We definitely need more adaptations like this!
amazing take on pride and prejudice, and also I feel like it fills in the what if's from Jane Austen's version.
I need more by this author...write faster! Lol

We can all agree that it is rare for a reboot to rival the original. But in this world, where #MeToo and #WeNeedDiverseBooks live, I have found you a single novel that can be a gateway drug to fine literature, world literature, and women's literature.
Unmarriageable is indeed "Pride and Prejudice in Pakistan." But more importantly, it is the version of Pride and Prejudice modern students NEED to read. While a modern Westerner can intellectually understand the dilemma of Elizabeth Bennet in 19th century Regency Britain, the predicament of her and her sisters is somewhat removed emotionally for us. Women's lives got better. Women became able to inherit and work and even marry for love. Having this tale play out in modern day Pakistan adds a level of reality and urgency to the story that is hard to experience from the original with our perfect historical hindsight.
Simply put, Unmarriageable has legs because so many of the original norms Austen wrote about are still at work in the world today. We read stories about honor killings, forced and arranged marriages, preference of boys to girls, shooting of girls going to school from all over the globe (not just South Asia). And in this novel, we see the seeds of how small micro-aggressions lay the ground work for macro-aggressions against the disenfranchised.
Because Unmarriageable is able to step just a bit beyond Austen's exposure of the misogyny of the day, I hope and encourage educators to read it and consider adding it into your ELA curriculum. Unmarriageable not only presents the plight of women, especially "older" unmarried women, but also touches upon the struggles of gay men, interracial couples, unwed pregnant women, plus sized women, and class biases. And while the setting is Pakistan, many of these biases hit disturbingly close to the mark in Western society too. This book will also give educators an opportunity to teach about Partition, colonial occupation, India-Pakistan relations, Islam, the importance of education to women. And it may help some students realize how little they know about this important, populous and critical area of the world.
So...
Dear ELA Teachers Everywhere,

Please put down your copy of Pride and Prejudice. Just stick in that drawer next to you. Now open your computer and place an order for a class set of Unmarriageable by Soniah Kamal (due out January 2019). Your Jane Austen discussions are about to get wild.

#Unmarriageable #NetGalley @Soniah Kamal

This was an enjoyable take on Pride and Prejudice. The storyline is close to Jane Austen’s classic book and will be very familiar to fans, but the interesting twist is that the setting is modern Pakistan. While familiar, the characters and plot seem fresh. I found it particularly impressive how natural the Pride and Prejudice plot translated to the modern Pakistan setting. This was a fun way to be immersed in Pakistani culture.

I loved this book. It did follow Jane Austin , but put it in the perspective of young Pakistanian women. I found Unmarrigeable to be a really charming story of relationships and finding one’s way. I read ian Arc of this book courtesy of Netgalley and the publisher. I highly recommend it. It was entertaining and sweet.

I really wanted to rate this book higher as I liked the book Pride and Prejudice but felt this book fell short. The character development was good but I did not like the way the family treated each other. To say one is heavy and won’t get a good husband was not something I enjoyed. Thanks to Net Galley for allowing me to read and rate this book,

As someone of Pakistani decent, I was very excited when I heard about this book. While the book held my attention and was an interesting read, I was left feeling a little disappointed. I felt the author didn't take the opportunity to make the story her own and instead stuck too closely to the original. Even the names (many of which were made up and are not actual names) were chosen to be similar to those in Pride and Prejudice.

Overall, it was still an interesting read.

I received this book as an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars--I LOVED this book, and recommend it for Jane-ites and anyone who loves learning about other cultures.

This novel wrestles with all of the traditional narratives of Pride and Prejudice, but with a uniquely Pakistani view. In a lot of ways, placing Austen's story within an Islamic culture actually helped me understand the characters better--it's much easier to feel the weight of Lady’s (Lydia's) thoughtless decisions in a society that values modesty above all else, and the responsibility on Mrs. Binat to marry off her daughters in an honor-driven culture. The author also does a great job of making all of the characters more dynamic--this is the first novelization I've ever read where I truly sympathized with "Charlotte." Mr. Collins, Bingley, even Mr. Bennet's character were all written as flawed human beings, rather than golden heroes or comedic fodder.

