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Finding Danyaal: A Love Story
★★★★★“A raw and truthful portrayal of human emotions.”—Sangam
“Ahmad does a wonderful job of balancing this powerful story against a backdrop of change.”
—Reader Views
“It is against this God who kills that we are fighting and resisting.”
—Alexia Salvador
Rami is coming into adulthood. Life is hell for boys like him in the unforgiving streets of Lahore, Pakistan—but especially bad for Rami—a teenager grappling with inner turmoil; he has fallen in love.
When Danyaal, a boy rooted in honesty and integrity, comes into Rami’s life, their unparalleled bond strengthens. Obsessed with relentless intimacy toward each other, despite the growing concern of heads turning, eyes narrowing—through thick and thin—Rami and Danyaal forge ahead with the romance developing between them until one fateful day.
A kiss between Rami and Danyaal, witnessed by a band of aggressors, sends the two boys racing away from their tormentors through the woods. Even greater pain awaits when their attempt to escape fails, and Rami watches in horror Danyaal being dragged away by his captors. What happens to them next demonstrates the many ways people love, betray, wound, and sacrifice for one another.
This heartbreaking story of a romance between two teenagers follows them through their adult years, exploring the moral intricacies of life along the way. It captures the subtle nuances of the human experiences with family, friendship, and love—and the complex life choices we make that shape us into the people we become.
“Ahmad does a wonderful job of balancing this powerful story against a backdrop of change.”
—Reader Views
“It is against this God who kills that we are fighting and resisting.”
—Alexia Salvador
Rami is coming into adulthood. Life is hell for boys like him in the unforgiving streets of Lahore, Pakistan—but especially bad for Rami—a teenager grappling with inner turmoil; he has fallen in love.
When Danyaal, a boy rooted in honesty and integrity, comes into Rami’s life, their unparalleled bond strengthens. Obsessed with relentless intimacy toward each other, despite the growing concern of heads turning, eyes narrowing—through thick and thin—Rami and Danyaal forge ahead with the romance developing between them until one fateful day.
A kiss between Rami and Danyaal, witnessed by a band of aggressors, sends the two boys racing away from their tormentors through the woods. Even greater pain awaits when their attempt to escape fails, and Rami watches in horror Danyaal being dragged away by his captors. What happens to them next demonstrates the many ways people love, betray, wound, and sacrifice for one another.
This heartbreaking story of a romance between two teenagers follows them through their adult years, exploring the moral intricacies of life along the way. It captures the subtle nuances of the human experiences with family, friendship, and love—and the complex life choices we make that shape us into the people we become.
425 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 26, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 5, 2024
Rami, a Muslim boy growing up in Pakistan in the 1980s, knows there is something that makes him different from other boys. He likes singing, dancing, and other things his brother and the bullies at school use to pick on him. But it isn’t until he meets Danyaal, a Christian, that he realizes what it is that sets him apart. The two embark on a deep friendship that brings them closer and closer until it draws the attention of people who are in a position to hurt them. A single night of passion turns into a day of terror and despair, and Rami thinks he has lost Danyaal forever.
This story of love, loss, and redemption is, according to the author Zia Ahmad, inspired by true events in his own life. I can imagine growing up in Pakistan and having to walk a fine line between one’s faith and the desire to be who you are was incredibly difficult. Ahmad does a wonderful job of balancing this powerful story against a backdrop of change. I appreciated how he also wove in history and culture to paint a vivid picture of not only the Pakistan of the 1980s, but also the people, the interactions between them, and the expectations of family.
It’s easy to understand Rami’s internal conflicts and how his upbringing, his faith, and his experiences make it so difficult for him to accept himself. The story took me on a rollercoaster of emotion, laughing and smiling at the moments of joy, then feeling my heart break at the difficulties, the hatred, the hypocrisy.
It’s easy to see the love that Ahmad has for his characters and their stories. He doesn’t pull punches, but at the same time, even the dark moments have their beauty. And while I enjoyed the story, the only thing that keeps me from giving this novel five stars is the climax. I felt the pacing was off, that it felt rushed, and there was a little too much beneficial coincidence.
This fictional story is turbulent and troubled, and it breaks my heart to think of all the other Rami’s out there going through similar circumstances in modern-day Pakistan. Yet, there is still hope for acceptance and a better life. In the end, I think that’s what “Searching for Danyaal” conveys. Hope for the future.
I recommend Zia Ahmad’s “Searching for Danyaal” for readers who want to expand their horizons beyond the typical love story, who want to learn more about the world, and who enjoy a well-told tale.
