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Zahraa

@zedslit

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Unable to understand what a light read is and will overanalyse all books

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An American Marriage focuses on newly wed, African American couple Roy and Celestial. Within two years of their marriage they go from the ‘American Dream’ couple; an executive and creative to a wrongfully convicted prisoner and a wife trying to navigate life.

This book is so much more than one about love and marriage. It’s a look into Americas racism, how it impacts the prison system, and how reintegration is difficult. The hurricane of re-entry hits everything, including relationships you hold closest to you wether or not you are innocent.

The ending was so realistic. I know a lot of people were not happy with it, but it showed the fragility of marriage and how incarceration can take everything from you.

#books #anamericanmarriage #tayarijones #bookreview by @zedslit

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2 months ago

Being gifted a fiction book is quite a gorgeous feeling. Either someone has given it because they enjoyed the book and want to share it with you or, they think they know you enough to be able to guess what you would like. As a girl who likes to know how I am being perceived, books are a great insight into how I am viewed.

Daisy Jones and The Six transported me to the high life of 70s rock and rollers, and I enjoyed it so much. The rise and fall of the fictional band ‘The Six’ felt so real, I found myself wanting to research ‘what do the Dunne girls do now?’ The format being transcript style meant there was a lot of quotable phrases that didn’t sound cliche ranging from love, friendship and the patriarchy.

Watching the show almost immediately after reading the book was an error on my part, it felt like this was one book that should have stayed off screen. Music is so subjective, so when you are listening to an album described as ‘raw and intoxicating’ but you’re ambivalent to it- its ruins the imagery I had created. The book is written as a 300 page, documentary style transcript. I have always adored oral history and how memory can alter perception, and Daisy Jones and The Six is an incredible example of it. You are able to clearly see different highlight moments of the same event for each band member; having an insight into each of their minds. Daisy Jones isn’t the most, talented or interesting character, this title easily goes to Karen or Teddy but you’re still able to empathise with her. She constantly puts herself at the centre and constantly messes up- but you hear the remorse and also have a better understanding of why she makes certain decisions in the books. In the show she is straight up unlikeable with her only redeeming quality being her friendship with Simone.

Sorry for this book review ending up being a tv show review 🫣

#daisyjonesandthesix #bookreview #taylorjenkinsreid #books by @zedslit

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2 months ago

It’s the first time I’ve started a new month without Baba. He died in June, and my family can’t seem to stop looking at me incredulously. I see the stepping of eggshells around me and the pleads to process his death, but how does one compute that the greatest man I have ever known, can no longer be hugged?

I thought about including a picture from before he was a dad, but one thing about Shahid Choudhury, he was defined by being baba, and revelled in it. The ULTIMATE girl dad, known for how much he loved his daughters. Nearly every girl cousin throughout the years have mentioned longing to have him as their dad in different parts of their lives.

I’ve never wished for anyone else.

He was the gentlest and most forgiving man to me. When I’ve mentioned he’s never shouted at me, not one person has been surprised because he loved me unconditionally in every circumstance.

In Islam, Ar-Rauf is one of the names of Allah which means ‘the tenderly merciful’ and is the highest intensity of mercy that silently operates in the background for the believers. Ar-Rauf blessed me with my dad.

I could speak about him forever, and how I have never hesitated running to him. Wether it was to save me from a spider, asking him to drop me off to Stansted Airport at 4am, calling him at 2am to pick me, or knowing he would validate my feelings.

People tell me I’m so much like him; our shared tendencies, our inability to discipline children and our taste in food. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to eat Thai sweet chilli sensation or flat peaches in the same way ever again.

It’s my greatest honour to be seen as a reflection of him, and I hope to make people feel as loved and as important as he did.

Please keep him in your duas and pray we get the chance to reunite in jannah. by @zedslit

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4 months ago

Big fish, a story about a dying father’s adventures- not quite sure how factual they are.

Lots of mixed feelings about this book but I think it really captures the moment where you accept your parents for who they are very well.

#books #bookreview #bigfish #danielwallace by @zedslit

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4 months ago

Currently reading The Islamophobia Industry, and Jack Shaheen in the foreword states anti Muslim bigotry is not new; what once was Arab-phobia in the 80s has become Islamophobia.

Europe and North America love villainising ‘the other’.

Lean begins the introduction by mentioning Deah Barakat- I was still in school when the Chapel Hill Murder happened and it was the first time I really grasped the extent of hatred some people had for Muslims. Unfortunately since then we’ve seen it countless of times; from the mosque shooting in New Zealand to the one in San Diego last week. These acts of violence don’t occur in a vacuum but rather years of demonisation through media and policy. by @zedslit

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5 months ago

First time I’ve properly read Pride and Prejudice to completion 🫣

I now understand the Mr Darcy obsession, justice for Mr Collins who is meant to be tall and heavy looking but the movies and shows always make him the opposite. Also a big fan of Lizzie realising how crap her dad is in actually thinking about his daughter’s future.

Mrs Bennet may be crass but she’s just a mum wanting the best for her girls 😭🫶🏽

#books #bookreview #prideandprejudice #janeaustin by @zedslit

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5 months ago

(I’d like to preface that this book was 75p at the charity bookshop- and if I didn’t love a good deal I would never buy the movie book cover 🤮)

As a girlie trying to fix her brain cognitive functions, apparently reading a range of genres supports neural cognition- and so I opted out of my usual historical fiction.

A Man Called Ove embraces you into a warm hug and what resulted is a tenderly feeling towards the older members in my neighbourhood. It’s classic grumpy old man who’s actually a huge softie; I really enjoyed that we learnt this through the interweaving of his back story in every other chapter.

#amancalledove #books #bookreview by @zedslit

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5 months ago

I completely understand why ‘Train to Pakistan’ is always mentioned in lists to read about partition.

Kushwant Singh so clearly and beautifully describes everything- from the scenery, to the homes and even each person in the first half. You forget that this book uses the village as a microcosm to highlight the tensions of the subcontinent in 1947.

It really captures the depravity and frankly the collective insanity of people. Mano majra is a small village on the boarder of India and Pakistan, but more importantly it’s a community of Muslims and Sikhs who see each other as brothers.

Within a week, people who had never been harmed by the other community are joining in to partake in a massacre. We are constantly reminded in this book that violence occurred from both side but also goodness was found in both sides. I especially loved how the author used characters as tiers of ‘virtuous’ people to condemn evil.

Iqbal at the lowest level, urging other good people to speak against brutality but staying silent as he wouldn’t receive any honour (the author using this character to pose the question if goodwill is worthwhile even if it’s forgotten). Then it’s Meet Singh who speaks out and the highest level is given to juggut the ‘badmash’ who makes the ultimate sacrifice.

At only 190 pages, this is a must read for those interested in morality and collective consciousness.

#bookreview #books #traintopakistan #partition by @zedslit

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6 months ago

Dats love by Leonora Brito is a collection of short stories about Black Welshman.

The stories span across time, life events and styles of writing. Some were easy to understand while others I had difficulty trying to comprehend.

Most of the stories were of the mundane, many times I found myself questioning why I was still reading this. However, in retrospect I’ve learnt a lot about a community I had never really given a thought to before.

#bookreview #leonorabrito #datslove #bookstagram #books by @zedslit

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7 months ago

Eid Mubarak! May Allah accept our ibaadah and shower us with His rahma 💛

2) Trying to work on having complete and utter tawakkul, I often think I do and then find myself stressing over things I have no control over.

3) Date and coconut caramel cake that took me like a week to make. Baking is not for everyone (me)

4) I LOVE me a lil corporate iftar. My 50 million Canary Wharf iftaars nearly have me applying to become a corporate girlie 🫣

5) Gorgeous day at @wwtlondon

6) Yaqeen Institute is GOATEDDD. The names of Allah series? Incredible, no notes 10/10, was locked in (except for the beginning 2 minutes of every video)

7&8) iftaar at @aitchxess and can confirm the girlfriend knows the footballers life lores but not their names 💅🏽

9) Can I get an ameen to meeting the loml at a bookshop or something ??

10) Eid cards with the help of nature avec my scouts ✨✨ by @zedslit

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7 months ago

Ramadan Mubarak ☪️

Ramadan is the 9th month in the Islamic calendar and when revelation was given to the Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

I pray that everyone who observes this month is spiritually nourished and finds contentment 🫶🏽

Please keep me and my family in your duas x by @zedslit

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8 months ago

Birthday presents!

My friends are a touch insane- a couple of years ago I once mentioned tinned fish date night that was going viral on tiktok… guess who now has a subscription of tinned fishes as a gift 😭 (luv u nadiya!!)

Anyone want to go through the edible atlas and choose a recipe for me to cook for you? Lemme knowww by @zedslit

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8 months ago