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Bird Summons
In her adventurous new novel, New York Times Notable author Leila Aboulela delivers a lively portrait of three women who embark on a journey of self-discovery while grappling with the conflicting demands of family, duty, and faith.
When Salma, Moni, and Iman--friends and active members of their local Muslim Women's group--decide to take a road trip together to the Scottish Highlands, they leave behind lives often dominated by obligation, frustrated desire, and dull predictability. Each wants something more out of life, but fears the cost of taking it. Salma is successful and happily married, but tempted to risk it all when she's contacted by her first love back in Egypt; Moni gave up a career in banking to care for her disabled son without the help of her indifferent husband; and Iman, in her twenties and already on her third marriage, longs for the freedom and autonomy she's never known. When the women are visited by the Hoopoe, a sacred bird from Muslim and Celtic literature, they are compelled to question their relationships to faith and femininity, love, loyalty, and sacrifice.
Brilliantly imagined, thoughtful and wise, Bird Summons confirms Leila Aboulela's reputation as one of our finest contemporary writers.
When Salma, Moni, and Iman--friends and active members of their local Muslim Women's group--decide to take a road trip together to the Scottish Highlands, they leave behind lives often dominated by obligation, frustrated desire, and dull predictability. Each wants something more out of life, but fears the cost of taking it. Salma is successful and happily married, but tempted to risk it all when she's contacted by her first love back in Egypt; Moni gave up a career in banking to care for her disabled son without the help of her indifferent husband; and Iman, in her twenties and already on her third marriage, longs for the freedom and autonomy she's never known. When the women are visited by the Hoopoe, a sacred bird from Muslim and Celtic literature, they are compelled to question their relationships to faith and femininity, love, loyalty, and sacrifice.
Brilliantly imagined, thoughtful and wise, Bird Summons confirms Leila Aboulela's reputation as one of our finest contemporary writers.
290 pages, Paperback
First published March 7, 2019
90 people are currently reading
3397 people want to read
About the author
Leila Aboulela
36 books922 followersLeila 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.
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.
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July 2, 2020
This was meant to be the ultimate threat, the winning card. If you don't carry the bundle of your crippled son, drape yourself in a black abaya and hop on a plane to Saudi, your husband will take another wife. You will be replaced; your spot will be taken. pg. 155
This is a strange book. As usual, I went into this novel completely blind. I had no idea what it was about. I had no information about the book.
Imagine my surprise when it turned out I was reading magical-realism.
The book starts off normal enough. I suggest reading the GR summary, it's excellent. Three Muslim women (who live in Britain) make a pilgrimage to Zainab Cobbold's grave in Inverness. Salma is a take-charge woman, a doctor in her native Egypt but a massage therapist here in Britain. Her ex from Egypt has contacted her from social media and she's in the throes of excitement in rekindling memories of their romance. She's in her 40s. Iman is a beautiful woman whose beauty was supposed to shield her from the hardships of life. It hasn't. She's on her third husband, men always want to possess her and she's herded into a submissive and passive role, always. She's in her 20s. And Moni is the woman in her 30s, caring for her five-year-old son who has cerebral palsy. Her husband is demanding she and Adam (her son) join him in Saudi Arabia, and she's defying him because she wants her son to have the health care Britain provides, she hates the way Saudis treat the disabled.
Each woman has her own problems, concerns, and life experiences. Each is interesting and unique. Salma dealing with enjoying the freedom that comes from marrying a Scottish convert, but bemoaning the fact that this means she cannot dominate and control her children the way she wants to. She's ashamed on some level that she's unable to be a doctor here.
Iman, for all her beauty and being labeled as 'lazy and emptyheaded' is suffering from PTSD due to her growing up in Syria and having her first husband (she married him at age 15) killed in the war. She has an affinity for animals and a vivid imagination.
Moni is out of shape, her life completely devoted to carrying for her child, and the devotion to her disabled son is driving a wedge between her and her husband.
The book starts off pretty normal, but once the women reach Inverness the magical realism starts and things get progressively weirder and weirder. The book is called "Bird Summons" because Iman is in communication with Hoopoe, a bird that appears in the Quran. He tells her stories. I was mildly annoyed by the fairy tales in this book. I know Aboulela was trying to illustrate some points, but I'm not a fan of this type of plot device. I found the women's plot much more interesting, and could have done without all the fairy tales Hoopoe tells Iman.
The women each have to 'learn their lesson' and come out of the book on the other side of whatever main issue they are struggling with. If you don't like magical realism, allegories, or fairy tales, skip this book.
Aboulela has a kind of deceptively simple writing style that draws you in. It suits the subject material, but for those of you who celebrate amazing writing such as that of Donna Tartt or André Aciman are going to be disappointed, this isn't that kind of book.
I couldn't really understand why a strong woman like Salma was so eager to reconnect with someone like Amir. I know Aboulela is saying it's because if she stayed in her home country and married him instead of David, she could have been a doctor, but it was mind-boggling to me that she'd fantasize about being married to weakling Amir.
Amir can't handle women being better than him at anything, so when they were 'dating,' Salma was constantly stifling herself in order to keep Amir's ego inflated. She lost tennis matches, pretended he could outrun her, deliberately lost at cards. She does the work and he makes the decisions.
That was their pattern, what came naturally to them both - she did the legwork and the research so that they could brainstorm and fumble towards a decision in which he would have the final word. pg. 132
She did his work for him when they were in clinical.
It's INSANE to me that she's fantasizing about this guy. He sounds like an incredibly weak person, unable to tolerate the idea that a woman could be better than him at anything, very defensive, very spoiled, and full of himself. I guess Aboulela's point is that instead of fantasizing about this guy, Salma should be appreciative of her husband, who values her opinions, values her knowledge, and doesn't try to control or dominate her. But it was almost too bizarre to me. I couldn't understand the appeal of Amir or Salma's obsession with her digital affair with him.
The men who marry Iman (three so far) are also despicable and childlike. Aboulela seems to think it would be difficult to be anything else when their culture encourages this type of behavior. A wife is a servant, a live-in slave, basically, a possession. And if your wife pisses you off, you can always get another, which is what Moni is threatened with when she places the needs of her disabled son over the desires of her husband.
Only Salma escaped, by marrying a British man who converted to Islam. He is literally the only man in this book who respects women or sees women as human beings. Every single other man in here is someone who views women as servants, possessions or objects.
Iman depending on the mercy of a man only interested in her beauty (her lot in life) brings up an interesting thesis from Aboulela about the difference between marriage and prostitution:
Ibrahim had been opposed to this trip. Three women on their own gallivanting across Scotland - it was wrong and unnecessary. Iman had pleaded, pouted and sulked until he gave way. 'I can't bear you out of my sight,' he said the night before she left. 'What am I going to do?' he wailed in his boxer shorts, punching pillows and slamming doors.
Iman's husband was a young student from a conservative family. His scholarship, paid for by his home country's government, was ample and reliable. Ibrahim had suffered from homesickness and culture shock when he first arrived and the imam of the mosque prescribed marriage. Ibrahim's family back home disagreed and so, without their consent nor knowledge, he took as his wife the most beautiful divorcee in the local Muslim community. He left the student halls, which - with girls in close proximity to beds they should not, would not and did not share with him-were a source of torment, and moved with Iman into a small flat near the university. She was his saviour. The one who met all his needs so that he could settle and study. And he was her saviour too. Dumped by the husband who had brought her to Britain (not exactly dumped, but he had ended up in prison and divorced her as a courtesy), she had been unsure what to do next, how to proceed. 'Do anything, but don't come back,' her family told her. Because of the war, home was neither safe nor prosperous. Those who were lucky to be out stayed out.
Her ex-husband's lengthy sentence was for grievous bodily harm after losing his temper with a fellow Syrian. Asked if he had beaten her now that his violent credentials were proven without doubt, Iman shook her head and answered no, but the truth was he hadn't got around to it yet. So, she opted next for the peaceful, gentle Ibrahim. Of the string of suitors, he was the one least likely to lift a finger against her. Besides, when he said the magic words, 'I will do everything I can to unite you with your mother,' she was won over. His immaturity was endearing, his consistent lust for her reassuring. He rescued her from homelessness and from aimlessness. Closer to her in age than her previous husbands, she found herself loving him as a friend, someone she could cuddle on the sofa and play games with on the PlayStation.
Every morsel she put in her mouth, every piece of clothing, was provided for her by Ibrahim. The rent, the gas, the internet. She did not have to beg, borrow or steal. She did not need to get up at the crack of dawn, take orders from a line manager or clean up other people's homes. Instead, she was as pampered as a racehorse and as busy as a geisha.