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This story of love, loss, and redemption is, according to the author Zia Ahmad, inspired by true events in his own life. I can imagine growing up in Pakistan and having to walk a fine line between one’s faith and the desire to be who you are was incredibly difficult. Ahmad does a wonderful job of balancing this powerful story against a backdrop of change. I appreciated how he also wove in history and culture to paint a vivid picture of not only the Pakistan of the 1980s, but also the people, the interactions between them, and the expectations of family.
It’s easy to understand Rami’s internal conflicts and how his upbringing, his faith, and his experiences make it so difficult for him to accept himself. The story took me on a rollercoaster of emotion, laughing and smiling at the moments of joy, then feeling my heart break at the difficulties, the hatred, the hypocrisy.
It’s easy to see the love that Ahmad has for his characters and their stories. He doesn’t pull punches, but at the same time, even the dark moments have their beauty. And while I enjoyed the story, the only thing that keeps me from giving this novel five stars is the climax. I felt the pacing was off, that it felt rushed, and there was a little too much beneficial coincidence.
This fictional story is turbulent and troubled, and it breaks my heart to think of all the other Rami’s out there going through similar circumstances in modern-day Pakistan. Yet, there is still hope for acceptance and a better life. In the end, I think that’s what “Searching for Danyaal” conveys. Hope for the future.
I recommend Zia Ahmad’s “Searching for Danyaal” for readers who want to expand their horizons beyond the typical love story, who want to learn more about the world, and who enjoy a well-told tale.
Share this:
March 10, 2024
Review of two novels by Zia Ahmad
I have just read both of Zia Ahmad’s novels, “Finding Danyal - A love Story” and “The One Hundred.” Concurrently I finished reading “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini a book chosen by our Book Club in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
A most gratifying reading marathon of these three novels likened to my typical Netflix series binging where I resist ear marking the last page from being so engrossed in finding out what next. Especially during the fast pace of the disturbing scenes of conflict, torture and meanness inflicted on the principal characters contained in all three novels. I grew up with the influx of Pakistani refugees arriving in Toronto Canada in the early 60s, but I did not know anything of why or the scope of their plight or struggles. Zia Ahmad’s writing has inspired me to know more of political devastating disparities of the Anglo Afghanistan wars and Russian penetration.
I must say reading these three books one after the other has heaped my head blending, overlapping each story’s’ similar conflicts, betrayals, and flirting friendships to the point of having difficulty keeping them distinct each to its own. Nevertheless, here at my desk writing, recalling, fiddling with the scenes they individually start to filter through.
“Finding Danyal”, it was clear from first reading Zia Ahmad’s second published novel that yes, it is a love story. I cried at the end. An indication I felt the emotions the storyteller crafted. Characters evolve from plot twists and disturbing betrayals showing us a controversial unescapable gay love story. All at odds within religious and oppressive constraints of the Arab world in Lahore Pakistan. I relate to Zia’s writing. My own experience discovering love took place in Canada, a different supposedly more tolerant world. But I too struggled with self-identity and societal acceptance confronting the turbulences of coming of age as a gay man. The ending “Finding Danyal” was read causing a feel-good sensation still with me.
“The One Hundred”, Zia Ahmad’s first published novel is a different story exposing a historical tragedy in such a way achieving Zia Ahmad’s objective of memorializing the one hundred victims showing a world tolerance and acceptance are human qualities we should honor. But the frantic pace of the scenes with violence, bullying, beating the characters to a pulp was frightening, very real, virtually wanting to cover my eyes. A challenge to read calmly. High drama ending in a tale to be told one “hundred times”. I can see where Zia Ahmad utilized this background to write his second novel “Finding Danyal” with a theme of love.
“The Kite Runner”, chosen by our Book club which I read after those of Zia Ahmad. Another reading challenge to cope with the violence, the class conflicts, a brutal rape of a boy, the “running away” of Amir the protagonist, the contrast of righteous Hasan and Amir’s cowardice, test of loyalty and trust, the Taliban cruel enforcement, intense control throughout the story resulting in the blood bath of the Hazaras, - but redemption is achieved when Amir becomes in the end the kite runner. Many plot twists and surprises lead to an unexpected ending far from the outset of the principal characters. I can see why Zia Ahmad studied this book in preparation for his own writing.
