Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin

Welcome to the Toronto suburb of Scarborough, home of the cast of characters of Uzma Jalaluddin’s new novel that is a riff on Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.  Ayesha Shamsi (Elizabeth Bennet) is 27 years old, almost “on the shelf” in terms of traditional Muslim marriages, and is an aspiring poet and reluctant high school English teacher.  This hijab-wearing woman is surrounded by her loving family, including her hard-working widowed mother, her Shakespeare-quoting grandfather, and her gentle grandmother.

Ayesha is especially indebted to her uncle, who has supported her family since the early death of her father, meaning that Ayesha lovingly obliges his requests for assistance with his younger, demanding, and very flighty daughter, Hafsa, who is determined to turn down at least 100 rishtas (marriage offers). 

Khalid Mirza is the Mr. Darcy equivalent, who observes Ayesha from afar, until circumstances—and a mutual friend—put them in each other’s way.  Khalid is a traditional, observant Muslim whose white robe and untrimmed beard represents his spiritual faithfulness; other people see him differently, including Ayesha who considers him as a “freak” and “bearded fundy.” His reserved demeanor is off-putting to many, the butt of jokes for his office mate and non-observant Muslim friend Amir, and the target of his new supervisor, Sheila “the Shark."  He is deeply challenged when the women from a successful lingerie company for plus-size figures specifically request him for the creation of their new website and online marketing.

Modern versions of Pride and Prejudice only succeed if they capture the flavor and intent of the original but offer the reader something new; Ayesha at Last succeeds on both counts.  The author skillfully creates a main couple who have their own prejudices about marriage, about religion, about life goals, and need to work them out as they dance around a relationship that stretches the bounds of propriety (in a conservative Muslim way).  The novel, like P&P, describes a specific time and place and community that is strongly occupied with idea of marriage and the roles of men and women, expressed in multiples ways by many different characters.

But you don’t need to know anything about Austen’s novel to enjoy this one; it works on so many levels.  It has a really strong plot line, as well as humor, and a vast array of characters who show how diverse and varied the Muslim world is (one of my favorite characters was the Hawaiian-shirted imam). The Muslim life-style is interesting to read about and consider, and the novel contains thoughts on immigrants, the universal issue of falling attendance in religious communities, and religious prejudices.  The Canadian setting adds another dimension and a fresh perspective to this entire mix.

To be published June 4 by Penguin Random House.

The novel was optioned by Pascal Pictures, home to Spider-Man, The Post, and the forthcoming Little Women.

https://www.uzmajalaluddin.com/