A Place for Us

The book is beautifully written. You get a sense of each characters personalities. Even though this is a Muslim Family it could be any family that has strong religious beliefs. One of the best books I’ve read in a long time.

Someone called this book a family saga. I guess you could call it that. It’s certainly long enough at almost 450 pages. Yet, as sagas go, it’s a pretty slow and uneventful one. Moreover, it was pretty much impossible to get lost in it. At least not lost in a captivating way. There was definitely a possibility of getting lost timeline wise, however, due to the way the story was told; which is in sections that jump back and forth in time. Maybe if I had been able to understand the reasoning behind that fractured way of telling the story, I would have had been more patient at times with the novel. I'm afraid, though, I would sometimes think this novel reminded me of nonfiction memoirs, where the memoirists seem to be entertaining the idea that all readers were going to be incredibly interested in their families. It's not that this Indian-American Muslim family was uninteresting, it's just that the story had no plot. Thus, I sometimes wondered if the time jumping was simply a way of disguising that fact, of trying to make the story seem more complex and interesting than it actually happened to be.

Rafiq and Layla are the parents of Hadia, Huda, and Amar. Due to tradition, son Amar is expected to always be a member of the family, whereas his two older sisters are expected to technically become members of their husbands' families when they marry. Hence, Amar is seen as more special than his sisters, and is very much coddled by his mother. Hadia, the oldest, also coddles him at times, but is resentful of him at other times. Huda, the middle child, appears to be the "sensible" one, someone who doesn't get too overly involved in the family drama. She is also the only character in the family who, for some reason, gets no real spotlight on her in the book. Everyone else's voice is clearly heard, their thoughts clearly described, but not Huda’s voice and thoughts. Why is that, I wondered? (Is it possible Fatima Farheen Mirza was the Huda of her family, and now Huda is being heard? Or is the "sensible" one being basically silenced in the story?)

The child who gets the most space in the story is Amar, the least interesting one. He is an emotionally needy, self-centered, self-pitying soul; who, even in his 20s, gets angry because others don’t understand him, particularly his father. He sees his sensitivities and suffering as special, his losses more devastating than the losses of others. Hence, it was hard not to feel sympathy for Rafiq throughout the story; since his attempts to make his son become more disciplined and devout, were often seen as emotionally abusive by his wife and oldest daughter. Only in the last part of the story does Rafiq get the full spotlight, and that turned out to be the best part of the novel, with one exception–he spent too much time thinking and talking about Amar. No child should be made the sun of their parents’ lives, or the sun in which their family revolves.

By the end of the book, I had no idea if Ms. Mirza was trying to say that or not. Nevertheless, I did reach the conclusion that while she was quite skilled in capturing characters, as well as the moon and stars, she was not that skilled yet at creating a captivating story. It apparently took her eight years to write this novel, but I personally see it as still unfinished. That’s a shame, too, since she cannot use all the material in this story in the future for another book. What she has in this novel is a lot of keen observations of growing up Muslim in California with immigrant parents. But is that enough? Apparently so for many readers. Not for me, though. It’s only been a few days since I finished the story and memories of it are already slipping away, because there is no real story to remember, only characters who are unfortunately not unforgettable.

Summary:

Layla and Raqim had an arranged marriage and, both coming to America as adults, feel the ties to India and their religion very strongly. They want the best world for their children to grow up in- a strong Muslim community, but also a place where they can get better care and education. Can they marry their very strict religious beliefs to the very free American culture? How do you instill your morals into your children and still let them be themselves?

As the eldest, Hadia is the most thoughtful and hard working. She had always been told it was up to her to be an example for the others. To gain her father’s notice, she is more strict with her religion, and far more studious. She wants to be the one that her parents will rely on…. but she was born a girl.

Huda is more quiet in her beliefs and more outspoken. Of them all she seems to be the one best able to marry religion and culture.

Amar is the boy his father wanted…. and can’t understand. While he loves the community and togetherness of the religion, the rules are stifling and he never feels like he can get there. More prone to thinking about things, more sensitive, he finds it hard to be himself and part of his parents religion.

As they grow, have their first loves and discover themselves, what will happen to the family? When one strays from the path set before them, can they bend…. or will they shatter? How do you mend a broken home?

My Thoughts:

I was blown away by this book. It was poignant and heart breaking, and I found myself connecting well to these well developed, interesting characters. I loved Amar, broken as he was, for his kindness and the love he held for his community even if he couldn’t figure out how to be part of it.

Told in multiple points of view I got a good idea of what each character thought and felt. It was extremely interesting to see the same memory through different eyes, to he how it affected them. I especially liked being able to see into Layla and Rafiq’s minds. It helped me to understand the parents and culture in a way that would have been impossible otherwise. I do wish Huda had gotten a chapter, though, as she is less fleshed out than the others.

I think my favorite part was toward the end, where Rafiq was given a voice. Before then, he was a little static. You saw him through Layla and the children’s eyes and they never understood what drove him. He was sometimes benevolent, but often overly strict and then sorry for loosing control. It is only in his mind he can show all his pain, regrets and desires. It is there where I got the full measure of the man.

