These Impossible Things
These Impossible Things by Salma El-Wardany
Reviewed by Linda
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Thank you @trapeze_books for this copy!
These Impossible Things is about 3 British-Muslim 1st gen women, who are branded as the closest of friends until they're not. Malak, Jenna and Kees are all at a crossroads in their lives, be it at work, home, or in their romantic relationships but the common denominator is that they’re all struggling with their faith, and consciences as they date non-Muslim men. One night they have an “earth-shattering” argument and stop speaking for 2 years. I personally didn't buy into how tight these girls were meant to be with one another and there are better books describing sisterhood.
There are a few glimmers of brilliance when the author describes the burden of cultural acceptance and the pressure on 1st gens to always do the right thing. This is especially true of Kees’ character.
But this book fell short in many ways. Several lines were distasteful and borderline offensive and this is another example of a book not being written for the people it is written about. People have different relationships with God, but how the author claims that this book aims to promote positive Muslim rep is beyond me.
We are introduced to the question of whether "Eid Sex" is a thing, shagging your non-Muslim boyfriend, then waking up for prayer is commonplace, also drinking into oblivion whilst wearing hijab.
The portrayal of Islam is viewed as burdensome and negative, so why is this book published under the guise of anything to do with Islam at all? Why does a religious crisis always have a man at its centre?
A HUGE red flag was how the men were depicted. Except for the fathers, every non-Muslim man is an angel, whilst the Muslim men are abusive, controlling, and arrogant. I'm not saying these guys don't exist, but the author seems hell-bent on propagating the white saviour complex.
Is the only way for WOC to be published, to write a contentious story that appeases the white audience? I think that in the interest of being marketable, some take it too far - this book being a prime example.
