Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Mosaic

3.42 of 5 stars 3.42 · rating details · 327 ratings · 39 reviews

Set against the bustling backdrop of New York City and the exotic splendor of Jordan, Mosaic is a story of love and betrayal, of a clash of cultures and traditions---and one woman's struggle to rebuild her life.

Like many working mothers, Dina Ahmed has become adept at juggling her family and her work. She's the owner of Mosaic, a thriving floral design business, and has be...more

Hardcover, 320 pages

Published October 1st 2004 by Forge Books

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced by Nujood Ali

Does My Head Look Big In This? by Randa Abdel-Fattah

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

Love in a Headscarf by Shelina Zahra Janmohamed

Muslim Girls on the Cover

17th out of 53 books — 48 voters

It's All In The Eyes

158th out of 158 books — 129 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 529)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Dec 08, 2011 Dina rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I have always wanted to read a Novel written in English by an Arab person and I was very much delighted when I came upon Mosaic, for I have never heard of it and it was the first novel I read by Sohier Khashoggi. My delight was dramatically changed to disappointment as soon as I read page one. I have never expected an Arab bred, Saudi Arabian and Muslim woman to write such a novel filled with hatred. Her hate and anger was directed to three angles: Men, Islam and Arab culture. They say that the...more I have always wanted to read a Novel written in English by an Arab person and I was very much delighted when I came upon Mosaic, for I have never heard of it and it was the first novel I read by Sohier Khashoggi. My delight was dramatically changed to disappointment as soon as I read page one. I have never expected an Arab bred, Saudi Arabian and Muslim woman to write such a novel filled with hatred. Her hate and anger was directed to three angles: Men, Islam and Arab culture. They say that the ideas and opinions reflected in a novel often are often not the authors own, which is what I hope for it would be very sickening if it were otherwise.

The story being circled around three powerful, strong and independent working mothers was an absolutely fantastic idea, whilst the fact that these women treated men as if they were men themselves and thought like men is pretty much odd. Yes, it is great to have strong women specially in a world in which women could be easily taken advantage of and harmed by men, but yet they treat their spouses in the same manner which leads to never ending arguments and divorces. I do not mean by that problems between spouses are the result of women alone, both are to blame at a certain degree, but what is so wrong about giving a man his space of pride in his house hold? Why not give a man to simply be man with all his rules and work while we women act like women? That way women could have more time to spend with their children and family.

The idea that Karim did all he could to keep his twins safe is amazing and I stand by him every step in the way, yet he should have consulted her and not kidnap the twins. I am a Muslim and I am Jordanian and I would do the very same thing he did to his twins if I lived abroad. What's a better community for children to grow up in than being with their a big family and spoiled and feeling such love and care from close people to him, rather than being thrown into the arms of a pre-paid nanny? Why not allow the children to learn about Allah and faith and grow up with a solid foundation?

Why the hell since being "gay" is completely wrong and out of the ordinary, yet the mother Dina sees nothing wrong in him? She has a spoiled brat of a son who has turned out to be gay with an attitude of a street kid, just waiting for a chance to throw tantrums and accuse his parents of being bad and not open minded. I know it was difficult what his own father did to him, but the boy should have opened his eyes and known that what he was doing was odd and unacceptable in religions throughout the world and mentally.

This Novel clearly lacked editing and I ended up fixing the mistakes in it. The sentences lacked of coordination and meaning and was seriously naive in every single way. A first grader could have written a better novel. The over and over again use of "something, thing, whatever, I dunno, OK" clearly show poor language skills.

All in all, it was a good novel, but the idea of criticizing Arab and Islam is clearly out of the question. I still can't understand what was her goal or the hope that she wanted to achieve by cursing Islam and Arab? Westerns who get married to Arab and live in the middle east, if you ask them if they would ever leave they would quickly say "NO!" and when asked why they simply answer that here they are being spoiled by their husbands and given a close family, something they would have never imagined to get in the west. Why do westerns love Jane Austen? Because in her novels she views something that has been existing for ages in the Arab and Islamic world: Strong family bonds. This does not mean taking the freedom from children and ordering them, but by giving them guidance by their elders.

