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The Family Tree
Your roots can always lead you home…
Amjad cradles his baby daughter in the middle of the night. He has no time to mourn his wife’s death. Saahil and Zahra, his two small children, are relying on him. Amjad vows to love and protect them always.
Years later, Saahil and his best friend, Ehsan, have finished university and are celebrating with friends. But when the night turns dangerous, its devastating effects will ripple through the years to come.
Zahra’s world is alight with politics and activism. But she is now her father’s only source of comfort, and worries she’ll never have time for her own aspirations. Life has taken her small family in different directions – will they ever find their way back to each other?
The Family Tree is the moving story of a British Muslim family full of love, laughter and resilience as well as all the faults, mistakes and stubborn loyalties which make us human.
528 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 20, 2020
175 people are currently reading
5570 people want to read
About the author
Sairish Hussain
5 books154 followersSairish Hussain is a Bradford based author and Lecturer in Creative Writing. Her debut novel, The Family Tree, was published by HarperCollins and shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award, the Portico Prize and The Diverse Book Awards. It was also longlisted for the Authors’ Club Best First Novel Award and winner of Calibre Audio's 'Hidden Gem' Prize. Sairish was selected by Kei Miller as one of ten ‘unmissable writers working in the UK’ for the International Literature Showcase 2021. She was one of the finalists in the Women’s Prize & Good Housekeeping Futures Award, an initiative which celebrates the most promising emerging female authors today. Her second novel, Hidden Fires, was published in 2024.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 371 reviews
August 5, 2021
“Think about it. Has anyone ever asked you how you feel? No, because everyone is too busy telling us who we are. It’s time we spoke up for ourselves.”
Coping with the grief of his wife Neelam’s premature passing whilst attempting to bring newborn Zahra into the world and take care of his young son Saahil, Amjad has newfound purpose in life: to raise his children as best he can as a struggling single parent. As the years go by, Amjad quickly comes to the agonising realisation that parenting alone—both the activity and the reality of existing sans-spouse—is not enough to protect his children from the harrowing suffering that is so inherent to the lived human experience.
As far as debut novels go, I can probably count on one hand the number of debut novels I’ve read that actually live up to the hype. In my opinion, the majority that are popularised are done so based on low standards of representation by us as readers. The Family Tree, however, is one of the most gripping debut novels I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. I am in complete awe at Hussain’s mastery of invoking many an emotion through her storytelling. Boldly diverging from the overdone culture-bashing, self-hate dramatisation of the British Pakistani community that seems to be the only thing we’re known for in popular media and contemporary fiction, The Family Tree is wholly refreshing and unique in its exploration of the historic and modern British Pakistani identity.
The underlying tone of the novel is hauntingly bittersweet as Hussain delicately presents both sides of the minority experience. Her characters perfectly exemplify both the innumerable contributions of Pakistanis to British society, as well as the inevitable deficiencies that are born both out of traumatic life experiences and the struggle to navigate a foreign land. The paths the characters take in light of immense trauma are ones that are not entirely unsurprising. The multigenerational nature of the novel was markedly powerful in creating an intimate relationship between the reader and the characters. I sincerely felt as though their burdens and struggles were my own, and related to much of the narrative (hence the tears).
What made this book such an enjoyable read was that Hussain explores not only the relationship between parent and offspring, but also that of estranged siblings, beloved friends, and kind strangers. I adored Saahil’s yearning to succeed in an racialised, unsupportive society and his longstanding yet complicated friendship with his best friend Ehsan, to whom no one could have predicted such a shocking fate. I warmed up to Zahra as she became a key protagonist part way through the novel, and I especially admired her drive for journalism and her political and cultural critiques. I also appreciated that Amjad was not just brushed to one side as the novel took a turn to focus on his children; Amjad had his own distinct struggles and remained a key character in the story. I also love their grandma (ammi) – she really reminded me of my own ammi, and I found myself laughing out loud in some of her scenes.
I respected that the redemption of certain characters in this novel occurred in a very realistic and meaningful way. Hussain poignantly captures how faith is always accessible for the ones that perceive themselves unredeemable and for whom the enormity of their sins renders them hopeless. The innate feeling of hypocrisy when sinning as a person of faith is not one unfamiliar to anyone on this earth. Hussain emphasises the blessings of good company of people from all backgrounds and all walks of life, and how the people you surround yourself with will elevate or damage you.
In terms of content, I find it admirable that Hussain successfully, and non-patronisingly addresses the alarmingly ubiquitous yet suppressed issues that affect so many young Muslims. Hussain brings to light many topics – not all of them taboo, but certainly a fair many that are not talked about. The lack of community-specific support for those suffering from mental illness, crises of faith, suicide, racism, drug and alcohol abuse, disability, and homelessness – these are a just a few Hussain brings to the surface through her characters.
The Family Tree is a brilliant work and I would highly recommend it for South Asian Heritage Month.
5/5
Coping with the grief of his wife Neelam’s premature passing whilst attempting to bring newborn Zahra into the world and take care of his young son Saahil, Amjad has newfound purpose in life: to raise his children as best he can as a struggling single parent. As the years go by, Amjad quickly comes to the agonising realisation that parenting alone—both the activity and the reality of existing sans-spouse—is not enough to protect his children from the harrowing suffering that is so inherent to the lived human experience.
As far as debut novels go, I can probably count on one hand the number of debut novels I’ve read that actually live up to the hype. In my opinion, the majority that are popularised are done so based on low standards of representation by us as readers. The Family Tree, however, is one of the most gripping debut novels I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. I am in complete awe at Hussain’s mastery of invoking many an emotion through her storytelling. Boldly diverging from the overdone culture-bashing, self-hate dramatisation of the British Pakistani community that seems to be the only thing we’re known for in popular media and contemporary fiction, The Family Tree is wholly refreshing and unique in its exploration of the historic and modern British Pakistani identity.
The underlying tone of the novel is hauntingly bittersweet as Hussain delicately presents both sides of the minority experience. Her characters perfectly exemplify both the innumerable contributions of Pakistanis to British society, as well as the inevitable deficiencies that are born both out of traumatic life experiences and the struggle to navigate a foreign land. The paths the characters take in light of immense trauma are ones that are not entirely unsurprising. The multigenerational nature of the novel was markedly powerful in creating an intimate relationship between the reader and the characters. I sincerely felt as though their burdens and struggles were my own, and related to much of the narrative (hence the tears).
What made this book such an enjoyable read was that Hussain explores not only the relationship between parent and offspring, but also that of estranged siblings, beloved friends, and kind strangers. I adored Saahil’s yearning to succeed in an racialised, unsupportive society and his longstanding yet complicated friendship with his best friend Ehsan, to whom no one could have predicted such a shocking fate. I warmed up to Zahra as she became a key protagonist part way through the novel, and I especially admired her drive for journalism and her political and cultural critiques. I also appreciated that Amjad was not just brushed to one side as the novel took a turn to focus on his children; Amjad had his own distinct struggles and remained a key character in the story. I also love their grandma (ammi) – she really reminded me of my own ammi, and I found myself laughing out loud in some of her scenes.
I respected that the redemption of certain characters in this novel occurred in a very realistic and meaningful way. Hussain poignantly captures how faith is always accessible for the ones that perceive themselves unredeemable and for whom the enormity of their sins renders them hopeless. The innate feeling of hypocrisy when sinning as a person of faith is not one unfamiliar to anyone on this earth. Hussain emphasises the blessings of good company of people from all backgrounds and all walks of life, and how the people you surround yourself with will elevate or damage you.
In terms of content, I find it admirable that Hussain successfully, and non-patronisingly addresses the alarmingly ubiquitous yet suppressed issues that affect so many young Muslims. Hussain brings to light many topics – not all of them taboo, but certainly a fair many that are not talked about. The lack of community-specific support for those suffering from mental illness, crises of faith, suicide, racism, drug and alcohol abuse, disability, and homelessness – these are a just a few Hussain brings to the surface through her characters.
The Family Tree is a brilliant work and I would highly recommend it for South Asian Heritage Month.
5/5
October 15, 2021
one of the best books i read this year
___
I have a feeling I'm gonna love this book!
Buddy reading with may may
___
I have a feeling I'm gonna love this book!
Buddy reading with may may
October 16, 2020
The family Tree tells the story of a British Pakistani family, first introduced through Amjad who has just lost his wife and is now raising his son Saahil and new-born daughter Zahra alone. We meet Amjad in his most vulnerable state of grief as he tries to come to terms with the loss and his new reality of single parenthood. Using his pain as a driving force, Amjad strives to gives his two children a normal life, dreaming of a better future for them both. As the years go by and the children grow up, one eventful evening changes the course of their lives forever.
Sairish has managed to write a book that intricately captures the fragility of human relationships and human life. A phenomenal debut that depicts a family falling apart and together again. Its extremely honest and realistic portrayal of an ordinary British Pakistani family is one of my favourite things about it. A normal family, doing normal things without any of the predictable stereotypes. The perspective of a single father is not often done but Sairish did it right and it was refreshing to read. Many a time I felt as though I was living right there, witnessing and feeling the highs and lows right along with them, as though I was one of them. I was totally consumed by its pages and relished every part of it.
The book spans over a period of 24 years (1993-2017) and through Zahra’s passion for activism and politics, Sairish blends in important events that have shaped the narrative on topics, such as terrorism, immigration and race into the story. Zahra’s commentary on these events throughout the book really added a layer of realism and I resonated with her— her feeling of frustration is not one that feels unfamiliar.
I don’t often find myself liking every character, there always seems to be at least one that doesn’t do it for me but here I was rooting for them all — completely invested in each character and wanting the absolute best for them. Amjad, the loving, gentle and supportive father; Saahil, the flawed but caring, protective brother and Zahra who ended up being my favourite. She is the root that held the family tree together no matter how far apart the branches swayed. She is fierce, confident and unapologetically herself. She is the embodiment of what her mother’s yellow pashmina shawl represents: comfort, safety and the tie keeping the family connected. Ehsan has a special place in my heart and was the reason for many tears. I laughed, cried and oh so deeply felt with these characters and their story. Turning the last page almost felt like a loss but these characters will stay with me for a long time.
The Family Tree is a beautiful, heartbreaking story about what it means to be human and I highly recommend it.
Sairish has managed to write a book that intricately captures the fragility of human relationships and human life. A phenomenal debut that depicts a family falling apart and together again. Its extremely honest and realistic portrayal of an ordinary British Pakistani family is one of my favourite things about it. A normal family, doing normal things without any of the predictable stereotypes. The perspective of a single father is not often done but Sairish did it right and it was refreshing to read. Many a time I felt as though I was living right there, witnessing and feeling the highs and lows right along with them, as though I was one of them. I was totally consumed by its pages and relished every part of it.
The book spans over a period of 24 years (1993-2017) and through Zahra’s passion for activism and politics, Sairish blends in important events that have shaped the narrative on topics, such as terrorism, immigration and race into the story. Zahra’s commentary on these events throughout the book really added a layer of realism and I resonated with her— her feeling of frustration is not one that feels unfamiliar.
I don’t often find myself liking every character, there always seems to be at least one that doesn’t do it for me but here I was rooting for them all — completely invested in each character and wanting the absolute best for them. Amjad, the loving, gentle and supportive father; Saahil, the flawed but caring, protective brother and Zahra who ended up being my favourite. She is the root that held the family tree together no matter how far apart the branches swayed. She is fierce, confident and unapologetically herself. She is the embodiment of what her mother’s yellow pashmina shawl represents: comfort, safety and the tie keeping the family connected. Ehsan has a special place in my heart and was the reason for many tears. I laughed, cried and oh so deeply felt with these characters and their story. Turning the last page almost felt like a loss but these characters will stay with me for a long time.
The Family Tree is a beautiful, heartbreaking story about what it means to be human and I highly recommend it.
February 19, 2020
4☆ Authentic, Poignant, Gripping, Heart Warming Family Saga. A Must Read!
The Family Tree is a heart warming and poignant story about family, the trials and tribulations of life.
It's very much a coming of age Story that follows Sahill and his family through loss, grief, bullying, prejudice, Culture, Friendships and Family Drama.
But what shines through more than anything is the love and support they have for each other.
The plot is Authentic, Highly Compelling, At times Witty, Relatable, Poignant and Heart Warming.
I loved the multiple characters which were all wonderfully written, endearing and believable.
It's very hard to believe this is Sairish Hussain's Debut Novel, you can see how much dedication, love and passion has gone into writing The Family Tree.
I am very excited to read more!
I also just want to take a second to admire the book cover, it's gorgeous and very eye catching.
So if you are looking for a beautifully written Family Saga that is Emotional, Deals with Real Life, Is Witty, and will have you Gripped and invested in the Characters Lives then you will adore this heart warming story.
Thank you to HQ DIGITAL for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my Blog Website :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2020/0...
The Family Tree is a heart warming and poignant story about family, the trials and tribulations of life.
It's very much a coming of age Story that follows Sahill and his family through loss, grief, bullying, prejudice, Culture, Friendships and Family Drama.
But what shines through more than anything is the love and support they have for each other.
The plot is Authentic, Highly Compelling, At times Witty, Relatable, Poignant and Heart Warming.
