Minaret

by Leila Aboulela

In her Muslim hijab, with her down-turned gaze, Najwa is invisible to most eyes, especially to the rich London families whose houses she cleans. But twenty years earlier, it was a different story. Najwa was at university in Khartoum and, as an upper-class westernized Sudanese, and her dreams were to marry well and raise a family. However, those days of innocence came to an abrupt end and tough years followed. Now Najwa finds solace in her visits to the Mosque, the companionship of the Muslims she meets there, and in the hijab she adopts. Her dreams may have shattered, but her awakening to Islam has given her a different peace. Then Najwa meets a younger man and slowly they begin to fall in love.

Genres: Fiction, Sudan, Africa, Middle East, Religion, Islam, Novels

276 pages, Paperback

First published June 6, 2005

About the author

Leila Aboulela grew up in Khartoum, Sudan where she attended the Khartoum American School and Sister School. She graduated from Khartoum University in 1985 with a degree in Economics and was awarded her Masters degree in statistics from the London School of Economics. She lived for many years in Aberdeen where she wrote most of her works while looking after her family; she currently lives and lectures in Abu Dhabi.

She was awarded the Caine Prize for African Writing in 2000 for her short story The Museum and her novel The Translator was nominated for the Orange Prize in 2002, and was chosen as a Notable Book of the Year by the New York Times in 2006.

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a simple and clearly written story which takes a different look at the tensions within Islam, between men and women and life as an immigrant. Najwa is born into a high-ranking family in Sudan; she is a Muslim, but a secular one which consists mostly of good works. Her father is a business man who is closely connected to the regime. Najwa is studying to go to university and her life is westernised and privileged. She meets Anwar, also studying, but he is radical and left wing. He teases her about her family and connections. Then there is a coup and Najwa, her brother and mother flee to Britain; her father is arrested and hung. Over time Najwa’s life disintegrates; her mother dies, her brother is imprisoned for drug related offences. She meets Anwar again and they have a relationship, but she discovers his view of it is very different to hers and she is left humiliated. This takes the story from the mid 80s to the early 90s. The narrative jumps between the mid 2000s and earlier so the plot is not revealed in a linear way.
Najwa becomes increasingly religious and over time takes work as a maid to wealthy Middle Eastern families and starts to wear the hijab. Najwa works for one particular family as a maid/childminder and becomes involved in some of the complex relationships within the household.
What I found most interesting was the behind the scenes in the women’s side of the mosque, which provided insight in the community of women, which was gentle and supportive. This was in contrast to the men’s side; which although we don’t see it, we sense the different atmosphere and the tensions and much more competitive and aggressive form of religion. This has a particular effect on Tamar, the young man in the household Najwa works for.
The usual assumptions that a westernised approach to life is always better and that Islam is fundamentally problematic are challenged. The growth of Najwa as a character is interesting as is her interactions with the other characters. Essentially, apart from being a story of personal change and adaption to circumstance Aboulela reminds us that the issue of extremism is more of an issue in the community of men, rather than in the community of women. It is also a window into a hidden life in the women’s section of the mosque which is communal, supportive and often centred around children. It was a refreshing perspective, a well put together novel, which adds a great deal to the general debate about the interface of religion, culture and politics which continues in all mixed societies.

[Bilqis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I accidentally found this book in my college library amongst all the famous writers hiding away.
the cover of the book appealed to me so I took it home. It was about two years ago and that was when my reading career began. was not much of a reader before.

Now all I can remember is that I cried through it and didn't quite understand the ending. But this book always lingered on in my mind.
After two years things changed, a lot of things happened, at that point I remembered what I read in this book, I wanted to read it again I went back to the library but could not find it, I frantically searched in the Town library, but I still could not find it.Then I finally got it from online.

I read it again and finally understood Najwa's decision at the end, now that I feel like I am at her position in life. I loved the character's journey( through her life) and her personal growth made me love and respect her. Najwa's story is very realistic and heart rendering at times but beautifully told ( which makes it so poetic).She Finds the most important thing in life. For me this book was a great eye opener, I learned something from Najwa and it will stay with me for ever.
I recommend this book to everyone (specially to my Muslim sisters, it's a beautiful book)

[BookOfCinz · Rating 4 out of 5]

An exceptionally beautiful read that will break your heart and renew your spirit

I will read anything Leila Aboulela writes, she is treats her characters with care and and offers us a nuanced insight into their lives. In Minaret we meet Najwa who is living in London after her family fled from Khartoum. She grew up rich in Khartoum, lived amongst expat and they had to flee when her father got arrested in a coup. For the most part her family was no practising Muslims, while they observed certain holidays, they weren't a part of the community.

After fleeing to London Najwa's family experienced a shift in fortune, and in order to keep a roof over their heads she takes up work as a housekeep for a rich family. The book goes between their lives then and now, you see what changes and how she works hard to carve out a life. She turns to religion and leans into her community, we see her goes from nonchalence to a practising Muslims. The author offers a truly beautiful look into her life.