To what extent is marriage religiously sanctioned prostitution? Iman sometimes pondered this question. She had even discussed it with Salma on more than one occasion -as much as she was capable of discussion. Salma of course had been adamant that the two were completely different. Iman wasn't sure, and the arguments Salma used didn't fully convince her. Prostitution and marriage. Man pays and woman serves. He houses, clothes and feeds her to get something in return. So what was the difference between the two? pg. 35
Later, Iman acknowledges that it's not religion, but only love that can change the relationship between man and woman:
And what lies ahead for her, how will she live? Everyone had predicted she would marry a rich man and never have to lift a finger. Her beauty had pointed towards this. Marriage versus prostitution. Marriage as a way to legitimise the oldest profession? It need not be like this. She knew this, glimpsed it in the lives of other couples. Two things could look alike and feel alike and seem alike yet be profoundly different. One was blessed and the other doomed. The intentions that led to each were different. The resemblance was superficial but understandable. Man pays and woman serves. He houses, clothes and feeds her to get something in return. Put love in the equation. He gives because he loves her and would give regardless of whether services were rendered or not; she gives because she loves him and would keep giving even if he didn't pay. Or they both give and receive in a flow generated by love with neither one keeping tabs, with neither one viewing the relationship as a transaction. pg. 72
But can she ever find love in this sort of system, where women are put on a marriage market and men marry them only because they are beautiful?
TL;DR An interesting look at the life of three Muslim women, at least one of whom is black. (Moni). Because they are living in Britain and not Saudi Arabia, Syria, or Egypt, this book isn't as depressing as most books I've read about Muslim women's lives (e.g. The Patience Stone, A Thousand Splendid Suns). A woman-focused book, in which men (good or bad) are only on the periphery. Focuses on women's feelings, thoughts, ideas, and life experiences.
Aboulela makes some great points and has some interesting things to say. I enjoyed the book. The magical realism sort of threw me for a loop, but overall a good book. If you want to read a Muslim-focused book by a Muslim female author (#OwnVoices or whatever) this is a good one. If you have an interest in that sort of thing, I'd recommend it.
NAMES IN THIS BOOK
This is a strange book. As usual, I went into this novel completely blind. I had no idea what it was about. I had no information about the book.
Imagine my surprise when it turned out I was reading magical-realism.
The book starts off normal enough. I suggest reading the GR summary, it's excellent. Three Muslim women (who live in Britain) make a pilgrimage to Zainab Cobbold's grave in Inverness. Salma is a take-charge woman, a doctor in her native Egypt but a massage therapist here in Britain. Her ex from Egypt has contacted her from social media and she's in the throes of excitement in rekindling memories of their romance. She's in her 40s. Iman is a beautiful woman whose beauty was supposed to shield her from the hardships of life. It hasn't. She's on her third husband, men always want to possess her and she's herded into a submissive and passive role, always. She's in her 20s. And Moni is the woman in her 30s, caring for her five-year-old son who has cerebral palsy. Her husband is demanding she and Adam (her son) join him in Saudi Arabia, and she's defying him because she wants her son to have the health care Britain provides, she hates the way Saudis treat the disabled.
Each woman has her own problems, concerns, and life experiences. Each is interesting and unique. Salma dealing with enjoying the freedom that comes from marrying a Scottish convert, but bemoaning the fact that this means she cannot dominate and control her children the way she wants to. She's ashamed on some level that she's unable to be a doctor here.
Iman, for all her beauty and being labeled as 'lazy and emptyheaded' is suffering from PTSD due to her growing up in Syria and having her first husband (she married him at age 15) killed in the war. She has an affinity for animals and a vivid imagination.
Moni is out of shape, her life completely devoted to carrying for her child, and the devotion to her disabled son is driving a wedge between her and her husband.
The book starts off pretty normal, but once the women reach Inverness the magical realism starts and things get progressively weirder and weirder. The book is called "Bird Summons" because Iman is in communication with Hoopoe, a bird that appears in the Quran. He tells her stories. I was mildly annoyed by the fairy tales in this book. I know Aboulela was trying to illustrate some points, but I'm not a fan of this type of plot device. I found the women's plot much more interesting, and could have done without all the fairy tales Hoopoe tells Iman.
The women each have to 'learn their lesson' and come out of the book on the other side of whatever main issue they are struggling with. If you don't like magical realism, allegories, or fairy tales, skip this book.
Aboulela has a kind of deceptively simple writing style that draws you in. It suits the subject material, but for those of you who celebrate amazing writing such as that of Donna Tartt or André Aciman are going to be disappointed, this isn't that kind of book.
I couldn't really understand why a strong woman like Salma was so eager to reconnect with someone like Amir. I know Aboulela is saying it's because if she stayed in her home country and married him instead of David, she could have been a doctor, but it was mind-boggling to me that she'd fantasize about being married to weakling Amir.
Amir can't handle women being better than him at anything, so when they were 'dating,' Salma was constantly stifling herself in order to keep Amir's ego inflated. She lost tennis matches, pretended he could outrun her, deliberately lost at cards. She does the work and he makes the decisions.
That was their pattern, what came naturally to them both - she did the legwork and the research so that they could brainstorm and fumble towards a decision in which he would have the final word. pg. 132
She did his work for him when they were in clinical.
It's INSANE to me that she's fantasizing about this guy. He sounds like an incredibly weak person, unable to tolerate the idea that a woman could be better than him at anything, very defensive, very spoiled, and full of himself. I guess Aboulela's point is that instead of fantasizing about this guy, Salma should be appreciative of her husband, who values her opinions, values her knowledge, and doesn't try to control or dominate her. But it was almost too bizarre to me. I couldn't understand the appeal of Amir or Salma's obsession with her digital affair with him.
The men who marry Iman (three so far) are also despicable and childlike. Aboulela seems to think it would be difficult to be anything else when their culture encourages this type of behavior. A wife is a servant, a live-in slave, basically, a possession. And if your wife pisses you off, you can always get another, which is what Moni is threatened with when she places the needs of her disabled son over the desires of her husband.
Only Salma escaped, by marrying a British man who converted to Islam. He is literally the only man in this book who respects women or sees women as human beings. Every single other man in here is someone who views women as servants, possessions or objects.
Iman depending on the mercy of a man only interested in her beauty (her lot in life) brings up an interesting thesis from Aboulela about the difference between marriage and prostitution:
Ibrahim had been opposed to this trip. Three women on their own gallivanting across Scotland - it was wrong and unnecessary. Iman had pleaded, pouted and sulked until he gave way. 'I can't bear you out of my sight,' he said the night before she left. 'What am I going to do?' he wailed in his boxer shorts, punching pillows and slamming doors.
Iman's husband was a young student from a conservative family. His scholarship, paid for by his home country's government, was ample and reliable. Ibrahim had suffered from homesickness and culture shock when he first arrived and the imam of the mosque prescribed marriage. Ibrahim's family back home disagreed and so, without their consent nor knowledge, he took as his wife the most beautiful divorcee in the local Muslim community. He left the student halls, which - with girls in close proximity to beds they should not, would not and did not share with him-were a source of torment, and moved with Iman into a small flat near the university. She was his saviour. The one who met all his needs so that he could settle and study. And he was her saviour too. Dumped by the husband who had brought her to Britain (not exactly dumped, but he had ended up in prison and divorced her as a courtesy), she had been unsure what to do next, how to proceed. 'Do anything, but don't come back,' her family told her. Because of the war, home was neither safe nor prosperous. Those who were lucky to be out stayed out.
Her ex-husband's lengthy sentence was for grievous bodily harm after losing his temper with a fellow Syrian. Asked if he had beaten her now that his violent credentials were proven without doubt, Iman shook her head and answered no, but the truth was he hadn't got around to it yet. So, she opted next for the peaceful, gentle Ibrahim. Of the string of suitors, he was the one least likely to lift a finger against her. Besides, when he said the magic words, 'I will do everything I can to unite you with your mother,' she was won over. His immaturity was endearing, his consistent lust for her reassuring. He rescued her from homelessness and from aimlessness. Closer to her in age than her previous husbands, she found herself loving him as a friend, someone she could cuddle on the sofa and play games with on the PlayStation.
Every morsel she put in her mouth, every piece of clothing, was provided for her by Ibrahim. The rent, the gas, the internet. She did not have to beg, borrow or steal. She did not need to get up at the crack of dawn, take orders from a line manager or clean up other people's homes. Instead, she was as pampered as a racehorse and as busy as a geisha.
To what extent is marriage religiously sanctioned prostitution? Iman sometimes pondered this question. She had even discussed it with Salma on more than one occasion -as much as she was capable of discussion. Salma of course had been adamant that the two were completely different. Iman wasn't sure, and the arguments Salma used didn't fully convince her. Prostitution and marriage. Man pays and woman serves. He houses, clothes and feeds her to get something in return. So what was the difference between the two? pg. 35
Later, Iman acknowledges that it's not religion, but only love that can change the relationship between man and woman:
And what lies ahead for her, how will she live? Everyone had predicted she would marry a rich man and never have to lift a finger. Her beauty had pointed towards this. Marriage versus prostitution. Marriage as a way to legitimise the oldest profession? It need not be like this. She knew this, glimpsed it in the lives of other couples. Two things could look alike and feel alike and seem alike yet be profoundly different. One was blessed and the other doomed. The intentions that led to each were different. The resemblance was superficial but understandable. Man pays and woman serves. He houses, clothes and feeds her to get something in return. Put love in the equation. He gives because he loves her and would give regardless of whether services were rendered or not; she gives because she loves him and would keep giving even if he didn't pay. Or they both give and receive in a flow generated by love with neither one keeping tabs, with neither one viewing the relationship as a transaction. pg. 72
But can she ever find love in this sort of system, where women are put on a marriage market and men marry them only because they are beautiful?
TL;DR An interesting look at the life of three Muslim women, at least one of whom is black. (Moni). Because they are living in Britain and not Saudi Arabia, Syria, or Egypt, this book isn't as depressing as most books I've read about Muslim women's lives (e.g. The Patience Stone, A Thousand Splendid Suns). A woman-focused book, in which men (good or bad) are only on the periphery. Focuses on women's feelings, thoughts, ideas, and life experiences.
Aboulela makes some great points and has some interesting things to say. I enjoyed the book. The magical realism sort of threw me for a loop, but overall a good book. If you want to read a Muslim-focused book by a Muslim female author (#OwnVoices or whatever) this is a good one. If you have an interest in that sort of thing, I'd recommend it.
NAMES IN THIS BOOK
August 22, 2021
Updated August 2021
Made this a BookOfCinz Book Club pick and I am so happy I did!
Wow! What an adventure! Perfect exploration of sisterhood!
In Leila Aboulela’s Bird Summons we meet three women who are going on a road trip to the Scottish Highlands for a week. What could possibly go wrong? On the road trip is Salma, Moni and Iman. They all decided to go when everyone in the Muslim Women’s ground decided to pull out… out of sheer pettiness Salma decided she is going, just to show everyone who pulled out, Moni and Iman decided to join here.
Salma has it all together (at least on the outside) she’s got the perfect husband and children who are doing great in their respective field. Salma feels unfulfilled, like she is losing a piece of herself, her children feels foreign to her and for the first time in a long while she feels she chose the wrong man to married. Added to this Salma recently contacted by her first love… she’s spending so much of her time wondering “what if…”
Moni can barely hold it together. She’s shut everyone, including in her husband out to take care of her disabled son. She quit her career in banking to stay home and take care of her son, she is martyr who no one seems to appreciate. She decided to go on the trip, leaving her son in a nursing home, the guilt eats her up… but it feels so good to not have the responsibility… what to do when her husband calls and asks her to choose- her son or him.
Iman is in her twenties and already in her third marriage. She is beautiful even through she pretends she doesn’t know it. Everyone wants to have some sort of ownership to Iman, people want to be her friend, men want to make her their wife… she is constantly at the wimps of other people, she just wants to be free! She’s never worked a day in her life… Her freedom comes so unexpectedly she is thrown and doesn’t know what to do.
All three are on a roadtrip that will change their lives completely!
Honestly, I wanted more of this book, I did not want it to end. I felt the author did such a beautiful job of making each character so strong and nuanced. With each character you feel like you are the only person they’ve ever let into their lives, and you feel like you never want to leave. I particularly loved how the themes of sisterhood, duty, regret, freedom and autonomy was executed.
If you are ready to go on a road trip that will teach you about other women and how they view the world- I cannot recommend this enough. If you are not reading Leila Aboulela … what you doing?
Made this a BookOfCinz Book Club pick and I am so happy I did!
Wow! What an adventure! Perfect exploration of sisterhood!
In Leila Aboulela’s Bird Summons we meet three women who are going on a road trip to the Scottish Highlands for a week. What could possibly go wrong? On the road trip is Salma, Moni and Iman. They all decided to go when everyone in the Muslim Women’s ground decided to pull out… out of sheer pettiness Salma decided she is going, just to show everyone who pulled out, Moni and Iman decided to join here.
Salma has it all together (at least on the outside) she’s got the perfect husband and children who are doing great in their respective field. Salma feels unfulfilled, like she is losing a piece of herself, her children feels foreign to her and for the first time in a long while she feels she chose the wrong man to married. Added to this Salma recently contacted by her first love… she’s spending so much of her time wondering “what if…”
Moni can barely hold it together. She’s shut everyone, including in her husband out to take care of her disabled son. She quit her career in banking to stay home and take care of her son, she is martyr who no one seems to appreciate. She decided to go on the trip, leaving her son in a nursing home, the guilt eats her up… but it feels so good to not have the responsibility… what to do when her husband calls and asks her to choose- her son or him.
Iman is in her twenties and already in her third marriage. She is beautiful even through she pretends she doesn’t know it. Everyone wants to have some sort of ownership to Iman, people want to be her friend, men want to make her their wife… she is constantly at the wimps of other people, she just wants to be free! She’s never worked a day in her life… Her freedom comes so unexpectedly she is thrown and doesn’t know what to do.
All three are on a roadtrip that will change their lives completely!
Honestly, I wanted more of this book, I did not want it to end. I felt the author did such a beautiful job of making each character so strong and nuanced. With each character you feel like you are the only person they’ve ever let into their lives, and you feel like you never want to leave. I particularly loved how the themes of sisterhood, duty, regret, freedom and autonomy was executed.
If you are ready to go on a road trip that will teach you about other women and how they view the world- I cannot recommend this enough. If you are not reading Leila Aboulela … what you doing?
June 27, 2020
The first book I have read by Leila Aboulela, an author I've wanted to read for some time, being someone who grew up in one culture and has experienced life in another culture, of the variety that interests me, the opposite of the colonial visitor. There was a time when literary insights into other cultures came predominantly from male explorers of anglo-saxon cultures, now we are increasingly able to read stories of how it is to be a woman coming from an African or Eastern culture or country, living in the West, a blend of the richness in perspective of what they bring and the fresh sightedness of their encounter with the place and people they have arrived to.
Bird Summons was all the better, for telling a tale of three women. They share in common that they belong to the Arabic Speaking Muslim Women's Group, although they've each grown up in different countries. So within their group and from that element they have in common, they challenge and learn from each other.
As the reader we get to witness how their attitudes shift and change as they transform, within this environment which is strange to them, yet they are making it their home and it contributes to the way they are and will be. One can not live elsewhere and stay fixed in the past and even when one adapts to a new present, it is necessary to continue changing and moving forward, no matter what challenges us from the outside.
Salma has organised a trip for the members of the group to visit the remote site of a grave of Lady Evelyn Cobbold, the first British woman to perform the pilgrimage to Mecca, to educate themselves about the history of Islam in Britain, however rumours of its defacement cause some to have doubts, whittling their numbers to just three.
Sometimes adversity offers a gift and rather than an overnight visit, they decide to stay a week at the loch, a resort on the grounds of a converted monastery, from where they can leisurely make their way to the grave.
Each of the three women has a pressing issue that over the week consumes them and the others learn about.
And then there is the Hoopoe. The wonderful bird that'll take some readers on a side journey to find more about.
It is a wonderful book of three international women, their journey, which they believe to be a pilgrimage to an important site, which becomes an inner voyage of transformation.
Highly Recommended.
Bird Summons was all the better, for telling a tale of three women. They share in common that they belong to the Arabic Speaking Muslim Women's Group, although they've each grown up in different countries. So within their group and from that element they have in common, they challenge and learn from each other.
As the reader we get to witness how their attitudes shift and change as they transform, within this environment which is strange to them, yet they are making it their home and it contributes to the way they are and will be. One can not live elsewhere and stay fixed in the past and even when one adapts to a new present, it is necessary to continue changing and moving forward, no matter what challenges us from the outside.
Salma has organised a trip for the members of the group to visit the remote site of a grave of Lady Evelyn Cobbold, the first British woman to perform the pilgrimage to Mecca, to educate themselves about the history of Islam in Britain, however rumours of its defacement cause some to have doubts, whittling their numbers to just three.
Sometimes adversity offers a gift and rather than an overnight visit, they decide to stay a week at the loch, a resort on the grounds of a converted monastery, from where they can leisurely make their way to the grave.
Each of the three women has a pressing issue that over the week consumes them and the others learn about.
And then there is the Hoopoe. The wonderful bird that'll take some readers on a side journey to find more about.
It is a wonderful book of three international women, their journey, which they believe to be a pilgrimage to an important site, which becomes an inner voyage of transformation.
Highly Recommended.
March 23, 2020
The story follows three women-Salma, Moni and Iman-as they undertake a pilgrimage to the grave of Lady Evelyn Cobbold, the first known Western woman to undertake a pilgrimage to Mecca. The characters often veer towards caricature, the paper thin veils with which Aboulela dresses their personalty punctuated intermittently by demonstrations of depth, whether it is Iman's tepid act of rebellion or Salma's harmless flirtation. Whilst 'Bird Summons' should be praised for depicting three Muslim women in sometimes nuanced ways, the characters still feel like the sum of their parts rather than being well developed characters and so Iman is seen solely through the lens of her beauty and Moni through her tribulations as the mother of a disabled son who has been rejected by his father. Whilst there shouldn't be a problem with this, we know that Aboulela is capable of better such as her tender, nuanced depictions in 'Elsewhere, Home' as opposed to the broad brushstrokes of 'Bird Summons'.
Nevertheless, 'Bird Summons' is an enjoyable read. The passages which most stand out are the various interactions between the protagonists, whether it be their bickering or their bonding and the end of the novel as Salma reaches her apotheosis as she reaches the tomb of Lady Evelyn and realises that this voyage of self-discovery is something that she had to do alone and which has made her appreciate all that she may have been beginning to find mundane, from her husband to her children to her flawed friends. 'Bird Summons' is perhaps a demonstration that Aboulela is only a brilliant writer in bursts and in the miniatures she displays in her short stories and on occasion in 'Bird Summons'.