I loved the multiple characters which were all wonderfully written, endearing and believable.
It's very hard to believe this is Sairish Hussain's Debut Novel, you can see how much dedication, love and passion has gone into writing The Family Tree.
I am very excited to read more!
I also just want to take a second to admire the book cover, it's gorgeous and very eye catching.
So if you are looking for a beautifully written Family Saga that is Emotional, Deals with Real Life, Is Witty, and will have you Gripped and invested in the Characters Lives then you will adore this heart warming story.
Thank you to HQ DIGITAL for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my Blog Website :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2020/0...
Read
May 7, 2021Story of a British Pakistani family told over about thirty years, covering trauma and bereavement as well as global events that shape their lives (Diana, 9/11, the Lee Rigby murder, etc). Plus issues of homelessness and drug abuse, racism/Islamophobia, violence, and microaggressions.
The problem for me was, there's so much being talked about that it rather overshadowed the storytelling. We start off really well with a new father who has just lost his wife in childbirth, and the first part when the kids are young is great, but the emotional connection thins out as we go along so it starts to feel more like a long synopsis of events. I don't often grumble about "telling not showing" but that was what I felt here.
Possibly this is because it's told episodically, jumping between years, so we skip from the daughter being a little girl to a university student, which made her feel almost like a new character. There's a huge part of one main character's story just summarised in a flashback. And for me, that lost the emotional connection. Lots to like and a very ambitious project, especially for a first novel, but didn't quite come off IMO. Then again I'm not a regular saga reader.
The problem for me was, there's so much being talked about that it rather overshadowed the storytelling. We start off really well with a new father who has just lost his wife in childbirth, and the first part when the kids are young is great, but the emotional connection thins out as we go along so it starts to feel more like a long synopsis of events. I don't often grumble about "telling not showing" but that was what I felt here.
Possibly this is because it's told episodically, jumping between years, so we skip from the daughter being a little girl to a university student, which made her feel almost like a new character. There's a huge part of one main character's story just summarised in a flashback. And for me, that lost the emotional connection. Lots to like and a very ambitious project, especially for a first novel, but didn't quite come off IMO. Then again I'm not a regular saga reader.
December 15, 2020
December 15, 2020: A debut so emotionally powerful and authentically evocative that it binds one to this multi-generational tale of a British-Pakistani Muslim family spanning through twenty-five years of grief, happiness, mistakes, and unconditional love in the midst of unfortunate yet sadly realistic discourses around religious hate stemming from terrorism, stereotypical boxing of an ethnic identity, discrimination faced by immigrants, financial struggles leading to poverty and homelessness, and the ultimate blow by political enunciation and heartbreaking implications.
↣ audiobook listened to via scribd ↢
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gotta-finish
October 11, 2021buddy read with azrah 💕
January 17, 2021
I wanted to like this book. The cover is beautiful, and the promise of a multi-generational story of a British-Pakistani family was intriguing. The opening, where we meet Amjad holding his newborn daughter and mourning the loss of his wife, was moving and drew me right into the story.
But... it was dull. At 500 pages, the novel was a real struggle to get through. It was full of plot threads that never went anywhere, while skipping forward and ignoring key events. At points, the plot was incredibly melodramatic, and at other points completely mundane. I was simultaneously confused by the gaps in the narrative, and also bored by the slowness of the central plot.
While the main characters were often sympathetic and interesting, there were several elements that were entirely unbelievable. Without giving spoilers, one of the main characters commits quite a serious crime, which several of the other main characters unhesitatingly help to cover up. While I did appreciate how the book very much doesn't offer its character an easy "happily ever after," I did find it disturbing how none of the characters seemed to regret the quite horrible things they had done...
Also, despite dealing with all kids of high profile topics, such as religion, homelessness, terrorism, racism, and sexism, the book never offers anything new or thought-provoking on any of these topics. Zahra, the female protagonist, acts as the spokesperson for many of the book's views on issues such as race and gender, yet her strategy is simply to shut down anyone who disagrees with her. When an anonymous commenter on her political blog points out a potential flaw in one of her arguments, she retorts, "oh, so you're feeling so oppressed now?" More seriously, Zahra treats her friends with the same distain. Whenever someone close to her (such as her best friend, or her father's best friend, who has gone above and beyond for the family) says something ignorant or unhelpful, Zahra's immediate response is to rant at them until they apologise. The book does not allow for growth or nuance in its treatment of sensitive issues. Rather, the novel seems to suggest that there is one right way to think about these topics, and anyone who disagrees should be shouted at until they give in.
I debated whether to give this book two or three stars, and eventually settled on two because it's been a long time since a novel has frustrated me this much. As an immigrant myself (though from a white background) I was really excited to read a novel about an immigrant family. Hussain's desire to give a voice to a marginalised population is commendable, and we desperately need more books like this. I'd gladly read another book on this topic... but I hope that next time it will have a more consistent, believable plot.
But... it was dull. At 500 pages, the novel was a real struggle to get through. It was full of plot threads that never went anywhere, while skipping forward and ignoring key events. At points, the plot was incredibly melodramatic, and at other points completely mundane. I was simultaneously confused by the gaps in the narrative, and also bored by the slowness of the central plot.
While the main characters were often sympathetic and interesting, there were several elements that were entirely unbelievable. Without giving spoilers, one of the main characters commits quite a serious crime, which several of the other main characters unhesitatingly help to cover up. While I did appreciate how the book very much doesn't offer its character an easy "happily ever after," I did find it disturbing how none of the characters seemed to regret the quite horrible things they had done...
Also, despite dealing with all kids of high profile topics, such as religion, homelessness, terrorism, racism, and sexism, the book never offers anything new or thought-provoking on any of these topics. Zahra, the female protagonist, acts as the spokesperson for many of the book's views on issues such as race and gender, yet her strategy is simply to shut down anyone who disagrees with her. When an anonymous commenter on her political blog points out a potential flaw in one of her arguments, she retorts, "oh, so you're feeling so oppressed now?" More seriously, Zahra treats her friends with the same distain. Whenever someone close to her (such as her best friend, or her father's best friend, who has gone above and beyond for the family) says something ignorant or unhelpful, Zahra's immediate response is to rant at them until they apologise. The book does not allow for growth or nuance in its treatment of sensitive issues. Rather, the novel seems to suggest that there is one right way to think about these topics, and anyone who disagrees should be shouted at until they give in.
I debated whether to give this book two or three stars, and eventually settled on two because it's been a long time since a novel has frustrated me this much. As an immigrant myself (though from a white background) I was really excited to read a novel about an immigrant family. Hussain's desire to give a voice to a marginalised population is commendable, and we desperately need more books like this. I'd gladly read another book on this topic... but I hope that next time it will have a more consistent, believable plot.