I really loved this book, it felt real, it felt authentic- I loved every moment of it.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like "Brick Lane," this book allows us an intimate glimpse inside the life of an expatriate Muslim woman in London. But this heroine knew a life of extreme privilege when she was younger, until her family is shattered by a coup that overthrows her father and their security. Now she does servant work of the kind she used to have others do for her. And as her life evolves, she moves toward the faith that she has always been a part of but has never embraced. This is a beautiful, gentle book that raises questions about modern vs. traditional values and contests any easy assumptions that modern Muslim women would always choose Western ways and freedom if given the chance.

[عبدالله ناصر · Rating 3 out of 5]

رواية جميلة جداً للكاتبة السودانية القديرة ليلى أبو العلا بترجمة قديرة أيضاً لا يعيبها سوى العشرات من الأخطاء المطبعية - بدون مبالغة - . الرواية تتنقل بين الماضي و الحاضر في حرفنة تستحق الإشادة لابنة من علية القوم تعيش في السودان ببذخ حتى يحدث الانقلاب الذي يرمي بوالدها إلى العالم الآخر و يرمي بهم دون شفقة إلى الغربة . هناك سيحلو للزمن أن يتباهي بقدرته بعزيز القوم . سيقطف رؤوساً و يمهل أخرى قليلاً من الوقت حتى يقطفها في انقلاب آخر . و في هذا الوقت لن يعرف السودان الراحة كما لن يعرفها الناس . و لكن البطلة التي لامست الذرى و التصقت بالثرى لاحقاً ستجد عزائها بالرجوع إلى الدين إلى المئذنة . لا أتذكر رواية عربية راهنت على الدين و لكن على ما يبدو تلك سمة الكاتبة بعد قراءة القليل عن أعمالها . الرواية مشوقة و للكاتبة نفس كتابي رائع و قدرة مدهشة على إتقان السرد و تفاصيله . رواية جميلة جداً .

[Zachary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Review of Minaret By Leila Aboulela for ENGL 358

In modern society there seems to be this over-arching generalization that Islam is this incredibly oppressive religion for women. This is coupled with the large lack of female voices in arguing a counter-case of this generalization that has allowed this view to go fairly undiscussed. As Mahmudul Hasan writes, “Muslim women have often been portrayed as disempowered, oppressed and belittled by Muslim men, subservient to their husbands with no equal rights, utterly neglected by parents and mistreated as daughters-in-laws, and most notably always kept under the veil of ignorance and at home” (90). In general, the literary representations of Muslim women have been in validating this style of assumption and is done with a general lack of insider understanding. In modern society there have been few actual examples of female Muslim authors writing in such a way as to elevate the general perspective of Muslim women. Hasan continues that more often than not there “is a huge bulk of literature by women with Muslim names that describes similar misery stories containing accounts of patriarchal oppression in Muslim societies” (91). Thankfully Leila Aboulela wrote the novel Minaret in order to truly illustrate how a Muslim woman is able to function within society, and in such an honest way that the story may be misunderstood as flat or uneventful.

The story itself opens in the early 1980’s in Khartoum the capital of Sudan with the main character Najwa experiencing a very secular upbringing. As a general understanding Sudan at the time represented in the novel was experiencing a certain form of stability after years of civil war. This would only hold for so long, both in real life and the novel. The realism portrayed is to such an extent that Aboulela’s novel could be likened to James Weldon Johnson’s Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man. The reader is easily able to understanding historic references without the narrator ever having to truly explore them. Much like the opening section of the novel the reader is able to understand notes of modern history merely by mentions of the year. This adds to the poignancy of the novel and allows the reader to begin to focus their preconceived notions of a Muslim woman in modern Western civilization.

One of the most important experiences in the novel comes from the inevitable Sudanese Coup in which resulted in the Sudanese Civil War of the early 1980’s (Rich). The reader is introduced to Najwa and her family as a well-off Sudanese family with government connections, and with a general knowledge of the outcome of the Civil War it is easy enough to infer what the potential conflicts that would shortly present themselves. As people began to emigrate from the war-torn country it is easy to imagine Najwa’s family following in the massive throngs. It is not these major moments of history that make this novel important. It is the close examination of Muslim culture and religion in such a way as to dispel ideas of oppression and control. The reader early on feels sorry for Najwa for the inevitable tragedies that befall her family due to the Civil War, and the assimilation into Western society. As the ultimate victim of Westernization Omar, Najwa’s twin brother, is incarcerated for dealing drugs once the family moves from Sudan to London after the coup. It is only once Najwa becomes a practitioner of Islam that the reader understands the true importance of Omar incarceration, as Najwa states “I wish that he [Omar] had been punished the very first time he took drugs. Punished according to the Shariah” (Aboulela). This moment illustrates an incredible change in the personal character of Najwa, a moment nearly three quarters of the way through the novel. Najwa begins to consider the greater ramifications of a person’s actions through the religious laws of Islam in relation to a past in which did not exist at the time. In relation to Najwa’s comment, Omar would not have been tried under Sharia law at the time he was doing drugs in Sudan.

