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book description
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Advance Praise
"Set in post-9/11 America, Saffron Dreams tells the moving story of Arissa Illahi, a Muslim Pakistani-American, as she struggles to fulfill her different roles as daughter, wife and mother, confronting conflicting cultural expectations and Islamophobia. Eloquently written, a must-read for any one interested in exploring the lived experiences of Muslim women in the United States."
—Ali Asani, PhD, Professor of the Practice of Indo-Muslim Languages and Cultures, Harvard University
"There are books that are beautiful simply because they are so positive and pleasant. And there are
those that manage to be beautiful in spite of the pain and the suffering and the heartbreak contained
within. Shaila Abdullah’s Saffron Dreams is both. Her writing is mesmerizing. On one hand it
feels like a classically cut diamond – precise, sparkling, blindingly beautiful, but also incredibly
sharp. On the other hand her writing reminds me of a dish I’ve often had traveling in India – a thali...It was comforting, it
was funny, it was spicy; and then heartbreaking, full of despair, filled with hope, amazingly fresh
and vibrant and satisfying. Following Arissa’s story makes the reader realize how little most of us
know and understand the world of Muslims, and how incredibly wrong so many of our perceptions
are." Read full review
—Olivera Baumgartner-Jackson, Reader Views
"A much-needed perspective in the void of the American Muslim experience, Saffron Dreams is an unflinching 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."
—Sandhya Nankani, Literary Safari
"Shaila Abdullah's Saffron Dreams is a fascinating look at how events can quickly change a life forever. One focus I found interesting was looking at the tragedy of 9/11 through the eyes of an American immigrant....The thread of Muslim beliefs in a modern world, and especially how women balance ancient and modern traditions, is a fresh, different viewpoint. Finally, the self-affirmation that we can handle whatever life throws at us is valuable."
—Sandie Kirkland, RebeccasReads
"In this engrossing and beautifully written novel, the author shows how additional losses can actually strengthen and provide a sense of meaning and purpose. The birth of a child with severe disabilities, in contrast to the devastating loss of a spouse, can come to be a positive experience by enabling us to see the beauty in creation that is sometimes missed in the glow of perfection. This is not a story of happy but rather of hopeful endings. Our lives are uncertain, but with hope and courage bitterness can be replaced by an appreciation for what is present."
—Timothy S. Hartshorne, Professor of Psychology, Central Michigan University, parent of a child with CHARGE syndrome
“Saffron Dreams is an intimate portrait of a young Pakistani widow in New York coping with the transformation of her life and identity wrought by 9/11. Grief, memory, dreams, and relationships dance sensuously in her awareness alongside the rich flavors, aromas, and colors of her domestic reality, as Abdullah skillfully draws us in for a closer view.”
—Stephanie Gunning, coauthor of Will Power and Creating Your Birth Plan
"A poignant story that affirms the redemptive power of storytelling. Abdullah gracefully maneuvers between sentiment and domesticity rewarding us with her insight."
—Sefi Atta, award-winning author of Everything Good Will Come
"Word artist Abdullah, through rich description and evocative detail, shares her characters' love story, how it develops and endures through conflict, chaos, and terrorism. The reader is invited to a new understanding and insight about the power of love that is present in countries and cultures different from our own western world. Abdullah pulls us into the lives of her characters, and we share their joy and pain. These exceptional characters live in our hearts and through our common human experience, contribute to our hopes for world peace. The extraordinary power of this book is not to be missed by the serious or casual reader, for it proves that we are all one in our most elemental human needs and emotions."
—Shirley M. Hord, PhD, Scholar Laureate, National Staff Development Council
“Saffron Dreams captures the tone and emotions of the early twenty-first century, while leaving the reader much to think about in terms of what it means to be an American, what the future of America may be, and the hope that exists in future generations. Abdullah’s writing offers a new and intriguing perspective on the American experience, one I hope to continue enjoying in future novels from her."
—Tyler Tichelaar, PhD, author of The Marquette Trilogy
"Saffron Dreams is a literary masterpiece that lifts the spirit and twists the heart. It is apt that the tragedy of 9/11 is seen through the eyes of a Muslim woman. The language is exquisite and fresh. The heroine, Pakistani woman Arissa, is so real and alive that at first I thought the novel to be an autobiography. The intertwining of Pakistani and American culture shows the reader that, wherever they come from, people are just people."
—Bob Rich, PhD, editor for Loving Healing Press
"Saffron Dreams—besides being a powerful and compelling story of love and loss—captures that fine dance between cultural diversity and common humanity, the complicated steps of which we are all trying to learn."
—Jo Virgil, Vice-President of the Writers' League of Texas and a Community Relations Manager for Barnes & Noble
"A tender, erotic, and poignant novel. It weaves the clashes of self, family, culture, and country into a tapestry in which soul-searing loss is a recurring, multicolored thread."
—Loren Woodson, author of The Passion of Maryam
"Saffron Dreams is a chiaroscuro study in which Arissa, a Muslim woman living in the U.S., struggles to fulfill her dreams regardless of how the world violently reshapes them through the September 11th tragedy. Most importantly, this story is about the healing power of love that arrives in surprising shapes and tones.
—Diane J. Hernandez, 2007 President, Writers' League of Texas
"Timely, poignant and heartrending, Saffron Dreams captures the essence of a Pakistani woman’s life after the throws of 9/11 when her husband dies in the tower destruction. Racial tension and disturbing displacement prevail as Shaila Abdullah weaves a plot that is so real the reader will feel every sentiment and relate to the mixed emotions. Yet, in the end we come to peace in discovering there is hope and choice if we persist in finding it. A fictional novel that reads like a memoir, Saffron Dreams gives us confirmation that with freedom within, goals can be attained, and life goes on regardless of setbacks and challenges."
—Irene Watson, author of The Sitting Swing: Finding Wisdom to Know the Difference
A magical written work that skillfully blends illusion with reality while provoking one's senses through memorable images and vivid descriptions of Arissa's multi-dimensional and passionate world.
—Leslee Tessmann, author of Sacred Grief: Exploring a New Dimension to Grief |
