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An Untimely Love

by Tendai Huchu (Goodreads Author)

3.81 of 5 stars 3.81 · rating details · 16 ratings · 10 reviews

Love can find us in the most unusual of circumstances. This is what happens to Khalid Patel, a terrorist, when he falls in love with Smokey, a feisty and independent young woman who was to be Britain's first female suicide bomber. On what is meant to be his day of martyrdom, his violent worldview is thrown into turmoil. We share his thoughts as Death and Duty become irrevo...more

Kindle Edition, 174 pages

Published December 1st 2010 by Whiskey Creek Press LLC

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Apr 13, 2013 Stefan Vucak rated it 4 of 5 stars

Khalid and three of his young Indian Muslim colleagues are set to blow themselves up and take as many London underground travelers with them as they can. This is for the cause, for liberation of oppressed Muslim everywhere. Khalid is young, inexperienced and impressionable, yearning to find meaning in his life and a return to ‘true Islam’ for everyone, except he does not know what that really is. His more down-to-earth girlfriend Selina is certain it is not a Taliban-style Islam. To prepare hims...more Khalid and three of his young Indian Muslim colleagues are set to blow themselves up and take as many London underground travelers with them as they can. This is for the cause, for liberation of oppressed Muslim everywhere. Khalid is young, inexperienced and impressionable, yearning to find meaning in his life and a return to ‘true Islam’ for everyone, except he does not know what that really is. His more down-to-earth girlfriend Selina is certain it is not a Taliban-style Islam. To prepare himself, Khalid goes to Afghanistan for training at being a terrorist bomber. Back in London, he is prepared for his mission, but finds unexpected love with Selina.

Instead of blowing himself up as directed, Khalid loses his nerve. He will not only kill hundreds of innocents, but Selina will also die as she blows herself up, and he finds this moment of inner conflict intolerable. On the run from the authorities, Khalid contacts his minder and finds that his parents were killed by his minder because he failed to carry out his mission. Now, he has the Muslim fanatics and the police after him. He learns that Selina is injured in her attempt to blow herself up and Khalid goes to the hospital to rescue her, but the attempt fails. The attack on the underground was meant to fail, distracting the British security services while the fanatics set up their real attack on Heathrow.

From the first page of An Untimely Love the reader is drawn into the story. The theme is topical and the work is extremely well written, with strong narrative and dialogue. With greater exploration of cultural, religious and political conflicts that surround Islam in the modern world, this book would have made a more powerful impact.

Tendai Huchu provides a fascinating glimpse into how young and impressionable Muslim suicides can be lured into making the supreme sacrifice for Allah by unscrupulous leaders who have little belief in a cause, except inflicting destruction on the innocent. An Untimely Love is well worth reading.
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Nov 11, 2012 Ceinwenn rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: i-hated-it

I received a copy of An Untimely Love from the author in exchange for my review & I have to admit that initially I was quite excited to read it. Sadly, that didn’t last. The sentence structure in An Untimely Love had me pulling out my hair, it was that bad & the book was riddled with typos, formatting errors & hyphens in places where hyphens didn’t belong. I appreciate that I was sent a Galley copy, which could account for the typing & formatting errors, but I have read a lot of...more

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Apr 30, 2012 aobibliophile™ rated it 4 of 5 stars

The terrible thing about terrorism is that ultimately it destroys those who practise it. Slowly but surely, as they try to extinguish life in others, the light within them dies. - Terry Waite, London Guardian, Feb. 20, 1992

together with three of his companions, Khalid Patel is on a suicide mission. strapped with explosives, they head for the London Underground to make a statement against the British government for its participation in "unjust wars and the slaughter of innocent Muslims."
Tendai Hu...more The terrible thing about terrorism is that ultimately it destroys those who practise it. Slowly but surely, as they try to extinguish life in others, the light within them dies. - Terry Waite, London Guardian, Feb. 20, 1992

together with three of his companions, Khalid Patel is on a suicide mission. strapped with explosives, they head for the London Underground to make a statement against the British government for its participation in "unjust wars and the slaughter of innocent Muslims."
Tendai Huchu's novel invites the reader to explore the heart and mind of a terrorist.
i have read some books on terrorism but this was my first time to do so from the point of view of a terrorist. fast-paced and riveting, Khalid's story kept me reading late into the night and on the edge of my seat. without giving anything away, let us just say that i found myself rooting for Khalid after he made a decision that would determine his fate throughout the rest of the book.
Khalid's reflections on life, love, war, friendship, family and justice tend to be philosophical at times but not too heady. in fact, i love how the author spun these meanderings. we get to know Khalid through and through. he is intelligent, passionate, driven and quite naive as well. again, these qualities or traits propelled him to do what he had to do and face the consequences.
overall, this novel was an enlightening reading experience. it is absorbing, moving, well written and i highly recommend it.