The book had a steady, if slower pace, and melded smoothly from one voice to another. My one complaint is that there is no rhythm to the memories. It’s hard, sometimes, to immediately pick up where you are in the character’s lives. It becomes apparent within the page, but you still have that one jarring moment where you wonder how old the characters are and what they have already been through. I find that is often the case with books written this way, but it never ceases to upset me a tiny bit. I like things a bit neater, I guess, more lineal.

With all this in mind, I still adored the book. I loved the characters and the descriptions of places, community and routine. I loved that each one showed their vulnerability, their regret, and thus were more human. It made them easy to connect with and love. For me, this is a five star book.

On the adult content scale, there is some language; but more than that is substance abuse. Drugs and alcohol. I don’t feel like these things were glorified in any way and was actually impressed with how the author handled addiction. I would still let my niece read this, but it is important to understand that it is there. I give it a four.

Bear in mind, this is an adult book. I only do the adult content scale because of two reasons:

Not all books that are in the YA section are, in my mind, actually appropriate for teens of all ages, and yet at 12 and thirteen that’s what they feel they should be reading.
When my niece was ten she wanted the “big girl books”. She had gone through all the books for her age, and her vocabulary was up to speed…. but was she ready to read sex scenes, drug use, foul language, and violence? Was she ready for all of that? No. One of us had to read it first, discuss with her mother what we felt might give her pause. Then, after Jules had read it, there would be a discussion. I started adding this to my reviews so that you already knew going in what might be inappropriate for your young adult.
I was lucky enough to receive an eARC of this book from First to Read in exchange for an honest review. My thanks.

I really wanted to like this book, because I LOVE SJP and I was really looking for a long, slow book to read.
What I was not looking for was a long, slow book to read with absolutely no point. Nothing about this book kept my intestest and I kept forcing myself to pick it up and keep reading. Finally, a little over halfway through, I skipped to the end.
This is a story about a family with strained relationships and how they got there the end. It’s a flat line. There’s no highs or lows, nothing captivating. The character development and story telling is great and it’s clear the author can write. But I just couldn’t get into it at all. I never once cared or looked forward to what was happening on the next page. Even as I type this I’m bummed out all over again! And this isn’t a free review, I pre ordered the book outright.

5 Beautiful Stars ?????

This was more than just a book it was an experience... I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to read this with a group of my fellow reviewers and friends the “Traveling Sisters”... we have read and love many books together, but this was hands-down the best discussion we have ever had... each of these amazing ladies brought their own life experiences to the discussion and it touched each and every one of us in an unique and special way.... this is a book that will stay close to our hearts and never be forgotten by any of us!

The story of a Muslim Indian American family, that really could be any family...Told non-linearly, The author wove pieces of the present and the past together seamlessly... creating an amazing story.... A story that was above all else about love....

The family in this book faced challenges that many families do, some a little more challenging because of their strict religious beliefs... this book really emphasize the similarities between people rather than the differences... it touched on the power of words both said and not.... The desire to belong and be accepted.... the need for forgiveness both of others and yourself... it was a book filled with struggle, compassion, determination, and love.... The characters in this book evoked strong feelings in me from sorrow, to elation, to frustration, and more....

My words definitely cannot do this book justice...I strongly encourage you to read this book! just make sure you have tissue handy!

*** many thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book ***

This is a beautiful book, both visually and in it's content. It’s a slow burn, a quiet novel with such beautifully expressed thoughts that it would be impossible to read without being deeply affected. I’m in awe that this is a debut novel of a 26-year-old author. Believe all the hype and glowing reviews – this book is deserving of all of it.

The book opens in California with the wedding of Hadia, the eldest of 3 siblings in an Indian-American Muslim family. The estranged brother, Amar, surprisingly attends and stirs up deep-seated complicated family relationships. It is clear something has happened in this family to create a rift, and the reasons are slowly revealed as the story seamlessly toggles back and forth in time, in a non-chronological order. The reader wanders through the memories of this family as we experience them through various points of view. Each memory, each perspective, gives us more insight.

The last 100 or so pages are devoted to a first-person account from Rafiq, the father, and they are riveting. Reading this section tore my heart out and stomped on it, not in a manipulative way, but in a contemplative way. It’s been a long time since a book affected me this deeply.

Although an Indian Muslim family is at its center, there’s such a universality to Mizra’s writing that each reader will find it relatable in some way. Some of the themes include family dynamics, unmet expectations, betrayal, forgiveness, and acceptance. Also explored are the seemingly small, inconsequential decisions that are made every day but which have the power to create a devastasting ripple effect through the decades. It’s about bridging the gap between tradition and the modern world, and the children’s struggle to find a place in the family, in their home, and in the world. The author explores all of these themes with a tenderness and compassion that is extraordinary.

This debut of 26-year-old Mirza is the first book from Sarah Jessica Parker's imprint at Hogarth. I can’t wait to see what the author and the imprint publishes next.

