Unmarriageable

Starred review from October 29, 2018
Kamal (An Isolated Incident) masterfully transports Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice from Regency England to modern-day Pakistan in this excellent retelling. Alys Binat, 30, and her sister, Jena, 32, are teachers at the British School of Dilipabad and are considered spinsters by the standards of their community and their obsessively matchmaking mother, who still grieves the loss of the Binats’ wealthy lifestyle years ago after they were bilked by a family member. Upon receiving invitations to the wedding of a family friend, Mrs. Binat turns her considerable talents to preparing her five daughters to land rich husbands to secure their family’s future. Enter the handsome, genial Fahad “Bungles” Bengla, who is instantly taken with Jena, and his best friend, the intense Valentine Darsee, who wastes little time offending Alys’s pride and earning her scorn. What ensues is a funny, sometimes romantic, often thought-provoking glimpse into Pakistani culture, one which adroitly illustrates the double standards women face when navigating sex, love, and marriage. This is a must-read for devout Austenites.

Author Soniah Kamal delivers a passionate and jovial narration of her Pakistani retelling of the classic novel PRIDE AND PREJUDICE. Alys would be perfectly comfortable to remain a single woman employed as a literature teacher despite the social climbing, fashion consciousness, and marriage focus of her culture. She and her sisters, however, are under constant pressure to make smart matches. The snobbish Mr. Darsee just might help overcome Alys's pride, and she his prejudices. The audiobook provides an engaging story and enjoyable insights on language and culture in Pakistan. Kamal's performance is delightful. V.B. � AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine