Review & Interview: “Saffron Dreams” by Shaila Abdullah (plus a giveaway)

I wrote last week about a young adult novel that grapples with the impact of 9/11 on the Sikh community. Today, I bring you a review of a new novel published as part of the Modern History Press’s”Reflections of America” series.  Drop a note in the comments section for a chance to win a free copy of this book.

We have read numerous stories in the mainstream media about the widows of 9/11. Not so many about the Muslim victims. In her novel Saffron Dreams, Austin-based Pakistani-American author Shaila Abdullah fills a void in that literature by providing the perspective of a pregnant Pakistani woman, Arissa, who loses her husband–a writer with a masters in literature who worked as a waiter in the Windows on the World restaurant–on September 11.

Inspired by the true story of Baraheen Ashrafi, a Bangladeshi woman who was widowed two days before the birth of her second child, Abdullah’s novel follows her main character on her five-year journey through the five stages of grief as she reconstructs her life in a world that views her as a perpetrator of the violence, not as a victim. Upon discovering her husband’s unfinished novel manuscript, she takes it into her hands and decides to try to complete it — an act of courage that allows her to connect with her deceased partner and acts as the impetus for her healing process.

I read this novel just after I’d wrapped my writing of a curriculum guide for an oral history of Muslim youth in New York City, This Is Where I Need To Be, which was published by Teachers College’s Student Press Initiative. It would make a wonderful read for both a young adult and adult audience interested in further exploring the ways in which America’s Muslim population experienced 9/11. Intertwined with flashbacks to Arissa’s childhood in Pakistan, this novel provides a valuable insight into secular, upper middle class Pakistani society. A much-needed perspective in the void of the American Muslim experience, it is an unflinching and moving look at the societal pressures of widowhood, the role that art can play in the healing process, and the impact of media bias and stereotyping on the Muslim American community in the aftermath of the 2001 terrorist attacks.

Read a brief excerpt from the novel here. Below the fold is a brief Q&A with the author.

Interview with Shaila Abdullah

Q. What inspired you to write this book? Did you start writing it in the immediate aftermath of 9/11 or much later?

I wrote the book much later after the tragedy of 9/11. The long-term impact of the event sort of unfolded over the years. In Saffron Dreams I have attempted to capture how ordinary Muslims were affected by that tragedy—the silent majority who lead very normal lives and are law-abiding citizens of this land. They are the ones we never hear about because their lives are too ordinary to be the subject of the nightly news. With Saffron Dreams, my intent is to convey that most Muslims lead their lives guided by the general principles of goodness and peace.

Q. Your protagonist’s husband is a writer and a subplot of the novel is about a widow finding her deceased husband’s unfinished manuscript. In fact, art is such a big part of the healing process in this novel. What prompted this direction?

The protagonist of the novel, Arissa Illahi, is a veil-wearing Muslim artist and writer. Pregnant and alone after the tragedy of 9/11, she discovers the unfinished manuscript of her husband and decides to finish it as a tribute to him. I believe that direction had a lot to do with the fact that I happen to be a writer and designer myself. Over the years, I have discovered that both these skills are very therapeutic. When nothing in life makes sense, you can always count on your inspiration to refocus in life. Besides, any skill that requires the use of creativity can help heal a wounded heart.

Q. Did you use an agent to find a publisher? What was the process like? (This is part of the Modern History Press’s series “Reflections of America.” Tell us about that.)

I had an agent for a while but we parted on good terms because we had very different ideas for my future. When Victor Volkman of Modern History Press offered to publish Saffron Dreams, I was thrilled. The publisher is known to get behind his authors 100% and actively participate in making their books successful. Volkman is very inclusive, listens well to his author’s suggestions, and responds to their needs in a timely manner. He is also great with ideas on marketing and book promotion.

Q. What’s next for you?

Actually there are two books that I am currently working on. One is a novel about the street children of Pakistan, a book that Arissa is shown working on in Saffron Dreams and another is a young adult novel about a Pakistani teen torn between her passion for dancing and keeping the family business alive.

Q. Did your personal experience as a Muslim living in America post 9/11 impact your decision to write this book?

Of course, although I never experienced any sort of racism myself. The book naturally unfolded out of my natural curiosity about other American-Muslim experiences and the impact of 9/11 on their lives. When the attacks initially occurred, they were a great shock to the American psyche. Some of the outrage was directed towards those who shared the race and religion of the terrorists, especially those who publicly exhibited symbols of their faith such as veils, beards, even their own names. Saffron Dreams is the story of basic human desire to be accepted in society, no matter what your background, ethnicity, or race. The issues that I explore in the novel are universal––racism, discrimination, bias, muddled or forced identities––those are all common issues that drive the value and worth of an individual in a civil society.

Q. What other 9/11 books would you recommend to those creating a library or reading list?

I learned a great deal from A Widow’s Walk about the life of a 9/11 widow. I think Marian Fontana was phenomenal in bringing out the fears and struggles of her life post 9/11. I also took time to study photo collections like The September 11 Photo Project, as well as Portraits: 9/11/01. For a tragedy of this magnitude, learning will probably be lifelong. Each one us can take away some lesson from our own individual study of the event and its aftermath.