Nevertheless, 'Bird Summons' is an enjoyable read. The passages which most stand out are the various interactions between the protagonists, whether it be their bickering or their bonding and the end of the novel as Salma reaches her apotheosis as she reaches the tomb of Lady Evelyn and realises that this voyage of self-discovery is something that she had to do alone and which has made her appreciate all that she may have been beginning to find mundane, from her husband to her children to her flawed friends. 'Bird Summons' is perhaps a demonstration that Aboulela is only a brilliant writer in bursts and in the miniatures she displays in her short stories and on occasion in 'Bird Summons'.
July 13, 2021
“They saw worldliness encroach upon the sacred, the secular triumphing over the religious, how this life became more important than the next.”
When I purchased Bird Summons a couple of weeks ago from London-based Arabic bookstore Al-Saqi, I had no plans to visit Scotland. If I had known at the time that I would shortly be enacting the very story myself, I would have certainly read it then and there. Call it fate or a routine impulse buy—I didn’t choose this book, this book chose me.
Centering on a bold expedition undertaken by three Muslimahs heading up north to the Scottish Highlands to visit the grave of Lady Evelyn Cobbold (Lady Zainab)—the first aristocratic British-born female convert to make Hajj in 1933, Bird Summons introduces us to a world that exists in spectacular dualities. A world that is mundane yet magical. A world that is utterly wretched yet extraordinarily blessed. A world in which good and bad coexist to provide humans with agency and freedom to make their own choices.
A world in which Muslim women are not a monolith.
I have never read a novel that so perfectly encapsulates this delightful reality.
Aboulela presents to us three unique women: Salma, a middle-aged masseuse of Egyptian heritage who married a Scottish convert, feeling somewhat disconnected from her children and husband; Iman, a thrice-divorced Syrian refugee in her twenties whose stunning visage enabled her to marry and flee the war; and Moni a Sudanese woman who gave up her job to dedicate her life to look after her disabled son while her husband is abroad. The three women are part of the Arabic Speaking Muslim Women’s Group, so despite the differences in age and ethnicity, they have both religion and the Arabic language as commonalities.
The journey the three women embarked on was not only a physical endeavor, but also a profoundly spiritual one. Aboulela’s exploration of faith, identity and purpose in the corporeal world, paired with the abstract metamorphosis that is spiritual progression made Bird Summons a heartwarming and enthralling read. I particularly enjoyed the mystical presence of the Hoopoe (‘hud-hud’ in the Qur’an), the bird that is mentioned in the story of Prophet Sulayman (AS) in Surah an-Naml. This was a beautiful addition to the story and I thoroughly enjoyed the wisdom the elegant bird imparted to Iman throughout the journey.
Aboulela’s writing is beautifully descriptive. As I read this on the train to Scotland, occasional glances at the picturesque landscape unfolding before me confirmed what was written on the pages in my hands; the rolling hills and fields were indeed lush and vibrant, and the glittering rocky streams were abundant and breathtaking. The dialogue between the characters also felt very natural and organic, as if reflecting the beauty of the Scottish landscape. I felt a deep admiration for each of the characters and appreciated Aboulela’s efforts in making her characters express their mutual faith through their everyday actions and habits.
Aspects of religion were woven seamlessly into each character’s life. There was never a moment where I felt the mention of ibadah or utterance in Arabic felt artificial or simply incorporated into the narrative to make a point. The struggles the characters had with their faith were incredibly relatable in some ways and wholly abstract in others. For instance, Iman’s yearning to be self-sufficient and to reclaim her identity as a twenty-something year old woman still navigating her identity felt quite personal, especially with societal expectations thrown into the mix. However, I have not experienced war nor the trauma of war or being divorced. Her choice to later renounce the hijab was interesting. I wasn’t sure how to perceive this bar a transient crisis of faith, which is understandable given her life experiences, trauma and ill treatment at the hands of both men and society. Her impassive, detached disposition was largely due to this latter mistreatment. Not sure how removing the hijab helps her situation though if I’m completely honest.
Towards Salma and Moni I felt slightly less of a connection—perhaps because I am neither married nor a mother—however, I could see in them the strength and fortitude of my own mother. The sacrificial, selfless nature that is part and parcel of motherhood were illustrated powerfully in Salma and Moni. However, as Aboulela demonstrates, mothers too have internal conflicts and desires they strive to combat to uphold and protect their families.
The element of magical realism was certainly surprising but definitely not unwelcome. This added an enchanting dimension to the story and I was captivated by the shift in narrative. If you’re not a fan of magical realism, you may not enjoy this, but for me it was wonderful and pivotal to the plot (refer to aforementioned metamorphosis).
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It ticked almost all my boxes when it comes to Muslim representation. The storyline was refreshing and unique, the characters felt personal and the writing was descriptive and eloquent.
“it is travel which lifts up the curtain
hiding people’s characters.”
- Imam Ghazali
4.5/5
When I purchased Bird Summons a couple of weeks ago from London-based Arabic bookstore Al-Saqi, I had no plans to visit Scotland. If I had known at the time that I would shortly be enacting the very story myself, I would have certainly read it then and there. Call it fate or a routine impulse buy—I didn’t choose this book, this book chose me.
Centering on a bold expedition undertaken by three Muslimahs heading up north to the Scottish Highlands to visit the grave of Lady Evelyn Cobbold (Lady Zainab)—the first aristocratic British-born female convert to make Hajj in 1933, Bird Summons introduces us to a world that exists in spectacular dualities. A world that is mundane yet magical. A world that is utterly wretched yet extraordinarily blessed. A world in which good and bad coexist to provide humans with agency and freedom to make their own choices.
A world in which Muslim women are not a monolith.
I have never read a novel that so perfectly encapsulates this delightful reality.
Aboulela presents to us three unique women: Salma, a middle-aged masseuse of Egyptian heritage who married a Scottish convert, feeling somewhat disconnected from her children and husband; Iman, a thrice-divorced Syrian refugee in her twenties whose stunning visage enabled her to marry and flee the war; and Moni a Sudanese woman who gave up her job to dedicate her life to look after her disabled son while her husband is abroad. The three women are part of the Arabic Speaking Muslim Women’s Group, so despite the differences in age and ethnicity, they have both religion and the Arabic language as commonalities.
The journey the three women embarked on was not only a physical endeavor, but also a profoundly spiritual one. Aboulela’s exploration of faith, identity and purpose in the corporeal world, paired with the abstract metamorphosis that is spiritual progression made Bird Summons a heartwarming and enthralling read. I particularly enjoyed the mystical presence of the Hoopoe (‘hud-hud’ in the Qur’an), the bird that is mentioned in the story of Prophet Sulayman (AS) in Surah an-Naml. This was a beautiful addition to the story and I thoroughly enjoyed the wisdom the elegant bird imparted to Iman throughout the journey.
Aboulela’s writing is beautifully descriptive. As I read this on the train to Scotland, occasional glances at the picturesque landscape unfolding before me confirmed what was written on the pages in my hands; the rolling hills and fields were indeed lush and vibrant, and the glittering rocky streams were abundant and breathtaking. The dialogue between the characters also felt very natural and organic, as if reflecting the beauty of the Scottish landscape. I felt a deep admiration for each of the characters and appreciated Aboulela’s efforts in making her characters express their mutual faith through their everyday actions and habits.
Aspects of religion were woven seamlessly into each character’s life. There was never a moment where I felt the mention of ibadah or utterance in Arabic felt artificial or simply incorporated into the narrative to make a point. The struggles the characters had with their faith were incredibly relatable in some ways and wholly abstract in others. For instance, Iman’s yearning to be self-sufficient and to reclaim her identity as a twenty-something year old woman still navigating her identity felt quite personal, especially with societal expectations thrown into the mix. However, I have not experienced war nor the trauma of war or being divorced. Her choice to later renounce the hijab was interesting. I wasn’t sure how to perceive this bar a transient crisis of faith, which is understandable given her life experiences, trauma and ill treatment at the hands of both men and society. Her impassive, detached disposition was largely due to this latter mistreatment. Not sure how removing the hijab helps her situation though if I’m completely honest.
Towards Salma and Moni I felt slightly less of a connection—perhaps because I am neither married nor a mother—however, I could see in them the strength and fortitude of my own mother. The sacrificial, selfless nature that is part and parcel of motherhood were illustrated powerfully in Salma and Moni. However, as Aboulela demonstrates, mothers too have internal conflicts and desires they strive to combat to uphold and protect their families.
The element of magical realism was certainly surprising but definitely not unwelcome. This added an enchanting dimension to the story and I was captivated by the shift in narrative. If you’re not a fan of magical realism, you may not enjoy this, but for me it was wonderful and pivotal to the plot (refer to aforementioned metamorphosis).
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It ticked almost all my boxes when it comes to Muslim representation. The storyline was refreshing and unique, the characters felt personal and the writing was descriptive and eloquent.
“it is travel which lifts up the curtain
hiding people’s characters.”
- Imam Ghazali
4.5/5
d-n-f
June 1, 2023DNF at 60%
Türkan and I struggled so hard through this book. She managed to finish but i could no longer force myself to read it 😪
Türkan and I struggled so hard through this book. She managed to finish but i could no longer force myself to read it 😪
April 24, 2021
Bird Summons by Leila Aboulela is a heartwarming story of friendship, faith, identity, family, and journeys to self-knowledge. At its centre are Iman, a beautiful young Syrian refugee who fled the war and made her way to Scotland, Moni a Sudanese woman who once held a corporate job but is now married and the main carer for her beloved young son who has cerebral palsy, and finally there is Salma, an Egyptian woman who married a white Scottish convert and has a happy home with him but feels alienated by her children who often seem so foreign to her. Salma is the leader of the group and has arranged a road trip to visit the grave of Lady Evelyn (Zaynab) Cobbold, the first Englishwoman to make the Hajj pilgrimage to Makkah in 1933 at the age of 66. This alone was fascinating to me as I’d never heard of this woman. Learning about her both through the story and the google rabbit hole it sent me down was so satisfying in itself, but this little book had its own twists and turns to keep me occupied plenty!
This is very much a road trip novel, each one of these women is on a journey of self-reflection and comes out on the other side of the experience a changed woman. One hopes for a brighter future for each of them as their lives extend beyond the pages of Bird Summons, but the unexpected twist in the story was the magical realism. As they embark on their travels Iman starts to be visited by a Hoopoe bird. For those familiar with the stories of the Quran, they will recognise this bird as one that makes an appearance in the stories of Suleyman (Solomon). This bird speaks to Imaan and tells her allegorical moral lessons. I absolutely adored these stories. They reminded me of when I was an Arabic language student and I used to read through Kalila wa Dimnah, folkstories featuring animals, each with a strong moral message at the end.
Magical realism isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but I love a good mug of magical realism and as the story climaxes so too does the magic tip over into the fantastical. The messages Aboulela imparts are ones of humanity, a continuum of shared legacies, holding onto heritage whilst taking up our space in the contemporary moment, of friendship and forbearance, and of our interconnectedness being far greater than our disconnects. And of course, she delivers this all with writing that is generous in its lyricism and beauty.
If I have any criticism at all it is only that all the Muslim men are dreadful. The only one who is not, is the white convert, and that is a little problematic for me. I would have liked to have seen at least one redeemable brown Muslim man in there.
If you like books that are allegorical, have a fairytale/folklore feel to them, magical realism and like to read own voice authors, I highly recommend this one!
I had the pleasure of speaking with the warm and wonderful Leila about Bird Summons on my instagram and the spoiler free conversation can be seen here: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CMFudG4p...
This is very much a road trip novel, each one of these women is on a journey of self-reflection and comes out on the other side of the experience a changed woman. One hopes for a brighter future for each of them as their lives extend beyond the pages of Bird Summons, but the unexpected twist in the story was the magical realism. As they embark on their travels Iman starts to be visited by a Hoopoe bird. For those familiar with the stories of the Quran, they will recognise this bird as one that makes an appearance in the stories of Suleyman (Solomon). This bird speaks to Imaan and tells her allegorical moral lessons. I absolutely adored these stories. They reminded me of when I was an Arabic language student and I used to read through Kalila wa Dimnah, folkstories featuring animals, each with a strong moral message at the end.
Magical realism isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but I love a good mug of magical realism and as the story climaxes so too does the magic tip over into the fantastical. The messages Aboulela imparts are ones of humanity, a continuum of shared legacies, holding onto heritage whilst taking up our space in the contemporary moment, of friendship and forbearance, and of our interconnectedness being far greater than our disconnects. And of course, she delivers this all with writing that is generous in its lyricism and beauty.
If I have any criticism at all it is only that all the Muslim men are dreadful. The only one who is not, is the white convert, and that is a little problematic for me. I would have liked to have seen at least one redeemable brown Muslim man in there.
If you like books that are allegorical, have a fairytale/folklore feel to them, magical realism and like to read own voice authors, I highly recommend this one!
I had the pleasure of speaking with the warm and wonderful Leila about Bird Summons on my instagram and the spoiler free conversation can be seen here: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CMFudG4p...
June 20, 2023
They underestimated their own importance and exaggerated their shortcomings. They inflated their problems and followed their egos, counselled each other but rejected what was right. Their quarrels taking up space, their connections weakening. And now they were far away, deep in the realm of consequence
The novel tells the story of three women - Salma, Moni and Iman, who are active members of their local Muslim Women's Group. The women set out on an adventure to the Scottish Highlands to visit the grave of Lady Evelyn (Zainab) Cobbold, who converted to Islam during the Victorian era and became the first British woman to undertake a pilgrimage to Mecca. The three women are all struggling with different elements in their lives; social expectations, family life, understanding of themselves etc.
I find this review to be one of the hardest I have to write - because I'm extremely sad that I didn't enjoy or like this book more. I had expected so much. I expected a lyrical teleport to the Scottich Highlands that I love, along with three Muslim women, I would read, learn and reflect from.
Sadly, I didn't get of any it :-(
The book dives into magical realism (which I don't mind at all), through different points the narration, to enlighten the three women. The stories within are without a doubt compelling, I just didn't feel anything for the characters at all. I loved the concept of three women on a trip, and how it would change them but I did not connect with either of the women. They got on my nerves and I felt that they were extremely annoying and immature compared to who they were and what they stood for in their lives. The Muslim men were even worse, and it annoyed me immensely that they had to be that way.
This story had so much unrealized potential. I'm so sad this didn't work for me - but do give it at go. Maybe it will work for you. I have no doubt that I will read more Aboulela. I think she is an important writer, especially concerning Muslim women and their spiritual journeys. So, I'm still looking forward to my next Leila Aboulela book.
Azrah, thank you for struggling with me. Let's hope our next br hits home :/
The novel tells the story of three women - Salma, Moni and Iman, who are active members of their local Muslim Women's Group. The women set out on an adventure to the Scottish Highlands to visit the grave of Lady Evelyn (Zainab) Cobbold, who converted to Islam during the Victorian era and became the first British woman to undertake a pilgrimage to Mecca. The three women are all struggling with different elements in their lives; social expectations, family life, understanding of themselves etc.
I find this review to be one of the hardest I have to write - because I'm extremely sad that I didn't enjoy or like this book more. I had expected so much. I expected a lyrical teleport to the Scottich Highlands that I love, along with three Muslim women, I would read, learn and reflect from.
Sadly, I didn't get of any it :-(
The book dives into magical realism (which I don't mind at all), through different points the narration, to enlighten the three women. The stories within are without a doubt compelling, I just didn't feel anything for the characters at all. I loved the concept of three women on a trip, and how it would change them but I did not connect with either of the women. They got on my nerves and I felt that they were extremely annoying and immature compared to who they were and what they stood for in their lives. The Muslim men were even worse, and it annoyed me immensely that they had to be that way.
This story had so much unrealized potential. I'm so sad this didn't work for me - but do give it at go. Maybe it will work for you. I have no doubt that I will read more Aboulela. I think she is an important writer, especially concerning Muslim women and their spiritual journeys. So, I'm still looking forward to my next Leila Aboulela book.
Azrah, thank you for struggling with me. Let's hope our next br hits home :/
January 23, 2020
I could'nt connect with any of the characters. I found them annoying and just meh. I tried really hard to find any sympathy and anything to like the book.
July 14, 2021
"Bird Summons" by @leilaaboulela is a strange, sometimes dreamy, often heavy, and yet deeply evocative read. It is perhaps one of the most unique Muslamic fiction I've yet read - magical realism, with Muslim characters and deeply meaningful spiritual themes.
Readers of Aboulela's previous books will recognize the emotional weight that her characters bear and navigate. In this book, we follow three very different Muslim women: young, beautiful, tragic Iman - widowed and divorced multiple times already; Moni the martyr-mother, clinging to her disabled son; and Salma, middle-aged and secretly resentful of her seemingly charmed life.
The three women embark on a road trip to the Scottish hinterlands, in search of Lady Zainab Evelyn Cobbold's grave. Along the way, they must contend with one another and with themselves; the Hoopoe bird, of Qur’anic importance, appears with mysterious fables and the keys to their salvation.
Aboulela's words are simple and yet utterly powerful; she entwines the intimately spiritual and brutally human in starkly beautiful prose. Her exploration of faith, identity, and rising from personal tragedy is never comfortable and yet illuminating.
I deeply loved the way that Aboulela drew upon and wove Islam in its most essential beliefs into the story, highlighting tawheed in Scottish history alongside the present-day religious identities of the Arabic-Speaking Muslim Women characters we come to learn so much about. There were multiple scenes that stirred my heart, in ways that I rarely experience through fiction.
Truly an unusual read, but I highly highly recommend!
Readers of Aboulela's previous books will recognize the emotional weight that her characters bear and navigate. In this book, we follow three very different Muslim women: young, beautiful, tragic Iman - widowed and divorced multiple times already; Moni the martyr-mother, clinging to her disabled son; and Salma, middle-aged and secretly resentful of her seemingly charmed life.
The three women embark on a road trip to the Scottish hinterlands, in search of Lady Zainab Evelyn Cobbold's grave. Along the way, they must contend with one another and with themselves; the Hoopoe bird, of Qur’anic importance, appears with mysterious fables and the keys to their salvation.
Aboulela's words are simple and yet utterly powerful; she entwines the intimately spiritual and brutally human in starkly beautiful prose. Her exploration of faith, identity, and rising from personal tragedy is never comfortable and yet illuminating.
I deeply loved the way that Aboulela drew upon and wove Islam in its most essential beliefs into the story, highlighting tawheed in Scottish history alongside the present-day religious identities of the Arabic-Speaking Muslim Women characters we come to learn so much about. There were multiple scenes that stirred my heart, in ways that I rarely experience through fiction.
Truly an unusual read, but I highly highly recommend!
February 14, 2021
Book 47 of 2021
3.75 ish, a very insightful and reflective read.
I enjoyed a lot about this book and the three protagonists.
Full review coming soon.
3.75 ish, a very insightful and reflective read.
I enjoyed a lot about this book and the three protagonists.
Full review coming soon.
January 22, 2022
Inspired by Farid Ud-Din Attar’s twelfth-century Sufi poem, The Conference of the Birds, Bird Summons by Leila Aboulela tells the story of three Muslim women living in Scotland. They embark on a road trip to visit the grave of Lady Evelyn Cobbold, a Scottish convert to Islam and the first British woman to perform the pilgrimage to Mecca.
The three friends are plagued with doubts about their paths in life. Salma, the self-appointed leader who organizes the trip, is a massage therapist and happily married to a Scottish convert to Islam. When she is contacted by her first love in Egypt, she becomes embroiled in a fantasy world of what might have been had she stayed in Egypt. Moni relinquished a successful banking career to devote herself to the full-time care of her five-year-old son suffering from cerebral palsy. She feuds with her husband about her exclusive focus on their son to the detriment of their marital relationship. Iman, the youngest, has been married three times. In the course of the road trip, her third husband catches up with her and announces their divorce because his parents disapprove of his marriage.
The women spend a week at a resort on the grounds of a converted monastery before heading to Lady Evelyn’s grave site. During the road trip and the week-long stay, they bicker and criticize one another. Each one is wrapped up in her own thoughts. Salma’s phone calls to her former boyfriend in Egypt consume her. Moni is plagued with worry about her son. And without an education or adequate resources, Iman tries to figure out what to do with the rest of her life.
It is at this point the novel delves into magical realism. Iman is visited by a Hoopoe who speaks to her in parables, folktales, and riddles. Moni befriends a young child who reminds her of her son. He inexplicably assumes gigantic proportions and crushes her with his weight. And Salma chases after a man she thinks is her former boyfriend. She travels back in time to Egypt and ends up in her boyfriend’s clinic where he dissects her body. The three women metamorphose into a variety of inhuman shapes and are forced to rely on each other to proceed. As a result of the Hoopoe’s guidance and their collaboration, their human shape is restored and they are able to find their way back. Each woman gains insight and strength as a result of what predictably turns out to be a journey of self-discovery.
The plunge into magical realism is a new element in Aboulela’s writing. Unfortunately, it is not entirely successful. It does not flow organically from the novel and appears contrived—as if the author is trying to bend the narrative to conform to Attar’s poem. What started off as a promising novel about three Muslim woman immigrants and their struggles with relationships and with adapting to life in a western culture veers into the territory of magical realism that is totally out of sync with the novel. In addition, the characters lack depth and nuance; the writing is perfunctory and pedantic.
Recommended with reservations since it is not up to the quality of Aboulela’s other works in either style or content.
You can see more of my book reviews at www.tamaraaghajaffar.com
The three friends are plagued with doubts about their paths in life. Salma, the self-appointed leader who organizes the trip, is a massage therapist and happily married to a Scottish convert to Islam. When she is contacted by her first love in Egypt, she becomes embroiled in a fantasy world of what might have been had she stayed in Egypt. Moni relinquished a successful banking career to devote herself to the full-time care of her five-year-old son suffering from cerebral palsy. She feuds with her husband about her exclusive focus on their son to the detriment of their marital relationship. Iman, the youngest, has been married three times. In the course of the road trip, her third husband catches up with her and announces their divorce because his parents disapprove of his marriage.
The women spend a week at a resort on the grounds of a converted monastery before heading to Lady Evelyn’s grave site. During the road trip and the week-long stay, they bicker and criticize one another. Each one is wrapped up in her own thoughts. Salma’s phone calls to her former boyfriend in Egypt consume her. Moni is plagued with worry about her son. And without an education or adequate resources, Iman tries to figure out what to do with the rest of her life.
It is at this point the novel delves into magical realism. Iman is visited by a Hoopoe who speaks to her in parables, folktales, and riddles. Moni befriends a young child who reminds her of her son. He inexplicably assumes gigantic proportions and crushes her with his weight. And Salma chases after a man she thinks is her former boyfriend. She travels back in time to Egypt and ends up in her boyfriend’s clinic where he dissects her body. The three women metamorphose into a variety of inhuman shapes and are forced to rely on each other to proceed. As a result of the Hoopoe’s guidance and their collaboration, their human shape is restored and they are able to find their way back. Each woman gains insight and strength as a result of what predictably turns out to be a journey of self-discovery.
The plunge into magical realism is a new element in Aboulela’s writing. Unfortunately, it is not entirely successful. It does not flow organically from the novel and appears contrived—as if the author is trying to bend the narrative to conform to Attar’s poem. What started off as a promising novel about three Muslim woman immigrants and their struggles with relationships and with adapting to life in a western culture veers into the territory of magical realism that is totally out of sync with the novel. In addition, the characters lack depth and nuance; the writing is perfunctory and pedantic.
Recommended with reservations since it is not up to the quality of Aboulela’s other works in either style or content.
You can see more of my book reviews at www.tamaraaghajaffar.com
August 26, 2021
I have a soft spot for Leila Aboulela's writing. A quiet force, with the ability to depict nuanced Muslim women, stories that never feel like trauma porn, and not othering her characters.
Bird Summons begins with three women who are not quite friends but a little more than acquaintances, choosing to go on a road trip together, searching for a wondrous sight - Lady Evelyn Cobold's grave, the first Scottish woman documented woman to have undertaken a pilgrimage to Mecca. A journey that each hope might recharge and restore their spirit in light of underlying personal issues and struggles.
It's a warm and wonderfully trippy story that employs magical realism in the correct sense of the word. I loved its use of fables and folklore and how it told stories within stories. Sometimes the characters don't feel like they move beyond the narrow scope of their archetypes; the fat one with the disabled son, the married one reconsidering her choices, and the slim twice divorced beauty unable to make a relationship stick. However, as each embraces and learns from the flaws of the other, the characters display more depth. I also loved the moments of wisdom and questioning, and the fludity of the prose. The book's last quarter spirals quickly, and after their arrival at the Loch it shifts from a seemingly ordinary story to a torrent of magical realism with the magical Hoopoe bird in the driver seat.
A heartwarming story of friendship, womanhood, and personal growth which blends elements from different cultures, well, gangly-like but still beautiful.
Bird Summons begins with three women who are not quite friends but a little more than acquaintances, choosing to go on a road trip together, searching for a wondrous sight - Lady Evelyn Cobold's grave, the first Scottish woman documented woman to have undertaken a pilgrimage to Mecca. A journey that each hope might recharge and restore their spirit in light of underlying personal issues and struggles.
It's a warm and wonderfully trippy story that employs magical realism in the correct sense of the word. I loved its use of fables and folklore and how it told stories within stories. Sometimes the characters don't feel like they move beyond the narrow scope of their archetypes; the fat one with the disabled son, the married one reconsidering her choices, and the slim twice divorced beauty unable to make a relationship stick. However, as each embraces and learns from the flaws of the other, the characters display more depth. I also loved the moments of wisdom and questioning, and the fludity of the prose. The book's last quarter spirals quickly, and after their arrival at the Loch it shifts from a seemingly ordinary story to a torrent of magical realism with the magical Hoopoe bird in the driver seat.
A heartwarming story of friendship, womanhood, and personal growth which blends elements from different cultures, well, gangly-like but still beautiful.
October 25, 2020
4 1/2 stars actually.
This is the most different novel by the Sudanese-Scottish author Leila Abuleila.
Up to now I have loved everything I have read from her, with The Kindness of Enemies being my absolute favourite. Her other books are realistic, so I was caught off guard at first by the myths, folk and fairy tales, as well as the magical realism in this one.
I love all these genres, but I was just not expecting it in this book!
The story starts out normally enough. Three friends, all Muslim women living in Scotland, set off to the wilderness in the north to stay a week in a cottage and mainly to visit the grave of Lady Evelyn, a Scottish covert to Islam.
Salma, in her 40s and married to a Scottish convert, had to give up her career as a doctor when she moved to Scotland. She has recently gotten in contact with her former Egyptian boyfriend who also became a doctor through social media. This has thrown her into a type of mid-life crisis where she wonders what would have happened if she had stayed in Egypt.
Moni is in her 30s and originally from Sudan. She has a 5 year old son with cerebral palsy. Since his birth she has devoted her entire life to him. She has left her job and neglected her health and appearance. Her husband and her have become estranged, especially because the husband is working in Saudi Arabia and Moni does not want to move there.
Imam is from Syria and in her 20s. She was married and widowed before she was 20 and her second husband brought her to Scotland only to get arrested and divorce her.
On the day of their trip her 3rd husband divorces her as well because of family pressure. Because it was an "Orfi" or not a legal marriage, she can do nothing about it and has no rights. She is very beautiful, sings well, but has never had a job in her life except for briefly in a grocery store before her 3rd marriage.