Sohier criticizes Islamic culture, yet she does not judge the Jewish culture which is almost half as close to Islam as any religion and culture could be. I'm not against the Jewish people, but this clearly shows contrast in the novel.

Probably my favorite part was her describing of Amman and Jordan, my home town. I don't see what could've gone wrong if Dina stayed with her kids in Amman and lived there? Yes, his family despise her, but she can prove them wrong and be a woman about it -without the nagging. I can't believe I spent around fifteen hours of my life reading about the ridiculous kidnapping and in the end the woman came to her senses and found out that her money was thrown into the ground. She should have known the man she was married to for twenty years better. She was blinded with insanity and just wanted revenge which is completely absurd.(less)

1 like · like · see review

Mar 07, 2013 Misha rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: womens-fic, middle-east

BookList: Like her debut, Mirage (1995), Khashoggi’s second novel sculpts a broader understanding of Arab women’s lives, both in the Middle East and America. Dina Ahmed has it all, a happy family and flourishing floral-design business, but her world ruptures when she discovers that her husband, Karim, has kidnapped their eight-year-old twins from New York and returned with them to his homeland in Jordan. Dina enlists her good friends Sarah, a Jewish physician, and Emmeline, a “Creole Martha Stew...more

like · see review

Apr 24, 2009 LindyLouMac rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/5...

Basically a story of love and betrayal as one woman fights for her children. What made this interesting for me was the clash of cultures and traditions as it was set in New York and Jordan. Dina and Karim Ahmedare are from Lebanese and Jordain backgrounds, living in New York they appeared on the surface to have a happy marriage combined with successful careers and a family life together. Or so it seemed to Dina until one day her life is turned upside down...more

like · see review

Aug 24, 2009 Veens rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2009-read

The blurb above gives you a fairly good idea about the family-saga. This book depicts the problems that are faced by Dina and Karim who live in New York. About the time of their marriage, Karim is more modern and has the modern views we link, but as years pass, his Jordanian values and ideas of family become more and more prominent. Dina on the other hand, even being half Arab herself is born and brought up in US, giving her the culture and attitude that most people admire. She painfully juggles...more

1 like · like · see review

May 25, 2011 Helen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-fic, adult-fic

I enjoyed this book, has similarities to Brick Lane. Easy read.
"Like many working mothers, Dina Ahmed has become adept at juggling her family and her work. She's the owner of Mosaic, a thriving floral design business, and has been blessed with success, beauty, and, most important, a happy family.

But when she returns home one day to discover that her six-year-old twins have vanished, Dina is forced to admit that her life and her marriage were not as perfect as she'd once believed. After many des...more

like · see review

Aug 20, 2012 Kristin rated it 2 of 5 stars

So I expected this book to be an updated, more "fair" (i.e. less biased, less prejudiced) version of the well-known "Not Without My Daughter" version of book. And to be fair, it is a better version. It's not as biased, not as prejudiced. I had high hopes, given that the author was born in Egypt and comes from a Saudi family. Unfortunately that didn't seem to matter in this book's case.

At the beginning of the book you get a short introduction to Karim in a neutral way. And then later, there are *...more So I expected this book to be an updated, more "fair" (i.e. less biased, less prejudiced) version of the well-known "Not Without My Daughter" version of book. And to be fair, it is a better version. It's not as biased, not as prejudiced. I had high hopes, given that the author was born in Egypt and comes from a Saudi family. Unfortunately that didn't seem to matter in this book's case.

At the beginning of the book you get a short introduction to Karim in a neutral way. And then later, there are *some* attempts at giving a voice to Dina's husband Karim (the scary Arab who steals the children to raise them in an equally scary Muslim country). However, those attempts are minimal (like crumbs thrown in to allay criticism). For example, the author *hints* at Karim's difficulties in America post 9-11, but she doesn't in any manner describe those difficulties in a human manner so that the reader could understand the psychological damage done to Karim, and why he might feel his own children might be in danger (i.e. possible verbal harassment, physical harassment, increased anti-Muslim hate crimes increasing in number every year since 2001, etc.). The author then treats Karim's family in Jordan much like she treats Karim. The family is portrayed in a very caricature manner (surly manner, unfriendly, always disapproving, lacking in the traditional Arab manner of welcoming guests, etc.). No attempt is made to give a back story for WHY certain family members might feel the way they do, act the way they do, etc. And then once again, the author throws in one person, a sister-in-law, who is mildly friendly and helpful, just so that you know that not ALL Arabs are completely horrible. The book simply doesn't do a good job of covering the various characters in this story in a real, human manner. Only the American characters seem to get back stories and descriptions for why they act the way they do, why they have the feelings they have.

The story itself? It's generally entertaining. You have the main story (i.e. Dina trying to get her kidnapped children back from Jordan) and then several side stories (i.e. Dina's two best friends and their respective love lives). The characters are generally likable (the American ones, that is).Although Dina's relationship with her oldest son, Jordy, is not without it's criticisms. Personally, I didn't find the ending to the story at all realistic, but I can't explain why without giving away the end (and I hate to put a spoiler in my review).

Since yes, there are lots of real, legitimate stories of one parent stealing children from another and taking them to live in a second country... I'm sure there are well written, nonfiction stories out there that do a much better job of telling a story like this one that (I'd hope) are more nuanced and give a better idea of the complex issues involved. (less)

like · see review

Jul 09, 2009 Laura rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: suspense, romance

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

like · see review

Sep 20, 2010 Elsi rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2010

What I liked the most about this book is that the husband who spirited his children away to his parent's home in Jordan isn't portrayed as "bad", but rather as conflicted. You realize from the beginning that he loves his children and is struggling to find the best way to protect them as they grow up in a post-9-eleven world. Unfortunately, he feels compelled to make his decision alone which highlights the death of his marriage.

like · see review

Sep 21, 2007 Desy Sutikno rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: women

Shelves: fiction

it is absolutely a light romance reading for women. it didn't make me bored because I got a little bit of actions. the settings are in New York and Jordan not so long after 9/11. so you can guess now, there's something about Islam involved here. however, while it is a romance novel, the story actually tells about a broken household triggered by a man's ego and the suppressing situation for Muslims in U.S. after 9/11. while the wife of the broken household lives in misery after her twin children...more

like · see review

Feb 17, 2010 Arrial rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I really like the way Soheir Khashoggi writes a novel. This story involves a couple who live in NYC with their family, The husband, Karim, originally from Jordan decides that living in the west is not in the best interest of his young children, and takes them back to Jordan, against the mothers consent.
While this a heart wrenching experience for any parent to live through, the reader cannot hate Karim totally for what he has done as he is not portrayed as evil, but just someone who is a product...more

like · see review

Mar 25, 2011 Claudine rated it 3 of 5 stars

I'm putting an asterisk again---it was the condensed version. (Doug bought a bunch of Readers' Digest condensed books about 2 years ago and I pick them up when I have nothing else in the house to read. That is why I'm posting them now.) It was a good story.

like · see review

Aug 19, 2009 Rosemary rated it 3 of 5 stars

While this book was good, I kept thinking about how "Not Without My Daughter" was great. I did want to know how it ended even though it felt watered down a great deal. I also don't believe the ending would have really happened.

like · see review

Jun 29, 2011 Celeste Dunne rated it 4 of 5 stars

Father kidnapped twins and took them to Jordan, now the Mother must find a way to get back her beloved children. A thought provoking story about two cultures and how they intertwine.

like · see review

Aug 18, 2012 Angie rated it 3 of 5 stars

This was an interesting read. It was full of Jewish and Muslim cultural information. However, overall, I would definitely say it was a sort of romance story-line.

like · see review

Oct 16, 2012 Rim Hachem rated it 4 of 5 stars

Beautiful book!! very realistic novel that combines action and drama, it is extremely entertaining and i frankly couldn't stop reading as soon as i started...