The obvious comparison as a Westerner is the film Bride and Prejudice, but this book is better. The most glaring difference is that the marriage of Pakistani culture with Westernization is found in the author herself, so she has first-hand experience in both worlds. In contrast, the Bollywood version of the story tried to incorporate both UK and Indian film studios to write the narrative, which means the portrayal of both cultures rings false. I'm not saying don't watch that movie--but expect Unmarriageable to be much more dynamic.

I laughed out loud at moments, teared up at others, and flew through the last half of the book--which, really, isn't that the marker of a Good Story?

Pros:
-The characterization! Kamal beautifully portrays her characters with rich backstories and flaws, something that Austen's novel lacks unless it specifically relates to the plot. This means you get to explore Mr. and Mrs. Binats' relationship (including Mrs. Binat's strengths and Mr. Binat's weaknesses--shocking), as well as Sherry and Khaleen's dynamic and Annie's story. It's remarkable how much this changes the scope of the story. I have to add that Kamal's Mr. Binatr is much more lovable for his flaws, and he clearly loves all of his daughters for who they are. My favorite quote from the novel is his:

"I wanted to tell him about my kind and generous Jena, my fearless Alys, my artist Qitty, who holds her head up no matter what anyone says to her, and my Mari, who just wants everyone to go to heaven. Even my silly, selfish Lady, who doesn't know what is good for her and just wants to have a good time all the time. But I didn't tell him about any one of my daughters. He doesn't deserve to know a single thing about my precious girls."

-The descriptions of Pakistani culture in this book are so vibrant. You've got the typical descriptions of stuff like clothes, geography, and food (OH MY WORD THE FOOD), but I loved reading the different perspectives of women's' roles within their community, and what warrants respect. You've got beautifully snarky descriptions of events and people that, even if you've never encountered that stereotype before, you understand at a glance. As a reader, it feels like you've been invited into a Pakistani home, and I was so grateful for the "hospitality" of learning about another culture from a non-imperial narrator.

-The discussion of feminism. Obviously, Alys is extremely feminist for a woman living in small-town Pakistan (a perspective that is realistically attributed to a university education preceding a back-slide down the social ladder). The conversations surrounding Pakistani feminism are RADICALLY different than western conversations--a passing reference to a spurned suitor throwing ACID in a woman's face has haunted me all week--and it made me sit for a moment with what is at stake for so many women.

-The cover is absolutely gorgeous, isn't it?

Cons:
-In comparison to the richness of the side characters, the relationship between Alys and Darsee is kind of bland. Kamal tried really hard to make their relationship realistic while paying homage to Austen's Darcy, but ultimately his character felt a little flat to me. I suppose it must be very difficult to write a believable male feminist protagonist, because those are very rare in nature. I was half expecting <spoiler> that Alys would stay single through the end of the book. Her change in perspective about Darcy was just as abrupt as it was in Austen's novel </spoiler> .

-Some of the discussions about feminism seem a little forced. Obviously, the theme of any book is going to be driven hard, but there were a few places I felt the observations seemed out of place or inorganic.

-You have to wait another few months to read it--the publication date is January 15, 2019.

Pride and Prejudice in Pakistan! I loved this contemporary re-telling. It stays quite faithful to the original, but the change of setting gives it a whole new feel. Alys is a wonderful new version of Lizzie- just as fierce and intelligent.

A clever rendition of Pride and Prejudice in modern day Pakistan. For those who can never get enough of Pride and Prejudice you'll love it. For those who hated Pride and Prejudice you'll hate it! For those like me, who liked it and have never read another retelling of the story, you'll enjoy it. It is a fast read and although you already know the ending it is still fun and even a bit suspenseful to see how the pieces come together, to get us to where we know it will be, by the end of the book.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an early release of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I liked the concept here, but felt like it stuck too close to the original text. I mean, real readers of P&P will be able to figure out each character in the book and who they correspond to. We don't need to be told through "clever" renaming: Looclus for Lucas, Kaleen for Collins, Darsee and Bungles (Bingley). By the end I was mostly annoyed at the way she renamed instead of letting the reader be smart enough to figure it out.

BUT, all that being said, I love the way that Indian culture fits so well with the P&P storyline and thought it was well done overall.

I received an uncorrected proof of "Unmarriageable: Pride & Prejudice in Pakistan" by Soniah Kamal, a retelling of Jane Austen's classic novel, “Pride & Prejudice.” I enjoyed Kamal’s re-imagining of the characters and plot and found myself searching online for everything from locations, clothing, food, and literature.
The story begins in December 2000 in the classroom of Alysba Binat (think Elizabeth Bennet), a teacher for the upper grades, where she is having students rewrite the opening line of Austen's novel: "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.” Alys tries in her own way to speak into the lives of these young women at the British School Group. She doesn’t want them to fall into the trap of a patriarchal system, thinking that their only future is to marry young and have children, but instead finish school and go to university. Jenazba Binat (Jane) teaches the middle grades, and we are introduced to the rest of the Binat girls on the way home from School: Marizba (Mary); Qittyra (Kitty); and Lady (Lydia).
Unlike Austen's novel, we are given the back story on the Binat family where they went from riches to rags following a betrayal by Barkat Binat's brother, Goga, and his wife/cousin, Tajwer (Tinkle) Binat. They can only afford a ruin in front of a graveyard in Dilipadad. The graveyard is where Alys meets Sherry Looclus (Charlotte Lucas), who here is a smoker and about 10 years older than her.
The Binats are invited to the Nadir Sheh and Fiede Fecker wedding – very much a ball from a mehndi and nikah ceremony to later walima. It's there that Jena and Alys meet Fahad Bingla, nicknamed Bungles; and Valentine Darsee. Jena is invited to a charity polo match in Lahore where they stay with their aunt and uncle nearby. And here Jena turns her ankle and Bungles carries her out of the match like Marianne in Sense & Sensibility. Alys shows up sweating to beat the band after a walk, reminiscent of Elizabeth’s trip to see Jane at Netherfield when she became ill. Where Austen’s Elizabeth is a reader, Kawal’s Alys is more of a professor of literature. I’m thinking that the book needs a section marked “Alysba’s reading list” because of all the titles included. (I added “Sunlight on a Broken Column” by Attia Hosain to my Goodreads bookshelf.) It is in the clinic with Jena that Alys has a great conversation with Valentine Darsee who says to her:

Darsee: “We’ve been forced to seek ourselves in the literature of others for too long.” Alys: “But reading widely can lead to an appreciation of the universalities across cultures.”