January 24, 2020
Thank you NetGalley and HQ for a copy of The Family Tree by Sairish Hussain.
This is a beautifully written, emotional story about a British Muslim family from February 1993 to present day. The story starts with the birth of Zahra and the loss of her mother and dad Amjad single handily bringing her up and son Sahill. It tells us the views of Muslims and what they thought of 9/11. On the night of Sahil’s graduation from University tragedy strikes and Sahill disappears for a decade. With the loss of her brother Zahra grows up fast and her father struggles with the loss of his son.
WOW this is an excellent debut novel by Sairish Hussain. She has written this as if she has been writing for a long time. It gave me an insight of a Muslim family, the struggles the prejudices that that have experienced. This is well worth the read.
This is a beautifully written, emotional story about a British Muslim family from February 1993 to present day. The story starts with the birth of Zahra and the loss of her mother and dad Amjad single handily bringing her up and son Sahill. It tells us the views of Muslims and what they thought of 9/11. On the night of Sahil’s graduation from University tragedy strikes and Sahill disappears for a decade. With the loss of her brother Zahra grows up fast and her father struggles with the loss of his son.
WOW this is an excellent debut novel by Sairish Hussain. She has written this as if she has been writing for a long time. It gave me an insight of a Muslim family, the struggles the prejudices that that have experienced. This is well worth the read.
February 19, 2021
This book was fantastic especially as it is a debut. The main thing I wanted to say about this book is that it felt authentic. It is a family saga or a new term that I have just discovered “a slice of life”. In other words it covers a period of time in one person’s life or family and their daily trials and tribulations. The focus of this book is on a British Muslim family and how one event or several can shape your life.
The characters in this were fully formed and equally strong and I genuinely wanted to keep reading to see what was going to happen. It is a coming of age story and I felt like I went on a journey with the characters.
On a side note all the descriptions of food and meals eaten by this family had me craving similar food.
This is a really good book and one I have heard very little about which is a shame. I hope more people discover it and I will absolutely read this author’s next book whenever that may be.
The characters in this were fully formed and equally strong and I genuinely wanted to keep reading to see what was going to happen. It is a coming of age story and I felt like I went on a journey with the characters.
On a side note all the descriptions of food and meals eaten by this family had me craving similar food.
This is a really good book and one I have heard very little about which is a shame. I hope more people discover it and I will absolutely read this author’s next book whenever that may be.
February 18, 2020
The Family Tree is a beautifully written and emotional book which in a lot of ways reads as a coming of age story. It’s a story that drew me in from the first page and was heart warming but also shocking.
I absolutely loved Saahil’s wonderful family, with some of the scenes being so beautifully written that I felt I was actually there sharing the moment with them. Through them we learn more about their culture and what it is like to grow up in England when you’re from a minority religion. It was very sad to read about some of the experiences Saahil had whilst growing up. I really wished I could reach into the book and give him a huge hug at times.
I think this is a very important book which everyone should read as it would challenge people’s attitudes and the prejudices they have. It would make a great book club read as I think there would be lots to discuss. I don’t want to go into the story too much as I don’t want to spoil it for future readers but this is definitely a fabulous book which I will be recommending to everyone!
Huge thanks to HQ Stories for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book.
I absolutely loved Saahil’s wonderful family, with some of the scenes being so beautifully written that I felt I was actually there sharing the moment with them. Through them we learn more about their culture and what it is like to grow up in England when you’re from a minority religion. It was very sad to read about some of the experiences Saahil had whilst growing up. I really wished I could reach into the book and give him a huge hug at times.
I think this is a very important book which everyone should read as it would challenge people’s attitudes and the prejudices they have. It would make a great book club read as I think there would be lots to discuss. I don’t want to go into the story too much as I don’t want to spoil it for future readers but this is definitely a fabulous book which I will be recommending to everyone!
Huge thanks to HQ Stories for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book.
April 24, 2021
The Family Tree is an intergenerational story, centred around a British Pakistani family based in Bradford. The reader is thrust straight into the grief and struggle of Amjad, whose wife dies during childbirth leaving him to raise his 10 year old son, Sahil and newborn daughter, Zahra on his own. The story moves fairly rapidly from there as we witness both Sahil and Zahra grow, and the challenges each in this small family unit experiences, finally culminating in a tragedy that threatens to rupture the family apart entirely.
No spoilers, but suffice to say this book defied my expectations, partly because my expectations were low. When I read Sahil makes a terrible life changing decision, I eye-rolled and thought, let me guess, he becomes “radicalised”. When I read of Amjad’s struggles in the first few pages I thought, oh dear is he going to resent his daughter and thereby legitimise his overbearing misogynistic child rearing before forcing her into an arranged marriage. Sairish has crafted a poignant tale rich with enjoyable characters in this book, many defying stereotypes but reflective of realities a lot of us are familiar with. There are so many themes explored additional to grief, including identity, community, social justice, homelessness, addiction, and revenge.
I really enjoyed this particular story, but I’m also excited for what it potentially opens up in the publishing industry in terms of the stories that can be told about the British Muslim community, narratives that go beyond radicalisation and forced marriages, and that prove the marketability and success of such stories. Looking forward to Sairish’s next book already!
Sairish kindly joined me on Instagram live to discuss this brilliant debut novel. You can catch the spoiler free conversation here: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CI_Ykb7g...
No spoilers, but suffice to say this book defied my expectations, partly because my expectations were low. When I read Sahil makes a terrible life changing decision, I eye-rolled and thought, let me guess, he becomes “radicalised”. When I read of Amjad’s struggles in the first few pages I thought, oh dear is he going to resent his daughter and thereby legitimise his overbearing misogynistic child rearing before forcing her into an arranged marriage. Sairish has crafted a poignant tale rich with enjoyable characters in this book, many defying stereotypes but reflective of realities a lot of us are familiar with. There are so many themes explored additional to grief, including identity, community, social justice, homelessness, addiction, and revenge.
I really enjoyed this particular story, but I’m also excited for what it potentially opens up in the publishing industry in terms of the stories that can be told about the British Muslim community, narratives that go beyond radicalisation and forced marriages, and that prove the marketability and success of such stories. Looking forward to Sairish’s next book already!
Sairish kindly joined me on Instagram live to discuss this brilliant debut novel. You can catch the spoiler free conversation here: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CI_Ykb7g...
May 7, 2021
This would have been much better if reduced in length, less description of unnecessary interactions, and a tighter narrative arc.
February 22, 2020
I wasn't sure what to expect from this book. I knew it was going to be about family and love, but I don't think that I was prepared for the magnitude of this story. Even when it turned up on my doorstep at over 500 pages long, I still didn't anticipate how spectacular it would be...