Omar is meant as a moral understanding, as are most of the men within the novel. Each man that Najwa comes into contact with allows herself and the reader to come to a better understanding of Islam. Whether it is Najwa’s father, who’s early fate makes a huge impact on the rest of the novel and allows Najwa to truly reflect on her view of Sudan. There is also Anwar who is both present in Najwa’s early life in Sudan, and her pre-Islamic life in London. He can be seen as a major catalyst of Najwa’s self-discovery. In one of the most distressing moments in the novel Najwa is playing cards with Anwar and his friends, as she comes to the realization that Ramadan has already begun. Despite her lack of true Islamic practices early in the novel Ramadan was one of the only times Najwa ever acted like a Muslim. This type of religious observance is very similar to most Christians who use Christmas and Easter as markers for their religious observance. It is not the point of this review to comment on the religious practices of anyone, but it may help to draw this comparison. Imagine for a second what it could mean to wake up on December 26 only to realize you had missed Christmas. This is exactly the type the of response in which Aboulela wants to illicit. The reader is meant to begin to understand the nagging sensation in which Najwa feels early in Sudan as she watches other Muslim women pray at school. As a catalyst for Najwa’s self-discovery the missed Ramadan allows the reader to understand the need for a major change. Anwar, much like Omar, becomes merely a moral examination for Najwa that allows her to better understand Islam as a way of living. The fact that Najwa is busy gambling as she learns of Ramadan makes the moment all the more potent in the readers understanding of Islam.

As much of the novel is focused on Najwa life prior to her true conversion and practice of Islam the reader begins to understand a world very similar to their own. There is even a very extensive discussion throughout the novel of the wearing of different forms of scarves or body covering for Muslim women. Much like the rest of the novel this idea of being covered is both an important part of Islamic practice, as well as a way of connecting and discussing the practice with the reader in order to highlight the very personal decision in which comes with wearing any form of covering. In the first section of Minaret Najwa flips through magazines with her friends, a commonality to western young women, as they discuss the Iranian Revolution, and how women were photographed wearing full covering. Najwa also states a sentiment that many western countries have said regarding the head coverings, “I looked down at the picture and thought of all the girls in university who wore hijab and all the ones who wore tobes. Hair and arms covered by our national costume” (Aboulela). At no point is the reader overly surprised by the transition that Najwa comes to as a true convert to Islam as she begins to wear a tobe. It is not in the nature of Aboulela’s novel to surprise the reader. This type of writing is what makes the novel more about exploration and understanding than it is about entertainment. The reader is constantly given similar instances of misunderstanding of Islam from the perspective of Najwa as a way of commonality. Once Najwa develops a better understanding of common practices is the reader also brought to an even greater understanding. Luckily Najwa represents an insider, but in such a way as being an observer and a learner.

The love affair, even nonsexual, between Najwa and Tamer allows an exploration of love in a very fundamental Islamic form. Aboulela’s examination of “fundamental” allows the reader to reexamine their own pre-conceived notion of the word. There is even a moment of exchange between Doctora Zeinab and Najwa where Doctora admits her fear for Tamer’s potential of being recruited into a terrorist organization based on her perceived understanding of his “radical” Islamic practices, but she reassures Najwa that “thankfully he’s not interested in politics” (Aboulela). This moment calls into question societies continued assertion that Muslims are all terrorists, allowing for an even greater examination of the representations of Muslims in literature. Continually the examination of Islamic practices is from within a closed community of insiders as Najwa. Rarely is the reader confronted with societies impression of Muslims, and even when they are Aboulela glosses over it as a common occurrence. Much in the vain of the rest novel Najwa subjected to religious discrimination as she is riding a bus in 2004 as a random man pours “Tizer” on her and calls her “Muslim scum” (Aboulela). This moment is not really observed more than cursory, but the reader begins to feel a certain indictment on a society in which is very much common place. Discrimination of this nature is not surprising, as before acknowledged, Aboulela is not interested in entertaining the reader. It is this type of illustration that adds to the continued understanding of Islamic women in society.

What truly makes Minaret so important as a novel is its close examination of Islam from the perspective of someone who comes to a new and better understanding of what it truly means to be an Islamic practitioner. The reader goes alongside Najwa as a way of truly examining their own personal understanding of Islam, and how women fit into that much misunderstood religion. The importance of this self-discovery coming from the perspective of a woman is all too easy to understand. The very lack of voice given to Islamic women propagates the assumption of oppression; Aboulela gives the reader that much needed voice. Najwa allows the reader a friend in misunderstanding and assumption, as she begins to transform her own understanding of Islam. The fact that Aboulela focuses so much on surface understanding of historical relevance, but a heavy examination of Islamic practices prevents the reader from being bogged down in background information and focus on the more important subject of preconceived notion of Islam. The background information such as the Sudanese Civil War, migration, or modern terrorist attacks are truly unimportant to the greater understanding of Islam and women. Minaret is a must read for our modern society. Islam is such a prevalent subject on news and public discourse that it is in the best interest of all to truly examine how we understand the religion and its practitioners. Najwa is one of the strongest characters to take the journey of self-discovery on and end our misunderstandings of Islamic practitioners. Minaret is as much a novel as it is a discourse on modern society. In reading it we will all have a much better understanding of Islam than before, which inevitably makes this novel important all on its own.

Works Cited
Aboulela, Leila. Minaret. Black Cat, 2005.

Hasan, Md. Mahmudul. "Seeking Freedom in the “Third Space” of Diaspora: Muslim Women's Identity in Aboulela's Minaret and Janmohamed's Love in a Headscarf." Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs, vol. 35, no. 1, Mar. 2015, pp. 89-105. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1080/13602004.2015.1007666.

Rich, Alex K. "Khartoum, Sudan." Salem Press Encyclopedia, 2014. EBSCOhost, ezproxy.umuc.edu/login?url=http://sea....

[Sarah Lameche · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book a quick easy read. The story could've been great but for me it had no substance. Basically she was rich then she wasn't. She wasn't a practising Muslim, then she was. This book for me really isn't for adults. Teenagers yes. To be honest it just didn't have any oomph. 'SPOILER ALERT'. I didn't even care when her father or mother died. I'm not even sure that I cared too much for her either.
It didn't my emotions going and I felt I was reading it just for the sake of it. Sorry I can't recommend this. Maybe I would've liked it more when I was 16 but I doubt it.

[Emmkay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this quiet, thoughtful novel. I think it’s fairly described as a Bildungsroman, even though on a material level it documents the descent and humbling of the protagonist, Najwa, from her teenage years ensconced in an elite Khartoum family to exile in London, a bad relationship, and work as a maid. However, in the course of this descent, Najwa turns to faith, becoming a practising Muslim, finding community and succour among the women at a mosque, and finding new meaning and strength in her self-abnegation.

[Abbie | ab_reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much and it was very easy to read! The writing is simple and straightforward yet rich at the same time - as it’s first person, you really get to know Najwa well and watch her grow. It flits between Khartoum, where Najwa and her family are rich, her father working in the government, and where they are, for the most part, non-practising Muslims.
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But after a coup which results in her father’s execution, Najwa, her brother Omar and her mother are forced to seek asylum in London, where they find their bank account is slowly dwindling and their prospects not as they were in Sudan.
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I think a lot of books with a focus on Islam recently tend to look at the extremist side, or western influences, so it was nice to read a book where a woman turns to religion to find solace and friendship in other practising Muslim women in her area and grow as a person! That was the best part for me, the community of women Najwa finds and their quiet, peaceful friendship.
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Aboulela addresses other themes too, like class, education, drugs, and politics in an easy-to-approach way, and I’ll definitely be on the lookout for her other books!

[↠Ameerah↞ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Minaret tells the story of Najwa, an upper-class Sudanese girl who lived an affluent life in Khartoum. However, following a coup and the arrest of her father on corruption charges, she and her family are forced to leave Sudan and end up settling in London. The story jumps between two timelines. The past that describes her life back in Khartoum where she lived confidently and comfortably, attended university and had the help of maids seeing to her every need. To her life in London where she now works as a maid herself and her prosperous lifestyle is now a fond memory cloaked in shame and fear.

I admit when I first started reading this, I was unsure about it and didn't know if I wanted to continue. The writing didn't capture me and at the start, I felt that maybe this book was aimed at a younger audience. However, after finishing the book, I think that Leila so cleverly used her writing as an extension of Najwa's character development. Najwa was innocent, young, naive at times and the writing really reflected that. As Najwa matured and her character developed, the writing became more nuanced and I started falling in love with it.

I have never read about a character quite like Najwa. She is complicated but at the same time simple and straightforward. She is extremely honest and sincere in her thoughts and actions. She says things that many of us would be scared to utter out loud out of fear of being too vulnerable or judged by others.

What captivated me the most was her spiritual journey. It was a journey that many people of faith can relate to. The fluctuations of emaan and finding your way back to God as you go through the ebb and flow of life. There was no elaborate or drastic change or an event that lead up to Najwa undertaking a spiritual journey. It was a slow, genuine progression. One that strived for internal peace and contentment which is why I was slightly disappointed by the ending. I had become attached to Najwa and after everything she had faced, I was really hoping she would get the ending she deserved. I guess the ending was a reflection of reality. In life, there isn't always a perfect, happy ending and believing and accepting that is also a part of finding contentment and peace too.

There is a lot more I could say about this book but I think going into this knowing nothing or very little would be best. This story will stay with me for a while and so will Najwa.