I received an ARC from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

From debut author Fatima Farheen Mirza comes A PLACE FOR US, a hauntingly beautiful and poignant story of identity, belonging and perception. This first novel from Sarah Jessica Parker's new imprint, SJP for Hogarth, is as timely as it is stunning, and is the perfect launch for an imprint designed to celebrate literary fiction titles that will resonate with all readers, regardless of race, gender or experience.

We enter A PLACE FOR US at the wedding of Hadia, the eldest child of Layla and Rafiq, an Indian-American Muslim family. Though the family is clearly very traditional, Hadia’s wedding is remarkable for two reasons: first, she has married for love rather than through arrangement, and second, the wedding marks the family’s reunion with their youngest son, Amar, who has been estranged for three years. In short but powerful vignettes through the eyes of Hadia, Layla and Amar, Mirza tracks the family’s life, focusing on moments both crucial and minute, painting a stunning portrait of a family forced to reconcile their pasts with their present.

Although A PLACE FOR US opens at Hadia’s wedding, it is Amar who first captures readers’ hearts. He is instantly endearing; stoic, deliberate and self-aware, he is immediately someone you want to protect. As he navigates the small talk and judgment he receives from Hadia’s wedding guests, all of whom want to know where he has been for three years, it becomes clear that there is a darkness to him to which we are not yet privy. His wandering gaze, which consistently draws him to the hotel bar, suggests an addictive personality of some sort, but there is far more nuance here and plenty of secrets waiting to be uncovered.

Meanwhile, across the room, we see Amar through his mother’s eyes. Layla’s love for Amar is tangible, leaping off the page in Mirza’s exceedingly careful and compassionate hands. Still, she is a bit terrified of Amar and his unpredictability, particularly when it comes to his relationship with Rafiq, who is painted as the enforcer of the family. In trying to explain Amar’s distance, the book unfolds almost like a mystery at first, yet the tension does not come from dropped clues and dark shadows, but from Mirza’s deft pacing and nearly romantic writing style. No word is chosen without care, and although the story pulls you in, it is Mirza’s writing that compels you to stay.

So what causes a traditional Indian-American family living the American dream to fracture and separate so tragically? In flashbacks through the eyes of Hadia, Amar and Layla, we see that Amar has long struggled to find his place within the family. The story of first generation children of immigrants struggling with integration is not new, but Amar has also grappled with deliberations of faith, masculinity and outside influences for longer than he can remember. At the same time, Hadia and Huda have long suffered the pains of being raised in a traditionally patriarchal culture. They have always felt that Amar took up all of their parents’ attention, and the resentment --- along with the love --- is palpable. Mirza really explores the idea of perception here, and the ways that Layla and Rafiq’s children see themselves are harshly compared to how others see them, often with painful and eye-opening results.

As Mirza reveals to readers the numerous events that led to Amar’s estrangement, she introduces a family torn between tradition, faith and the realities of the outside world. While Rafiq, who proposed to Layla before ever meeting her, has always lived staunchly within the confines of his faith, Layla presents a more relaxed yet still deeply respectful type of personality. She wavers in the upholdings of her beliefs when they do not align with her love for her children, and her journey as a mother is one of the strongest elements of A PLACE FOR US. She will do anything for them, and although her actions are questionable at times, her motivations are as pure-hearted as they can be, making her relationship with them --- especially Amar --- fraught with tension, adoration and fear.

Because the timeline of A PLACE FOR US is not linear, it is difficult to sum up an accurate plotline, and some may be initially turned away by this format. Still, I urge all readers to push through that confusion, with the promise that the voices soon become so distinct and the viewpoints so informed that the story is able to emerge as a living, breathing thing. This is a difficult style for most authors, and the fact that Mirza is only 26 makes this novel a true achievement and testament to her talent. Whether you are the black sheep of your family, the glue or anyone in between, you will no doubt see yourself --- and all of your mistakes and achievements --- on the pages of this outstanding book.

If you are already itching to know what exactly forced Amar to flee the family he has known and loved his entire life, and what pulled him back to Hadia’s wedding, rest assured that Mirza ends her novel on a satisfying and deeply impactful note, with no plotline left gaping and no character left unchanged. The themes explored in A PLACE FOR US are so gut-wrenching and powerful that I cannot see any reader finishing it with a dry eye. The book will tear you up and force you to confront your own feelings on a multitude of difficult topics. But it is one that you simply must read, for Mirza has truly given the world a gift, and it would be a huge mistake to ignore it.

Reviewed by Rebecca Munro

Fatima Farheen Mirza’s novel, “A Place for Us”, begins, appropriately, at a wedding celebration. For this novel is first and foremost about a family, and what better setting to introduce this family, but a wedding? Theirs, an arranged marriage, Layla and Rafiq, are watching their oldest daughter Hadia, marry for love. Hadia’s younger sister Huda, is in attendance, and we know that their youngest brother, Amar, has been estranged form the family for the past three years. We don’t yet know how or why, but that will be reveals in the rest of the novel.