Starting in 1993 and ending in 2017, we follow a British Muslim family through a wealth of life events and happenings. In a lot of ways they are not the luckiest family in the world, but in having eachother they are luckier than many.
We dive straight into the story on page one and Sairish's moving narrative and character building continues throughout the entire book. There's no waffle or gap filling, it is just beautiful story telling start to finish.
I adored the amount of little details in this book because it made me feel as if I were really there. "Zahra pursed her lips. She clipped and unclipped the buttons on her duvet, thinking" You could feel, hear and taste (i drank a lot of chai tea reading this) every moment, emotion and family meal!
I learnt about Muslim Culture, about the importance of family and living by your morals and beliefs. It was beautiful and liberating and I'm grateful to have experienced it a little through this book.
Undoubtedly this is a moving story, but you will experience pretty much every emotion reading this, from anger to elation, frustration to horror. It is a complete roller-coaster and I may have shed a tear once or twice... I will miss these characters enormously especially Zahra who is intelligent, tenacious, loving and resilient!
But, i think one of the quotes on the back of this book sums it up so perfectly. This is a story "of the extraordinary in ordinary lives and of love and complexity in family"
An enormous 5 ⭐'s from me & my favourite book so far this year.
Starting in 1993 and ending in 2017, we follow a British Muslim family through a wealth of life events and happenings. In a lot of ways they are not the luckiest family in the world, but in having eachother they are luckier than many.
We dive straight into the story on page one and Sairish's moving narrative and character building continues throughout the entire book. There's no waffle or gap filling, it is just beautiful story telling start to finish.
I adored the amount of little details in this book because it made me feel as if I were really there. "Zahra pursed her lips. She clipped and unclipped the buttons on her duvet, thinking" You could feel, hear and taste (i drank a lot of chai tea reading this) every moment, emotion and family meal!
I learnt about Muslim Culture, about the importance of family and living by your morals and beliefs. It was beautiful and liberating and I'm grateful to have experienced it a little through this book.
Undoubtedly this is a moving story, but you will experience pretty much every emotion reading this, from anger to elation, frustration to horror. It is a complete roller-coaster and I may have shed a tear once or twice... I will miss these characters enormously especially Zahra who is intelligent, tenacious, loving and resilient!
But, i think one of the quotes on the back of this book sums it up so perfectly. This is a story "of the extraordinary in ordinary lives and of love and complexity in family"
An enormous 5 ⭐'s from me & my favourite book so far this year.
May 9, 2021
4.5 but this one deserved to be rounded up, especially given the sheer lack of authentic and nuanced portrayals of both muslims and south asians in fiction. all the characters completely won my heart, and i especially loved how flawed and messy and self-contradictory they were. i know i'll be thinking about this really moving and heartbreaking story for a really long time, and i'm so glad i took my time with it.
July 31, 2021
I also loved The Family Tree by Sairish Hussain- a multi generational story of a British-Muslim family spanning thirty years that had me completely mesmerised. Such was the poise and strength of Hussain’s characters that I became completely invested in them, as she puts them through the emotional wringer, giving a rich and authentic portrayal of their experiences, both the sadness and the joy. There is tragedy, grief and heartbreak, but you leave the book feeling their resilience and fortitude. Although I always think it’s a reviewing cliche to say that characters stay with you, in the case of this book I think that’s totally true, as they are still popping into my head a few weeks on from finishing this one. Beautiful writing and a poignant and unforgettable book, shrouded in tragedy, but also alive with hope and redemption bolstered by its perceptive commentary and exploration of the bigoted and less pleasant aspects of multi-cultural Britain. Recommended.
March 17, 2020
It's been 3 days since I finished The Family Tree and I still can't get myself to write a review on it simply because this was one hell of a story which compels so much involvement of the emotions of the reader that I felt almost like I'm a part of the family that is talked about in the book. How am I supposed to critically analyse a book when it feels so close to the heart?! When (in a way) the characters suddenly feel like your own family? 🌳
The Family Tree is the moving story of a British Muslim family full of love, laughter and resilience as well as all the faults, mistakes and stubborn loyalties which make us human. 🌳
Amjad have just lost his wife while she was giving birth to their daughter but he has no time to mourn. He needs to pick himself up and look after his kids, Saahil and the new baby Zahra. At first I thought this was going to be one of those books where Amjad will fall in love again and how he and his family readjusts to the whole situation but it took another unexpected turn in a way that it felt REAL. Something I cannot simply dismiss as fiction. Years later when Sahil is about to graduate he and his friend meet with a very ill fate. The fall of events henceforth is truly heartbreaking. I won't talk about the plot more but I should mention how poignantly yet beautifully the topics of loss, depression, addiction, relationships with friends and family, death, youth & faith were described. I do wish and think it could've been around 450 pages instead of it being a 528 beast. For a debut novel I think the author have done a brilliant job.
Overall Rating: 4.5/5🌟
Tysm @harpercollinsin for gifting this copy⚘
The Family Tree is the moving story of a British Muslim family full of love, laughter and resilience as well as all the faults, mistakes and stubborn loyalties which make us human. 🌳
Amjad have just lost his wife while she was giving birth to their daughter but he has no time to mourn. He needs to pick himself up and look after his kids, Saahil and the new baby Zahra. At first I thought this was going to be one of those books where Amjad will fall in love again and how he and his family readjusts to the whole situation but it took another unexpected turn in a way that it felt REAL. Something I cannot simply dismiss as fiction. Years later when Sahil is about to graduate he and his friend meet with a very ill fate. The fall of events henceforth is truly heartbreaking. I won't talk about the plot more but I should mention how poignantly yet beautifully the topics of loss, depression, addiction, relationships with friends and family, death, youth & faith were described. I do wish and think it could've been around 450 pages instead of it being a 528 beast. For a debut novel I think the author have done a brilliant job.
Overall Rating: 4.5/5🌟
Tysm @harpercollinsin for gifting this copy⚘
March 24, 2020
The Family Tree, is quite heartbreaking, when Amjad wife Neelam died, after she haemorrhaged after delivery that left him to become a single dad to his two children. Zahra was just a baby. As Amjad adapted to his new life without Neelam, he realised that he needed help with everything. He need to be taught how to look after a newborn. I really felt emotional for Amjad as single dad looking after a baby. After a year of Neelam passing, Amjad’s, mother started to nag at him to marry again. I personally didn’t agree with his mother nagging him to get married again, I think she should have left it up to Amjad to make that decision if and when, he felt the time to find another woman to love and marry. I loved reading The Family Tree, about an Asian family who are living in Britain, who have their own family troubles, just the same as any family.
January 26, 2021
Because I had heard so many people rave about this book so much, my expectations were really really high. But this book fell short and then some. For one I didn’t like the writing style at all, nor was I a fan of most of the characters - they didn’t feel authentic. The ending is quite ridiculous where a character who is portrayed as a major antagonist (without enough of a set up in my opinion and without even mentioning this person for most of the book) has a complete change of heart by the end of the novel. Zahra’s “activism” felt quite performative and didn’t fit into the novel seamlessly - it felt like a forced way for the author to address a number of political issues without actually doing so through the plot. All in all a major disappointment.
October 8, 2021
A Pakistani-British family, already rocked by the death of Amjad's wife Neelam, faces yet another tragedy that spirals into a decade of loss and heartbreak.
Covering themes of death, addiction, homelessness, political tensions in Britain, and more, this family saga was another sad Muslamic story - but at least it ended on a happier note than most others!
The writing style was a bit choppier than I prefer, but it was still quite good.
Covering themes of death, addiction, homelessness, political tensions in Britain, and more, this family saga was another sad Muslamic story - but at least it ended on a happier note than most others!
The writing style was a bit choppier than I prefer, but it was still quite good.
January 14, 2021
Couldn’t read it fast enough, highly recommend.
January 24, 2021
Dear Sairish,
I will write a proper review on this once I’ve overcome the current emotions I’m feeling right now.
I will write a proper review on this once I’ve overcome the current emotions I’m feeling right now.
December 8, 2025
Really enjoyed this generational story and author captured some really meaningful insights on how it must have felt to be Muslim post 9/11 and the age of social media.
April 5, 2023
"Things got worse before they got better."
The book starts with Amjad, a single father, mourning the death of his wife, and is left with looking after his children Saahil and Zahra. The novel sees the evolution of all three characters through trials and tribulations of what life brings to them.
This book *sighs* the first three pages had me in tears because of Amjad and the children loosing Neelam. The loss and the pain was so heavy you could feel it. The writing was beautiful and so moving.
But I feel like after that it was really slow, Saahil's childhood and his friendship with Ehsan, it was lovely and heart-warming but it did drag. I was beginning to give up with it but then the accident happend.
I saw it coming, of course I did, but the impact still hit me hard. The aftermath of this attack and the impact it had on the family and friends was REAL, you can feel the pain, the anger, the questions. It consumes everything and everyone, this was the one thing I absoloutely loved about this book that it wasn't exaggerated, it was honest and that's what made it such a good book. The characters felt really authentic and definitely relatable but i just didn't particularly like most of them well apart from Zahra (is it weird to say I saw a lot of myself in her) but that's because I am biased haha.
And now let's talk about representation because this, THIS, right here is what we call representation done RIGHT. I am sick and tired of reading stories where you read a story about a British family with Muslim characters and the stories remain the same of, arranged marriage, terrorism, women being oppressed, white saviour complex...but the author gave us just a 'normal story' and I didn't know this was what I was craving. Zahra singing away to Spice girls, Ammi's obbsesion over the royals and critiquing Amjad's cooking and his cupboard's (to not have any spices in an Asian household is a crime). Amjad binge watching crime watch, and Saahil, trying to find himself. I feel like at times the conversation, even some aspects of the culture were represented so accurate that I thought that I was reading about my own family. (And if this what representation feels like, damn it feels good).
(Note-there is a lot of TW in this book).
Also the scenes of Diana's death and the aftermath of 9/11 and how the family and in particular Zahra reacts, hit me hard.
Highly recommend this poignant and gripping novel to everyone.
4.5 (nope scrap that) a solid 5.
(Popsugar Reading Challenge-A book by a Muslim British author)
The book starts with Amjad, a single father, mourning the death of his wife, and is left with looking after his children Saahil and Zahra. The novel sees the evolution of all three characters through trials and tribulations of what life brings to them.
This book *sighs* the first three pages had me in tears because of Amjad and the children loosing Neelam. The loss and the pain was so heavy you could feel it. The writing was beautiful and so moving.
But I feel like after that it was really slow, Saahil's childhood and his friendship with Ehsan, it was lovely and heart-warming but it did drag. I was beginning to give up with it but then the accident happend.
I saw it coming, of course I did, but the impact still hit me hard. The aftermath of this attack and the impact it had on the family and friends was REAL, you can feel the pain, the anger, the questions. It consumes everything and everyone, this was the one thing I absoloutely loved about this book that it wasn't exaggerated, it was honest and that's what made it such a good book. The characters felt really authentic and definitely relatable but i just didn't particularly like most of them well apart from Zahra (is it weird to say I saw a lot of myself in her) but that's because I am biased haha.
And now let's talk about representation because this, THIS, right here is what we call representation done RIGHT. I am sick and tired of reading stories where you read a story about a British family with Muslim characters and the stories remain the same of, arranged marriage, terrorism, women being oppressed, white saviour complex...but the author gave us just a 'normal story' and I didn't know this was what I was craving. Zahra singing away to Spice girls, Ammi's obbsesion over the royals and critiquing Amjad's cooking and his cupboard's (to not have any spices in an Asian household is a crime). Amjad binge watching crime watch, and Saahil, trying to find himself. I feel like at times the conversation, even some aspects of the culture were represented so accurate that I thought that I was reading about my own family. (And if this what representation feels like, damn it feels good).
(Note-there is a lot of TW in this book).
Also the scenes of Diana's death and the aftermath of 9/11 and how the family and in particular Zahra reacts, hit me hard.
Highly recommend this poignant and gripping novel to everyone.
4.5 (nope scrap that) a solid 5.
(Popsugar Reading Challenge-A book by a Muslim British author)
January 3, 2022
'Everyone is out there trying to keep their head down, but it still comes and finds you. Every day!'
"I know.
'No, you don't.'
'Why?' Saahil asked.
"Because you remember a time before 9/11. I don't.'
The book starts with Amjad, a single father, mourning the death of his wife, and is left with looking after his children Saahil and Zahra. The novel is a multigenerational saga covering the lives and evolution of all three characters through trials and
tribulations of what life brings to them.
Side note here: I read this book around 6 months after losing my father and I was in tears in the tube whilst reading this. The writing was so beautiful and touched on the grief of losing a parent in a very real and raw way.
I do think the novel took quite a slow pace from here onwards. Thought it still remained engaging. The gripping details of the incident that Sahil faced and the sprinkling of historical events such as Diana’s death really brought the novel to life.
Two things that I absolutely loved about this novel were
1. I loved how real the novel was. It wasn’t exaggerated, the aftermath of the attack and it’s impact on everyone’s life was portrayed in a way that you could feel the pain, the anger and yet we saw the characters amidst all this going on with their lives. Just as people do in reality, as despite what happens life does go in. Regardless of whether it goes on in a bland way, it continues. There was an authenticity in each character, though I must say I think character development for Zahra was the best. I did find the development for the other characters wasn’t as good as Zahra.
2. REPRESENTATION! This was the first time in a long time that I read a novel portraying a British Muslim family that did not involve an oppressive father, arranged marriage or any other stereotype constantly perpetuated re Muslim families. This was the story of a normal British Muslim Pakistani family - with Amjad being a great supportive father (I loved amjad, I saw aspects of my own father reflected in him. It was nice to see a normal and supportive Muslim father being represented), I loved Zahra’s obsession with spice girls and Ami’s obsession with the royals (very relatable). It was really nice to see to some aspects of myself being reflect in Zahra, just a normal British Muslim girl.
Overall, this is a book I would highly recommend for anyone to read. It’s one of the best debut novels I have read in a long time.
"I know.
'No, you don't.'
'Why?' Saahil asked.
"Because you remember a time before 9/11. I don't.'
The book starts with Amjad, a single father, mourning the death of his wife, and is left with looking after his children Saahil and Zahra. The novel is a multigenerational saga covering the lives and evolution of all three characters through trials and
tribulations of what life brings to them.
Side note here: I read this book around 6 months after losing my father and I was in tears in the tube whilst reading this. The writing was so beautiful and touched on the grief of losing a parent in a very real and raw way.
I do think the novel took quite a slow pace from here onwards. Thought it still remained engaging. The gripping details of the incident that Sahil faced and the sprinkling of historical events such as Diana’s death really brought the novel to life.
Two things that I absolutely loved about this novel were
1. I loved how real the novel was. It wasn’t exaggerated, the aftermath of the attack and it’s impact on everyone’s life was portrayed in a way that you could feel the pain, the anger and yet we saw the characters amidst all this going on with their lives. Just as people do in reality, as despite what happens life does go in. Regardless of whether it goes on in a bland way, it continues. There was an authenticity in each character, though I must say I think character development for Zahra was the best. I did find the development for the other characters wasn’t as good as Zahra.
2. REPRESENTATION! This was the first time in a long time that I read a novel portraying a British Muslim family that did not involve an oppressive father, arranged marriage or any other stereotype constantly perpetuated re Muslim families. This was the story of a normal British Muslim Pakistani family - with Amjad being a great supportive father (I loved amjad, I saw aspects of my own father reflected in him. It was nice to see a normal and supportive Muslim father being represented), I loved Zahra’s obsession with spice girls and Ami’s obsession with the royals (very relatable). It was really nice to see to some aspects of myself being reflect in Zahra, just a normal British Muslim girl.
Overall, this is a book I would highly recommend for anyone to read. It’s one of the best debut novels I have read in a long time.
July 5, 2020
I spent 3 days hungrily devouring pages of The Family Tree, my eyes tracing the words that take up this 500 page novel, lifting me up, holding me by the hand, whispering sweet lullabies, and urging to feel, to grieve, to be one with the story, and to be swayed away with the characters. At the end of the novel, I felt gratified.
The Family Tree traces the life of a British Muslim Family in Bradford right from the beginning in 1993 when Amjad loses his wife Neelam during childbirth, and is left to be the sole caretaker of his son Saahil and new born baby girl, Zahra. Neelam leaves behind a pashmina shawl that has a family tree carved on it with little birds flying in beautiful harmony signifying the members of the Sharif family who are now grieving Neelam's loss. Amjad throws himself into the whirlwind of ensuring his children get the life they deserve. This little family creates their own little heaven until the night of Saahil's graduation when their life takes a sinister turn. Soon everything they've painstakingly built comes crashing down, like strong waves carrying them away from the shore.
Sairish has woven an intricate story about a family struggling to put together the fragmented pieces of their life, persevering through tragedy & still hoping against hope. It's commendable how the author has portrayed a coming-of-age character arc for Zahra who grows up to be a smart, sensible and fierce woman. The book takes us through 20 years of major political changes that have changed the discourse on terrorism, identity, culture, race & homelessness as the backdrop while the family grieves on its own. Sairish represented muslims as they are, which makes me feel closer to the characters, as I see glimpses of my stay in Pakistan, the cultural similarities, the familiarity of knowing one belongs in this cosmic world. Growing up my idea about writing was overtaken by the lack of representation and it makes my heart so happy whenever I read about issues that pertain to me, that affect me personally.
I was rooting for Zahra, for Saahil, for Ehsan. I cried with them, and laughed along at their jokes. The Family Tree is a beautiful and heartbreaking novel about life and what makes us human.
The Family Tree traces the life of a British Muslim Family in Bradford right from the beginning in 1993 when Amjad loses his wife Neelam during childbirth, and is left to be the sole caretaker of his son Saahil and new born baby girl, Zahra. Neelam leaves behind a pashmina shawl that has a family tree carved on it with little birds flying in beautiful harmony signifying the members of the Sharif family who are now grieving Neelam's loss. Amjad throws himself into the whirlwind of ensuring his children get the life they deserve. This little family creates their own little heaven until the night of Saahil's graduation when their life takes a sinister turn. Soon everything they've painstakingly built comes crashing down, like strong waves carrying them away from the shore.
Sairish has woven an intricate story about a family struggling to put together the fragmented pieces of their life, persevering through tragedy & still hoping against hope. It's commendable how the author has portrayed a coming-of-age character arc for Zahra who grows up to be a smart, sensible and fierce woman. The book takes us through 20 years of major political changes that have changed the discourse on terrorism, identity, culture, race & homelessness as the backdrop while the family grieves on its own. Sairish represented muslims as they are, which makes me feel closer to the characters, as I see glimpses of my stay in Pakistan, the cultural similarities, the familiarity of knowing one belongs in this cosmic world. Growing up my idea about writing was overtaken by the lack of representation and it makes my heart so happy whenever I read about issues that pertain to me, that affect me personally.
I was rooting for Zahra, for Saahil, for Ehsan. I cried with them, and laughed along at their jokes. The Family Tree is a beautiful and heartbreaking novel about life and what makes us human.
June 25, 2021
Astaghfirullah,’ he said, touching his ears like ammi often did. ‘I don't mess around with people's daughters, thank you very much. Don't wanna go to hell, do I?’ He suppressed a grin.
‘What moral superiority!’ Ehsan mocked, patting his best friend on the back. ‘He doesn't mess around with girls because he doesn't want to go to hell.’
.
‘Oh, the leak,’ Amjad sighed.
Ken pulled himself out of the cupboard and grinned at Amjad as Ammi shouted at him in Urdu.
‘Yeah,’ Ken said, yelling over the sizzling onions and pointing the screwdriver at his friend. ‘What she said!’
