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The Harem
Fiction. Asian American Studies. How far would you go to be free?Humorous, though tinged with a sense of the tragic, at times risque, and utterly contemporary, THE HAREM, is a fast-paced novel about young Asian women and their quest for freedom.Farina has only one dream: to be free and move away from Peckville, a Muslim ghetto in a large city. She is eager to escape the clutches of her strict parents who will not let her drink, party or have any kind of contact with males. As soon as she turns eighteen, she sets her dream in motion and gets her own apartment. The only problem is that her minimum-wage job leaves her feeling anything but liberated. How can she resist when her ambitious best friend Sabrina proposes an infallible business idea? How harmful can running as escort agency really be? Will she finally be freed by her increasing wealth and independence, or will she remain enslaved by her increasing guilt?
- GenresFiction
168 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2012
1 person is currently reading
44 people want to read
About the author
Safia Fazlul
2 books28 followersSafia Fazlul, of Bangladeshi background, was raised in Norway and now makes Toronto, Canada her home. She published her first novel shortly after receiving her B.A. from the University of Toronto. Fazlul retired from the financial services industry and continues to write both poetry and fiction.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 30, 2013
When I was offered the opportunity to read The Harem, I was struck by the brutal honesty of the idea – daughters of immigrants doing anything they could to escape the poor living conditions of their home. (Ironically, to their parents, these conditions were considered to be much better than anything they had experienced in their original home land). This honesty continues with the story of Farina and friends Sabrina and Imrana. These girls want out of their area (Peckville) and into parts of the city they’ve never thought possible.
The story is told by Farina in the first person and from the very start, we find that Farina isn’t the meek girl that her Bangladeshi mother wants her to be. Farina’s a university dropout who drinks, takes the odd drug, dresses provocatively and revels in doing the bad/forbidden. She has two good friends out for the same good time – Sabrina, who is making a lot of money at a bank and Imrana, who tries to juggle being good and bad.
Farina works in a deli, and lands the wandering eye of her boss. When Sabrina invites her to her ‘bank’, Farina and Imrana find that she’s being doing something different. Now Sabrina wants to set up a business (The Harem) – an escort agency. Farina’s desperate to make money and The Harem begins to become very, very successful. Then conscience starts to intervene – is Farina really the bad girl?
Some may find this book a little shocking. It’s blunt and to the point about a number of topics – prostitution, sex and drinking to name just a few. The language is also pretty coarse in places (I suggest you don’t leave this ebook open on your work desk). It’s scandalous and shocking, and feels a little naughty reading it. While I realise that this book may not be to everyone’s taste, I found it somewhat refreshing to read about ‘bad girls’ in their variations. Sabrina’s unrepentant, Farina’s wavering and Imrana’s easily mislead. Fazlul creates characters that are clearly flawed, but lovable to varying degrees. I cheered Farina on as she fell in love, admired Sabrina’s business sense and bit my nails as Imrana tried to make a decision.
The ending is probably the weakest point – not from a technical sense, but that it’s rather open. After Fazlul’s great portrayal of immigrant girls, looking at race and religion, it felt a bit of a let down from the crazy roller coaster ride that the rest of the book. But perhaps that was symbolic of Farina’s journey in general…
Thank you to Tsar Publications for the eBook copy.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
The story is told by Farina in the first person and from the very start, we find that Farina isn’t the meek girl that her Bangladeshi mother wants her to be. Farina’s a university dropout who drinks, takes the odd drug, dresses provocatively and revels in doing the bad/forbidden. She has two good friends out for the same good time – Sabrina, who is making a lot of money at a bank and Imrana, who tries to juggle being good and bad.
Farina works in a deli, and lands the wandering eye of her boss. When Sabrina invites her to her ‘bank’, Farina and Imrana find that she’s being doing something different. Now Sabrina wants to set up a business (The Harem) – an escort agency. Farina’s desperate to make money and The Harem begins to become very, very successful. Then conscience starts to intervene – is Farina really the bad girl?
Some may find this book a little shocking. It’s blunt and to the point about a number of topics – prostitution, sex and drinking to name just a few. The language is also pretty coarse in places (I suggest you don’t leave this ebook open on your work desk). It’s scandalous and shocking, and feels a little naughty reading it. While I realise that this book may not be to everyone’s taste, I found it somewhat refreshing to read about ‘bad girls’ in their variations. Sabrina’s unrepentant, Farina’s wavering and Imrana’s easily mislead. Fazlul creates characters that are clearly flawed, but lovable to varying degrees. I cheered Farina on as she fell in love, admired Sabrina’s business sense and bit my nails as Imrana tried to make a decision.
The ending is probably the weakest point – not from a technical sense, but that it’s rather open. After Fazlul’s great portrayal of immigrant girls, looking at race and religion, it felt a bit of a let down from the crazy roller coaster ride that the rest of the book. But perhaps that was symbolic of Farina’s journey in general…
Thank you to Tsar Publications for the eBook copy.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
April 11, 2013
Actual rating: 4.5
The Harem by Safia Fazlul tells the story of three Bangladeshi friends (Farina, Imrana, and Sabrina) and is told from the perspective of Farina. Farina has just recently turned eighteen and is looking to break away from her controlling parents, her Muslim neighbourhood, and is excited to live an independent life. However, once she moves out, Farina realizes how hard it is just to get by, when you have little money left over from your minimum wage job to buy food after paying your rent. Her friends are all going through hard times or dealing with domineering parents as well, and Sabrina, the leader of the group, comes up with a “get rich quick” plan -- starting an escort agency. While the plan starts bringing in money, guilt starts to weigh on Farina’s conscience as she considers the ethics of what she is doing, and sexism and racism within both society and the sex industry. Is she gaining her own independence by helping take away other women’s? Can she make peace with herself over what she is doing?
Safia Fazlul packed a LOT into this tiny novel, and yet, it never felt overly heavy, analytical, or rushed. Certain chapters skip ahead in time, but it doesn’t feel jarring or like you are missing pieces of the story. It actually really helps to illustrate the character development that all three characters, and even some secondary characters go through!
While I’ve read other novels that were around this length and it felt like I didn’t get a complete story, The Harem tells the perfect amount of Farina’s story. It actually took me almost a week to read the entire thing, and not because the writing was hard to get through, or it was uninteresting, but because the book tackles some deep issues, such as gender, race, and class, both in the Canadian and Bangladeshi context and the issue of sex work. I had to let certain parts sit with me, as I contemplated the story and the critique the author was presenting through the text.
I really really appreciated the feminist critique Farina presents as a woman of colour in The Harem. She is frustrated when she sees her mother working hard, only to come home and work even harder as her husband sits on the couch all night. She expresses frustration and a thoughtful critique of gender, race, Islamic culture and class, and Farina recognizes both how she as a Bangladeshi, a straight woman, and as part of the working class experiences discrimination uniquely. This discussion of intersectionality is important in feminism, and I think it was so well done in The Harem. For example, after most of Farina’s rants about the status quo, she would say, “But what do I know? I’m just a little insignificant Paki girl”, which I read as Farina acknowledging how she uniquely experiences life as a Bangladeshi working class woman. The differences in ideology between Farina and Sabrina also made for some really thought provoking discussions about gender roles, sexism, and the sex industry!
Also, the writing was a great mix of gritty, raw language, and at times, really lyrical. It fit the story and characters perfectly! Speaking of the characters, I felt that all three were very complex characters with more layers than you see in novels 2-3 times the length. They made questionable choices, and some were even unlikeable such as Sabrina (although I don’t think EVERY character in a novel can, or even should be likeable) but they were so interesting and engaging!
Lastly, this novel could be classified as New Adult, as Farina and friends range between ages 17-19, and are experiencing growing up, dealing with living on their own for the first time, etc. Now, for the most part I’ve avoided a lot of the New Adult books out there because most of them focus on romance, and a lot of them seem to be centered around unhealthy relationships. Not my thing. However, The Harem is EXACTLY what I wish NA was, and that I hope it can be - stories that are real, raw, and that deal with important issues in a complex manner.
*I received an electronic copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
The Harem by Safia Fazlul tells the story of three Bangladeshi friends (Farina, Imrana, and Sabrina) and is told from the perspective of Farina. Farina has just recently turned eighteen and is looking to break away from her controlling parents, her Muslim neighbourhood, and is excited to live an independent life. However, once she moves out, Farina realizes how hard it is just to get by, when you have little money left over from your minimum wage job to buy food after paying your rent. Her friends are all going through hard times or dealing with domineering parents as well, and Sabrina, the leader of the group, comes up with a “get rich quick” plan -- starting an escort agency. While the plan starts bringing in money, guilt starts to weigh on Farina’s conscience as she considers the ethics of what she is doing, and sexism and racism within both society and the sex industry. Is she gaining her own independence by helping take away other women’s? Can she make peace with herself over what she is doing?
Safia Fazlul packed a LOT into this tiny novel, and yet, it never felt overly heavy, analytical, or rushed. Certain chapters skip ahead in time, but it doesn’t feel jarring or like you are missing pieces of the story. It actually really helps to illustrate the character development that all three characters, and even some secondary characters go through!