like · see review

Jan 01, 2012 Alida rated it 2 of 5 stars

I ended up finishing the book after all but am wondering why I bothered. It will be in the thrift store box as it would be taking up space on my bookshelf which a much more deserving book could occupy.

like · see review

Jul 02, 2009 Hemshank2001 rated it 4 of 5 stars

I really liked the way Soheir has described the situation and the feelings of a mother deprived of her kids.....a very talented writer.

like · see review

Feb 17, 2009 nancy rated it 4 of 5 stars

A look at the intricasies of marriage and family values between US and Jordan. Good characters, good action, page turner!

like · see review

Mar 19, 2011 Crestina rated it 5 of 5 stars

Can't put the book down so except to head out for a walk. Glad I decided to read it and I wasn't disappointed.

like · see review

Nov 22, 2010 Farida rated it 4 of 5 stars

Enjoyed this, though thought main Protagonist could have forgiven her daft husband.

like · see review

Jan 23, 2009 Jessica rated it 4 of 5 stars

kinda like 'not without my daughter', just not as powerful

like · see review

Aug 18, 2010 Deb rated it 4 of 5 stars

Modern Muslim/Christian marriage drama

like · see review

Feb 08, 2009 ron!e rated it 5 of 5 stars

absolutely beautiful.

like · see review

Nov 20, 2011 Shammy added it

Middle east story...touching

like · see review

May 20, 2012 Santhosh rated it 3 of 5 stars

Tastefully written, the novel doesn't take sides and brings up a mother's anguish at being separated from her children against a father's conviction on raising his children as per his values. The taut storytelling keeps the suspense high throughout, and the plot twists are both surprising and realistic, as the author wisely avoids both thriller clichés and post-9/11 politics to engineer a series of believable, thought-provoking compromises.

like · see review

Sep 19, 2007 Heather rated it 5 of 5 stars

Mosaic was just as good as her other book, Mirage. I love her writing and will definitely be checking out anything else she’s got out there.

This one focused not only on the Arab-American family in the center of things, but also on how friendships can be awesome when they are made up of people from different backgrounds. I am making it sound WAY too simple, but I don’t want to give anything away.

Another great book. Verdict: A

like · see review

Jan 27, 2009 Joe rated it 3 of 5 stars

I still haven't read a book of fiction where I feel sympathetic toward the Muslims in it.

like · see review

Apr 13, 2012 Pramod Reddy rated it 3 of 5 stars

its something disclosing a mothers love,passion for her blood shared ones

like · see review

Jul 29, 2008 Trisha rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: drama

Great storyline about a mother who returns home only to find that her husband has taken their children to his home in the middle east. The story is told from the perspective of both parents and tells how far each of them is willing to go to protect that the children that they love.

like · see review

Feb 07, 2008 Sy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: muslim

This book was overall good. The only down fall was the ending. It left so much unanswered at the end. Which I hate. I want the ending to wrapped up in a pretty little bow with no unanswered questions. It was still a very nice read however.

like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 17 18 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

Recommend it | Stats | Recent status updates

combine
Other Editions (7)

More editions...

Genres

Drama

3 users

Contemporary

2 users

Modern

2 users

See top shelves...

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Soheir Khashoggi

Soheir Khashoggi is a Saudi Arabian writer. A member of one of Saudi Arabia's most prominent families (her brother is the illustrious millionaire Adnan Khashoggi and her father was the royal physician), she was born in Alexandria, Egypt, attended university in Beirut, Lebanon, and is now living in New York City.
She has published three novels, Mirage, Mosaic, and Nadia's Song.

More about Soheir Khashoggi...

Books by Soheir Khashoggi

Reader's Digest Select Editions - Volume 280 #4 (2005)

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About Mosaic

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

title link	preview: Mosaic
avg rating	preview: Mosaic Goodreads rating: 3.42 (327 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/896920.Mosaic?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1312057013l/896920.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/896920.Mosaic?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Mosaic by Soheir Khashoggi[/url]

Mosaic

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website