Soniah Kamal
Soniah Kamal is a Pakistani-American writer. She is the author of two novels, An Isolated Incident (2014) and Unmarriageable (2019).[1] The latter is a retelling of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice set in Pakistan in 2000 and 2001.[2]
Early life and education[edit]
Kamal was born in Karachi, Pakistan, and attended an English-medium school.[3] She subsequently lived in England and Saudi Arabia, and then attended St. John's College in Annapolis, Maryland as an undergraduate, studying philosophy.[4]
Writing[edit]
An Isolated Incident[edit]
Kamal published her first novel, An Isolated Incident, in 2014. It is set in Kashmir, the United States, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.[5] Reviewing the book for Dawn, Fareeha Rafique wrote, "Kamal’s beautiful use of language is what carries her story."[6] An Isolated Incident was a finalist for the 2016 Townsend Prize for Fiction from The Chattahoochee Review and the Georgia Center for the Book.[7]
Unmarriageable[edit]
Kamal's second novel, Unmarriageable, was published on January 22, 2019.[8][9] The retelling of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice features Pakistani English teacher (and Austen fan) Alys Binat and her four sisters,[10] a formerly high-society family that has fallen on comparatively hard times owing to family betrayal. Their mother is anxious to see her daughters married, particularly Alys and Jena (the two eldest), but the task is a challenge as the family has lost most of its money and former social standing.
Publishers Weekly called the book "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."[11] Reviewing the novel for NPR, Ilana Masad wrote, "Kamal's Unmarriageable succeeds in being both a deliciously readable romantic comedy and a commentary on class in post-colonial, post-partition Pakistan, where the effects of the British Empire still reverberate."[12]
Personal life[edit]
Kamal has three children.[3] She lives in Georgia.[13]
References[edit]
- ^ "Pride and Prejudice Redux | Fiction Reviews". The Library Journal. October 19, 2018. Archived from the original on 20 October 2018. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
- ^ Rehman, Sonya (October 12, 2018). "Recreating 'Pride and Prejudice' in Pakistan". Forbes. Archived from the original on 21 January 2019. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
- ^ a b Grey, Idris (October 26, 2018). "Modernizing Austen: PW Talks with Soniah Kamal". Publishers Weekly. Archived from the original on 21 January 2019. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
- ^ "Two South Asians Among Townsend Prize Finalists". India West. May 6, 2016. Archived from the original on 21 January 2019. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
- ^ "An Isolated Incident: In first novel, Soniah Kamal looks at survival". The Express Tribune. 18 December 2014. Archived from the original on 21 January 2019. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
- ^ Rafique, Fareeha (23 February 2015). "Cover story: Other worlds, troubled worlds". Dawn. Archived from the original on 21 January 2019. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
- ^ "2016 Townsend Prize Finalists". The Hooch: News & Events. The Chattahoochee Review. 11 January 2016. Archived from the original on 21 January 2019. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
- ^ Lakshmi Gandhi (2018-10-17). "Why South Asian Authors Continue to be Inspired by Jane Austen". The Teal Mango. Archived from the original on 2021-01-31. Retrieved 2018-10-25.
One of the most anticipated novels of 2019 is "Ayesha at Last" by Pakistani-Canadian author Uzma Jalaluddin. Already released in Canada, the book centers on Ayesha Shamsi, an unconventional young woman in the middle of a loud and boistrous South Asian family.
- ^ "UNMARRIAGEABLE by Soniah Kamal". Kirkus Reviews. October 2, 2018. Archived from the original on 21 January 2019. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
- ^ Trombetta, Sadie. "9 Jane Austen Retellings You Might Not Have Read Yet". Bustle. Archived from the original on 29 November 2018. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
- ^ "Fiction Book Review: Unmarriageable by Soniah Kamal. Ballantine, $27 (352p) ISBN 978-1-5247-9971-7". Publishers Weekly. October 29, 2018. Archived from the original on 21 January 2019. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
- ^ Masad, Ilana (January 20, 2019). "'Unmarriageable' Sets 'Pride And Prejudice' In Pakistan". NPR. Archived from the original on 21 January 2019. Retrieved 20 January 2019.
- ^ McCarthy, Maureen (January 21, 2019). "Review: 'Unmarriageable: Pride and Prejudice in Pakistan,' by Soniah Kamar". Minneapolis Star Tribune. Archived from the original on 2019-01-22. Retrieved 2019-01-21.