to suddenly comply with the ‘Pride and prejudice’ story line to the letter . Even though one would think a book we already knew the ending to wouldn’t be that exciting , I couldn’t put the book down till I had finished . Always a good sign! Well done .
In Unmarriagable, Kamal acknowledges the universal truths that transcend geography and time families expect their daughters to marry - and marry well; society gives women few paths to respectability; class drives snobbery and self-congratulations.
The re-telling of Pride and Prejudice in Pakistan is delightful on so many levels. Acknowledging those universal truths, but also pulling the reader into the unique lives of Alys and Darsee, Jena and Bungles, and Mr. and Mrs. Binat.
Will appeal to Janeites, lovers of love stories, and people who enjoy a window into other contemporary cultures.
This book is not worthy of comparison with any great book, including Pride and Prejudice. The book is just plain boring. I admit I only read 26 pages before I returned it, but there was nothing elegant about it. The language was quite pedestrian. It was a struggle to force myself to read 26 pages. Don't waste your time if you truly like Jane Austen's writing. Another dud of a retelling, perhaps worse than the others.
Unmarriageable is a delightful book, full of wit and wisdom. Pride and Prejudice is set in Pakistan, which is in some ways culturally similar to Austen's world--focusing on honor and shame, and an emphasis on making a good marriage. The characters are fun and sometimes funny. There are themes of women's rights, religion, relationships, respect, and marriage. I learned more about Pakistani culture as well. One caveat--there is a little bit of bad language. Overall, though, a fascinating and entertaining novel.
First a disclaimer, I am a major Austen fan AND I have been to Pakistan numerous times AND was myself married in Lahore in 1987. I think that qualifies me as an expert and I felt like an insider as I read this book. This story is so amazing. A charming retelling of Pride and Prejudice. Themes such as we find in classic books, translate across cultures and times. Classics are timeless whether it's a classic book or a classic dress! I cannot love the character names enough. Absolutely creative play on words. I had not read P and P in many years, so I refreshed my memory of the characters on Wikipedia. Ms. Kamal is spot on. The dialog just made the story even more complete. At least for me, I could hear the voices in my head, while reading. The idioms used are things that my husband and his family use, so I can assure you, this dialog is genuine. The dialog helped the story leap off the page. There is no doubt, Pakistan is a marriage market. I have seen the process in its various forms and Unmarriageable has captured it to a T. I hope that this story will also open reader's eyes to a Pakistan not often presented on our skewed news sources. Bravo Ms. Kamal on a gorgeous retelling that will provide an authentic glimpse of Pakistani culture and society. Thank you to Net Galley and the author for the ARC, opinions expressed are my own