The story is told in easy-to-follow and comprehend flash-backs in time from the immigration of Layla and Rafiq from India, to their young family as they navigate the strangeness of American society and culture in California. Mirza’s beautiful prose introduces us to each member of this family; their joys and their struggles; their relationships with each other and with their environment.

While a lot of the family’s life is very familiar – siblings fighting over the remote, a patriarchal dad and a loving mother, there are unfamiliar cultural aspects that I found illuminating, particularly about Islam. I learned about the Hijab tradition, Ramadan practices, and wedding rites and traditions, for example, and how 9/11 affected many Muslim families in America.

The fourth, and last, section of the novel is narrated by the aging father, Rafiq, and it is the most profound and poignant section of the novel. If you cry easily, here is where you’re going to need the Kleenex box handy.

It’s always insightful to view your own culture through the eyes of someone who is either new to that culture, or whose own culture prevents them from being fully immersed in the prevailing zeitgeist (i.e., women being forbidden from certain activities for religious reasons). I learned so much from “A Place for Us” by being able to “get inside the head” of these wonderful characters.

Married couple Rafiq and Layla grew up in India but moved to the United States to raise their three children. Their eldest daughter, Hadia, is set marry which should be a cause for great celebration. However, there is tension in the air as Amar, the youngest sibling and only son, has come back for the wedding after a long estrangement from his family. This is a story that follows the lives of this family as they deal with love, loss, resentment, and regret.

This is definitely one of those family sagas in which you see how actions and events from years ago have led to how things currently stand within the family. I liked reading the different perspectives of the family members about key moments that really led each person on their own personal journey and the one as a family. My only criticism of this book is the story did jump around between characters and timelines and in some cases it was difficult at first to figure out at what time period that part of the story was coming from. Eventually, you could figure it out but it made the story feel disjointed sometimes.

Culture and religion played a big role in this book and in my opinion it is what makes this story stand out a bit among other family sagas. Each character had traits that you most likely can find among your own family members. I think most of us can relate to always trying to make the right decision but years later coming to the conclusion maybe there was something different that could have been done. Overall, the book is beautifully written and I definitely recommend it.

Thank you to First to Read for the advance digital copy! I was under no obligation to post a review and all views expressed are my honest opinion.

This is a wonderful novel that brings the reader into the history and culture of a Muslim family. Such a special and satisfying read when one can picture each character, setting and emotion...whether outwardly expressed or contained.

A Place for Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza released today, published by SJP for Hogarth (yes THAT SJP). You have probalby seen this book everywhere and heard how wonderful it is, and now I'm here to add my voice to the chorus. Opening with the wedding of the eldest daughter, this moving story bounces back and forth to span the years of an Indian-American Muslim family. While there is definitely a major storyline with the son, Amar, this novel beautifully portrays the layers and layers that make up a family. Told from each family member's unique point of view, debut novelist Fatima Farheen Mirza shows us how the "big" things in life (faith, love, identity, family) are made up of a million tiny decisions, regrets, intentions, and gestures. I was absolutely blown away by this book and will be recommending it to anyone who will listen.

Warning: This is probably going to be a gushing, rambling review. I hope I can get across just how good this book is. As you know, I love reading books with Indian characters because I am intrigued by Indian culture. This book is a study of one modern Muslim Indian American family and how their culture has shaped their relationships with one another.

It begins at Hadia’s wedding and weaves flashbacks throughout the narrative. The flashbacks are told in third person and alternate between perspectives of Layla; the mother or Hadia, the eldest daughter; or Amar, the youngest child. Some are different family members’ interpretation of the same event. Hadia feels like she can never be enough and that her parents will never love her as much as they love Amar, yet Amar feels like he will never fit in well enough for his father to love him. Of course the Hadia and Amar’s parents love them a lot.

As I read, I was constantly amazed Mirza is in her twenties and this is her first book. She has brilliant insight into the minds of both parents and children and writes both with beautiful, delicate prose. The family’s Muslim faith plays a huge role in their lives as Rafiq tries desperately to raise his children to be good Muslims in the face of the modern world. Parents of any or no religion will be able to empathize with Rafiq. The struggle to raise moral children is universal and transcends religion.

The last section is told by Rafiq in first person and broke my heart into a million pieces. Stoic and strict with his children throughout their lives, we get to see the contents of his soul. Once again, I was in awe of Mizra’s ability to authentically portray the parent’s side of a parent-child relationship.

One of the reasons I chose this book is because it is the first book in Sarah Jessica Parker’s new imprint, SJP for Hogarth. She’s smart and has good taste in general so I figured she probably knows books. Boy does she! I can’t wait to read whatever her imprint releases next. A Place for Us is amazing and Mirza is amazing. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.

This is not your usual story of an immigrant family struggling to adjust to life in America--far from it. It's the story of a family whose cultural background just happens to be Indian Muslim, and they share the joys and trials of many other families of all religions and ethnicities. Mirza's novel is divided into four section, each focused on the point of view of one family member: Eldest daughter Hadia, mother Layla, son Amar, and father Rafik (middle daughter Huda, while not given her own section, plays a role in every family member's story) The main conflicts revolve around Amar, the youngest child and only son. While his mother loves him unconditionally yet worries about his "difference" from her other children, his father has raised all three of his children with high expectations that Amar simply cannot meet. His sisters (especially Hadia) also try to protect Amar from their father's harsh dictates and frequent anger and frustration, but eventually, things come to a head, tearing the family apart. Hadia's section is the most straightforward, simply telling what happened in the past and on her wedding day, the event that begins the novel. Layla's story struggles to understand both her son and her husband while considering the sacrifices she has made to come to a new country with her new husband. In his section, Amar presents events from his own point of view, dominated by a the sadness of numerous losses. But it is the final section, Rafiq's, that really tears at the heart. This is a man in pain, a man who simply wanted to raise successful children strong in their faith, but now, late in life, recognizes his mistakes and reveals long-hidden feelings.

Overall, this is a very moving novel, beautifully written. Mirza does a fine job of subtly presenting the differences between Muslim families and others while, more importantly, stressing their similarities. I highly recommend it and look forward to her next book.

I love being able to peek inside different cultures, worlds, and across the globe through books. It reminds me how small my corner of the world is, how little I've experienced, and how much more is out there, if only I choose to look for it.

It can also be a lovely reminder that as different as people look from me, they are still people with families, loves, hopes, dreams, and disappointments. Sometimes, especially in times of fear and confusion, it is easy to distance ourselves from others and create distrust where there really is no reason for there to be any.

This is one of those books that could bring people together.

It did take me a little bit to get used to the structure, as the book moves through time fluidly, not really pausing to let the reader know that the narrative is going to shift back ten years in the past or fast forward to several months later. So sometimes you are playing catch-up or having to reread a few sentences once you figure out what is going on.

I thought this style of writing, though definitely a bit difficult to keep up with, echoed the motif of memory that is played with throughout the book. Our brains don't categorize thoughts and memory chronologically. We flit around, one thing reminding us of this other thing from our childhood, which brings us back to that other moment, and so on. I thought the structure was an interesting representation of how we process thought and memory.

Dropping in on the lives of each member of an American-Muslim family as they wind around each other, this book weaves a tangled web of family, community, and society, each circle drawing different restrictions around them or conclusions about them.

I loved the story of the book and think it is one of those books that everyone could benefit from reading. I did find the sentence structure and general voice of the book to be a bit repetitive, which made the book difficult to read in long stretches. But as a debut novel, this really is a fantastic book.

This book reminded me a lot of another family drama I recently loved, The Family Tabor by Cherise Wolas. If you loved this book, I highly, highly recommend you check out Cherise's beautiful writing and immaculately woven story.

My thanks to Crown Publishing, Hogarth, and SJP for sending me a free copy of this book to read and review.

One of my favorite lines in literature comes from Elizabeth Strout’s My Name is Lucy Barton .

"Because we all love imperfectly."

This quote captures my soul and summarizes my life. If I were ever to write, this would be a theme uniting all my works just as Ann Patchett writes about strangers being thrown together and having to deal. A Place for Us could be summarized with that quote.

I was lucky enough to receive a galley of the novel before publication and even luckier to secure a signed copy of it through The First Edition Club at Parnassus Books. And on the eve of the first day of school, I finally was swept into the story.

As many people may warn you, it starts out slow. The opening scene takes place at the wedding of the eldest daughter in a family of three children- two girls and a boy. The bride secretly contacted her estranged brother, hoping he could attend. The story is told fluidly traveling through time covering the parents’ engagement through the wedding of their eldest daughter. It’s the story of a family. It’s the story of how trauma happens causing some people to display grit and others to spiral out of control. I loved it because it was real. I loved it because it was messy. Life is messy. Love is messy.

While the novel was set in America, it allowed me to experience life from a culture that is not my own. The family are Muslims of Indian background and yet all children were born in America. The questions the children encountered throughout their life seemed painful and yet they were constant and unavoidable. Their experiences after 9/11 broke my heart when life changed for them the moment the first plane hit.

Read this, stick with it, it is so worth it!

For actress Sarah Jessica Parker's first book under her SJP imprint at Hogarth, she chose Fatima Farheen Mirza's stunning debut novel A Place For Us.

Set in California, the novel opens at the elaborate Indian wedding of Hadia, the eldest child of an American Muslim family. Her parents, Layla and Rafiq, and sister Huda are there to celebrate. The youngest child, her brother Amar, is also there, and it is the first time in three years that the family has seen Amar. There is tension, with everyone walking on eggshells around Amar. Layla begs her husband not to say anything that will upset Amar.

The book then moves back in time, and we see the family at different points in their life together. Layla had a special relationship with her son, an easy closeness that escaped Rafiq. Amar was a quiet boy who liked poetry, and he did not have many friends except for Abbas, an older boy who looked out for Amar.

