FROM PASHAS TO POKÉMON BY MAARIA SAYED

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BOOK NAME: FROM PASHAS TO POKÉMON 

AUTHOR NAME: MAARIA SAYED

GENRE: WOMEN'S FICTION

PUBLISHER: VISHWAKARMA PUBLICATIONS

BOOK BUY LINK: https://www.amazon.in/PASHAS-POKEMON-MAARIA-SAYED/dp/9395481544


BOOK COVER IMAGE



ABOUT THE BOOK

At 25, Aisha has seen more than many people do in a lifetime and has understood one thing: no matter who you are or where you are from, there are things that you can study and others that you can actually learn from and grow.

Lively tales from family history and everyday life in Mohammad Ali road colony in Mumbai from the background of Aisha's internal journey. Childhood memories mingle with her experiences while studying in London, and are woven into a sharp commentary on the transformation in India over 20 years as she ponders her place in this ever changing world. 

Narrated with distinct humour and a throbbing heart, rooted in Urdu sensibility, the debut novel of Maaria Sayed is the story of a family caught in the shift to the new millennium, a touching story of love and compromised values, of West and East, of childhood and adulthood.


BOOK REVIEW

Written from a 25-year-old Aisha's point of view who grew up in an orthodox Muslim family, this book reads like nonfiction. However, this nonfiction is exciting and has multiple layers involving parental pressure, gender discrimination, feminism, partition, religious politics, and much more. Aisha was brought up among her brothers in an upper-middle-class, semi-orthodox Muslim family where the rules applied only to women. She had to constantly fear her parent's approval for anything from driving to dressing up as an opposite gender for a fancy dress competition. It's the story of how she fights the norms and dates a man of her choice while pursuing a higher degree in London. From Mohammad Ali Road in Mumbai to the streets of London, Aisha has come a long way in search of her passion.


This book was very much relatable and shall remain such for any woman who has been told not to do this and that because of their gender. For anyone who has been hearing 'You are a girl, so you should do this', this book feels empowering and essential. Aisha's frustration was palpable, and the tumultuous relationship between her and her parents was jarring. So many parts in the book made me pause and reflect on it. Except for those times when the differentiation between what feminism is and who an independent woman is became a blur. The humour and wit is commendable even at times when the pain behind her narration is obvious.


Yes, I am happy with how the book was written from a woman's perspective who was constantly judged, but the book also had certain factual inaccuracies that hampered the flow a bit. I also found Aisha to be highly judgemental in many places, which dissolved her purpose of seeking others to be judgement-free and open-minded. Overall, it was a good read with minor errors that can be safely overlooked. 


MY REVIEW: 3/5

This is a part of Blogchatter’s Book review program and TBR challenge

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