While I’ve read other novels that were around this length and it felt like I didn’t get a complete story, The Harem tells the perfect amount of Farina’s story. It actually took me almost a week to read the entire thing, and not because the writing was hard to get through, or it was uninteresting, but because the book tackles some deep issues, such as gender, race, and class, both in the Canadian and Bangladeshi context and the issue of sex work. I had to let certain parts sit with me, as I contemplated the story and the critique the author was presenting through the text.
I really really appreciated the feminist critique Farina presents as a woman of colour in The Harem. She is frustrated when she sees her mother working hard, only to come home and work even harder as her husband sits on the couch all night. She expresses frustration and a thoughtful critique of gender, race, Islamic culture and class, and Farina recognizes both how she as a Bangladeshi, a straight woman, and as part of the working class experiences discrimination uniquely. This discussion of intersectionality is important in feminism, and I think it was so well done in The Harem. For example, after most of Farina’s rants about the status quo, she would say, “But what do I know? I’m just a little insignificant Paki girl”, which I read as Farina acknowledging how she uniquely experiences life as a Bangladeshi working class woman. The differences in ideology between Farina and Sabrina also made for some really thought provoking discussions about gender roles, sexism, and the sex industry!
Also, the writing was a great mix of gritty, raw language, and at times, really lyrical. It fit the story and characters perfectly! Speaking of the characters, I felt that all three were very complex characters with more layers than you see in novels 2-3 times the length. They made questionable choices, and some were even unlikeable such as Sabrina (although I don’t think EVERY character in a novel can, or even should be likeable) but they were so interesting and engaging!
Lastly, this novel could be classified as New Adult, as Farina and friends range between ages 17-19, and are experiencing growing up, dealing with living on their own for the first time, etc. Now, for the most part I’ve avoided a lot of the New Adult books out there because most of them focus on romance, and a lot of them seem to be centered around unhealthy relationships. Not my thing. However, The Harem is EXACTLY what I wish NA was, and that I hope it can be - stories that are real, raw, and that deal with important issues in a complex manner.
*I received an electronic copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
June 6, 2013
The Harem takes place in a Muslim ghetto called Peckville where a strong willed young woman named Farina is struggling to get away from her overbearing mother, her religion and her life of poverty. Thanks to her extremely ambitious and money-minded best friend Sabrina they hatch a plan to open an escort agency and pull in all the money they’ve been hoping for. The Harem is a book about women, self discovery, and what it means to have family. I will say that this is definitely for the 18+ crowd as it does have sexual content and some very dark situations that would not be suitable for young teens.
The story is hard hitting and definitely makes an impression. It tackles subjects like the value of womanhood, the value of one’s self, self destruction, and the importance of family. As we move through the story and see Farina begin to change we also begin to see her world in a different light. The things that were shiny and golden opportunities in the beginning begin to fade and trade places with the things she only saw as a stain. The characters in this are detailed and have a depth that it’s easy to like them…even when you really hate them.
The writing is first person, so it’s very much Farina’s voice. It’s straightforward, blunt and at times even a bit poetic. Her voice pulls you in and the emotion is high every step of the way. Farina’s journey over the course of the book isn’t an easy one and she definitely doesn’t always make the right decisions, but it was interesting to see her grow as a person and start taking steps to better herself. Sabrina is a girl who practically has trouble written all over her. She’s confident, pretty, and most of all she’s manipulative. She’s one of those characters that I loved reading about but really didn’t like. She’s a user but I my heart went out to her. Imara is the most innocent of the three girls and probably the one that broke my heart the most by the end. All three of these girls have hit their low at some point, but the one thing that separates them is how they recover from it.
The Harem is a heartfelt, heartbreaking and quick paced story that drew me in without any hesitation. I’m definitely glad that this review request came in because I’m not sure I would have found this gem on my own.
The story is hard hitting and definitely makes an impression. It tackles subjects like the value of womanhood, the value of one’s self, self destruction, and the importance of family. As we move through the story and see Farina begin to change we also begin to see her world in a different light. The things that were shiny and golden opportunities in the beginning begin to fade and trade places with the things she only saw as a stain. The characters in this are detailed and have a depth that it’s easy to like them…even when you really hate them.
The writing is first person, so it’s very much Farina’s voice. It’s straightforward, blunt and at times even a bit poetic. Her voice pulls you in and the emotion is high every step of the way. Farina’s journey over the course of the book isn’t an easy one and she definitely doesn’t always make the right decisions, but it was interesting to see her grow as a person and start taking steps to better herself. Sabrina is a girl who practically has trouble written all over her. She’s confident, pretty, and most of all she’s manipulative. She’s one of those characters that I loved reading about but really didn’t like. She’s a user but I my heart went out to her. Imara is the most innocent of the three girls and probably the one that broke my heart the most by the end. All three of these girls have hit their low at some point, but the one thing that separates them is how they recover from it.