If you have enjoyed reading “The Kite Runner, I recommend you read Zia Ahmad’s two novels, “Finding Danyal- A love Story” and “The One Hundred”. Both authors equally provide an emotionally haunting, thought-provoking thrilling story experience producing as forceful a message of what it means to be human.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Zia Ahmad’s two novels He is an impressive competent talented writer with engaging story telling style and showing descriptive flow. I truly believe “Finding Danyal” is worthy of a Netflix movie. It is comparable if not better than some I have watched. Well done, Zia Ahmad!
I have just read both of Zia Ahmad’s novels, “Finding Danyal - A love Story” and “The One Hundred.” Concurrently I finished reading “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini a book chosen by our Book Club in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
A most gratifying reading marathon of these three novels likened to my typical Netflix series binging where I resist ear marking the last page from being so engrossed in finding out what next. Especially during the fast pace of the disturbing scenes of conflict, torture and meanness inflicted on the principal characters contained in all three novels. I grew up with the influx of Pakistani refugees arriving in Toronto Canada in the early 60s, but I did not know anything of why or the scope of their plight or struggles. Zia Ahmad’s writing has inspired me to know more of political devastating disparities of the Anglo Afghanistan wars and Russian penetration.
I must say reading these three books one after the other has heaped my head blending, overlapping each story’s’ similar conflicts, betrayals, and flirting friendships to the point of having difficulty keeping them distinct each to its own. Nevertheless, here at my desk writing, recalling, fiddling with the scenes they individually start to filter through.
“Finding Danyal”, it was clear from first reading Zia Ahmad’s second published novel that yes, it is a love story. I cried at the end. An indication I felt the emotions the storyteller crafted. Characters evolve from plot twists and disturbing betrayals showing us a controversial unescapable gay love story. All at odds within religious and oppressive constraints of the Arab world in Lahore Pakistan. I relate to Zia’s writing. My own experience discovering love took place in Canada, a different supposedly more tolerant world. But I too struggled with self-identity and societal acceptance confronting the turbulences of coming of age as a gay man. The ending “Finding Danyal” was read causing a feel-good sensation still with me.
“The One Hundred”, Zia Ahmad’s first published novel is a different story exposing a historical tragedy in such a way achieving Zia Ahmad’s objective of memorializing the one hundred victims showing a world tolerance and acceptance are human qualities we should honor. But the frantic pace of the scenes with violence, bullying, beating the characters to a pulp was frightening, very real, virtually wanting to cover my eyes. A challenge to read calmly. High drama ending in a tale to be told one “hundred times”. I can see where Zia Ahmad utilized this background to write his second novel “Finding Danyal” with a theme of love.
“The Kite Runner”, chosen by our Book club which I read after those of Zia Ahmad. Another reading challenge to cope with the violence, the class conflicts, a brutal rape of a boy, the “running away” of Amir the protagonist, the contrast of righteous Hasan and Amir’s cowardice, test of loyalty and trust, the Taliban cruel enforcement, intense control throughout the story resulting in the blood bath of the Hazaras, - but redemption is achieved when Amir becomes in the end the kite runner. Many plot twists and surprises lead to an unexpected ending far from the outset of the principal characters. I can see why Zia Ahmad studied this book in preparation for his own writing.
If you have enjoyed reading “The Kite Runner, I recommend you read Zia Ahmad’s two novels, “Finding Danyal- A love Story” and “The One Hundred”. Both authors equally provide an emotionally haunting, thought-provoking thrilling story experience producing as forceful a message of what it means to be human.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Zia Ahmad’s two novels He is an impressive competent talented writer with engaging story telling style and showing descriptive flow. I truly believe “Finding Danyal” is worthy of a Netflix movie. It is comparable if not better than some I have watched. Well done, Zia Ahmad!
March 3, 2024
It's been a while since I ended a book in tears... but this journey through the streets of 1980s Lahore, Pakistan to 2015 Chicago was well worth the emotional toll. Since it might be hard for some to imagine growing up homosexual under a brutal extremist regime, Zia delicately pulls back the curtain to reveal both the horrors of that life and the fragile (beautiful) vulnerability of those affected.
Like the author's first book (THE ONE HUNDRED), this book will stick with me forever.
Like the author's first book (THE ONE HUNDRED), this book will stick with me forever.
February 10, 2024
Finding Danyaal is a love story about coming of age
Zia knows how to sink his teeth into you as he tells this story about coming of age as gay youth. How many chords he touched from my own personal story which made me feel so much for these characters. It is truly sad in today's world that these struggles are still so real - but they are.
Zia knows how to sink his teeth into you as he tells this story about coming of age as gay youth. How many chords he touched from my own personal story which made me feel so much for these characters. It is truly sad in today's world that these struggles are still so real - but they are.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews