Once a Stranger

by Zoya Patel

Their mother was sick. Their mother was dying.
Laila wanted her to come home.
She wasn't sure which of the two truths was more frightening.

Ayat hasn't seen or spoken to her sister, Laila, and mother, Khadija, for six years. She has been estranged from her family since she baulked against the arranged marriage of her sister and settled into a relationship deemed haram by Indian Muslim tradition.

Living in Melbourne, with Harry, Ayat's a different person now, living a different life. She is not the woman her mother and sister once knew - so how can she go home? But how can she not?

Once a Stranger weaves through the past and present to show the bonds and disconnects between sisters, and between a mother and daughter, as the three women grapple with the idea of where they feel most at home.

Genres: Fiction

270 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 2023

Reviews

[sonali · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 (but i'll round up xx)

finally a good desi read. i'm so happy i picked this one up and read something different other than cheesy romance. felt very seen as the main character struggles to identify with her Indian heritage after growing up in Australia.
i think this book was incredibly realistic in terms of representing Australian-Indian/ Muslim struggles, as well as what 1st-2nd generation kids go through.

my only disappointment was that I felt that the book ended at a very random place and felt unfinished. i think it had 2-4 chapters left in it to round out the story and find out whether the daughter and mothers relationship was repaired at the end.

[nina.reads.books · Rating 2 out of 5]

Zoya Patel is a local Canberra based journalist and writer and I was so keen to read her first novel Once a Stranger.

This is a book about an Indian family and their Muslim traditions and the grief of watching a family member slowly dying. The key character is Ayat who has been estranged from her mother Khadija and sister Laila for six years after she baulked at the prospect of an arranged marriage. Instead she meets and falls in love with Harry a white Catholic and her mother gives her an ultimatum. Ayat chooses Harry and leaves Canberra for Melbourne. When her mother becomes gravely ill Laila reaches out and Ayat finds herself back in Canberra tentatively trying to restore her family relationships.

I really, really wanted to love this book but sadly I did not. While the storyline showed lots of promise it was the writing that let the experience down. It was very obviously a debut that to me was not well edited. The writing felt immature. There was too much repetitive language and so many similies! The author also committed the cardinal sin (in my eyes) of using the phrase “a breath she wasn't aware she was holding”. Unfortunately this book was just not for me.

Thank you @hachetteaus for my #gifted copy.

[Craig and Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Hachette for sending us a copy to read and review.
The mixing of gene pools create families and the mixing of cultures creates society.
Fractures and harmony exist in both.
Complexity and issues arise constantly.
This is a story of an Indian Muslim woman raised in Australia, who is caught between two cultures.
Conflicting loyalty to religious traditions and her independence creating emotional and physical canyons in her heart.
Ayat has not seen her family for six years.
She was disowned for dating an Australian guy that would not convert to Islam.
An email from her estranged sister let her know her mother was dying.
The natural urge to be by her mother’s side was strong and she braved the wrath to break the ice.
Although the reception was prickly she was there.
The disease was advancing quicker than anticipated, coercing a unified trip back to India.
A farewell to land she longed for.
A trip that might help Ayat understand why her mother was emotionally wired like she was.
Told from an authentic voice this story reveals the predicament and turmoil faced by first generation Australians as they face hurdles of racism and acceptance from within the new culture.
In addition resisting traditions of parents who cling to ideologies of an era that has passed.
A perfect paragraph summed this notion so well.
This well written story captured the fact racism exists on many fronts and at the end of the day family is family.

[Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a little surprised this book didn't get more buzz, given how strongly it is constructed. There are moments where the writing can be a little too close to cliched phrasing, but Patel draws us steadily into the world of the characters and their navigation around sense of self and family, and how those tug with each other. I suspect it is because this is a book dealing firmly with interpersonal relationships, which, while dealing with weighty issues, does not carry the particular flavour of angst that marks so much current Australian literary fiction.
Of course, that is a very Melbourne angst and this is a book with a distinctly Canberra flair. I used to love reading books set where I live, and thought I'd be really keen on the trend for more Canberran books, but it just feels uncomfortably far from escapist.
But other than that problem, this is a thoughtful novel about a group of women navigating their relationships, which gives space for each perspective and room to breathe.

[Aayushi S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked this up and finished it in one evening. The story wasn’t my most favourite, but the emotions and experiences of the immigrant family in Australia is captured so beautifully. It made me cry, reflect on my life and all the stories which have shifted for my being here. There are some intimate moments of growing up ‘different’ in Australia which I forgot I experienced until I read them again here.

I think the ending had more potential, it felt like we were really getting somewhere, and being set up for a breakthrough which never arrived. There were a few cultural gaps and nuances which could have been explained better - but I also like that it didn’t feel written for the white gaze.

Worth a read.

[Mia Ferreira · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read review - https://www.artshub.com.au/news/revie...

[Siobhan Raffan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really loved the book, but I was confused with the meaning behind the ending… I felt that there was no closure between Khajida and Ayat. Thoughts?

[Tiphaine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Je viens d’arriver à Sydney et je crave des lectures dont les histoires se déroulent en Australie. Je suis tombée sur Once a Stranger par hasard lors de mon premier passage à la bibliothèque à mon plus grand bonheur car je n’avais pas beaucoup d’auteur racisés dans ma liste de livres australiens à lire.

En tant que musulmane (et convertie), noire qui ressens souvent un tiraillement entre culture occidentale et tout le reste, il me tardait sincèrement de lire le point de vue d’une multi-minorité en Australie. Malheureusement ça n’a pas été un bonne lecture pour moi.

Ça a très bien commencé parce que je ne connaissais rien de l’expérience des migrants indiens-Autraliens donc j’ai lu toutes les descriptions et états d’âme avec beaucoup d’attention et de curiosité.

Mais passé un certain moment, l’écriture a vraiment failli et je n’ai pas su me remettre dedans, à tel point que j’ai passé plus de temps à lire en espérant qu’il se passe quelque chose qu’en appréciant réellement ma lecture.

CE QUE J’AI AIMÉ
- les passages qui parlent de l’ethnocentrisme blanc
« You think I’m unreasonable, because I Want, My daughters to live with the culture and the values I was raised with - yet your parents do exactly the same c all parents do. The only difference is that your values are the norm in this country and mine are not »
P239

- les passages sur la dualité/les paradoxe qu’on peut ressentir par moment :
« It would be the first time she would mark another year of her life without Khadija and Laila. That she could grow older when she felt so lifeless was impossible to Ayat »
p226

- le fair que je me suis énormément reconnue dans le personnage de Laila. Ce que c’est d’être une grande sœur ou en tout cas une personne qui va à l’encontre de ce qu’elle a réellement envie de faire pour le bien commun :
* «  someone needed to make the fist move » p56
* « You just need to be the bigger person here » p56
* « If she hadn’t told Ayat, or waited until Khadija wanted to tell her, who knows how much time there would have been left ? […] But she felt responsible to take steps to fix things between her mother and sister - it was the right thing to do, even if neither of them could see it yet »
* « I’m not here to try to make Harry feel comfortable, I’m just trying to make sure our mother doesnt die without having seen one of her daughters in practically a decade P57
* « Don’t complain to amma, she needs us to be good right now » p76
* « In the days following their reunion with Ayat, Lalila felt bruised and sore, as though her whole body had taken the impact of the emotional collision » P95
* « she felt like Khadija and Ayat were both silently relying on her to keep it all together. but she just wasn’t sure if she could navigate a foreign country, my mother’s illness and their stilted relationship all at once.” P150


PAR CONTRE :
- j’ai trouvé que les Personnages étaient les clichés d’eux mêmes. Leurs personnalités étaient vraiment clichés
- Les partenaires de Laila et Ayat étaient super mignons, ça faisait chaud au cœur mais c’était parfois un peu trop lisse, facile je crois.
- J’ai bien aimé l’alternance entre présent et passé mais la narration en mode omniscient m’a un peu dérangée parfois, je trouvais que c’était confus.
- J’ai trouvé la partie de leur arrivée en Inde un peu longue même si je comprends son intérêt dans le livre.
À ce moment là, tout tournait en rond, rien n’avançait, c’était toujours les mêmes sujets qui revenaient sur le tapis (est ce que leur village leur paraissait changé, Ayat & Khadija qui ne se parlent pas plus que ça, Ayat qui espère qu’elle pourra se rapprocher de sa nièce……
Le moment de la discussion avec l’oncle aurait pu être un bon turning point mais il s’est rien passé - décevant

[Camila - Books Through My Veins]

- thanks to @hachetteaus for my #gifted copy of this book

In Once a Stranger, debut author Zoya Patel explores the lives of an Indian Muslim family that immigrates to Australia searching for a better life. Here, Patel explores intergenerational trauma, death, tragedy, loss, and the life-changing intricacies of the immigrant experience, mainly through her characters and the consequences of their choices.

Unfortunately, I could not connect with this story and its characters as I would have liked to. I understand entirely what Patel tried to do here, but I believe the identifiable intentions did not translate to execution.

Although the pace is stable and the plot is easy to follow, the characterisation —the greatest asset of a novel like this one— was underdeveloped. Sisters Ayat and Laila felt two-dimensional and stereotypical: the rebel and the good girl. There is nothing new about this trope, yet novelty is not the problem: the absence of nuance that trumps the characters' potential is.

In general, the dialogues felt disingenuous and forced, which only contributed to the overall lack of depth. It is hard to believe in the humanity of made-up humans when their interactions with others feel structured and stilted. There were pivotal moments in the novel —like when Ayat speaks with Laila for the first time in six years, both over the phone and in person— that were reduced to a few mere pages with functional dialogue that were not enough to convey the impact and importance of those moments. Something similar also happens when Ayat is reunited with her mother, Khadija, reiterating the incredible missed opportunity to add layers of meaning to the story.

I also struggled a lot with the overuse of similes and metaphors. This creative choice is personal and inherent to the author's writing. Still, too many similes and metaphors become distracting and interrupt the natural flow of the narrative.

Overall, Once a Stranger was not my cup of tea. Nevertheless, I will most definitely read whatever Patel writes next. Debuts are usually just the beginning of the road.

[Kristine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story and it's themes of family and the migrant experience of racism in Australia. The most powerful element, for me, was the collision of traditions and ideologies of parents with the pressures on children of 'fitting in' and assimilating with a new culture. I liked the way the story moved between now and then, as it helped with understanding the influences on characters and what shaped them into the people they are today. As the story progressed I gained a much better understanding of the sacrifices of migrant parents in order to give their children a better life. While the way that the story was written allowed me to observe and gain some insights into pressures on, and personalities of, each of the characters, I felt like I never really got to 'know' any of them. I didn't like some of the 'flowery' language and overworked repetition which distracted me from the flow of the book. It was a very emotionally charged story that drew on the power of religion, relationships, illness and self-identity in a very effective way. The abrupt ending initially took me by surprise, but on reflection, it seemed a very appropriate way to end the story. I will look forward to reading more of Patel's work.

[Adriana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very emotional and moving from the first page. This story centres around three women who are family; they have been raised in the same religion and culture, but want very different things in life.

Through the use of dual timelines, I was able to witness all of the moments and decisions that the MC, Ayat made which lead to her choosing her own path and ultimately sacrificing her family and everything she knows in the process.

While this book is heavy, it was truly eye opening and gave me a greater awareness of the many sacrifices migrants make when taking the plunge and moving to a different country and the struggles that come with immersing yourself in a new culture - trying to find your identity and sense of self.

I loved seeing the family dynamics between Ayat and her mother and sister both in the past and present and how multiculturalism and religion impacted on their relationship.

While I found the ending somewhat abrupt and did not finish where I expected, I believe that was the point. To show the reader that relationships are ever evolving and you never know what’s around the corner.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5

Thank you Hachette Australia for my gifted copy in exchange for an honest review

[Sammy · Rating 2 out of 5]

There is nothing wrong with the story but this book is poorly written. The writing feels like a teenager wrote it. There are way too many similes, almost to an annoying level. The conversations between characters show no depth and only everyday conversations are portrayed even though the author was trying to show more but it definitely didn't work. There was so many inconsistencies in the emotions of the characters that made it confusing at times. I only pushed through the book as it was a pick for a book club. I think the author should keep trying and maybe take a crack at rewriting it as it does have potential to be better but perhaps as a short story.

[Maureen · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fabulous book! I started reading it one evening and flew through it in less than a day. I had so much empathy for every character. Their POVs were compelling, except one, and that one is redeemed at the very end. Such a thoughtful and thought-provoking examination of multiculturalism, race, culture, and family dynamics. I can't recommend this one enough.

Thank to Hachette AU for sending me a review copy.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Her skin felt dead from never having been touched”

“You can’t live with your feet in two different rivers, following two different cultures forever”

“She was vulnerability, destined to be an outsider forever by virtue of being a migrant”

“She thought her youth and progressive politics protected her, but she was creating a rift between the only culture where she would gain complete acceptance and herself”

[Steph · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the characters and the storyline, but I feel like the book was left a bit too unfinished. I understand that the story was messy and complex, so an ending which doesn’t totally resolve the story makes sense. However I was just left feeling confused. It’s all odd that the book finishes with a flashback which is basically the same as a scene which occurs earlier in the book.

[Katie Snell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very enjoyable first novel - it provides a really unique insight into an Indian Muslim migrant family and how they navigate the clashing of cultures/religion in their new setting. Particularly enjoyed the setting of Canberra and the realism of the plot/outcomes for the family

[Marie-Anne Sirois · Rating 5 out of 5]

My FAVORITE book of the year!! Riveting story and wonderfully written. I could not put it down. I am blown away and cannot wait to read everything else Zoya has written (and will ever write). I am a fan for life!

[Allie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this! It’s not light, but as the story progresses it becomes strangely uplifting as you watch Ayet and Laila become closer in the wake of Khadija’s illness. Overall a really lovely story.

[Shahedah · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Sunitha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Predictable, feels very much like a debut novel and needed a bit more.

[Kathie Gardner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed this. Estranged family story from the past and present

[Clauds · Rating 4 out of 5]

She painted a good picture but I’m upset I don’t know the ending 😖

[Binari Almeida · Rating 4 out of 5]

Relatable :///

[Shikha C · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ending was too abrupt and felt a bit unfinished and the alternating timelines of the story was annoying

[Déwi · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5-4⭐️ This is Patel's first fiction book, but not her first book. In 2018 she published 𝙽𝚘 𝙲𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚛𝚢 𝚆𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚗: 𝙰 𝙼𝚎𝚖𝚘𝚒𝚛 𝚘𝚏 𝙽𝚘𝚝 𝙱𝚎𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚐𝚒𝚗𝚐, which is an engaging, intelligent book about Patel's experience of identity, culture and family ties. These are themes she revisits in 𝙾𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝙰 𝚂𝚝𝚛𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚛.

It's good to be reading fiction set in Australia dealing with cross-cultural issues. And having read Patel's memoir it is evident her characters and storyline are influenced by her own experiences.

I prefer Patel's non-fiction writing style but this book shows she is a good storyteller too! And no matter what your cultural background, family ties are strong and influential - for better or worse!

Ayat, raised in an Indian Muslim family who migrated to Australia has been estranged from her family for 6 years. She lives in Melbourne with her partner, Harry - against her family's wishes. Then she gets a call from her sisterin Canberra that their mother is dying.

Patel weaves the story of Ayat's relationship with her mother and sister between the past and the present, so we confinually experience the everpresent tension that they are all experiencing from different perspectives.

It's a good read.

[Monica · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed many elements of this book, such as the story and themes regarding migrant experience, grief and family bonds. However, the story was stretched too long and the themes became a bit repetitive and the structure predictable.