The Harem is a heartfelt, heartbreaking and quick paced story that drew me in without any hesitation. I’m definitely glad that this review request came in because I’m not sure I would have found this gem on my own.
August 3, 2020
"You're only free in the West to be as immoral as the men who exploit you. You're free to give into lust and greed--things that do nothing to better this world. You're free to lose your passion and your compassion--the only things that make humans human...My dear little sister, you won't realize the falsehood of this liberation until you're shackled by your own self-contempt."
These powerful quotes paint only a tiny glimpse of this highly suspenseful and compelling novel that weaves taboo topics and sprinkles eye-opening insights. The author audaciously reveals the hypocrisies, double standards, and gender role expectations that are prevalent in multiple realms - Muslim and Western societies, and of course in Bangladeshi culture, as well. The manner in which she exposes her brutally honest perspective and taps into controversial topics in her literature is highly admirable. I consider this book to be a masterpiece because the author bluntly demonstrates the bitter and harsh realities that exist for those who are able to relate to the novel.
Farina's character is also portrayed in an exemplary manner. Even as a protagonist, she does not symbolize the epitome of being a hero or role model. She is a highly flawed individual and thus is a more real-life character to relate to. The alternatives she encounters are not black and white. She lives in a reality just like us where she makes morally compromising, grey choices that makes sense for her. She is presented with an array of scenarios where she is stuck between the devil and the deep blue sea, which involve dire consequences and unethical implications and is coerced to make decisions that contribute to her character development.
This is definitely one of the most eye-opening, philosophical, and intellectually stimulating novels I have ever encountered and I look forward to Ms. Fazlul's future novels.
These powerful quotes paint only a tiny glimpse of this highly suspenseful and compelling novel that weaves taboo topics and sprinkles eye-opening insights. The author audaciously reveals the hypocrisies, double standards, and gender role expectations that are prevalent in multiple realms - Muslim and Western societies, and of course in Bangladeshi culture, as well. The manner in which she exposes her brutally honest perspective and taps into controversial topics in her literature is highly admirable. I consider this book to be a masterpiece because the author bluntly demonstrates the bitter and harsh realities that exist for those who are able to relate to the novel.
Farina's character is also portrayed in an exemplary manner. Even as a protagonist, she does not symbolize the epitome of being a hero or role model. She is a highly flawed individual and thus is a more real-life character to relate to. The alternatives she encounters are not black and white. She lives in a reality just like us where she makes morally compromising, grey choices that makes sense for her. She is presented with an array of scenarios where she is stuck between the devil and the deep blue sea, which involve dire consequences and unethical implications and is coerced to make decisions that contribute to her character development.
This is definitely one of the most eye-opening, philosophical, and intellectually stimulating novels I have ever encountered and I look forward to Ms. Fazlul's future novels.
October 4, 2013
This was fairly disappointing. I think the concept is good -- three young women, born to immigrant parents, struggle to make their way while caught between two cultures. In search of enough money to truly survive on their own, the trio turn to the sex industry, and become quite successful while running their own business. As the money pours in, the main character, Farina, becomes burdened by her heavy conscience, and has to figure out what's really important to her, if freedom is everything it's sold to be, and, if it is, how high is its price.
There are some really heavy topics that Farina struggles with, among them the hyper-sexualization of women in the Western world and the oppression of women in the Eastern world. We see class tensions between rich and poor and one-upmanship among the poor. We see her grapple with materialism, media representation, and male-female dynamics, both inside and outside of relationships. The thing is, in spite of all of these Big Issues, the entire thing seems a bit simplistic. She goes from being focused on leaving her parents and their expectations of her behind, getting her own place, and being independently successful to hating everything about an industry that has made her financially independent. And while that switch is certainly plausible, it seems that it all comes about in part because she wants respect from a boy that she's seeing, a boy who ends up burning her in the end. I'm a bit puzzled by that motivation. On the other hand, the other part of her motivation comes from watching her friends morph into people she doesn't recognize.
I feel that there was an opportunity to do so much that maybe the author bit off a bit more than she could handle, and in 180 pages, chose not to go there.