•
Is it weird that the first things that come to my mind while talking about this novel are these small moments of happiness shared with family and friends?!
The writer has successfully put in these small moments, which felt so realistic, between the tumultuous situations.
•
It started with one tragedy that hit Amjad, changing his life forever. And when all started to feel like in place(somewhat), another tragedy hit the family, and it hit hard, destroying multiple lives leaving them in the pool of despair and helplessness. It's heartbreaking. You'll witness many heartbreaking moments here but besides all the trauma, guilt, confusion, breakdowns, shocks this book offers moments of admiration and giggles turned into something else the next moment. I've never felt such a range of emotions at the same time which this book offers and I feel like I've so much to say about the characters. It has successfully dug deeper into the individual struggles of Amjad, Sahil and Zahra. Zahra, how much I admire her 🥺❤️I could almost picture her face during one scene. Sibling bond stands strong and so full of love.
Someone can be hit so hard by a tragedy that they become capable of shutting out even their most loved ones. It is when the victim falls apart.
You'll have tears, smiles, giggles, sadness in your eyes during this journey.
‘What moral superiority!’ Ehsan mocked, patting his best friend on the back. ‘He doesn't mess around with girls because he doesn't want to go to hell.’
.
‘Oh, the leak,’ Amjad sighed.
Ken pulled himself out of the cupboard and grinned at Amjad as Ammi shouted at him in Urdu.
‘Yeah,’ Ken said, yelling over the sizzling onions and pointing the screwdriver at his friend. ‘What she said!’
•
Is it weird that the first things that come to my mind while talking about this novel are these small moments of happiness shared with family and friends?!
The writer has successfully put in these small moments, which felt so realistic, between the tumultuous situations.
•
It started with one tragedy that hit Amjad, changing his life forever. And when all started to feel like in place(somewhat), another tragedy hit the family, and it hit hard, destroying multiple lives leaving them in the pool of despair and helplessness. It's heartbreaking. You'll witness many heartbreaking moments here but besides all the trauma, guilt, confusion, breakdowns, shocks this book offers moments of admiration and giggles turned into something else the next moment. I've never felt such a range of emotions at the same time which this book offers and I feel like I've so much to say about the characters. It has successfully dug deeper into the individual struggles of Amjad, Sahil and Zahra. Zahra, how much I admire her 🥺❤️I could almost picture her face during one scene. Sibling bond stands strong and so full of love.
Someone can be hit so hard by a tragedy that they become capable of shutting out even their most loved ones. It is when the victim falls apart.
You'll have tears, smiles, giggles, sadness in your eyes during this journey.
October 30, 2019
Thank you to @hqstories for inviting us to #destinationhq this summer. As well as meeting some other great writers, we first met Sairish here and fortunately heard her introduce her wonderful debut. Needless to say we were hooked.
This is fiction at its finest - so closely paralleled to reality that the line between the two is blurred. Sairish depicts the story of a British Pakistani family residing in Yorkshire pre 9/11 to the present day.
It’s interesting to read about a society that we don’t even refer to anymore but one that we in fact lived and grew up in for a time. We follow young Saahil, baby Zahra and their father Amjad, plus a few immediate relations and family friends as they tackle the beast that is life in the only way they know how: kinship and community. This aspect of the novel touched me the most and when Saahil’s life, and as a result his whole family’s, takes a complete 180 at the brutal beating of his best friend and brother Ehsi, it couldn’t be more apparent.
What we have here is a legit coming of age novel which will break your heart and have you shocked at every turn. Between pages, Sairish takes the reader through religion, British stereotypes of those who observe and the prejudice that they face as a result, the different familial pressures and expectations that ethnic kids have growing up, bullying, self-preservation and identity.
In her foreword, Sairish writes that she did not read the narrative she wanted to read about growing up and so she wrote it herself - there is no denying the authenticity on any level. There are no gimmicks or wannabe un-relatable scenarios (we’ve read a few in this genre), nor are there any predictable endings here and I won’t spoil it for you.
This is fiction at its finest - so closely paralleled to reality that the line between the two is blurred. Sairish depicts the story of a British Pakistani family residing in Yorkshire pre 9/11 to the present day.
It’s interesting to read about a society that we don’t even refer to anymore but one that we in fact lived and grew up in for a time. We follow young Saahil, baby Zahra and their father Amjad, plus a few immediate relations and family friends as they tackle the beast that is life in the only way they know how: kinship and community. This aspect of the novel touched me the most and when Saahil’s life, and as a result his whole family’s, takes a complete 180 at the brutal beating of his best friend and brother Ehsi, it couldn’t be more apparent.
What we have here is a legit coming of age novel which will break your heart and have you shocked at every turn. Between pages, Sairish takes the reader through religion, British stereotypes of those who observe and the prejudice that they face as a result, the different familial pressures and expectations that ethnic kids have growing up, bullying, self-preservation and identity.
In her foreword, Sairish writes that she did not read the narrative she wanted to read about growing up and so she wrote it herself - there is no denying the authenticity on any level. There are no gimmicks or wannabe un-relatable scenarios (we’ve read a few in this genre), nor are there any predictable endings here and I won’t spoil it for you.
January 16, 2021
The Family Tree is the story of Saahil, Zahra, and Amjad, as they try to go through life in the UK, despite being originally from Pakistan.
This story is beautiful, heart-wrenching, and thought-provoking. Even though it was a bit over 500 pages long, I felt like every word was necessary. The story is simple yet detailed, the characters three-dimensional, and the writing is sharp but very efficient.
I can hardly believe this is a debut novel. If I had to compare it to another book, I would say this is a British equivalent of A Place For Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza.
This story is beautiful, heart-wrenching, and thought-provoking. Even though it was a bit over 500 pages long, I felt like every word was necessary. The story is simple yet detailed, the characters three-dimensional, and the writing is sharp but very efficient.
I can hardly believe this is a debut novel. If I had to compare it to another book, I would say this is a British equivalent of A Place For Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza.
July 8, 2021
I really wanted to like this book. After all the premise; a multi-generational story of a British Pakistani family that centres around loss, identity, and forgiveness, seemed right up my alley.
But 523 pages later, I found the book to be both dull and melodramatic simultaneously. The characters were unbearable and very one dimensional. I also found the author to be emulating “A Place for Us” but without Farheen Mirza’s refined execution and poetic way with words.
This should have been a book I’d normally love, but it really fell short for me.
But 523 pages later, I found the book to be both dull and melodramatic simultaneously. The characters were unbearable and very one dimensional. I also found the author to be emulating “A Place for Us” but without Farheen Mirza’s refined execution and poetic way with words.
This should have been a book I’d normally love, but it really fell short for me.
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