as told by zaheerah

#RamadanReadathon 2019 Wrap Up!

June 4, 2019by Zaheerah2 Comments

Eid Mubarak, everyone! Today, I’m going to be wrapping up my first ever #RamadanReadathon. I honestly can’t believe how quickly this Ramadan has gone this year. I hope everyone had a productive month. I did manage to complete the readathon and overall, I had some fun reading my chosen books.

I had chosen the Salah pillar and I read a total of five books. I have yet to review all of them but expect reviews up in the upcoming month!

A Torch Against the Night

Having read Ember almost five years ago, I was surprised how well my own memory held up to this book. If I can recall, I was a little iffy about Embers but after reading Torch, I think it was just my general feelings about the first book in a series. I tend to not enjoy the first book in series but find myself thoroughly enjoying the rest of the series a whole lot more. (see: shatter me series)

Exit West

I didn’t clock on that this book about the refugee experience and migration until very later on, but once I did, it was eye-opening and poignant. The use of fabulism to explore migration was a genius concept and I would really love to read more stories that use this take as well.

Secrets of the Henna Girl

While I didn’t hate any of the books I read for this readathon, I would, for list-sake, have placed Secrets of the Henna Girl last. But that doesn’t mean it was terrible, it was actually really great. I’ve just read quite a few stories about SEA girls being taken back home to marry people recently, it was hard not to compare it to them.

We Hunt the Flame

Hands down, one of the BEST books I’ve read this month. Altair has my heart and soul. That cliffhanger was jaw-dropping and I kind of hate myself for reading this as a new release. I need the next one ASAP.

Amina’s Voice

Amina’s voice was a delightful read, and definitely one that I would’ve loved if it was released when I was a kid. Something about it captured me and was so charming to read. This book was made for younger readers, so I can’t complain about my issue with the pacing. The named attack on her local mosque doesn’t actually occurs until 80% into the book.

Overall, I’m happy with how this month went. I’m not the greatest with readathons because I have a lot going on and time management, especially on my blog, is something I struggle with. But I had so much fun finally reading some of the books on my list and I’m definitely taking part in next year’s readathon.

And that’s a wrap on my first ever #RamadanReadathon! I hope to be back next year!

Lifestyle, Monthly Rewind

Monthly Rewind: May 2019

June 2, 2019February 26, 2021by ZaheerahLeave a Comment

B O O K S

During the month of May, I read 7 books and 1 webtoon.

Shadow of the Fox
A fantasy novel based on Japanese mythology which follows Yumeko, a kitsune, who forms an alliance with a mysterious samurai to transport a piece of an ancient scroll that has the power to summon a great dragon. This one took a while to fully appreciate. It was kind of slow in the beginning and since I was also in a book slump, that didn’t help the experience either. But towards the end, I found it so enjoyable and the story and characters were so brilliant.

My So-Called Bollywood Life
Winnie follows her prophecy to the T. Until the boy who is supposed to be her true love cheats on her. Now she’s doing things her way. Honestly, I found this book rather dull and, in the end, it wasn’t really for me. I do see its appeal and I would recommend others to give this book a try.

The Paper & Hearts Society
Out of the other youtuber-turn-author books, it’s pretty decent. My thoughts about this are the same as My So-Called Bollywood Life, I see it’s appeal and how a lot of people are going to love this book and looking back, this isn’t a terrible book but it’s just one of those stories that doesn’t fit my own reading style and taste.

A Torch Against the Night
I cannot believe it took me so long to read this sequel. Having to rely on my memory all the way from 2015 probably dampened by experience of this book, but I really enjoyed it.

Exit West
Another neutral read. Quick, captivating and interesting.

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books, Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult/ Teen

Review: My So-Called Bollywood Life

May 27, 2019by Zaheerah4 Comments

Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)

*I received a copy via the publisher in return for an honest review. This in no way affected my opinion of the book.*

Winnie Mehta dreams of getting her Bollywood forever after. For her, everything was perfect. Her life was going according to the words of her family pandit, who swore Winnie would find the love of her life, whose name starts with R, before her 18th birthday. And suddenly, everything is going wrong. Her boyfriend Raj had cheated on her. She’s lost her chair position in the film festival, lowering her chances of getting into film school. Winnie decides to look her prophecy differently, begins taking control of her destiny, in any way possible.

It’s always disappointing not to like a book that you really wanted to enjoy.

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books, Contemporary, LGBTQIA, Romance, Young Adult/ Teen

Mini review: The Paper & Hearts Society and Secrets of the Henna Girl

May 24, 2019by Zaheerah3 Comments

I apologise in advance. 😂 I took a semi-hiatus because of assignments and I ended up writing these during that hiatus so these reviews aren’t written up the standard I would usually prefer.

The Paper & Hearts Society

Rating: ★★☆☆☆ (2/5)

*I received a copy from the publisher via Netgalley in return for an honest review. This in no way affected my opinion of the book.*

A young teen moved to a new town and discovered a book club that pushes her out of her comfort zone.

Honestly, this was a little disappointing, considering how positive the reviews were for this book. I really wanted to love this book, but this book was just not for me. This is a story I would say good in concept, but the execution was so bland.

I have no issues with references to certain things, but this book really overdid it with the book mentions. Like I genuinely thought this book would’ve collapsed on itself if it didn’t mention another book. Yes, this is a book about a book club. But the way it was written was definitely meant to namedrop, which I don’t have an issue with, but it just wasn’t smooth.

A majority of the book is:
Tabby/ Anyone else: Oh, wow. I love [book title] by [author]! Spends a couple of lines on how great it is.

A lot of the books mentioned were prevalent Young Adult/ Contemporary novels. I understood wanting to celebrate UKYA, but I found myself rolling my eyes a lot of it because it was so just so cringey.

I also found the characters to be quite snobby at some points. And a lot of them act as if reading is such a weird thing that makes them different. Like, you know when people say “Am I the only one who does [something that everyone does]?” Tabby and some of the others all tends to give off that similar vibe, and it was just a little frustrating.

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books, Contemporary, Romance

Review: Ayesha At Last

May 10, 2019by Zaheerah1 Comment

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

Ayesha’s dream of being a poet is on a standstill as she’s stuck paying off a debt to her uncle. So while she’s stuck being a substitute teacher, she’s also tailing behind her gorgeous cousin who has marriage proposals thrown at her every day. An identity mishap leads her to be in charge of a fundraising conference for the young Muslims at their local mosque and pairs up with Khalid Mirza to run it. Khalid is conservative and judgemental with secrets of his own. Why should Ayesha fall for a man who acts above her? But a surprise engagement blows everything out of the water.

I enjoyed this book a lot more than I had expected. Like, wow. I couldn’t get enough Ayesha and her family. And her hilarious antics as she falls further down a web of lies by pretending to be her cousin. Each character was so unique and likeable. The narration jumps between different people. It was a bit too much, but each character has a distinct voice that separated them all, voices that were authentic and funny.

Khalid was the one that took me a while to get used to. I didn’t even think he deserved Ayesha for a good half of the novel. He just reminded me of most Muslim men I’ve met who are pretty ridiculous and judgemental before getting to know anyone. You can tell from the offset he’s grown to follow whatever his mum agrees to because of some background events that happened with his sister. And he does learn to become less judgemental, but when I say it took a while, it took a long while.

Apart from the growing relationship between Ayesha and Khalid, multiple complex conflicts grow in the back that adds to this drama-filled debut. Weddings to be planned and had, gossiping aunties that get their due and a very unexpected twist at the end.

Overall, I really enjoy Ayesha At Last. I think this book addressed so many issues and was so well done in that aspect. Workplace racism, Islamophobia, and double standards that women face. A great window into Muslim communities that explored the complexities of life, family and belief. Ayesha At Last was refreshing and hilarious.

Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository | Author

Content warning: workplace racism, Islamophobia, revenge porn

blog tour, Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult/ Teen

Blog Tour: Love From A to Z

May 7, 2019February 26, 2021by Zaheerah1 Comment

Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)

*I received a copy from the publisher via Netgalley in return for an honest review. This in no way affected my opinion of the book.*

Zayneb is sent packing after confronting her Islamophobic teacher, and while her parents hope her early trip will do her some good, she doesn’t anticipate meeting Adam. Adam’s shouldering a secret that he fears will break his family apart. With nothing in common but a journal of Marvel and Oddities, destiny means little to Zayneb, but it seems like it’s working its hardest to keep them on the same path.

This book has so much brilliance packed into it, and I honestly don’t know where to start.

Zayneb is a headstrong lead, who comes across quite bitter at first glance. But I felt for her and saw myself in her in every way possible. When I was younger, I was very much like her: constantly angry at the prejudice, racism and Islamophobia in the world. She doesn’t know how to stay down quietly, and I admire that. I was never brilliantly outspoken the way she is, but her anger at the world is so relatable. Her story is remarkably lifelike and is an excellent portrayal of what it is like to be visibly Muslim today.

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