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 -4.0 stars. Up until about the last 50 pages this book was a 4.5 - 5 star book for me but then it seemed rushed with a slight sensational twist that didn’t fit well with the first part of the book. This is my second Leila Aboulela read and I look forward to reading Lyrics Alley.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

The back cover promises that this book is " a stunning and insightful novel about one woman's journey toward spiritual peace." Whoever wrote that, though, was a lil bit crazy. Yes, this book does follow one woman's conversion from a secular, Westernized Muslim to a more conservative one - and gives that story a terrific twist because the secular lifestyle was in Sudan and the more conservative developments occur in bustling London. But there's precious little peace to be had here - the final scene makes clear that, despite the camaraderie that Najwa finds in the mosque, she has not been able to end her personal agony - and although religion plays a central role in the plot and character development, it seemed to me to be more of a symbol or a stand-in for what the main character was really seeking: a home and family.
No, the real story here is one of forced emigration and exile, the loss of loved ones and homeland: put plainly, loss of identity and deep dismantling that Najwa, the protagonist, suffers due to the sins of her father. With that in mind, there's also an understated current of electricity around the political upheavals and disappointments that have shaken so many African nations for decades now which runs through the book, peeking out every now and then as if to taunt the reader. I was disappointed that the author chose not to develop this theme more clearly.
Instead, Aboulela focuses almost entirely on character development of the protagonist. Others in the book are often conveniences and stereotypes - flat, not round. The plot moves ever so slowly - very little actually happens at all, actually, once the coup that sets her family's flight in motion occurs - and so, too, do the relationships Najwa experiences. As a matter of fact, the majority of her relationships disappear almost entirely, which I also found confounding.
Not a terribly satisfying read, and definitely not one that left me feeling any kind of serenity.

[Zainab Bint Younus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love that this book is more than just another novel about a badass Muslim woman with something to prove.

Instead, Najwa is soft and broken and complicated - the daughter of a Sudanese politician, exiled to London upon a political coup and her father's death; a "modern girl" who finds herself working as a maid and walking into the masjid... and unexpectedly, falls in love with a teenage boy she could never truly be with.

Najwa's story is filled with different types of heartache and longing, but filled with tenderness and faith and so much more.

I have a vague suspicion that I probably read this as a teenager and didn't properly understand it, but reading it anew as an adult, I feel it deeply.

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

Minaret is an easy reading, if disappointing, story. Najwa was born into a wealthy, well connected Sudanese family, but is forced to flee with her mother and brother into exile after a political coup. As time drags on, Najwa makes the transition from wealthy, carefree teenager to middle-aged, religious housekeeper. This could have been a fascinating story, but Leila Aboulela’s tale wanders about, never really making a point, and resorts to cheap tricks to keep readers interested. The overarching plot seems to be a woman’s acceptance of and interest in Islam as she lives as a housekeeper in London. However, rather than present this change over time, as would make sense, Aboulela keeps jumping around in time to create cliffhangers and unnecessary suspense that distracts from the main plot, and makes you want to read to get the rest of the story, which she doesn’t even always follow through with, rather than because you actually care. Moreover, it becomes pretty obvious that Najwa is embracing Islam less because she has a genuine religious conversion or understands something about her early life (either of which would have made for a much stronger narrative), as it is because she’s a sheep lacking a shepherd. Nejwa relates herself that she isn’t particularly smart, and has little initiative. She is constantly searching for someone—her family, her boyfriend, her employer, people at her mosque—to tell her what to do. When these instructions go along with her desires, she’s happy, and when they don’t, she decides that because of family/religious obligations, she must do them anyway and knows Allah will reward her. The two romances in the book didn’t feel fully fleshed out, and seemed more plot devices to keep readers engaged, than as actually making sense. The latter one—Tamar—seemed almost laughable in its quick resolution and improbable scenario and the story ends very abruptly. The voice of the narrator, particularly in the early sections of the book, seemed to be self-consciously narrating her own story, almost to the point of an affectation. I really don’t understand the hype and good reviews this book received. The only explanation for most of my complaints is that Najwa is an unreliable (or more properly, a stupid) narrator, and all the strange and non-sensical things that happen are simply her misreading of what is going on around her. In either case, this basically confirms that I really don’t care to hear the internal monologue of boring, stupid people.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this to be an excellent novel, and was a little upset that my local bookshop had filed it under something peculiar like 'black fiction'. This is a good story because it's a good story - that it illuminates an area of life many of us in the West find mysterious shouldn't lead to it being relegated to the 'minority interest' part of the book world.

Aboulela has written about what makes a rather superficial young woman become a devout older one, and how her religious beliefs shape her conduct with a younger man who finds her appealing - should she take her chance to be loved and admired, or should she try to guide him into a life that allows harmony between him and his family and wider society? Again, the fact that this devotion to faith is Islamic doesn't matter, it could be Hindu or Quaker, the point is that this beautifully observed narrative takes us inside the mind, morals, memories and fears of a woman struggling to make sense of the world, and the nature of the faith that is found is incidental to the delicacy with which Aboulela conveys the changes in one woman's personality and belief system.

