Saffron Dreams Book Review

Saffron Dreams By Shaila Abdullah

Description from the Back of the book...

You don't know you're a misfit until you are marked as an outcast.
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.

Our Thoughts~~~

First I would like to start off with that I started reading this book on the 10th Anniversary of the Collapse of the World Trade Center. A day that is heavy in every American's heart. I don't know a single person that can not tell you what they were doing on this tragic day. With an already heavy heart of a mourning heart for the nation and for the families of the lost people I picked up Shaila Abdullah's Saffron Dreams. Honestly this book is mind blowing, eye opening and heart strings tearing. I say this because this book follows a Muslim woman named Arissa Illahi through her past and present. Shaila Abdullah takes you on a journey through Arissa's present while weaving her memories into the story.

The telling of this story is so emotional and intense I felt as if I were Arissa. The writing is so intense you feel the emotion from this woman as she tries to coup with the loss of her husband, the knowledge of her child's disabilities, while discovering who she is now going to become as this widowed woman. This book doesn't just touch on her grieving but it shows you the collective hatrid America had for Muslims because of these attacks though their religion is not for terrorism. When a few of any race or religion act out in the name of a cause a whole society is persecuted for it.

This book is honestly so powerful I suggest you read it for yourself. In all fairness it was so intense and emotion filled at times that I had to put it down and walk away to ponder all the things going on. No I did not lose anyone that day. I did lose the "Rose Colored" glasses of our world. I was 20 years old and in college and I knew things would be dramatically different in America and to be Arissa and pregnant with a child with disabilities and to be hated by random people just because of my religion, while grieving for the love of my life. WOW.. Powerful Story of her new self discovery and how to continue on. I really don't want to give away too much since it is an amazing read and suggest this book for your next book club book or just personal read. You will not be sorry you picked it up.

The Author.