Hadia was the typical eldest child, she worked hard to get good grades and eagerly tried to please her father. She also had a crush on Abbas, the most popular boy in school.

We see their family life through the eyes of each of the family members. Layla and Rafiq are devout Muslims, and pass their strong beliefs onto their children. They expected to arrange marriages for their daughters, and hoped to make good matches for all of their children.

Mirza writes so beautifully, I found it difficult to believe that she is just 27 years-old. She is able to capture the voices of not only the children at various life stages, but she renders the voices of Layla and Rafiq so vividly for such a young person.

Her language is so eloquent it took my breath away, and I had to re-read several sentences to fully appreciate them, like this:

"As she glided between guests and stopped to hug women she had not yet greeted, it occured to Layla that this was what she might have pictured her life to look like once, when her children were young and she knew who her family would contain but not what life would be like for them."

The theme of this brilliant book might best be expressed by something Hadia thinks- "How were they to know the moments that would define them?" A Place For Us is filled with the moments that come to define each of the family members, and the ones that lead to Amar's estrangement from his family.

The truly saddest part of the book comes in part four, which is narrated by Rafiq. Until this point, we don't really know exactly what he is thinking. He pours his heart out, and the scene where he goes to Amar at the wedding had me in tears.

Although the book moves back and forth in time, and even shifts within chapters, Mirza is such a skilled writer that the reader is never confused. She will be a powerful voice in literary fiction for years to come.

A Place For Us is a compelling story about faith, family, and fathers and sons. I was so moved by it, I didn't want it to end. When I finished it, I wanted to hug it to my chest and just sit quietly and comtemplate it. It is a beautifully rendered story about an American family, and one that I encourage everyone to read. It is the best book I have read this year, period.

"There were many ways of breaking a heart. Stories were full of hearts being broken by love, but what really broke a heart was taking away its dream-whatever that dream might be. (Pearl Buck)"

A family, a faith, a country, customs, and traditions all combine to make this book an outstanding piece of literature. This is a story that will break your heart so many times in so many ways. "I don't know why they call it heartbreak. It feels like every other part of my body is broken too."

A story begins, a wedding, and a new life start, and a tragic child grown to manhood suffers and a family that has been crippled comes to together and then breaks apart once again.

This is a tale of a family, a family that has been somewhat pitted against what their values and morals dictate according to their Muslim faith. It is an Indian Muslim family living in California and trying to reconcile their faith to the land where their place in this country conflicts often with what they hold most dear. There are three children in this family, Hadia, the oldest daughter, whose choices in life are limited to the possibility of an arranged marriage or to chose the profession of becoming a doctor, Huda, the younger sister who seems to follow always Hadia's lead, and Amar, the son, the youngest family member, whose life seems to be fraught with obstacles.

The parents Layla and Rafiq love their children, but it is their son whose life worries them so. Amar struggles. He struggles with school, with loving a girl who is declared to be not for him, and he struggles with the strictures of his father, his faith, and his life. He is the one who breaks his parents' hearts. He is the one who is most in need of love, of understanding, of assurances that all will be well and he is loved.

However, where he most seeks these assurances, those from a father he idolizes, a mother he implicitly trusts, he does not receive what he needs. His father holds a strict line, while his mother betrays him and he feels that he is useless and worthless. His father feels he is making his son, all his children, into strong adults who honor their faith and its customs. He does not speak the important words his son needs to hear. He lets distance and the outside world steal his son away and when he reflects on his life after a serious illness, all the thoughts he has are the ones he should have voiced ages ago.

This was such a sad tale. It made me think of the ways in which adherence to religious principles can often be an enormous almost insurmountable challenge for children. It made me think of words unspoken, of times when forgiveness is most needed, of experiences not shared. There are always the children who will adhere to the religious and community practices, but there are some who revolt and fall by the wayside floundering with their inability to accept and carry the burden what is being fostered upon them.

This remarkable first novel tells the stories of a mother, father, son, two daughters, and their family. The parents are first generation immigrants from India to California, and they live a very conservative, traditional Muslim life. Their hopes and goals are for their children to live similar lives. Love, anger, disappointment, tensions, expectations realized and not, cultural conflicts, substance abuse, sex, gender, religion, betrayals, misunderstandings, and every other issue of families and coming of age all come into play. The novel switches abruptly between points of view, times, and places. It requires patience of a reader. This very young author has created characters that were always believable even as their experiences and daily routines were so different from mine. She seemed equally skilled at creating male or female characters, and young or older characters. As I read, I sometimes wished for a tighter edit that might have shortened or omitted some pages. But, as I neared the end, I wept. I wept repeatedly. I wonder if the story would have had such a strong impact on my heart if anything were changed. The authenticity of the characters and their lives was such that their pain and regrets were very real. This is a book that I will remember, It provides intimate insights into marriage, parenting, and family interactions.

So I finally finished listening to A Place For Us this morning. It is certainly an investment at almost 17 hours and the story gives you a lot to think about. I have to be honest that I picked this book because it’s the first novel from Sarah Jessica Parker’s new line through Penguin Random House. I love SJP and had to check out the new SPJ for Hogarth book pick. .
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This novel is so well written and keeps you engaged throughout. The story is about an Indian family and opens up at the oldest daughter’s wedding. Through the story you learn about the past and present through all the characters. Both parents, Rafiq and Layla reflect on their life as parents and then the book even skips ahead to the future as their life after the kids are grown. The story also shares reflections and bonding moments from all three children through their lives growing up and as adults. Hadia is the oldest daughter who is very head strong and independent. Huda is the middle daughter that wants to be just like her big sister. And Amar is the baby brother who’s choices have caused many issues within the family unit. The story covers everything from love, sadness, culture, religion and loss. .
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I don’t want to spoil this story for anyone but there are parts that I definitely reflected on within my own family and my sibling and parents. There were some pretty intense moments and realizations that made me push pause and catch my breath.

“A Place for Us” by Fatima Farheen Mirza is intriguing and captivating story of an Indian-American Muslim family. The struggle and conflict of observing one’s faith, tradition, needs and wants is intense. A constant theme of finding balance in a complicated society. The genres for the novel are Fiction and Women’s Fiction. The story mostly takes place in California. The timeline in this story vacillate between the past and present as it pertains to the events and characters.

The author describes her colorful cast of characters as complicated, complex and confused. The story can be told as seen through the eyes of each character. I appreciate that the author describes the religion, and traditions, culture and food, and clothing. Hadia, the oldest daughter in the family is getting married to a man that she chose herself, breaking away from the tradition of having a husband chosen for her. Hadia is a physician and has invited their estranged brother Amar to her wedding. Amar does come to the wedding, and surprises his parents Layla and Rafiq , and his other sister Huma. Betrayals, conflicts, and questions of forgiveness come up at this time.

The author describes the time period around 9/11, when Rafiq encourages his daughters to wear American clothes, not to be singled out. Amar gets into a major racist fight at school, when other students accuse him of being a terrorist. The students tell him to go home. Amar tries to deal with the fact that America is his home.

The author discusses the family dynamics of love, support , change, forgiveness, acceptance and hope. I would recommend this story for those readers who appreciate an emotional conflicted inspirational story. I received an ARC for my honest review.

Bravo...a novel where each of the character is developed with depth and humanity. People are not binary, we are both good and bad, we have moments of goodness and lapses of poor judgment. Each member of the family is presented with their flaws and assets, except for Huda, the middle child. She is the voice we hear least from and of. I learned so much about the Muslim faith and how it is incorporated into daily life. And how one's faith can be the rock from which almost all of your decisions are based. I like the loving and forgiving God notion "if you walk 1 step towards God, he will take 10 steps towards you." Thank you for a beautifully written and thought provoking novel. I look forward to more from this gifted writer.

An Indian American Muslim family living in California are celebrating the wedding of the eldest daughter. The estranged brother/ son of the family returns for the wedding and the reader is intrigued by the reasons for both the estrangement and the return. There are many flash backs and perspectives from the point of view from each member of the family and the evolution of a family and a culture is revealed. The way this family lives out their faith is beautiful, I was very touched by some of their traditions of love and protection. Being a member of any close knit family can at times be a heartbreaking experience. Being a parent is especially painful.
I found the multiple flashbacks in the first half of the book quite jarring at times and I almost put the book down because of it. But I really wanted to know why Amir left, and came back, and I wanted to see how everything was going to play out so I kept reading. I’m so glad I did. I found the last part of the book, the perspective of the father of the family, so incredibly sad, but also hopeful these people will stay with you long after you have finished the book.

A book which is educational in terms of Muslim culture and how individuals and families implement it into their lives when there are 2 generations trying to cope - one with all the traditions brought with them from India and another with first generation children exposed to American culture. It's a story about families - their trials and tribulations; siblings love for one another as well as consequences of sibling rivalry and insight into thoughts and feelings of parents not readily expressed or shared as they try to be good traditional parents.

It incorporates todays substance abuse challengers and how entire families and friends are affected and the helplessness those nearest and dearest to the individual feel. Once I was into the book I found it hard to put down d/t the desire to know what would happen to this family. I took one star off because on how it was written, i.e., moving around from person to person and moving around in time - Amar could be 10 on one page and the next page - not chapter - he's 18, which at times made it a bit difficult to figure out whose voice we were hearing karate this tale.

Engaging, heartbreaking, compelling. For much of it you’ll find yourself trying to read through tears. An Indian Muslim family steeped in religion and tradition tries to balance their cultural needs with living in California in the 21st century. The author gives only marginal veiled references to the hostilities facing Muslims, but the book title indicates their need: a place for them to live within their culture and without contamination from the outer culture, a place where they can live their lives as their cultural traditions require. The family lives within its circle of other Muslim families living in California. This is not a story of assimilation. It’s also not a story that deals with the very real major problem for the Muslim community that is the portion of their fellow believers involved in violence. It is, however, beautifully written and makes you love the people involved. You will find a place in your heart for them.

A Place For Us, the first imprint from Sarah Jessica Parker for Hogarth Publishing, was a finely balanced story of family, tradition and love. There’s no great action or defining climax to the story. Instead, it’s a slow burn told from many character’s perspectives, offering vignettes of life inside of this family.

Being good enough, honoring thy father, Islamaphobia, living post September 11th as a Muslim American, wanting a love marriage instead of an arranged one, questioning the disconnection from religion, unrequited love, keeping secrets from those you love most, protecting your heritage and living up to the expectations of society both socially and economically were all thoughtfully considered.

The lucid and lyrical writing sucks you right into this story. An unexpected ending will leave you thinking about these characters for days. I look forward to what’s next for this fabulous debut novel.

Thank you TLC book tours and Hogarth books for providing me with a free review copy all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Where do I start on a review for this book? A Place For Us was an unexpected journey of a book. Fatima Farheen Mirza took on the subjects of family, motherhood, siblings, religion, love, friendship, and so much more with crystal clear honesty and thought-provoking writing. Farheen Mirza's transition through time and place is so unique and seamless. I never felt lost or confused when she transitioned to a memory in the past. She wrote about grief as though she had taken the thoughts and emotions directly from the private thoughts of anyone who has ever suffered a loss. I would love to know how she was able to write about motherhood in such a way that she took so many of the emotions I have experienced as a mother and put them into writing for me. There is one particular storyline in the book that after I finished reading it I needed to set the book down because Mirza's writing was so true that it hurt my heart a little to continue reading. This is literary fiction at its finest and a beautiful novel.
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I was really curious about this book, the first from SJP for Hogarth. This might sound weird, but I already had an appreciation for Sarah Jessica Parker after reading about her in Chandler Burr's A Perfect Scent and was pretty sure she'd select good books to publish. I'm happy that is true. A Place for us is a gorgeous slow burn of a family saga, the kind I really enjoy reading. The family, Layla and Rafiq and their children Hadia, Huda, and Amar, take turns narrating the story (except for Huda, who remains a bit of a cipher to me), and all of them are wonderful, imperfect people who love each other but don't always know how to do or say the right thing. This is definitely not plot-driven as it's all about the characters and their relationships to one another. The family is Muslim, with parents born and raised in India and children born and raised in California. Culture and faith affect the ways they all interact and the expectations they have of one another. I loved all the characters but ended up with a soft spot for Rafiq, the father, who you only really get to know well toward the end of the book. I think this debut novel will be getting a ton of buzz and that's completely well-deserved. I hope Mirza writes more.
Note: I received a free ebook ARC from SJP for Hogarth via NetGalley.

I really enjoyed this book...for the most part. It was a little slow moving and wordy at times and I found myself skimming some parts of the book. As an immigrant from India, I felt a kinship with the characters in this story which kept me going when the story slowed down. A great debut novel, I felt the author has real talent & I look forward to her other works down the road with hopefully tighter and less verbose writing. Would definitely recommend.

This is one of the most beautifully crafted books you will ever read. Each sentence and is crafted in such detail and powerful imagery that will be enjoyed by anyone.

But for South Asians and Muslims in particular, seeing a story of a family come to life in a novel whose challenges and love for one another is so familiar to us like will give you a feeling no other book you have read will. I cannot recommend it enough.

This book was selected for our book club (9 retired professional women, who are close friends). It's summertime and everyone is busy with activities and house guests, so the 400 pages were a bit daunting to begin with. Once we started reading, we found it tedious and no one was drawn to it. No doubt it is a worthy story, but we've decide to abandon this book and have selected something else. In the 11 years that we've had our book club, this is only the second time we've made the decision to choose a different book. We feel that the hype around this book is overrated.

As soon as I finished reading this book, I immediately wanted to read it again. Touching on love and loss, happiness and heartbreak, all told from the viewpoint of different family members, this novel is one that I did not want to put down, and didn't want to leave behind. The poignant ending left me in tears. The spiritual and moral lessons and the struggles of this family are relatable to people of all cultures and faiths. I'm so glad I read this book, and can't wait to read more from this author.

This is an absolutely beautiful book. I teared up constantly as I was reading it.

The language is gorgeous and the emotions are hard-hitting. This is not a plot-driven book, so if that's your thing this is probably not for you. It is, however, an exploration of a family. We explore their relationships from the perspectives of the different family members and see how each have found adjusting to a new environment difficult. As difficult as some of their relationships are, you also see a firm love for each other.

Beautifully written. The story of a family told through its memories as they surface, examining motives, and weaknesses. Who are we? - did we love enough, did we love too much. Was our love selfish. Why do memories surface when they do. What are they telling us. A little boy on his grandfather’s back- the only thing that matters is faith expressing itself in love.

Beautifully written. This is a heart wrenching story of family and faith, a gently rendered tale of immigration and assimilation. I rarely weep while reading, but this brought me to tears several times.