A Glasgow Girl: A memoir of growing up and finding your voice

by Aasmah Mir

SHORTLISTED FOR SCOTLAND'S NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FOR NON-FICTION'I loved this book ... incredibly moving' Reverend Richard Coles'A treasure of a book' Fern BrittonThe heart-warming memoir from the much-loved broadcasterA Pebble in the Throat is the coming of age story of Aasmah Mir's childhood growing up in 1970s Glasgow. From a vivacious child to a teenage loner, Aasmah candidly shares the highs and lows of growing up between two cultures - trying to fit in at school and retreating to the safe haven of a home inhabited by her precious but distant little brother and Helen, her family's Glaswegian guardian angel.Intricately woven into this moving memoir is the story of Aasmah's mother, as we follow her own life as a young girl in 1950s Pakistan to 1960s Scotland and beyond. Both mother and daughter fight, are defeated and triumph in different battles in this sharp and moving story. A Pebble in the Throat is a remarkable memoir about family, identity and finding yourself where you are.

Genres: Memoir

368 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 18, 2023

Reviews

[Noreen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Totally loved this book. Maybe I am biased, Aasmah is my younger cousin. Fascinating to read her eloquent perspective of growing up in the same town as our family and attending the same school.
I especially loved finding out more about my Aunt’s upbringing in Pakistan which shaped her in to the amazing woman she is.
Laughed at the description of children’s birthday parties- and yes there was always a child who was sick!

[Adeeba · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow

[Jane Griffiths · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book because I like Aasmah Mir as a broadcaster, and always listen to her breakfast show on Times Radio. I also read it because I live in Glasgow, and am not from here. She’s tried here to paint a picture of herself as a girl growing up, as she felt it, between two cultures: the Scottish and the Pakistani. It’s rather beautifully and poetically written, and she’s described the issues she encountered both touchingly and sensitively. It’s never mawkish, and nor is it a misery memoir: she emphasises the warmth and love there was in her family, but she doesn’t shy away from her own sadness and fear. Her mother wrote some of the chapters, it seems, describing her own girlhood and young life in Pakistan. That was a stroke of brilliance. I loved those chapters, but on balance thought there were rather too many of them. It’s Aasmah I’m interested in, not her mother. I was moved too by her love for her younger brother, who appears from her description to be severely autistic. There is a lot of love in this book.

[Tempany Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book offers a raw and poignant exploration of life in Glasgow and Pakistan, spanning multiple generations. With alternating narratives between Aasmah and her mother, the story provides a unique and deeply personal look into their immigration experiences, each shaping their identity in distinct ways.

I found the novel an eye-opening journey into the rich traditions, vibrant culture, and deep sense of community that defines Pakistani heritage. It’s a powerful reminder of how much there is to learn from cultures beyond our own.

But the heart of this book lies in its stark depiction of the harsh reality of racism, particularly during the 1970s. The cruelty and prejudice Aasmah, as an older child going into her teenage years, and her mother encounter are harrowing, and the novel doesn’t shy away from exposing the painful truth of discrimination.

It’s a sobering call to action—one that compels us to reflect on how far we’ve come and how far we still need to go in the fight for equality.

[Jen Burrows · Rating 4 out of 5]

A heartfelt memoir of family, disconnect and belonging.

The narration is split between mother and daughter, each speaking in first person, and although there is clearly only one authorial voice, Mir captures authenticity in both perspectives. Aasmah and her mother are different personalities but both are spirited and engaging, offering different sides of the immigrant experience across the generational divide.

Occasionally the sporadic jumps through time feels a little disorientating, but on the whole it's effective in telling a linear story. There's a fair amount of conflict at play (between people, between cultures), and the stucture is important in guiding the reader along a journey towards understanding and conciliation.

Affecting, engaging and honest, A Pebble in the Throat is a powerful coming of age memoir of a family bridging two cultures.

*Thank you to Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review*

[SJ Southgate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel very privileged to be allowed into Aasmah's family life. This memoir so cleverly intertwined the upbringing of a Scottish born Asian with that of her (lovely) mother in Pakistan and gave an insight into the appalling racism experienced by Aasmah in her younger years. I hope things are better now, but I think that such attitudes still exist to some extent, sadly.

Loved the family stories and humour, along with the more disturbing aspects, remembered with such clarity; very insightful and beautifully constructed.

ps. I love listeneing to Aasmah on the radio, too.

[✰matthew✰ · Rating 4 out of 5]

on the whole i thoroughly enjoyed this book and found it a great read. the writing is hugely atmospheric and emotive, it really carries you away with it.

the only real issue i had was probably just me but i found it hard to distinguish between the daughter and the mother sections/voice quite a lot of the time.

(the version of this book i read was titled ‘a pebble in the throat’ as the gr images states not the title given as the book title in the gr text above. the subtitle for my edition is ‘growing up between two continents.’)

[Jane Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyable book. The intertwining of the author's story with her mother's story was good. I would like to read a story of how Aasmah Mir got into broadcasting. I have enjoyed listening to her on Radio 5 live and now on Times Radio, however you would not know that in her childhood she preferred to remain unseen.

[Amanda Vipond · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Autobiography I bought because I like this journalist and was intrigued.

A great story across generations from Pakistan to Glasgow and 2nd generation growing up in the 70s. Times I lived through so recognised the backdrop but clearly did not recognise the horrendous racism and brutality experienced.

I thoroughly recommend it, and it is not a long read.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

I nearly cried a lot of times reading this book. Mir's technique of blending her story with her mother's story between Glasgow and Pakistan is really moving. Her descriptions of both places and times is evocative. I highly recommend.

[Samira · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic heart warming coming-of-age story spanning across two continents. Aasmah’s way of story telling involve insightful observations that makes it feel like you are living the story alongside her. I think everyone could find something in this story they relate to.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aasmah shares a raw and honest account or her family life in Glasgow and Pakistán.

[Finn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating recount of her childhood and her family, the description and characterisation are that good, you feel like you personally know them yourself

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Based on the audiobook

[Leah Haworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got through this book very quickly. A lovely read and tears were shed

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book! ❤️

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great. Easy read. Page turner. Terrible indictment of the was people of a different colour are treated. I could identify with aasmah, not far off my age growing up in Scotland.

[Kate Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really interesting reading about Aasmah and her family’s experiences in Glasgow However I was confused at times when the chapters were jumping back and forth

[Ali Asgher Ladak · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember listening to Aasmah back in the back on her BBC Radio 5 Live Drive show, so it was a wonderful little surprise to stumble across this audiobook, made all the more enjoyable by her beautiful dulcet tones. The time jumps made the narrative slightly puzzling at first however once I got into the flow of it the whole experience was a joy from start to finish. I hope Aasmah keeps writing!

[Frida · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved all the little memories and could relate to many things. The way our parents or grandparents came to Glasgow or the racism we experienced all made this very relatable. I liked how you can see some progress as the world gets a bit more accepting…I grew up a decade later in Glasgow and it had changed somewhat. Could also relate to some of the growing up in Pakistan stories as I spent four years as a child there. There were many stories I just wanted more details or a follow up for or a background for so can’t give 5* or maybe that is a sign of a good story if you want more? A bit too much of a focus on the sweets 🍫 🍬 🍭 but it seems that was the author’s coping mechanism. The story jumped about two characters different time lines a lot and the voices didn’t sound different enough so could at times take a moment or two to see who was talking. Would still recommend this to people probably if they’re Indian subcontinent origin Scots/Muslim Scots.