Disclosure of Material Connection: i received a copy of An Untimely Love from the author. i did not receive any payment in exchange for this review nor was i obligated to write a positive one. all opinions expressed here are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, the book's publisher and publicist or the readers of this review. this disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.(less)

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Apr 09, 2012 Richard Bunning rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is a story about an intended suicide bomber and his physical and mental journey. An already growing awareness of his dubious morality is suddenly sharpened by a deep sexual if initially superficial love. Rather than burn hot then die this passion becomes the catalyst of change.
By the time I had finished this book I could empathise with a terrorist, or at least with the personality behind the misguided hands. I was totally involved by the first person narrative, spoken through Khalid, of th...more This is a story about an intended suicide bomber and his physical and mental journey. An already growing awareness of his dubious morality is suddenly sharpened by a deep sexual if initially superficial love. Rather than burn hot then die this passion becomes the catalyst of change.
By the time I had finished this book I could empathise with a terrorist, or at least with the personality behind the misguided hands. I was totally involved by the first person narrative, spoken through Khalid, of this clever book. The private voice had a very believable, a very ordinary, quality to it, drawing me into his situation and his shifting understanding of the world. We feel Khalid’s passions and confusions, almost as though they are our own.
I condemn extremism of all colours and creeds, especially when the drivers of such beliefs lead to violence. When that violence is committed against the innocent then, like nearly every one of us, I am enraged. However, like most close observers, I think I understand how justifiable grievances, marginalised backgrounds, and manipulation by evil people can draw rational and fundamentally good people to perform evil deeds. When those drivers are misplaced loyalties to apparently friendly peers and a feeling of injustice, and when these are fuelled by religious myopia, then sometimes a mind capable of justifying the unthinkable is created. When the individuals that become these terrors are naturally intelligent creatures they can be all the more dangerous, but equally there is sometimes hope that their natural wit will also serve to turn them onto more humanitarian paths. That thought was soon pushing me to turn the pages.
Huchu deals with very difficult issues in a very sensitive way. I fail to see any cultural slight in his narrative, something that is very hard to achieve when we are talking about unspeakable crimes. We all have bias in our views, but this book is so well written that I sense none at all from the author. We are left to fill in a lot of background, which is perfectly fine. In this case the stretching of our own imaginations only helps to further draw us in. We especially have to work our own background for Khalid’s sudden true love, Smokey. I’m sure this is Hushu’s deliberate intention, a device to help us build greater personal empathy. The alternative, the twisting and turning of plot to bring background before Khalid’s eyes, would have made for a much longer book and certainly for a less sharp focus. Hushu kept the book tight. What Khalid did not discover, we are not privileged to know either. As Khalid we are to suffer from imperfect knowledge, just as we all experience life.
This is a very exciting plot with plenty of serious food for thought. It is written looking from a metaphorical window into multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, diverse and variably religious England. But it speaks of marginalisation everywhere. Huchu has created a great plot that draws heavily on real modern events, has great pace and excitement, but at the same time has some sometimes obvious and sometimes very subtle things to say to us all. For me this is an important book.
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Jan 30, 2012 Annette M Guerriero Nishimoto rated it 3 of 5 stars

Today's review is on An Untimely Love by Tendai Huchu

Khalid Patel is a 20 year old Pakistani man who has left college in order to fight for the cause of Islam. He has never been more than an average man and is easily brainwashed into becoming a suicide bomber, a hero.

Initially thinking that he will be fighting face to face with the enemy, Khalid is surprised to be chosen to learn how to make bombs. With the enthusiasm of his comrades however, he is pulled further into the belief that what he is...more Today's review is on An Untimely Love by Tendai Huchu

Khalid Patel is a 20 year old Pakistani man who has left college in order to fight for the cause of Islam. He has never been more than an average man and is easily brainwashed into becoming a suicide bomber, a hero.

Initially thinking that he will be fighting face to face with the enemy, Khalid is surprised to be chosen to learn how to make bombs. With the enthusiasm of his comrades however, he is pulled further into the belief that what he is doing and will be doing is the right thing. He just didn't figure he would fall in love along the way.

Selina Ashraf is one of the three others that are chosen to be a suicide bomber on a series of trains. While on the journey to the train station, Selina and Khalid marry, knowing that they will never be together on Earth.

Reaching his destination, his love for Selina, along with a dose of human nature, Khalid does not set off his vest bomb as directed. He flees and runs to where his wife was to go and comes face to face with the realization that she has followed through with her mission.

Not is all lost however, Khalid later learns that Selina has survived. She is being held in a burn unit. With the help of his friends; Bishnu and David, he is able to be with her again. Tony has a different plan though and interferes.

After killing Khalid's parents; making Khalid one of the country's most wanted after also being identified as one of the suicide bombers, Tony kidnaps Selina.

Tony has a bigger plan in the workings and it's up to Khalid to set things right. Whether he is able to or not is the ultimate question.

I actually liked this book, though I would rather have had a bit more background on Khalid and Selina. The reader doesn't know much about either one of them or why and how they came to fall in love with each other. Since the title is An Untimely LOVE, there should be a little more on that part of the story. It is because of that, that I have rated the book as I have.

2.5 of 5 stars

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May 18, 2012 My Book Addiction and More MBA rated it 4 of 5 stars

AN UNTIMELY LOVE by Tendai Huchu.
An Untimely Love is an exciting, fast paced thriller, were everything is better understood towards the end. It keeps the reader in suspense and yet excited enough to want to know what happens next.
In his writing, Tendai manages to express and expose, the misconception that suicide bombers have about what they do; thinking they are fighting for a good cause and in hope of immediate transition to heaven.
When Khalid fails to go ahead with the plan, he turns around,...more

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Jan 16, 2012 Debdatta Dasgupta Sahay rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: review-copy

The story is narrated by Khalid Patel, a first generation Pakistani in Britain, who turns into a suicide bomber only to fall in love with Selina Ashraf on the last day of his life. Khalid a.k.a Lab Boy is a 20 year old who is brainwashed and turned into a suicide bomber for the cause of Islam. Fresh back from a training camp in Pakistan, he is ready to fight for the cause that now drives him - even if that means sacrificing his own life for the 'greater good'. But what he was not prepared for wa...more
The story is narrated by Khalid Patel, a first generation Pakistani in Britain, who turns into a suicide bomber only to fall in love with Selina Ashraf on the last day of his life. Khalid a.k.a Lab Boy is a 20 year old who is brainwashed and turned into a suicide bomber for the cause of Islam. Fresh back from a training camp in Pakistan, he is ready to fight for the cause that now drives him - even if that means sacrificing his own life for the 'greater good'. But what he was not prepared for was 'falling in love'. On the day he was scheduled to perform his 'task' he unexpectedly falls in love with Selina Ashraf a.k.a Smokey. On an impulse, they even get married. What happens next? You have to pick up the book to know it. Without giving out any spoilers, all I can say is that what they thought was going to be their last day, turns out to be only the beginning of a roller coaster ride.

Khalid Patel is portrayed as a typical first generation Asian in Britain. Son of a man, who had come to Britain to make his fortune only to end up as a taxi driver, Khalid is used to be in the back ground of everything. Though the author hasn't spent much time on exploring the family ties of Khalid, from what ever glimpses we get, we know that he loved and respected his family. His relationship with his friends, Bishnu and David, is like that of anyone else of his age. Overall, he comes off as an average guy off the street. Selina Ashraf on the other hand comes off like a rebelling Asian teenager. A medical student, who wears tight western clothes that compliment her figure, refuses to wear Burqa/Hijab and is a chain smoker. She is a perky-vibrant girl whose reason for taking up this mission is a bit obscure. The one character that surprised me really was Khalid's friend David. At first impression, it seemed like he was someone who was too caught in the web of drugs. Ironically, he turns out to be Khalid's only lifeline as the story progresses.

What I like about this book is that the author has given us a peek into Khalid's mind - a mind that belongs to an average guy and also that of a suicide bomber. The psyche of the same person at two different stages/situation - one that of a brainwashed youth and one that of the same youth who was beginning to see beyond. We also get a glimpse of what life at a terrorist training camp might be like. The action and thrills in the story are good - unless you are expecting James Bond to materialize. The description of the landscapes are also good.

What I would have loved to read as a part of the story is how Khalid got into the clutches of Imran & Tony in the first place. It would have been great to be able to understand how the youth are brainwashed. Also, I thought that Selina's reason to join the Jihad group and become a suicide bomber was simply dumb.

Overall, it has a little bit of everything - Action, Drama, Romance & Suspense. I would rate it a 3.5 out of 5 Stars. (less)

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Jun 20, 2012 Brandi rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, romance, religious, controversial-tough-topic

Going into this book I really didn't know what to expect and honestly if it was my type of read. This book was amazing. There aren't many romance books that can surprise me or that don't fit into the regulated categories. You know: supernatural, cowboys, Native Americans, Victorian, or contemporary. An Untimely Love has broken the mold and ventured into untried territory (as far as I know). First off, this book is told from the male point of view of Khalid. That in itself is different for a roma...more

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Apr 09, 2012 Rubysbooks rated it 3 of 5 stars

I've never read a book where terrorists or suicide bombers were the main characters before. I have to say it was a really interesting perspective and I was actually surprised. I liked Khalid's story and to see how he grew from the suicide bomber from the beginning of the novel to the man who sacrifices his freedom and happiness to save thousands of innocent people at the end of the book. The reader gets to see how Khalid transformed from an ordinary student to a trained terrorist.

For a while the...more

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Mar 07, 2012 Tammy rated it 4 of 5 stars

This well-written second book from native Zimbabwean Tendai Huchu has an intriguing concept: what happens when two suicide bombers who are about to fulfill their duty suddenly fall in love? When the story begins, narrator Khalid and three other recruits are poised to exact a deadly strike on the London Underground by strapping on bomb vests and hitting four different parts of the subway line at the same time. Led by a man named Tony, the suicide bombers are prepared to carry out their assignment...more This well-written second book from native Zimbabwean Tendai Huchu has an intriguing concept: what happens when two suicide bombers who are about to fulfill their duty suddenly fall in love? When the story begins, narrator Khalid and three other recruits are poised to exact a deadly strike on the London Underground by strapping on bomb vests and hitting four different parts of the subway line at the same time. Led by a man named Tony, the suicide bombers are prepared to carry out their assignment in order to meet in Paradise on the other side. The story begins the day of the bombing, as they suit up and prepare to go to their designated areas. On the train heading toward their assigned subway stops, Khalid and Smokey, the only girl in the group, bond over their odd circumstances, as Khalid describes his trip to Pakistan to train for the operation. During the trip they inexplicably decide to get married, and they meet up with Tariq, one of their fellow bombers, who officiates the wedding by reading from the Quran. They part believing they will soon meet again in Paradise.

But after the two separate, Khalid has a change of heart and decides not to set off his bomb. He races toward Smokey’s train stop, only to find the area in chaos, as her bomb has been detonated. What follows is a tense race through the streets of London as Khalid flees the scene and tries to hide from the authorities. When Tony discovers his betrayal, he sends a brutal message to Khalid, who is now a wanted fugitive. An unexpected reunion, the discovery of Tony’s diabolical plan, and Khalid’s desire for revenge propel the story to the end.

I thought the pacing and tension in An Untimely Love were stellar, and Huchu’s decision to have Khalid tell the story was a good choice. Khalid’s inner struggle to do the right thing in the face of horrible circumstances made him a fascinating character, even if I didn’t always understand his motivation. The character of Smokey, on the other hand, puzzled me, and I felt she was one of the weak links in the book. Smokey’s attitude seemed too rebellious for a young woman about to embark on a one-way religious mission, and her reasons for being part of the team weren’t really made clear. Vague references to the Quran and Islam did little to explain why these young people had decided to give up their lives.

Unfortunately for the title of the book, the weakest part of the story was the “untimely love” between Khalid and Smokey. If there was a certain moment in time when they fell in love, I must have missed it. Perhaps the author meant to show that they were fated to be together, having been thrown into this situation. But it just didn’t work for me, and it would have been more believable with a longer lead-up to the out-of-the-blue marriage. I felt the book was too short, and a more carefully developed love story between Khalid and Smokey would have added to the page count and made this story even better.

Despite this complaint, however, I was thoroughly engaged with Khalid’s story, and I look forward to reading more from this talented writer.

Many thanks to Tendai Huchu for supplying a review copy.

This review originally appeared on Books, Bones & Buffy
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About Tendai Huchu

Tendai Huchu was born in 1982 in Bindura, Zimbabwe. He attended Churchill High School in Harare and from there went to the University of Zimbabwe to study a degree in Mining Engineering in 2001. He dropped out in the middle of the first semester when he discovered that maths had more letters and symbols than it had numbers. Tendai has a great love of literature, in particular the nineteenth centur...more

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