The nature of British society and how it treats Muslim women is sharply delineated and fascinating and makes a good contrast to the more subtle internal geography of what it means to be Islamic in the modern world which is explored with calm authority and a certain amount of poetic clarity.

[PS · Rating 1 out of 5]

I gave up three-quarters of the way in. I actually judge myself for not giving up earlier. This was poorly written, dull, devoid of plot or anything that could have saved this. This is the second Aboulela novel I’ve read and disliked (the other being The Translator), which is interesting because I loved her short story collection Elsewhere, Home.

[Rouya Majid Nasiri · Rating 4 out of 5]

First time reading a book written by Leila Aboulela and DEFINITELY not the last time!

This is no mere story. It is a tale that will ache your heart, hurt your eyes, burn your soul, and leave your mind blank. It will make you think twice about every decision you make, every word you say, and every action you take.

Najwa, the female protagonist, and her brother Omar come from a politically aristocratic Sudanese background. They wasted their youthful spring on extravagant wishes, trivial topics, and a lavish lifestyle. Their father's misery triggered the downfall of family relationships, and displacement in London became their only refuge. This did not put an end to their problems; rather, it exacerbated the difficulties surrounding Omar and Najwa's irrational mindsets. Najwa's unresolved traumas and past actions continued to haunt her, despite her persistence in trying to rid herself of them.

Many themes are explored throughout the book:

1. The contrast between the preserved Sudanese culture and the complete freedom of the West.

2. The extent to which people can become Eurocentric despite their rigid religious backgrounds that value culture and traditions.

3. The misconception of modernism versus tradition.

4. Toxic relationships are draining, and lovers often do not realize this until ruin takes hold.

5. Politics will always be a complex and ongoing matter, a game from which no one can resign.

And many more. You will have to discover them between the lines. I just feel blank and left out. What have I just read? The language is accessible, with no exaggeration in descriptions or mumbling of irrelevant matters. The sections are divided properly and do not disrupt the timeline of events.

The only reason this book couldn’t score a 5-star rating is that I couldn’t find any quotes that left me in awe or hit me hard. However, looking on the bright side, the author still managed to write a splendid story. Well done!

I owe you, Dr. Muhammad Ghannoum, for recommending me to read such a masterpiece.

[Agnès · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked it! It is quick and interesting but what's truly interesting is that I liked it without liking any of the characters

[طَيْف · Rating 4 out of 5]

"إنني، أحوم حول نفسي، أعجز عن التقدم، أنكفئ، ماض مشطوب، تمتمة"

أحببت الرواية وكان لقراءتها وقع خاص خلال رحلتي بالطائرة...فليلى أبو العلا...سودانية في بلاد المهجر...تكتب عن نجوى المهاجرة إلى بريطانيا في ظل ظروف سياسية تعرضت خلالها لتغييرات جذرية في حياتها

"لقد جارت علي الأيام، وانزلقت إلى مكان سقفه منخفض، لا يسمح بكثير حركة"

من عائلة ثرية مستقرة في الخرطوم إلى وحدة وحاجة في بريطانيا...واستطاعت أن تنجو...ربما بالوصفة الناجعة التي افترضتها ليلى في روايتها...مع أن أسباب النجاة كثيرة...ولكن للكاتبة رؤية أرادت إبرازها

ترسم ليلى في روايتها العديد من الشخوص في بلاد الاغتراب...أولئك العابرون...ومن استوطن المهجر داخلهم واندمجوا في مجتمعاتهم الجديدة...إضافة لمواطني البلد وكيفية تعاطيهم مع القادمين الجدد...وما ينطبق على السودانيين هناك يعمم على كل عربي مسلم عاش بعيدا عن وطنه...فالاندماج له ضريبته...وتبادل القيم والعادات والمعتقدات يفرض تغيرات هائلة في الشخصيات...والعديد من الصراعات...بعد أن رسمت صورة لحياة علية القوم في السودان...وأصحاب السلطة

وترسم نجوى بطريقة استثنائية خلافا لما تعودناه من صورة يكثر الحديث عنها من الأدباء المهاجرين للعربي المغترب عن وطنه...حين تجد نجاتها في تمسكها بهويتها الدينية


الجميل في الرواية أنها كتبت باللغة الإنجليزية وهذا يوسع مدى الفئة القارئة والمستهدفة...ويجعل الآخر قادرا على سماع صوت ليلى بكل سهولة ويسر


وتراوح ليلى في روايتها بين الماضي والحاضر...فتبدأ روايتها بما يشي بأنها ستعيدنا لزمن مضى كان مستندا لأحداث اليوم...وتعنون لفصول روايتها بالسنين

تختبئ شاعرية عذبة خلف حروف ليلى...وقصة الحب في بداية الرواية منحتها متنفسا للتعبير عن شاعريتها بكل هدوء جذاب...وإن كان هذا الحب تعرض للخذلان في نهاية الرواية...مما جعل نجوى تبحث عن منفذ جديد للنور...يقودها ثانية لهدوء نفسي وطمأنينة


ما وجدته في رواية ليلى الكثير من المصداقية في وصف المجتمعات العربية خارج أرضها...مما يمنحنا مدخلا لفهم أسباب تردي حال البعض...وأسباب تطرف آخرين


وتعجبت من احتفاظ نجوى بعقلانيتها وهدوئها وتعاملها مع من حولها بكثير من التواضع واستيعاب التغيرات الهائلة التي مرت بها...وربما استنكرت أحيانا كل هذا الفهم للواقع وحسن التعامل معه...لأنني لما وضعت نفسي مكانها...شعرت باضطراب هزني...وما زلت مترددة في الاستسلام لوجهة نظر الكاتبة...لأن ما عاشته نجوى أعظم من أن يستوعب بكل سهولة ويسر...ولأن تحديات الحياة في مجتمع مثل بريطانيا متجددة


ممتنة أنا لنجوى وحكايتها...تلك الفتاة السودانية العشرينية المسلمة...التي استطاعت منحي فرصة لاكتشاف ذاتي...والبحث عن سبيل نجاة كما فعلت.

[Darcy · Rating 3 out of 5]

My knowledge of Sudan, the Muslim religion, and those exiled to England after the political upheaval of the 80s is minimal, so I was intrigued by many of the issues in this novel. Overall, it was just a so-so read for me though.

Najwa’s journey to spiritual fulfillment was the most satisfying part of this novel. Her voice was intimate and easy to identify with. I was pleasantly surprised to find that she chose to take what is considered a more conservative and prudish path in life. I think the author, Leila Aboulela, did a good job of showing why a young woman would want to reject prominent Western ideals (such as freedom in dress, freedom from family, etc.). Through Najwa’s struggles, it’s easy to see how these things can be so oppressive and unfulfilling. I thought the comfort and renewal Najwa finds in the Muslim religion was beautiful.

I’m afraid that’s where my praise of the novel ends.

Much as I appreciated her spiritual enlightenment, I wanted more from Najwa. Even though Najwa has the courage to leave a bad relationship and to follow her desire to know and understand her religion, she never seems to gain any momentum as a character. She is unassertive and dull. It's as though the author, Leila Aboulela, thinks that women who are religious and conservative must also be thoroughly boring.

Aboulela’s writing style is fairly simple and straightforward. There was nothing about it that excited me and I read this in a day. I can easily see this being shelved with the YA books.

The love story was strange and the ending really bothered me. It felt incomplete and was completely unsatisfying.

Overall, I would say that this is a good jumping off point for those who want to learn more about the Muslim religion and some contemporary issues in Sudan, but don’t set your expectations too high.

[Kasey Jueds · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started out feeling lukewarm about this book... wanting to keep reading because the setting (Sudan) and context were so new and compelling to me, but otherwise not really entranced. Then (I'm not sure when exactly--maybe about a third of the way through?) I started to love the main character, Najwa, and didn't want to put the book down. Maybe this didn't happen for a while because Najwa isn't really that likeable in the beginning; she's actually pretty shallow. But then her life changes drastically (lots of other reviewers have commented on the plot, so I won't bother), and she changes, as well. Probably the most significant change is her transformation from observing Islamic law/customs in a surface-y way to genuinely believing in and living her religion. Leila Aboulela writes movingly about spiritual life--which always seems like an incredibly difficult subject to get "right"--and I loved the fact that her story is told from the point of view of a devout, conservative, and deeply sympathetic Muslim woman. I finished Minaret almost a week ago and haven't been able to stop thinking about it; I imagine it will be with me for a long time (plus now I want to read another of Aboulela's books, The Translator).

[Astari Masitha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'll say something straight about Najwa, A.K.A. the main character in this book. I have to admit she is a tough teenager. The misery she felt, from the death of her father, followed by her mother, and his brother in jail, didn't make a single doubt in her heart to go back to the path she believed, was right.

After having experienced the western liberal life, she had the intentions of purifying herself and start over. Now that's a rare choice.
The dialogues between Najwa and Anwar, Najwa and Omar, then Najwa and Tamer were dialogues that I find to be the climax of the story.

There was an excerpt that caught my attention, mentioning how easily God forgives, and how we as humans should be ashamed. The more we understand the mercy of God, the more we feel humiliated of our own sins.

[Hanna☾₊‧⁺˖⋆ (Free Palestine)]

The downside to your mother falling back in love with reading is that every single time she finishes a book that she enjoyed, she'll come and drop it in your hands and say, read this. And you look at her and go, Mother I have TWO HUNDRED plus books on my tbr, whyyy must you do this to me. She'll laugh, naturally and ignore you, sigh.