Once they are in their isolated cottage little things occur that add magical elements:
a Hoopie bird appears to Iman and tells her parables, myths, fairy and folktales.
There are also various costumes in Imam's closet, Cinderella, the Little mermaid, Cowgirl Annie from the Toy Story. Iman dresses up in a different costume each day and always finds new costumes that were not there before, where as the old ones have disappeared....
Moni befriends a little boy around her son's age who doesn't speak and who one one else seems to see....
After numerous messages with her ex in Egypt, Salma's cell phone starts smelling very bad, rotten and foul smelling.
About 3/4 though the novel becomes full out magical/mystical and the 3 friends' journey together on a spiritual quest.
This part is inspired by the medieval poem The Conference of the Birds or Speech of the Birds by the Persian Sufi poet Farid ud-Din Attar.
Finally the novel is a type of retelling of this story.
This is a beautiful story, spiritual, but the religion is not shoved down your throat.
I loved it and would highly recommend it!
This is the most different novel by the Sudanese-Scottish author Leila Abuleila.
Up to now I have loved everything I have read from her, with The Kindness of Enemies being my absolute favourite. Her other books are realistic, so I was caught off guard at first by the myths, folk and fairy tales, as well as the magical realism in this one.
I love all these genres, but I was just not expecting it in this book!
The story starts out normally enough. Three friends, all Muslim women living in Scotland, set off to the wilderness in the north to stay a week in a cottage and mainly to visit the grave of Lady Evelyn, a Scottish covert to Islam.
Salma, in her 40s and married to a Scottish convert, had to give up her career as a doctor when she moved to Scotland. She has recently gotten in contact with her former Egyptian boyfriend who also became a doctor through social media. This has thrown her into a type of mid-life crisis where she wonders what would have happened if she had stayed in Egypt.
Moni is in her 30s and originally from Sudan. She has a 5 year old son with cerebral palsy. Since his birth she has devoted her entire life to him. She has left her job and neglected her health and appearance. Her husband and her have become estranged, especially because the husband is working in Saudi Arabia and Moni does not want to move there.
Imam is from Syria and in her 20s. She was married and widowed before she was 20 and her second husband brought her to Scotland only to get arrested and divorce her.
On the day of their trip her 3rd husband divorces her as well because of family pressure. Because it was an "Orfi" or not a legal marriage, she can do nothing about it and has no rights. She is very beautiful, sings well, but has never had a job in her life except for briefly in a grocery store before her 3rd marriage.
Once they are in their isolated cottage little things occur that add magical elements:
a Hoopie bird appears to Iman and tells her parables, myths, fairy and folktales.
There are also various costumes in Imam's closet, Cinderella, the Little mermaid, Cowgirl Annie from the Toy Story. Iman dresses up in a different costume each day and always finds new costumes that were not there before, where as the old ones have disappeared....
Moni befriends a little boy around her son's age who doesn't speak and who one one else seems to see....
After numerous messages with her ex in Egypt, Salma's cell phone starts smelling very bad, rotten and foul smelling.
About 3/4 though the novel becomes full out magical/mystical and the 3 friends' journey together on a spiritual quest.
This part is inspired by the medieval poem The Conference of the Birds or Speech of the Birds by the Persian Sufi poet Farid ud-Din Attar.
Finally the novel is a type of retelling of this story.
This is a beautiful story, spiritual, but the religion is not shoved down your throat.
I loved it and would highly recommend it!
July 27, 2024
I’d heard great things about this novel and the author in general, and since the story revolves around three women at different stages of their lives navigating their faith and identity, naturally I had high expectations.
While the novel begins with a straightforward narrative, it takes an unexpected detour into heavy magical realism in the second half, which I found a bit off-putting. Despite this, the writing and storyline are strong and engaging, and the author does an excellent job addressing religion and religious issues.
Overall, it's a well-written, if somewhat strange, book with a compelling plot, but the magical realism might not be to everyone's taste.
While the novel begins with a straightforward narrative, it takes an unexpected detour into heavy magical realism in the second half, which I found a bit off-putting. Despite this, the writing and storyline are strong and engaging, and the author does an excellent job addressing religion and religious issues.
Overall, it's a well-written, if somewhat strange, book with a compelling plot, but the magical realism might not be to everyone's taste.
November 9, 2021
What an insightful, thought provoking read!
February 1, 2021
When a woman like Leila Aboulela writes about the triumphs and trials of Muslim women from different backgrounds, we are no longer begging for accurate representation rather we find that emotions are perfectly captured!
This story held my heart from the very first sentence:
'she had hired a coach, then when the women started pulling out after the anger over the photo, a minibus, then when the numbers fell still further, a people carrier, then when there were just three of them, Salma decided to take her own car.'
Something about the first phrase captured my attention and held it till the last few chapters when what began as a somewhat normal story evolved into a supernatural fantasy. I don't know if I didn't quiet enjoy that part because I didn't see it coming or because it completely felt out of place for me.
I however enjoyed the presence of the Hoopoe, their travel companion whose wisdom came in different versions of folklores. My favourite amongst them was the story of the travelling knight.
I am particularly in love with the way Leila wastes no time in making the reader familiar with her characters. By the third chapter one would find that they are well acquainted with the characters of the story. This is perhaps my favourite thing about her writing style.
Three women set out on a self prescribed pilgrimage (each with a reason different from the other), three women find that more than anything, this journey turns into a self finding voyage. They face their demons heads on and make choices that will either make or break the rest of their lives.
But for the unexpected supernatural fantasy diversion of the story (without which I genuinely believe the story would have been well complete) I really enjoyed the plot and I found the prose quite soothing.
This story held my heart from the very first sentence:
'she had hired a coach, then when the women started pulling out after the anger over the photo, a minibus, then when the numbers fell still further, a people carrier, then when there were just three of them, Salma decided to take her own car.'
Something about the first phrase captured my attention and held it till the last few chapters when what began as a somewhat normal story evolved into a supernatural fantasy. I don't know if I didn't quiet enjoy that part because I didn't see it coming or because it completely felt out of place for me.
I however enjoyed the presence of the Hoopoe, their travel companion whose wisdom came in different versions of folklores. My favourite amongst them was the story of the travelling knight.
I am particularly in love with the way Leila wastes no time in making the reader familiar with her characters. By the third chapter one would find that they are well acquainted with the characters of the story. This is perhaps my favourite thing about her writing style.
Three women set out on a self prescribed pilgrimage (each with a reason different from the other), three women find that more than anything, this journey turns into a self finding voyage. They face their demons heads on and make choices that will either make or break the rest of their lives.
But for the unexpected supernatural fantasy diversion of the story (without which I genuinely believe the story would have been well complete) I really enjoyed the plot and I found the prose quite soothing.
March 30, 2020
I loved Aboulela's The Translator, a stunning novel. I also liked her early novel, Minaret.
Bird Summons was disappointing to me. I liked it well enough for the first half, a realistic more mainstream treatment than her others. I appreciate that the novel centers on friendship, in particular among women, as I don't think that important relationship is explored enough in literary fiction.
The novel moves from realism to the more fantastical, first with some elements, and then ultimately, to a full-blown fantastical/magical realm. I wasn't drawn in by this and couldn't reconcile the rift. So the novel's charms and lessons (ultimately it seemed pedantic) were lost on me.
Bird Summons was disappointing to me. I liked it well enough for the first half, a realistic more mainstream treatment than her others. I appreciate that the novel centers on friendship, in particular among women, as I don't think that important relationship is explored enough in literary fiction.
The novel moves from realism to the more fantastical, first with some elements, and then ultimately, to a full-blown fantastical/magical realm. I wasn't drawn in by this and couldn't reconcile the rift. So the novel's charms and lessons (ultimately it seemed pedantic) were lost on me.
April 12, 2023
I truly wanted to love this book. But I ended up slightly "liking" it in a very unsatisfying way. I was here for the plot, only for it being a character-driven novel, which isn't bad but I was interested more in the road trip.
Anyway, I loved the characters despite their flaws. And I believe the author succeeded in humanizing them all with their flaws, conflicts, and desires. And it's good to see a novel by an author of Arab descent that still talks about serious topics and characters facing struggles unrelated to wars, immigration, refugees, and political conflicts.
The author is very promising when it comes to writing characters and their dynamics, and I would love to see her grow and improve in writing better plots and novels.
Anyway, I loved the characters despite their flaws. And I believe the author succeeded in humanizing them all with their flaws, conflicts, and desires. And it's good to see a novel by an author of Arab descent that still talks about serious topics and characters facing struggles unrelated to wars, immigration, refugees, and political conflicts.
The author is very promising when it comes to writing characters and their dynamics, and I would love to see her grow and improve in writing better plots and novels.
February 17, 2022
The first 20% of this book was intriguing. Then it got super weird, incoherent, and continued down that path. The story line veered into fantasy land which just did not jive with the reality presented in the build up. Plus the fantasy also didn't make sense. Someone isn't one moment a human then turns into a cow and then has to go through some journey to return BUT the return to human is sudden no explanations. Really? Not sure how I kept going, skipped a lot of pages...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 7, 2020
The plot dragged, the characters were predictable and flat. I loved the central characters being Muslim, but unfortunately a dull story is a dull story. Would not recommend.
May 1, 2022
Aboulela writes with a palpablity that makes the pages fly by and the characters speak in a voice that makes them come alive.
'They kept silent when they should have spoken out.'
Aboulela's montage of three very different women on a road trip to pay respects drips with a complexity of identity and is resonant with empathy.
Salma, Iman, and Moni are all at different points in their lives, where questioning their experiences, past and present, power their actions, thoughts, and reactions.
At its core, Bird Summons is a story that focuses on the ever changing landscape of life, the difficulties in admitting our faults, the realities of our desires, the hardships of coping, trust, friendship, and the quest to find oneself in the midst of our responsibilities.
Her prose is simple, yet lyrical and illustrates clearly the different currents and complexities that run through our relationships with self, family, and friends.
These three women have made and are making concessions to bolster machismo, sacrificed dreams, have repressed their need for true expression, and have allowed their very existence to be whittled down to a singular role.
By using the Hoopoe, Aboulela has given each woman a manifestation through which they can attend to their course and path, allowing them the perfect outlet to question, to acknowledge, and find comfort in knowing that they have the strength to confront all they believe, hold dear, and that just might be holding them back.
Aboulela weaves a metaphor of evolution and metamorphosis with the bodies of these women: the slim desirable form which traps true freedom of expression, the fit and strong form yearning for a life past, and the soft and larger form beholden to another's care-taking.
And oh what beauty and realization is possible through the trials of self-actualization.
'They kept silent when they should have spoken out.'
Aboulela's montage of three very different women on a road trip to pay respects drips with a complexity of identity and is resonant with empathy.
Salma, Iman, and Moni are all at different points in their lives, where questioning their experiences, past and present, power their actions, thoughts, and reactions.
At its core, Bird Summons is a story that focuses on the ever changing landscape of life, the difficulties in admitting our faults, the realities of our desires, the hardships of coping, trust, friendship, and the quest to find oneself in the midst of our responsibilities.
Her prose is simple, yet lyrical and illustrates clearly the different currents and complexities that run through our relationships with self, family, and friends.
These three women have made and are making concessions to bolster machismo, sacrificed dreams, have repressed their need for true expression, and have allowed their very existence to be whittled down to a singular role.
By using the Hoopoe, Aboulela has given each woman a manifestation through which they can attend to their course and path, allowing them the perfect outlet to question, to acknowledge, and find comfort in knowing that they have the strength to confront all they believe, hold dear, and that just might be holding them back.
Aboulela weaves a metaphor of evolution and metamorphosis with the bodies of these women: the slim desirable form which traps true freedom of expression, the fit and strong form yearning for a life past, and the soft and larger form beholden to another's care-taking.
And oh what beauty and realization is possible through the trials of self-actualization.
February 25, 2020
It has to be a 5 star read. The folklore mixed with religious and moral lessons. I loved that there was no preaching morality or religion but gentle nudges to be the best human one can be, to let life be honest and accept it's changes. To live and grow is as sure as our eventual death. That the more things change the more they remain the same. As always Aboulela grips me with her writing and makes me close my eyes and think deeper. The dystopian end was a bit hard for me to fully grasp and I think I may need to go back to read it in a more measured pace. As always the nuances of Islam and subtle hints that only people of that faith and culture would understand tend to make it hard for non Muslims to totally understand, I don't know if it's deliberate or not.
November 7, 2021
2.5 🌟 This story had so much unrealized potential. I still think Aboulela is a beautiful and important writer, especially concerning Muslim women and their spiritual consciousness and empowerment, but this book just didn't really work for me.
February 14, 2021
This is my first novel by this author and it definitely won’t be my last. I was there for the stories that were told, I was totally hooked. This story follows three Muslim women, Salma, Moni and Imran, as they set out on a trip into the Scottish Highlands to see the grace of Lady Evelyn Murray, the first white Muslim woman to make the pilgrimage to Mecca. This trip turns into a pilgrimage of sorts, one of the mind and the soul. Along the way they learn more about each other, their friendship and themselves. I also loved that faith was explored but it wasn’t in a preachy way. Highly recommend this.
‘To what extent is marriage religiously sanctioned prostitution? Iman sometimes pondered this question. She had even discussed it with Salma on more than one occasion -as much as she was capable of discussion. Salma of course had been adamant that the two were completely different. Iman wasn't sure, and the arguments Salma used didn't fully convince her. Prostitution and marriage. Man pays and woman serves. He houses, clothes and feeds her to get something in return. So what was the difference between the two? ‘
‘To what extent is marriage religiously sanctioned prostitution? Iman sometimes pondered this question. She had even discussed it with Salma on more than one occasion -as much as she was capable of discussion. Salma of course had been adamant that the two were completely different. Iman wasn't sure, and the arguments Salma used didn't fully convince her. Prostitution and marriage. Man pays and woman serves. He houses, clothes and feeds her to get something in return. So what was the difference between the two? ‘
July 1, 2019
I was struggling with this book, couldn't sympathise with the three main figures, found them quite annoying and couldn't relate to their stories. I admit that reading a book is not always about finding the main figures nice and relatable, rather also about learning from someone else's experiences that might not be yours, but a reading experience is usually so much nicer when you can relate. Also, style helps, and the style, switching from a realistic description to some sort of supernatural fantasy, with lengthy "wise" stories told by a bird, wasn't mine either.
In the book, Salma, Iman and Moni, three Arab women living in Scotland, are heading off for a week at a loch to visit Lady Evelyn Cobbold's grave.
The book tackled lots of different issues from different women's lives that many readers could relate to: the feeling of being a failure when your overseas diplomas aren't recognised, marriage and faithfulness after a longer period of being married and taking certain things for granted, the difficulties of being an uneducated female refugee always relying on men to provide for you, the issue of giving up one's own personality and life and relationship to a husband for a child (disabled or not), the acceptance or rejection of disabled children in the Arab society, the shallow obsession with titles in the Arab societies... Lots of important issues, just maybe not for me at the moment.
In the book, Salma, Iman and Moni, three Arab women living in Scotland, are heading off for a week at a loch to visit Lady Evelyn Cobbold's grave.
The book tackled lots of different issues from different women's lives that many readers could relate to: the feeling of being a failure when your overseas diplomas aren't recognised, marriage and faithfulness after a longer period of being married and taking certain things for granted, the difficulties of being an uneducated female refugee always relying on men to provide for you, the issue of giving up one's own personality and life and relationship to a husband for a child (disabled or not), the acceptance or rejection of disabled children in the Arab society, the shallow obsession with titles in the Arab societies... Lots of important issues, just maybe not for me at the moment.
September 11, 2023
don't know how I feel about the magical realism, but the rest was good
I want to visit Scotland now...
I want to visit Scotland now...
February 21, 2024
**They underestimated their own importance and exaggerated their shortcomings. They inflated their problems and followed their egos, counselled each other but rejected what was right. Their quarrels taking up space, their connections weakening. And now they were far away, deep in the realm of consequence**
Bird summons follows the lives of three women (Salma, Moni and Iman) who are members of their local Muslim Women’s group. They decide to take a trip and visit lady Evelyn who is a respected figure in their faith. Her grave is on the beautiful slopes and hills in Scotland.The trip that involves a car ride, a week at a cabin and a 6 mile hike proves to be a journey that tests their friendship and lives.
I could not relate to the characters as individuals. Nevertheless, I could relate to their friendship and the journey of transformation they all went through.
Relationships evolving can be a painful process. But yet a necessary one. It is also one that is inevitable. We change everyday as individuals and this in turn affects our relationships. As for these women, they were undergoing transformation that was painful for them as individuals and inevitably for their relationship as a whole.
Their individual journeys stripped them of their fears, insecurities and brought out their strengths. These subsequently made them show up for their friends in a supportive way and not as a burden. This way they managed to free themselves out of their captivity.
Bird summons follows the lives of three women (Salma, Moni and Iman) who are members of their local Muslim Women’s group. They decide to take a trip and visit lady Evelyn who is a respected figure in their faith. Her grave is on the beautiful slopes and hills in Scotland.The trip that involves a car ride, a week at a cabin and a 6 mile hike proves to be a journey that tests their friendship and lives.
I could not relate to the characters as individuals. Nevertheless, I could relate to their friendship and the journey of transformation they all went through.
Relationships evolving can be a painful process. But yet a necessary one. It is also one that is inevitable. We change everyday as individuals and this in turn affects our relationships. As for these women, they were undergoing transformation that was painful for them as individuals and inevitably for their relationship as a whole.
Their individual journeys stripped them of their fears, insecurities and brought out their strengths. These subsequently made them show up for their friends in a supportive way and not as a burden. This way they managed to free themselves out of their captivity.
February 7, 2021
4.5 🌟 ruthless and deep and full of love for scotland and grief for the displaced. Unflinching, profound and hopeful, this novel was as familiar and strange as years in Muslim Student Associations and ISOCs - where the vein of your old faith throbs in a way that doesn’t feel like home, is neither welcoming or unwelcoming, a rope and a crutch and in need of nourishment as much as you needed it to nourish you.
February 27, 2022
Salma, Moni and Iman set off to visit the grave of Lady Evelyn Cobbold in Scotland. Three Muslim women in their adopted country to pay homage to the first English woman who made the Haj. On the way, they each have to deal with their weaknesses, guided by a magical hoopoe bird. I liked it, but did not love this one as much as Lyrics Alley.
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