Speaking of different cultures, as a predominantly English reader, I appreciated Kawal’s brief translations after (I believe) Urdu sentences or words to English. I very much enjoyed looking up details from locations in Pakistan to the details about the three wedding ceremonies. I enjoyed looking up the clothing in this novel like when Pinkie Binat is getting the girls ready in saris, gharanas, chararas, peshwas, dupattas and shalwar kurtas. My food knowledge was stretched and I thought how much the novel is a foodie paradise. I may have to order the foods that were at these events from beef biryani, seekh kebabs, tikkas, naan, gulab yamun, firni, samosas, and kulfi ice cream. I love chai tea so the fact that this was offered throughout the novel made me wish I was among the visitors.
I did shake my head over the names in this novel from Jeorgeullah Wickaam to Humeria and Sumeria Bingla (Hammy & Sammy). The names were close and probably could use a bit of distance. The novel did stick with the original plot but added some nuances, such as what went on in the mind of Sherry Looclus upon learning Farhat Kaleen’s proposal to Alys was turned down. I could sense Sherry’s anxiety as she figured out her next moves to "grab a husband” after all the times she had been turned down. You feel the rift between Alys and Sherry more keenly but you understand why Sherry would see Kaleen as a ticket to a better life.
I will say I tend to read novels that don’t include curse words or sexual situations. I remember Stephen King says curse words are natural and expected, but really I don’t need an author to tell me the exact curses someone uses. If the character curses, my imagination can supply a curse word. That said I’m not sure what age group the novel is intended, but I’m thinking this is for adults. Jaans and Sammy Bingla-Riyasat use a modified F-bomb during a New Year ’s Eve party – modified in that I’ve never heard that form used here in the U.S. Earlier in the novel, Sherry makes an allusion to masturbation to Alys, something about liking her hand when Alys isn’t interested in marriage. Some of the characters take a moral hit too but I realized in telling them I’d probably give away spoilers on the plot.
My overall impression was positive though in that I left the novel having learned something new about Pakistan and the Muslim faith. Using Pride & Prejudice as an outline, Kawal takes the reader on a cultural journey and breathes new life into Austen’s characters and plot. I laughed when Lady sprayed spittle as she made fun of Valentine Darsee’s first name, and later laughed when Jena was caught threading her moustache when Bingla came to call. It’s so much better than trying to get rid of sewing or clean up food trays in the drawing room. I look forward to seeing the completed novel in January 2019.

Unmarriageable by Soniah Kamal is a Pride and Prejudice retelling but set in early 21st century Pakistan told through the perspective of Alys the second oldest of the Binat sisters. Alys deals the dominant male culture, her marriage-obsessed mother, and teach her young students that there is more to life than securing a good marriage. A marriage of the year in their small town sets this family on many journeys of marriage proposals, society demands and what is most important with our lives.
Wow, this book surprised me on how great and how eye-opening it was for me to read about the struggles that are put on women in Pakistan in the early 21st century. It was a little slow and slightly confusing in the beginning, but once the characters started growing, I could not put the book down. An exceptional book that everyone should read at least once in your life.

DNF - after reading 34%. Seemed to me to be way to much dialogue and not enough things happening in the story. Felt like all the dialogue was being used to extend the book. Couldn't read anymore. Giving it an average rating because I did not finish the book.

The setting: "[a] retelling of Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice set in modern-day Pakistan, the five Binat sisters and their marriage-obsessed mother navigate a world where money trumps morality and double standards rule the day." Of course, the Binat family has no fortune and bad luck. And, there is a Darsee [Darcy].

The heroine is Alys, "the second and most practical of the five Binat daughters, [who] has found happiness teaching English literature to school girls." Much of the book centers around Alys--who I liked.

A fast read with much humor --which often found me chuckling.
"Mrs. Fecker's gargantuan eyelashes, supposedly imported from Milan, were apparently weighing down her eyes because it took her a moment to recognize Mr. and Mrs. Bark Binat."

"... balding, sartorially dismal man."

"...dressed in flapper-style long frocks... the twins looked like shredded streamers."

What I most enjoyed--learning of the local Pakistani culture and customs.

BUT. If you know the story of Pride and Prejudice [and who doesn't], there aren't many surprises. So, in that respect, too neat. Nonetheless, often charming so it kept me going. Sometimes a 3.5, but not enough to round up. Question: Why is it set in 2000 and 2001?

I’m always in the market for a fresh P&P adaptation and this one did not disappoint. While the writing at times was a bit clunky and Alys could be annoying at times with her strident feminism that came across sometimes as rude, this was a fabulous novel. The setting was absolutely perfect for a retelling of Austen’s story. She stayed very true to the plot and characters, with some exceptions. The relationship between Mrs. Binat and her husband was different than between the Bennett’s, and she had a very fresh and fascinating take on Charlotte (Sherry) and Mr. Collins (Mr. Kaleen) that makes me want to reread the original Pride and Prejudice and look at that story line with fresh eyes.

I love how Austen’s work translates so well to Pakistan in the early 2000s. One of my favorite things about P&P is how universally applicable it still is more than 200 years later, and now I can see how cross-culturally applicable it is as well.

Overall, this was a charming, interesting, fun, vibrant retelling of a beloved novel that makes me want to learn more about Pakistani culture and also revisit Austen’s works. This is one of my favorite P&P retelling I’ve read. You certainly don’t have to be a Pride and Prejudice fan to love this novel, though.

Thank you NetGalley for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you

I am a huge Pride and Prejudice fan. I never get tired of rereading Jane Austin's novels. Due to it's popularity I have read several re-imaginings of P&P. This can be a hit or miss. Some I have appreciated and enjoyed and some not so much. I was very interested in reading Sonia Kamal's modern day Pakistan rendition. I learned a lot about the Muslim Pakistani culture. My husband has spent time in India, so some of their ways were similar and not a great surprise. The attention to detail made this an interesting read. I thought the story was good and may have been better if not a retelling of P&P. For me the names were just too similar. I had a hard time with Alys, sorry but I didn't like her as much as I tried. Therefor I found her character a little unbelievable.

I received a copy from Ballatine through NetGallley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Unmarrigeable is an outstanding story. It is based in Pakistan. With Pakistan traditions. The main tradition, of course, marriage of the daughters to good husbands, hopefully wealthy husbands. This particular family has five daughters. Not considered lucky, in that there were no sons. The young ladies (considered old by their standards) are all unmarried. Jena, the oldest teaches school. Alys, the next in agreement is opinionated about their traditions. Believing vehemently that women shouldn't have to marry. That they should be allowed to be single and have an education and work outside the home. She is also a very well read, teacher. Quit the middle daughter is slightly overweight, though she likes herself and knows her worth. No matter how much she is taunted by the baby sister 16 year old, Lady. Mari is very pious and is always spouting off passages from the Kuran. Lady, is spoiled, wild and has no care for tradition. Or, sadly that what she does affects her family.
These girls all have wonderful qualities, but, the are not married. This causes their mother intense grief. In their culture one of the highlights of a mother, if not the most important highlight, is marrying their daughters off. In this way mothers try to outdo each other through their children's accomplishments. This mother just wants her daughters to hook a man, hopefully respected and wealthy, because this reflects on all the family.
Being able to see how each of these young women accomplish what their own personal preferences are is beautiful. The story is interesting, entertaining and memorable. On the plus side, I loved learning a lot of the different words. I strongly recommend this book on everybody's to read list. This book written about this family transcends culture. Mothers are mothers no matter what country they're from.

A Pakistani take on Pride & Prejudice that worked! It was charming, realistic to society’s pressures, and thoroughly entertaining. This was a great read and I liked how it stayed true to the original with just enough deviation to keep me interested.

Kamal makes Pride and Prejudice her own, not just some pastiche of Austen's story. While the names are a little too obvious, the characters are not the same as Austen's; they are just in similar situations in a different culture. That is Kamal's point: literature shows us universal truths about human nature that goes beyond the differences in ethnicity, geography and religion. The Binat family is more fully developed than the Bennett family. They have been abroad and therefore exposed to a wider variety of experiences than many of their Pakistani neighbors. They have been misused by their family and left impoverished. Even the Pakistani version of the Lucas family have more back story. What happens to everyone is pretty much the same as in Pride and Prejudice, but there is a full description of Pakistani wedding customs and food that bring the world into bright colors. Kamal shows us the troubles women face in this culture when marriage is often seen as their only option. She plays with the opening line of P&P: "it is a truth universally acknowledged", to show different people's truths that they think are acknowledged. As a reader, I want to explore some of the books and stories that Alys suggests to her friends and students and I'd love to try some of the food!

In this retelling of Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice set in modern-day Pakistan, the five Binat sisters and their marriage-obsessed mother navigate a world where money trumps morality and double standards rule the day. This is an amusing tale of finding husbands after the family is broke and banished to a small town.