So anyway, here I am, picking this up lol. Though in all honesty I am feeling a little slumpy and this looks like a light read so let's judge her taste see how this goes!

[Inderjit Sanghera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Minaret follows the story of Najwa, from her privileged youth in Sudan to her impoverished exile in England, where her life and world view is transformed not just by her loss of status, but also her spiritual awakening as she seeks solace in a world which has been deprived of all meaning for her. The narrative frequently jumps back in time, which helps the reader steadily build a picture of her transformation from a confident, spoiled, rich Westernised young woman to somebody who has outlook on life has radically changed over time due to the hardships she has faced, who has found sustenance in a religious identity she has slowly discovered for herself. In many ways her new career as a maid helps her to realise this, as she sees her old self reflected in the supercilious and superficial people she works for and is therefore able to more readily accept the loss of her superficial status for something far more substantial.

Whilst it is refreshing to have a story focus on a character who wears a hijab, it can sometimes feel like the characters who surround her, as with her other novel 'Bird Summons', act as nothing more than caricatures (the arrogant brother, the naive, idealistic and love-struck young man)  as they lack the depth which Aboulela is able to imbue Najwa with. Nevertheless Minaret is an interesting exploration of life in Sudan and the difficult transition not just to a new country and new culture, but in how a persons experience radically changes how they perceive the world. 

[Sookie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Minaret is a young woman's journey to find peace after undergoing a major life upheaval. Najwa, an upper class Muslim girl in Sudan is displaced to Britain after a political turmoil in her country. Alone and not affluent anymore, she becomes a maid to wealthy Muslim family to earn her keep.

Najwa seeks spirituality and finds it in religion. Minaret plays on distinct lack of presence of an idea to make the idea seem bolder and provocative. In Sudan, she is fairly westernized and when she lands in Britain, the world is overwhelming. For Najwa, peace and tranquility comes to her as she slowly integrates herself into religion. Besides Najwa, the characters Leila writes don't offer a balance or a fresh perspective. It is ambiguous at its best when the protagonist makes distinct observations on atheists and unveiled women, which are fairly biased.

Moral subtexts aside, Minaret is an introspective view on an issue set in the 80s but works on modern conundrums as well. Najwa is relatable and her conflicts aren't fictional.

[Martin Riexinger · Rating 1 out of 5]

Actually a good author could have made something out of this constellation: standing on the wrong side in Sudanese politics a family of high status is forced to flee to London (while the father is in jail). As the family loses fortune and status the daughter, we first encounter as a teenager, is forced to make her living as a maid for rich Arabs and questions her life.

But what comes out of it is a boring Islamic conversion story. Never having been observant in Sudan she discoverIslam in a multiethnic mosque and finds in religion a compensation for herdistress and personal weakness.

[Cathy Hine · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story explores the complicated journey of a young woman whose life is dramatically changed and how this forces her to find meaning in ways she had once rejected or at least ignored. It hangs somewhere between a description of events and insights into her journey. That is perhaps its weakness, you’re not sure what is really being explored too often. It was an ok read but lacked something to really go where it had an opportunity to go.

[Khushboo Aneja · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't figure out what was the purpose of this book.

[Val · Rating 4 out of 5]

Najwa comes from a privileged Sudanese family; her mother's family own land and businesses, while her father is a minister in Nimeiri's government. She and her twin brother are students at Khartoum University when the 1985 coup overthrows Nimeiri, her father is arrested and the rest of the family flee to London. This social and political background to the story is very well done, illuminating the state of the country while staying true to the characters. Najwa and her family are urban and Westernised, but some fellow students adhere to a stricter Muslim tradition, while others embrace communism as a cure for the corruption and inequality in the country.
The rest of the book takes place in London, but leaps forward to 2003-2004 and back to 1989-1991 a few times. An adult and much less naive Najwa thinks about the meaning of Islam, while dealing with her changed circumstances, her family problems, the legacy of her background and her feelings about men. The religious aspects of the book are handled well, we follow Najwa through her journey step by step and it all makes sense. It is also a feminist book, all the women are strong characters who usually support each other and they all find fulfillment in different ways which are right for them.

[Ahtims · Rating 4 out of 5]

the story of Najwa, a girl born to affluent and politically ambitious parents in Sudan, whose life started degrading when her father was accused of treachery and corruption (which he possibly did) when the old regime fell to the new in the nineties. She had to flee to London as asylum seeker along with her mother and twin brother, and none of them recovered, either mentally or monetarily. The book goes on to describe how she faced her hardships and how she evolved into a strong person towards the end. I loved reading about Sudan, Islam, beliefs, faith and such like. I could not but make a comparision to the character, Astha [I read in my previous book, 'A married woman' - Manju Kapur]who seemed a fickle cry-baby when compared to Najwa.