Saffron Dreams

by Shaila Abdullah

Overview

From the darkest hour of American history emerges a mesmerizing tale of tender love, a life interrupted, and faith recovered. Arissa Illahi, a Muslim artist and writer, discovers in a single moment that no matter how carefully you map your life, it is life itself that chooses your destiny. After her husband's death in the collapse of the World Trade Center, the discovery of his manuscript marks Arissa's reconnection to life. Her unborn son and the unfinished novel fuse in her mind into one life-defining project that becomes, at once, the struggle for her emotional survival and the redemption of her race. Saffron Dreams is a novel about our ever evolving identities and the events and places that shape them. It reminds us that in the midst of tragedy, our dreams can become a lasting legacy.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940012574008
Publisher:	Modern History Press
Publication date:	05/25/2011
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	248
File size:	375 KB

About the Author

Noted as "Word Artist" by critics, Shaila Abdullah is a Pakistani-American author based in Austin, Texas. She penned an award-winning collection of short stories in 2005 titled Beyond the Cayenne Wall. The author has received several awards for Saffron Dreams--Golden Quill Award, Reader Views Award and Written Art Award--including a grant from Hobson Foundation. Currently, Saffron Dreams is being taught at several academic institutions in the United States.

Editorial Reviews

What really struck me about Abdullah’s writing is that after a while you forget about the character’s religion and relate to her as a human being. As I read some of the bleakest parts of the novel, I was unable to remain dry-eyed and chances are it will have the same impact on many other readers, which in itself speaks volumes of its success.

Dawn Newspaper - Marylou Andrew

What really struck me about Saffron Dreams is that the 9/11 attacks aren't the only serious subject addressed in this small novel. Abdullah manages to talk about racism, fundamentalism, widowhood, culture clashes, and the challenges of raising a child with disabilities within its pages. I thoroughly enjoyed Saffron Dreams and recommend it to anyone interested in multicultural fiction – it's a great read and you won't be disappointed.

S. Krishna's Books - Swapna Krishna

In this insightful, intimate narrative, Pakistani-born Arissa Illahi moves to New York City to be with her husband, who had taken a job at the World Trade Center's Windows on the World restaurant to allow time for completing his novel. Like Abdullah's story collection, Beyond the Cayenne Wall, this work provides a remarkable, inevitably hopeful glimpse into the daily life of Muslim woman living in America. Highly recommended.

Library Journal - Faye Chadwell