There are some really heavy topics that Farina struggles with, among them the hyper-sexualization of women in the Western world and the oppression of women in the Eastern world. We see class tensions between rich and poor and one-upmanship among the poor. We see her grapple with materialism, media representation, and male-female dynamics, both inside and outside of relationships. The thing is, in spite of all of these Big Issues, the entire thing seems a bit simplistic. She goes from being focused on leaving her parents and their expectations of her behind, getting her own place, and being independently successful to hating everything about an industry that has made her financially independent. And while that switch is certainly plausible, it seems that it all comes about in part because she wants respect from a boy that she's seeing, a boy who ends up burning her in the end. I'm a bit puzzled by that motivation. On the other hand, the other part of her motivation comes from watching her friends morph into people she doesn't recognize.
I feel that there was an opportunity to do so much that maybe the author bit off a bit more than she could handle, and in 180 pages, chose not to go there.
November 4, 2012
While this is definitely not my usual thing, I found myself totally enthralled by the plight of young Farina, an 18-year old Bengali-Canadian whose quest for freedom takes her to some very unlikely and unusual places. Newly emancipated from her parents, Farina struggles to make ends meet and achieve the comfortable lifestyle she's so desperate for. Her close friend Sabrina convinces her to give running an escort agency a try, and soon enough, Farina is working the telephones, selling her employee's bodies, and perhaps their souls. The status of her own soul is also in question.
Safia Fazlul has constructed an enjoyable read, which portrays the reality of South Asian girls living in poor communities in North America who don't want to live the life of academic and religious study their parents have mapped out for them. Fazlul writes with great sensitivity, and explores 21st century feminism from a first-generation Canadian perspective.
I feel that this book taught me a few things about the community in which I work, and I am impressed by the insight of this young and talented writer. Even though I'm biased (Safia was my student), this is a great book.
Safia Fazlul has constructed an enjoyable read, which portrays the reality of South Asian girls living in poor communities in North America who don't want to live the life of academic and religious study their parents have mapped out for them. Fazlul writes with great sensitivity, and explores 21st century feminism from a first-generation Canadian perspective.
I feel that this book taught me a few things about the community in which I work, and I am impressed by the insight of this young and talented writer. Even though I'm biased (Safia was my student), this is a great book.
February 12, 2013
I started reading this on a snowy night this past week and finished it in one sitting.
I'm a fan of coming-of-age stories and particularly ones based on Bangladeshi youth, so I was really happy just to find that this book had been written. The fact that it's by a Toronto kid just made it more impressive!
I loved the characters - yes, even the ones we are meant to hate a little - because they're real. Farina, Sabrina, and Imrana could be any trio of childhood friends. Of course, their lives are a little more scandalous and they veer a little more off-path than maybe the typical Bengali girls, but reading about it is a rush.
Very gripping story, with great moments of clarity and young wisdom from Farina. I wasn't completely satisfied with the ending, but probably because I just wanted to know what actually happened to the girls and the people so integral to their lives. Does Sabrina ever leave the Harem? Does Imrana build an even bigger 'fanbase'? What happens to Ali? I wish there was a little more to answer these.
Overall, a really strong debut and I can't wait to read more from Safia Fazlul.
I'm a fan of coming-of-age stories and particularly ones based on Bangladeshi youth, so I was really happy just to find that this book had been written. The fact that it's by a Toronto kid just made it more impressive!
I loved the characters - yes, even the ones we are meant to hate a little - because they're real. Farina, Sabrina, and Imrana could be any trio of childhood friends. Of course, their lives are a little more scandalous and they veer a little more off-path than maybe the typical Bengali girls, but reading about it is a rush.
Very gripping story, with great moments of clarity and young wisdom from Farina. I wasn't completely satisfied with the ending, but probably because I just wanted to know what actually happened to the girls and the people so integral to their lives. Does Sabrina ever leave the Harem? Does Imrana build an even bigger 'fanbase'? What happens to Ali? I wish there was a little more to answer these.
Overall, a really strong debut and I can't wait to read more from Safia Fazlul.
August 27, 2013
Full review available at Coffee & Wizards. Here's a sneak peek...
With so many books on my tbr list, it takes something special to catch my attention. What initially drew me to this novel was the Canadian author, the women of colour protagonist, and the focus on the intersectionality of race and gender. These last two kept me happy with the book even though the pacing did not quite meet my needs.
Farina is unlike any character I’ve had the opportunity to read about before.
With so many books on my tbr list, it takes something special to catch my attention. What initially drew me to this novel was the Canadian author, the women of colour protagonist, and the focus on the intersectionality of race and gender. These last two kept me happy with the book even though the pacing did not quite meet my needs.
Farina is unlike any character I’ve had the opportunity to read about before.
June 29, 2013
One of the worst books I've ever read. The writing was really bad, the plot wandered all over the place, and the protagonist was utterly annoying and incomprehensible.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews