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Saffron Dreams
"Saffron Dreams" is a tale of love, tragedy, and redemption from the award-winning author of "Beyond the Cayenne Wall."..
You don't know you're a misfit until you are marked as an outcast.
From the darkest hour of American history emerges a mesmerizing tale of tender love, a life interrupted, and faith recovered. Arissa Illahi, a Muslim artist and writer, discovers in a single moment that no matter how carefully you map your life, it is life itself that chooses your destiny. After her husband's death in the collapse of the World Trade Center, the discovery of his manuscript marks Arissa's reconnection to life. Her unborn son and the unfinished novel fuse in her mind into one life-defining project that becomes, at once, the struggle for her emotional survival and the redemption of her race. "Saffron Dreams" is a novel about our ever evolving identities and the events and places that shape them. It reminds us that in the midst of tragedy, our dreams can become a lasting legacy.
You don't know you're a misfit until you are marked as an outcast.
From the darkest hour of American history emerges a mesmerizing tale of tender love, a life interrupted, and faith recovered. Arissa Illahi, a Muslim artist and writer, discovers in a single moment that no matter how carefully you map your life, it is life itself that chooses your destiny. After her husband's death in the collapse of the World Trade Center, the discovery of his manuscript marks Arissa's reconnection to life. Her unborn son and the unfinished novel fuse in her mind into one life-defining project that becomes, at once, the struggle for her emotional survival and the redemption of her race. "Saffron Dreams" is a novel about our ever evolving identities and the events and places that shape them. It reminds us that in the midst of tragedy, our dreams can become a lasting legacy.
248 pages, Hardcover
First published January 12, 2009
23 people are currently reading
2342 people want to read
About the author
Shaila M. Abdullah
6 books217 followersShaila Abdullah is an award-winning author of five books: Saffron Dreams, Beyond the Cayenne Wall, My Friend Suhana, Rani in Search of a Rainbow, and A Manual for Marco. The author has received several awards for her work including the Golden Quill Award, Norumbega Jury Prize for Outstanding Fiction, Patras Bukhari Award for English Language, Reader Views Award, Written Art Award, and a grant from Hobson Foundation. Several academic institutions have adopted her books as course study or recommended reading, including the University of California, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Indiana University, Boston University, California State University, and George Washington University.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
July 10, 2009
Wow, where do I start? Saffron Dreams is an endearing love story, and yet so much more. I fell in love with the characters. I couldn't help it. Shaila M. Abdullah portrays their courtship in a uniquely romantic way. How they express their love and desire for each other is tender, humorous, and very sensual.
I enjoyed learning about Muslim culture. Diversity is an extradordinary gift we have been given on Earth. This book gracefully delves in to several important issues. For instance, after 9/11, Arrisa says "Don't they know that terror has no religion? That religions don't treat terror?" And further, "I looked on day after day as the media tried, sentenced and hung my faith ... what proof did I have of the innocence of the rest of us?" This book felt so real to me, I wondered if I was reading fiction, or if it was a true story.
Another favorite quote: "What would we do without our loved ones? They drive us over the edge and yet bring sanity to our lives."
My favorite quote: "Go home and take a long, hard look at yourself in the mirror," ... "You will be pleasantly surprised. Our flaws are what make us unique. Yours make you beautiful."
I'm going to have my daughters read Saffron Dreams. In this book they will subtly learn some life lessons that are beautifully written by Shaila M. Abdullah.
I enjoyed learning about Muslim culture. Diversity is an extradordinary gift we have been given on Earth. This book gracefully delves in to several important issues. For instance, after 9/11, Arrisa says "Don't they know that terror has no religion? That religions don't treat terror?" And further, "I looked on day after day as the media tried, sentenced and hung my faith ... what proof did I have of the innocence of the rest of us?" This book felt so real to me, I wondered if I was reading fiction, or if it was a true story.
Another favorite quote: "What would we do without our loved ones? They drive us over the edge and yet bring sanity to our lives."
My favorite quote: "Go home and take a long, hard look at yourself in the mirror," ... "You will be pleasantly surprised. Our flaws are what make us unique. Yours make you beautiful."
I'm going to have my daughters read Saffron Dreams. In this book they will subtly learn some life lessons that are beautifully written by Shaila M. Abdullah.
March 20, 2009
"Saffron Dreams" by Shaila Abdullah is an eloquently written and moving story of a Muslim woman living in America, whose world is turned upside down on September 11th.
Arissa Illahi is a Muslim artist and writer living in New York City with her husband Faizan. Expecting their first child, they are happy with life. But on the morning of September 11, 2001, Faizan would go to work in the World Trade Center...and never return.
Always free to live as a Muslim in America, after the attacks on the World Trade Center, the Great American Melting Pot doesn't seem to blend so well. People who greeted Arissa with a smile before that fateful day, barely look at her. Feeling adrift after her loss, Arissa wanders through the days awaiting the birth of her unborn son, a son Faizan would never hold. The discovery of her husband's unfinished manuscript may be the key to her survival. And perhaps by finishing Faizan's legacy, Arissa will redeem a race.
If ever there was a book more eloquently written than "Saffron Dreams", I would like to see it. The words simply fly off the page and float into your consciousness; their power touching you in a way like no other book might ever touch you again. The struggles of being a 9/11 widow and a Muslim come together in a moving story that will find you filled with every emotion ever experienced by a human being.
Abdullah's masterful storytelling draws you in from the very first moment and does not release you until you've turned the very last page. Anyone who has ever loved and lost will be touched by this heartrending, yet triumphant story of one woman's difficult journey to pick up the pieces of her shattered life in a country that has suddenly put her and an entire race under a microscope in order to make sense of a monumental tragedy. The descriptions and details put you right alongside Arissa so that you are totally captivated by her world, her dreams, her struggles, and her triumphs.
The stunning cover art must be seen up close, as it is even lovelier and more striking in your hands than what you see posted here.
"Saffron Dreams" is destined to add more awards to Abdullah's portfolio. This is a must read book for 2009!
Arissa Illahi is a Muslim artist and writer living in New York City with her husband Faizan. Expecting their first child, they are happy with life. But on the morning of September 11, 2001, Faizan would go to work in the World Trade Center...and never return.
Always free to live as a Muslim in America, after the attacks on the World Trade Center, the Great American Melting Pot doesn't seem to blend so well. People who greeted Arissa with a smile before that fateful day, barely look at her. Feeling adrift after her loss, Arissa wanders through the days awaiting the birth of her unborn son, a son Faizan would never hold. The discovery of her husband's unfinished manuscript may be the key to her survival. And perhaps by finishing Faizan's legacy, Arissa will redeem a race.
If ever there was a book more eloquently written than "Saffron Dreams", I would like to see it. The words simply fly off the page and float into your consciousness; their power touching you in a way like no other book might ever touch you again. The struggles of being a 9/11 widow and a Muslim come together in a moving story that will find you filled with every emotion ever experienced by a human being.
Abdullah's masterful storytelling draws you in from the very first moment and does not release you until you've turned the very last page. Anyone who has ever loved and lost will be touched by this heartrending, yet triumphant story of one woman's difficult journey to pick up the pieces of her shattered life in a country that has suddenly put her and an entire race under a microscope in order to make sense of a monumental tragedy. The descriptions and details put you right alongside Arissa so that you are totally captivated by her world, her dreams, her struggles, and her triumphs.
The stunning cover art must be seen up close, as it is even lovelier and more striking in your hands than what you see posted here.
"Saffron Dreams" is destined to add more awards to Abdullah's portfolio. This is a must read book for 2009!
March 19, 2009
Fascinating. A fictionalized story, written as a memoir. Arissa is a young Pakistani-American woman who loses her husband in the 9/11 tragedy. Pregnant with a special-needs child, she struggles to find her place in this post 9/11 world. A world without her beloved husband, and a world where many people do not understand the life and faith of Muslims.
Arissa's story is told first-person through flashbacks and present day. Her childhood in Pakistan is covered: an affluent family, a loving father, an emotionally absent mother, and an arranged marriage with the man who would be her true love.
After her husband's death at the World Trade Center, Arissa discovers that her unborn child will have multiple disabilities. Her strength, as she moves forward with her life is remarkable and inspiring. With the support of her in-laws she takes on her challenges. Her son is born and becomes the center of her life. She discovers her husband's unfinished novel and sets out to finish it, and ensure that her husband is not forgotten.
A beautifully descriptive novel: full of color and flavor. A fascinating tale of love and loss, tragedy and triumph, and following your dreams even when they take you on an unexpected journey.
Arissa's story is told first-person through flashbacks and present day. Her childhood in Pakistan is covered: an affluent family, a loving father, an emotionally absent mother, and an arranged marriage with the man who would be her true love.
After her husband's death at the World Trade Center, Arissa discovers that her unborn child will have multiple disabilities. Her strength, as she moves forward with her life is remarkable and inspiring. With the support of her in-laws she takes on her challenges. Her son is born and becomes the center of her life. She discovers her husband's unfinished novel and sets out to finish it, and ensure that her husband is not forgotten.
A beautifully descriptive novel: full of color and flavor. A fascinating tale of love and loss, tragedy and triumph, and following your dreams even when they take you on an unexpected journey.
March 5, 2009
I have a special interest in multicultural fiction and also literature featuring families with children with special needs. This book, about a Pakistani Muslim 9/11 widow, has both. The characters and their relationships are never simple, and the writing is often beautiful. A wonderful book!
May 18, 2025
The book has so many different aspects to it, the mother's detachment, grief, romance, another mother's love, guilt, acceptance and so much more. It's written beautifully with very vivid imagery.
June 6, 2009
Shaila Abdullah’s novel, SAFFRON DREAMS, is a tale of how one woman, Arissa Illahi, literally rises from the ashes of the September 11th tragedy to remake her life. One heartache follows another: after losing her husband, Faizan, in the attack on the World Trade Center, Arissa learns that the baby she is carrying will be born severely handicapped. She does not give in to her endless grief, however, or succumb to self-pity. Instead she embodies the saying, “What does not kill you, makes you stronger.”
As a Moslem Pakistani-American, Arissa faces daunting challenges of prejudice and cultural misunderstandings and stereotypes. As a woman, a widow and mother-to-be living in an adopted land, she also faces the fundamental challenge of getting up every morning and finding the will to go on in a world turned upside down.
Through the love of her parents-in-law and friends and the bond that develops between her and her son, Raian, Arissa not only finds that will but also discovers her true self.
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One of my favorite passages is Arissa reflecting on her new life: (p.174)
“How will I explain to Raian the absence of a father when he finally asks me? How will I explain the viciousness of the world and define hatred to a person struggling with so many physical challenges? How do you convey horror, contradictions, and terror? Perhaps I will instead steer him toward tales of the land we left behind, the country that shaped us and made his father the great man that he was. I might also tell him that when you leave a land behind, you don’t shift loyalties – you just expand your heart and fit two lands in. You love them equally.”
As a Moslem Pakistani-American, Arissa faces daunting challenges of prejudice and cultural misunderstandings and stereotypes. As a woman, a widow and mother-to-be living in an adopted land, she also faces the fundamental challenge of getting up every morning and finding the will to go on in a world turned upside down.
Through the love of her parents-in-law and friends and the bond that develops between her and her son, Raian, Arissa not only finds that will but also discovers her true self.
-------
One of my favorite passages is Arissa reflecting on her new life: (p.174)
“How will I explain to Raian the absence of a father when he finally asks me? How will I explain the viciousness of the world and define hatred to a person struggling with so many physical challenges? How do you convey horror, contradictions, and terror? Perhaps I will instead steer him toward tales of the land we left behind, the country that shaped us and made his father the great man that he was. I might also tell him that when you leave a land behind, you don’t shift loyalties – you just expand your heart and fit two lands in. You love them equally.”
August 28, 2009
A beautiful story about a Muslim woman from Karachi who loses her husband in the 9/11 attacks.
Arissa, married 2 years has lost her beloved husband while working a restaurant at the Trade Center.
The author poetically details Arissa's memories of her husband and how she attempts to deal with the grief . As Arissa tries to get on with her life, she faces the accusing stares , like she was part of the cause of the attack, the enemy. After receiving some life changing news she knows she must get past the grief to move on.
The book is written so beautifully, at time poetic. I highly recommend it, you won't be disappointed. The food she talks about will also make you drool!
"I held the book up to my ear. I willed for it to bring back the laughter it had once given us. I shook it, tugged at it, as if worrying it could give me back some past moments. I rubbed the soft cover, now aged and wrinkled against my cheek, urging the lifeless piece to talk to me....."
Arissa, married 2 years has lost her beloved husband while working a restaurant at the Trade Center.
The author poetically details Arissa's memories of her husband and how she attempts to deal with the grief . As Arissa tries to get on with her life, she faces the accusing stares , like she was part of the cause of the attack, the enemy. After receiving some life changing news she knows she must get past the grief to move on.
The book is written so beautifully, at time poetic. I highly recommend it, you won't be disappointed. The food she talks about will also make you drool!
"I held the book up to my ear. I willed for it to bring back the laughter it had once given us. I shook it, tugged at it, as if worrying it could give me back some past moments. I rubbed the soft cover, now aged and wrinkled against my cheek, urging the lifeless piece to talk to me....."
March 7, 2010
I received a copy of this book as part of Goodread's pre-release book give away. I really really wanted to like it, and I definitely did *not* hate it. But, throughout the book, I realized a certain depth was missing - not sure if it was the plot, the language, or just something else in the writing style. The best way to describe it was like watching a movie on the Lifetime Channel, where the characters go through challenges and the story is good enough, but the plot is simplified, and sometimes, falls into place a little too easily. There were moments when I felt for Arissa, but they were few and far between . A great story pulls you in -- this fell a bit short.
November 3, 2009
Saffron Dreams by Shaila Abdullah is an emotional journey. Arissa Illahi is unexpectedly widowed in the wake of the 9/11 tragedy, while pregnant with her first child.
From her Muslim beliefs, Pakistani heritage, and her new role as single mother, she is just trying to "fit in" as a modern American Woman. She faces many challenges and overcomes many obstacles to live a normal and balanced, happy life.
Shaila Abdullah pulls the reader into the mind and heart of this courageous woman, on a journey filled with, love, hope, warmth, sorrow and happiness.
From her Muslim beliefs, Pakistani heritage, and her new role as single mother, she is just trying to "fit in" as a modern American Woman. She faces many challenges and overcomes many obstacles to live a normal and balanced, happy life.
Shaila Abdullah pulls the reader into the mind and heart of this courageous woman, on a journey filled with, love, hope, warmth, sorrow and happiness.
November 6, 2010
Saffron dreams is a fascinating look at how events can change a life for ever. This is a Muslim womens story of her life after the death of her husband in the 9/11 attacks. She tells of the grief, memory, dreams, and relationships. In this aengrossing story the author shows how losses can actually strengthen and provide a sense of meaning and purpose. This is not a story of happy endings but of hopeful endings.This is a powerful compelling story of love and loss.
August 14, 2017
Arrisa Ilahi is the main character of the novel.She is a Pakistani American lady. She belongs to the middle class. Her mother has left her father and married to another one. However,her father takes care of her and doesn't let her to feel the missing of her mother.So, he supports her until she becomes a writer and artist.After that, she gets married to a kind man; Faisan and they decide to immigrate to America. When they immigrate we detect that they have a happy life and everyone accepts them . In a flash, everything starts falling apart after the terrorist attacks of september 11. This tragedy is the beginnig of her struggles . Her life is taking a downfall. She starts suffring from many things, such as, the suffer of losing her husband in the destruction of the 2 towers. His death affects her so bad because losing someone who's very close is not an easy thing. Things goes from bad to worse when she discovers that she is pregnant and his unborn child will have multiple disabilities .Above that,she suffers from the society ,people who accept her start to reject and blame her. Although, she lost her husband in the collapse, they treated her as if she is responsible for this catastrophe. Despite all these difficulties, she does not give up , she decides to move on and take numerous difficult decisions. First of all, she decides to stay in USA instead of leaving the country to cure her child. So, she takes off her veil "Hejab" in order to find a job. However, she keeps her religion, traditions and culture. She feels guilty and uncomfortable but she has forced. she is trying to coexist with the society which rejects to support and understand the life and faith of muslims. After a certain amount of time, she moves to a new city , starts a new job, raises a child with multiple disabilities. She manages to make the socity accepting her.Basically, Arrisa Ilahi is a strong woman. She does not play the victim and make herself look pitiful. She stands and deals with her difficulties and bad situations . In the end, she reflects that humans are the same, they are sharing one feelings and passion, and as there are bad people, there are also good people. She is ready to accept any changes .
July 11, 2019
What a beautiful book! This story of love, loss, and finding oneself after will stay with me for a long time. Some people would be bothered by all the jumping around in the timeline, but to me that was part of its beauty.
June 8, 2009
Arissa is born in an affluent family in Pakistan. She moves to New York when she marries Faizan who works in a restaurant in the World Trade Center. Arissa is very happy with her life, her husband and their future prospects. Also, she is 2 months pregnant. On 11th September 2001, with the attack on the world Trade Center, her whole world came crashing down along with the towers. Faizan is dead and the last rituals are performed without a body, her baby is deformed in her womb and will probably never live a full life. Arissa’s friends and in-laws help her move on. But she is alone and scared, scared of living her life without a companion and scared to raise a child with disabilities.
As Arissa is managing to live life each day, she is confronted with another dilemma, her religion. After 9/11, the way Muslims were viewed changed drastically. The horror of Terrorism reached people who never thought something like this would happen to them. The targets were the innocent Muslims. As Arissa tells someone,
“When you put all your potatoes in a sack, you should know they all have unique flavors. Some are rotten, some fresh. Just because they are clumped together doesn’t make then all the same.”
…
“They are not my people, but I don’t think you are smart enough to figure that out.”
Saffron Dreams is a journey of a young widow away from her homeland and in a country she has adopted. It’s a delicate subject and a book that handles a lot of sensitive issues without wanting to create a sensation. The writing was so raw and honest that I could feel Arissa’s pain seeping through the pages.
I did struggle through this book as I found it a little difficult to read, I even had tears in my eyes a couple of times, but the author’s simplistic and crisp writing style and Arissa’s struggle to find some hope in her chaotic life kept me reading and rooting for her. In the end, this book is not about 9/11, her husbands death, her child’s disabilities or even her religion. It’s about what binds us together even though we are from different homelands and different cultural backgrounds, which I believe is the crux of this book. Though not easy, it’s definitely something that deserves to be read.
Here are some of my favorite passages:
Why was there no fear in my heart? Probably because there was no more room in my heart for terror. When horror comes face-to-face with you and causes a loved one’s death, fear leaves your heart. In it’s place, merciful God places pain. Throbbing, pulsating, oozing pus, a wound that stays fresh and raw no matter how carefully you treat it. How can you be afraid when you have no one to be fearful for? The safety of your loved ones is what breads fear in your heart. They are the weak links in your life. Unraveled from them, you are fearless. You can dangle by a thread, hang from the rooftop. Bungee jump, skydive, walk a pole, hold your hand over the flame of a candle. Burnt, scalded, crashed, lost, dead, the only loss would be to your own self. Certain things you are not allowed to say or do. Defiant as I am, I say and do them anyway.
How do you end a story that’s not yours? Add another sentence where there is a pause? Infiltrate the story with a comma when really there should have been a period? Punctuate with an exclamation point where a period would have sufficed? What if you kill something breathing and breathe into something the author wanted to eliminate? How do you get inside the mind of a person who isn’t there? Fill the shoes of someone who will never fill his own?
Rating: 4.5 stars rounded to 5
Originally posted at http://violetcrush.wordpress.com/2009...
As Arissa is managing to live life each day, she is confronted with another dilemma, her religion. After 9/11, the way Muslims were viewed changed drastically. The horror of Terrorism reached people who never thought something like this would happen to them. The targets were the innocent Muslims. As Arissa tells someone,
“When you put all your potatoes in a sack, you should know they all have unique flavors. Some are rotten, some fresh. Just because they are clumped together doesn’t make then all the same.”
…
“They are not my people, but I don’t think you are smart enough to figure that out.”
Saffron Dreams is a journey of a young widow away from her homeland and in a country she has adopted. It’s a delicate subject and a book that handles a lot of sensitive issues without wanting to create a sensation. The writing was so raw and honest that I could feel Arissa’s pain seeping through the pages.
I did struggle through this book as I found it a little difficult to read, I even had tears in my eyes a couple of times, but the author’s simplistic and crisp writing style and Arissa’s struggle to find some hope in her chaotic life kept me reading and rooting for her. In the end, this book is not about 9/11, her husbands death, her child’s disabilities or even her religion. It’s about what binds us together even though we are from different homelands and different cultural backgrounds, which I believe is the crux of this book. Though not easy, it’s definitely something that deserves to be read.
Here are some of my favorite passages:
Why was there no fear in my heart? Probably because there was no more room in my heart for terror. When horror comes face-to-face with you and causes a loved one’s death, fear leaves your heart. In it’s place, merciful God places pain. Throbbing, pulsating, oozing pus, a wound that stays fresh and raw no matter how carefully you treat it. How can you be afraid when you have no one to be fearful for? The safety of your loved ones is what breads fear in your heart. They are the weak links in your life. Unraveled from them, you are fearless. You can dangle by a thread, hang from the rooftop. Bungee jump, skydive, walk a pole, hold your hand over the flame of a candle. Burnt, scalded, crashed, lost, dead, the only loss would be to your own self. Certain things you are not allowed to say or do. Defiant as I am, I say and do them anyway.
How do you end a story that’s not yours? Add another sentence where there is a pause? Infiltrate the story with a comma when really there should have been a period? Punctuate with an exclamation point where a period would have sufficed? What if you kill something breathing and breathe into something the author wanted to eliminate? How do you get inside the mind of a person who isn’t there? Fill the shoes of someone who will never fill his own?
Rating: 4.5 stars rounded to 5
Originally posted at http://violetcrush.wordpress.com/2009...
June 30, 2009
This is the beautifully written story of Arissa Illahi, a Pakistani woman living in New York City and the 41 days during which her world falls apart after her husband (a full-time waiter at Windows on the World and part-time writer) is killed in the 9/11 attacks, she is attacked by skinheads in the subway, her unborn child is diagnosed with Charge syndrome, and her official period of mourning is over and she is supposed to "get on with her life"--whatever that means. Arissa's story is painful, fascinating, and doubtless the story of many many Muslims living in NYC who lost loved ones and saw their religion and cultures hijacked. While that is the historic backdrop, the gripping story is Arissa's personal tale of her loving in-laws who come frm Pakistan to nurture her back to health, who live with her for six years and assist in the day-to-day care of her special needs son. Probably the most uplifting incident in the book (and, ironically, there are several) is the exchange that occurs when Arissa collects her injured son Raian from school one day and is quietly fuming to herself as she drives him home, contemplating removing him from the school that would allow him to be injured, so clearly isn't equipped to meet his needs, etc. etc. Raian is gesturing frantically to his mother who must pull the car over to figure out what he is saying. He is so excited to tell her that they learned about Beethoven in school that day and, like himself, Beethoven was deaf and couldn't hear his own compositions. Somehow this remarkable little boy has found inspiration in Beethoven's story and innocently asks his mother whether he, too, might become a great musician. After their exchange, during which Arissa assures her son that he can be anything he wants to, she tells her readers, "We rode the rest of the way quietly. The school was all right for now, I decided" (p. 188). My point here is that Arisaa's highs and lows are so realistic, and the joy, solace, and perfection that she finds in her fragile son is what allows her to rebuild a life and move on. The characters in the novel are well developed, the cultural insights are much-needed in a society far too prone to black-and-white generalizations about Islam, and the healing power of art (Arissa is a painter who decides to tackle completing her dead husband's aptly-named unfinished novel, Soul Searcher) is well demonstrated here. This was a wonderful book, and you feel that you might have grown a little bit as you watch Arissa's tremendous journey toward an uncertain future that we share with her.
December 13, 2009
I was immediately drawn to the beautiful cover of this book. It depicts a veiled Middle Eastern woman with sad eyes shielding her face with her bejewelled arms. How appropriate for this novel about a Pakistani-Muslim woman who loses her husband to the tragic collapse of the World Trade Center.
I love novels that are of the multi-cultural genre. And this book is filled with the flavours and traditions of the Middle East. Abdullah’s writing is lyrical and poetic, with a sad tone that permeates this story told from the first person point of view of the main character Arissa Illahi. With flashbacks, we come to learn of her childhood and marriage to Faizan, the husband she knew for barely two years. She is pregnant when he dies and her pain is compounded with the knowledge that her unborn baby will have multiple birth defects.
The whole story is Arissa’s struggle with losses—her mother’s lack of love throughout her childhood, her husband’s death and his unfinished novel, her child’s disabilities, the age-old traditions of her former country, and her lost dreams. Through her eyes we see what she endures as a Muslim woman in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks—the prejudices, the hatred, the misunderstandings, and her guilt for not wanting to return to Pakistan when Faizan wished it.
Throughout, she voices her frustration and philosophy about death and God. It was clear to me that although she believed in God, she lacked faith in Him and struggled with this, too. Arissa also makes it her project to finish Faizan’s novel, no easy task, even though she is an artist and a writer herself. She keeps her husband alive in her heart and fulfills his dream, making it a lasting legacy.
Although this novel received great reviews, I had mixed feelings about it. Overall, it gave me a glimpse into the life of an immigrant Muslim widow in America, mourning her many losses and the decisions she made to cope with them. Sometimes, I had to put the book down and read something else because the sombreness of it was all encompassing. Besides her painful losses, it saddened me that her Muslim faith did not provide comfort or answers regarding death and tragedies. This book also contained mildly explicit sexual scenes and unmarried sex, which I did not expect from a Muslim author.
I love novels that are of the multi-cultural genre. And this book is filled with the flavours and traditions of the Middle East. Abdullah’s writing is lyrical and poetic, with a sad tone that permeates this story told from the first person point of view of the main character Arissa Illahi. With flashbacks, we come to learn of her childhood and marriage to Faizan, the husband she knew for barely two years. She is pregnant when he dies and her pain is compounded with the knowledge that her unborn baby will have multiple birth defects.
The whole story is Arissa’s struggle with losses—her mother’s lack of love throughout her childhood, her husband’s death and his unfinished novel, her child’s disabilities, the age-old traditions of her former country, and her lost dreams. Through her eyes we see what she endures as a Muslim woman in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks—the prejudices, the hatred, the misunderstandings, and her guilt for not wanting to return to Pakistan when Faizan wished it.
Throughout, she voices her frustration and philosophy about death and God. It was clear to me that although she believed in God, she lacked faith in Him and struggled with this, too. Arissa also makes it her project to finish Faizan’s novel, no easy task, even though she is an artist and a writer herself. She keeps her husband alive in her heart and fulfills his dream, making it a lasting legacy.
Although this novel received great reviews, I had mixed feelings about it. Overall, it gave me a glimpse into the life of an immigrant Muslim widow in America, mourning her many losses and the decisions she made to cope with them. Sometimes, I had to put the book down and read something else because the sombreness of it was all encompassing. Besides her painful losses, it saddened me that her Muslim faith did not provide comfort or answers regarding death and tragedies. This book also contained mildly explicit sexual scenes and unmarried sex, which I did not expect from a Muslim author.
November 15, 2010
"Saffron Dreams," is about letting go and learning to live despite every challenge life brings. It's about the strength of women and relationships. It's about the experience of women left behind in the 9/ll Twin Towers/World Trade Center terrorist attack. And, it's about the Muslim woman's experience in America.
Ms Abdullah has a big order to fill on her proverbial plate, and she comes shining through like a bird of paradise! I loved this book for so many reasons, it will be difficult to convey them to you, so you'll ultimately just have to read this book for yourself to understand.
The main character, Arissa, is a young woman who was born and raised in Karachi, Pakistan. After having survived a home of material wealth and non-existent maternal love, Arissa becomes the bride in a traditional "arranged marriage." Surprisingly, this marriage is to a young man she had previously met on a trip to New York visiting relatives! So, fortune seemed to be with them. On the flip side of that fortune, however, rests a bad omen flung at them by a seer woman who predicts that the young husband will dance with fire. Arissa and Faizan also have dreams of flames and smoke, but set these things aside and ignore them.
We learn along the way such interesting information about Muslim life in the everyday workings of the kitchen cookery, the ritual of the veils the women wear, the landscape and gardens of Pakistan, and the role saffron plays in the life of Arissa. I will never look at or smell Night Blooming Jasmine in quite the same way again.
Ms Abdullah knows grief and heartbreak. Her novel tells us truly the pain of loss and the redemptive qualities that keep one living despite the agony of pain and loss. I was widowed at a young age with young children so I speak from experience, when I say that this book conveys the feelings and experiences I had so profoundly and gently that it was shocking.
I learned that women and widows are the same no matter what their religion or culture. I learned that not all Muslims are terrorists. That children can save you. That family can hold you up but can't save you. And that somebody else unknown to you can have the same experiences and live to tell about it. Please do yourself a favor and read this wonderful book. It will help you know how it feels to be a widow of the 9/11 attack....I promise you!
Ms Abdullah has a big order to fill on her proverbial plate, and she comes shining through like a bird of paradise! I loved this book for so many reasons, it will be difficult to convey them to you, so you'll ultimately just have to read this book for yourself to understand.
The main character, Arissa, is a young woman who was born and raised in Karachi, Pakistan. After having survived a home of material wealth and non-existent maternal love, Arissa becomes the bride in a traditional "arranged marriage." Surprisingly, this marriage is to a young man she had previously met on a trip to New York visiting relatives! So, fortune seemed to be with them. On the flip side of that fortune, however, rests a bad omen flung at them by a seer woman who predicts that the young husband will dance with fire. Arissa and Faizan also have dreams of flames and smoke, but set these things aside and ignore them.
We learn along the way such interesting information about Muslim life in the everyday workings of the kitchen cookery, the ritual of the veils the women wear, the landscape and gardens of Pakistan, and the role saffron plays in the life of Arissa. I will never look at or smell Night Blooming Jasmine in quite the same way again.
Ms Abdullah knows grief and heartbreak. Her novel tells us truly the pain of loss and the redemptive qualities that keep one living despite the agony of pain and loss. I was widowed at a young age with young children so I speak from experience, when I say that this book conveys the feelings and experiences I had so profoundly and gently that it was shocking.
I learned that women and widows are the same no matter what their religion or culture. I learned that not all Muslims are terrorists. That children can save you. That family can hold you up but can't save you. And that somebody else unknown to you can have the same experiences and live to tell about it. Please do yourself a favor and read this wonderful book. It will help you know how it feels to be a widow of the 9/11 attack....I promise you!
August 29, 2009
Arissa Illahi is a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister, Pakistani, American, and Muslim. When the United States, and consequentially the world, was rocked by the horrific terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Arissa's life is turned upside down. Her husband, Faizan, was working at a restaurant in one of the towers and lost his life. Reeling with the loss of her love, Arissa is left struggling and trying to make sense of it all. She is also pregnant with a baby who is destined to have severe special needs and alone. She also becomes a victim of prejudice when attacked because she is wearing her veil. She sheds her veil and goes on a journey of heartbreak and empowerment all the while healing from being abandoned by her mother and building a beautiful relationship with Faizan's parents.
Poetic and moving, the story of Arissa Illahi's heartbreak and strength comes alive in Shaila Abdullah's "Saffron Dreams". This novel is written in a memoir style, taking you deep in to Arissa's heartbreak and inner struggles. Attempting to bring forth what it must be like to be a victim in so many aspects due to the terrorist attacks. Imagine what it must be like to be in the shoes of a follower of Allah and have the world blame you for what you yourself is a victim of also. Shaila Abdullah's book is multifaceted, we are given a treat of reading beautiful words, a moving story and we are also educated at the same time. Although this is a work of fiction, Arissa's heartbreak is real. Her experiences are real. Her struggle with removing her veil and blending in with an America that is reeling and scared. Her surviving when Faizan did not, her decisions to continue with his novel, and the choices and struggles with raising their special needs son. I was moved to tears several times during this book, my heart ached for Arissa and I also found myself cheering her on as she and her son found their footing and moved through their lives, never forgetting who they are: Wife, Mother, Daughter, Son, Pakistani, American and Muslim.
Shaila Abdullah's "Saffron Dreams" is a must read.
Poetic and moving, the story of Arissa Illahi's heartbreak and strength comes alive in Shaila Abdullah's "Saffron Dreams". This novel is written in a memoir style, taking you deep in to Arissa's heartbreak and inner struggles. Attempting to bring forth what it must be like to be a victim in so many aspects due to the terrorist attacks. Imagine what it must be like to be in the shoes of a follower of Allah and have the world blame you for what you yourself is a victim of also. Shaila Abdullah's book is multifaceted, we are given a treat of reading beautiful words, a moving story and we are also educated at the same time. Although this is a work of fiction, Arissa's heartbreak is real. Her experiences are real. Her struggle with removing her veil and blending in with an America that is reeling and scared. Her surviving when Faizan did not, her decisions to continue with his novel, and the choices and struggles with raising their special needs son. I was moved to tears several times during this book, my heart ached for Arissa and I also found myself cheering her on as she and her son found their footing and moved through their lives, never forgetting who they are: Wife, Mother, Daughter, Son, Pakistani, American and Muslim.
Shaila Abdullah's "Saffron Dreams" is a must read.
June 28, 2009
Saffron Dreams by Shaila Abdullah
This year I decided to read mostly foreign authors and multicultural themed books and this week’s selection was a fiction novel, Saffron Dreams by Shaila Abdullah. This book looks at the treatment and lives of Muslims in America after 9/11.
Arissa and Faizan married in Pakistan in a traditional Muslim wedding and were the love of each other’s lives from the beginning. They moved to New York where Faizan worked as a waiter while secretly writing his first novel. After two years of marriage, Arissa finally became pregnant and they were both excited about their first visit to the doctor for an ultrasound. Then, 9/11 happened and Faizan never made it home.
“That’s how God made us, in pairs so we complete each other. And then he snatches one away, I thought, and makes us dispensable mortals. Alone we come, and solo our return.” Pg.101
Shaila Abdullah gives us a clear picture of what it was like to be Muslim and a widow in America after 9/11 through the story of one courageous woman who faces raising a child alone and the possibility of finishing her husband’s novel. She addresses the balancing of cultural traditions with American realities and her writing flows like a river from the first paragraph to the last sentence. Ms. Abdullah provides an accurate and insightful story of love, loss, fear, anger, and finding the strength to survive. This book is a must read for everyone and can provide understanding for those with little experience with other cultures.
Luckily I have had the great pleasure to experience many different cultures, religions, foods and customs and met many wonderful people while traveling and working internationally. I have found many women indicative of the values that Arissa displays in this novel which made this book very personal and identifiable to me. I give this book a big “thumbs up” and can’t wait to read the next novel by Shaila Abdullah.
This year I decided to read mostly foreign authors and multicultural themed books and this week’s selection was a fiction novel, Saffron Dreams by Shaila Abdullah. This book looks at the treatment and lives of Muslims in America after 9/11.
Arissa and Faizan married in Pakistan in a traditional Muslim wedding and were the love of each other’s lives from the beginning. They moved to New York where Faizan worked as a waiter while secretly writing his first novel. After two years of marriage, Arissa finally became pregnant and they were both excited about their first visit to the doctor for an ultrasound. Then, 9/11 happened and Faizan never made it home.
“That’s how God made us, in pairs so we complete each other. And then he snatches one away, I thought, and makes us dispensable mortals. Alone we come, and solo our return.” Pg.101
Shaila Abdullah gives us a clear picture of what it was like to be Muslim and a widow in America after 9/11 through the story of one courageous woman who faces raising a child alone and the possibility of finishing her husband’s novel. She addresses the balancing of cultural traditions with American realities and her writing flows like a river from the first paragraph to the last sentence. Ms. Abdullah provides an accurate and insightful story of love, loss, fear, anger, and finding the strength to survive. This book is a must read for everyone and can provide understanding for those with little experience with other cultures.
Luckily I have had the great pleasure to experience many different cultures, religions, foods and customs and met many wonderful people while traveling and working internationally. I have found many women indicative of the values that Arissa displays in this novel which made this book very personal and identifiable to me. I give this book a big “thumbs up” and can’t wait to read the next novel by Shaila Abdullah.
September 13, 2012
Saffron Dreams had been on my to-read list , and somehow, coincidentally I managed to get to it on September 11. It is the story of Arissa Ilahi, a Pakistani girl who deals with the shocking loss of her husband on the morning of 9/11. Arissa's character, (although unconventionally modern for a Muslim girl raised in Pakistan) is so real, I felt as though she was a close friend suffering through pain of great intensity. Volumes of books have been written about losing the love of one's life, but this is so articulately written, it feels much more like a memoir than fiction. Some readers have questioned this style of writing, oscillating between the present and flashback, but I actually found it uniquely absorbing, and it worked very well for me. The way she allows her thoughts to drift into different parts of her past, not only brings reality to her grief, but also brings an occasional smile to the reader's lips despite the tragedy engraved in the story, as the blissful moments are recounted. The marriage was heavenly, but it wasn't perfect, inundated with arguments between husband and wife, which made it all the more believable.
Being a Pakistani Muslim in America myself, the 9/11 tragedy and its aftermath has had a profound effect on me, and I really admire Shaila's portrayal of those sentiments that terror has no religion. The challenges she faces raising her special needs child without his father is heartbreaking and well depicted. The selflessness of her mother-in-law is truly inspiring.
Shaila has used language that has the soft and abstract quality of poetry, while preserving the clarity of prose.
It is the kind of book that is not only hard to put down, but one that stays with you after you have done so. After reading Saffron Dreams, I will be more grateful to have the blessings which one tends to take for granted:the companionship of my husband, and the health and well-being of my two-year old son.
Being a Pakistani Muslim in America myself, the 9/11 tragedy and its aftermath has had a profound effect on me, and I really admire Shaila's portrayal of those sentiments that terror has no religion. The challenges she faces raising her special needs child without his father is heartbreaking and well depicted. The selflessness of her mother-in-law is truly inspiring.
Shaila has used language that has the soft and abstract quality of poetry, while preserving the clarity of prose.
It is the kind of book that is not only hard to put down, but one that stays with you after you have done so. After reading Saffron Dreams, I will be more grateful to have the blessings which one tends to take for granted:the companionship of my husband, and the health and well-being of my two-year old son.
May 14, 2022
A fascinating tale of love and loss, tragedy and triumph, and following your dreams even when they take you on an unexpected journey.
September 7, 2009
Saffron Dreams is a beautiful story about a young Pakistani woman who is both an artist and a writer and considered the "ugly" of three daughters. She's not looking for love and is surprised to find that a man she meets in the New York Public Library startles her with emotion while she's on a trip to the United States. Upon returning to Pakistan, a matchmaker shows the young woman and her father pictures of two available men and one happens to be the young man from the library.
The couple marry and move to the states, living in Brooklyn. The husband, who is also a writer, takes a job working at Windows of the World, the restaurant atop one of the Twin Towers, and the wife writes freelance business articles and paints. When the husband is killed on 9/11, the wife faces a new journey, finding herself pregnant with a child who will be born with multiple birth defects and having to find her way in a new world, as a new kind of woman.
The story is haunting and sad and beautiful and rich and loving and fascinating. Through my editor, I've been lucky enough to meet (via email) Shaila (pronounced Shella) Abdullah, the author of Saffron Dreams. Shaila is a beautiful soul, filled with love and beauty and talent and wonder and spirit and soul. Not only do I recommend Saffron Dreams, but also pick up Shaila's short-story collection, Behind the Cayenne Wall. I've read two of the stories in this book, and they, too, are rich with emotion and quite haunting.
The couple marry and move to the states, living in Brooklyn. The husband, who is also a writer, takes a job working at Windows of the World, the restaurant atop one of the Twin Towers, and the wife writes freelance business articles and paints. When the husband is killed on 9/11, the wife faces a new journey, finding herself pregnant with a child who will be born with multiple birth defects and having to find her way in a new world, as a new kind of woman.
The story is haunting and sad and beautiful and rich and loving and fascinating. Through my editor, I've been lucky enough to meet (via email) Shaila (pronounced Shella) Abdullah, the author of Saffron Dreams. Shaila is a beautiful soul, filled with love and beauty and talent and wonder and spirit and soul. Not only do I recommend Saffron Dreams, but also pick up Shaila's short-story collection, Behind the Cayenne Wall. I've read two of the stories in this book, and they, too, are rich with emotion and quite haunting.
March 14, 2013
Saffron Dreams is an insightful look at how to find strength and faith in the midst of loss and devastation. While reading this book I was taught the perspective of a woman whose world was flipped on it side - and whose support system dwindled because of prejudice and fear. The author, Shaila, was able to take me on an emotional roller coaster with her main character, Arissa, who - while dealing with the loss of her husband in the attack on the World Trade Center, must also learn to raise a special needs child in a society that now views her as a threat. This book offers a poignant view into the life of a fiercely independent Muslim woman as she struggles with the shortcomings of her family and society - along with a battle to find her own confidence as she is hit with emotional blow after blow. This book will strip away preconceptions of the dutiful Pakistani daughter, wife, and mother - to show you an exceptionally dynamic woman, struggling with faith and pulling her life back together again piece by piece. There is no doubt why this book, and this author, wins awards time and time again. I highly recommend reading this novel.
On a side note - my husband snagged the book from me when I was halfway through, and could not put it down. (this was taken from my personal blog post about the book)
On a side note - my husband snagged the book from me when I was halfway through, and could not put it down. (this was taken from my personal blog post about the book)
February 17, 2012
This is one of the first books in almost a year that I have LOVED. I felt so invested with the character that I laughed, cried, and obsessed over decisions with her. I even wanted Arissa to be real, not because I wanted someone to have gone through this trauma, but because I wanted to meet her and continue to hear her describe her life in such an engaging, passionate way. I was honestly sad that the book ended.
In terms of my ESL students, the subject matter is perhaps too adult for any but my juniors or seniors. Perhaps excerpts could be used in terms of the reaction to Muslims post 9-11 but as much as I loved the book, I probably won't add it to my classroom library. So, in short, I found a fantastic book for me but I'm still trying to find books about Pakistani/Pakistani Americans for teenage readers.
In terms of my ESL students, the subject matter is perhaps too adult for any but my juniors or seniors. Perhaps excerpts could be used in terms of the reaction to Muslims post 9-11 but as much as I loved the book, I probably won't add it to my classroom library. So, in short, I found a fantastic book for me but I'm still trying to find books about Pakistani/Pakistani Americans for teenage readers.
June 25, 2009
I won this book on goodreads, and what a great find. This was one of those books I had to carry around the house, since I did not want to stop reading. I think it took me two days and I'm a busy mom. While I could not really relate to the character, I really like books that show me a whole new world, and in particular how people handle challenges. The main character had a wonderful life, and a very romantic story of how she met her husband, even though it was an arranged marriage. She was met with a series of horrible events and news, and while she suffered with grief, she came out of each with a new resolve on life. The author has such a wonderful way of describing each character, allowing you to feel their emotions. I highly, highly recommend this book.
March 13, 2009
Finally after all the books i've been picking up this year..this one kept my attention! I was very much impressed with Shaila's writing, as one critic put it, she's a "word artist." Such beatiful passages, yet not so illustrative/descriptive that you get lost in the dialogue. Kind of had the emotional elements of P.S. I love You, which I also enjoyed. I found the ending to be an empowering move by the author. Loved it! Putting on my Social Work hat, I was intrigued by the dynamics of the main character and her neglectful mother and how that impacted her life journey. Can't wait for the upcoming book readings!!
July 23, 2009
I have not read this book yet as it is floating from one friend to another and I will be up for my turn shortly. The comments have been widely ranged from wonderful to sadly misunderstood. I await my turn anxiously.
June 1, 2009
One of the best novels I have read in years.
June 2, 2024
Maybe 3.5?
It took me ages to finish this, reading a little every few days. This isn't my usual fare, but I found it entertaining enough to keep going, if slowly. And there are things to admire.
I can't remember what connected me to this book originally; I think it was on a list of "read some of these books by South Asian authors" or something. And it is interesting. The main character comes from a wealthy family in Pakistan, but the family is not traditional. They aren't super religious, and they're kinda broken. Her mom has left and is only sometimes in her life. When she marries and moves to New York and gets pregnant, things look up, but then her husband dies on 9/11, and when her baby comes it has lots of special needs.
Told with in a back-and-forth way, with lots of revealing flashbacks, this is really the story of how Arissa longs for, obtains, and then loses an ideal life, eventually coming to terms with that. When, at the very end, her friend talks about how children complete their lives, she agrees reluctantly, adding, "Sometimes not in the way we imagined. Maybe it's wrong to see perfection as the key to bliss." I guess everybody goes through that reassessment.
Speaking as a white dude from Arizona, this novel has the added benefit of being told in the voice of a Pakistani immigrant woman, giving me access to the kind thoughts I wouldn't usually get to hear. It allows Arissa to become a unique voice in my head, differentiating her from generic South Asian Woman, whatever stereotype that has been for me. That education is probably the greatest benefit to me as a reader. Also, seeing her reaction as a both a Muslim and a victim of 9/11 was a useful corrective for many of the narratives emerging from that day.
The prose is fine--not too ornate, not an overabundance of figurative language--and I like the characters okay, especially her in-laws who come to take care of her after their son dies. But the plot is just "How will she get along now, raising a special needs son as a single mother in America?" It's pretty good. It's not my thing, usually. That's why 3 or 3.5 stars. I found it more interesting in a "hmmmm" kind of way than truly entertaining.
Still, it was worth reading for the other benefits, so I'm satisfied overall. Others may enjoy it much more than I did, and that's cool.
It took me ages to finish this, reading a little every few days. This isn't my usual fare, but I found it entertaining enough to keep going, if slowly. And there are things to admire.
I can't remember what connected me to this book originally; I think it was on a list of "read some of these books by South Asian authors" or something. And it is interesting. The main character comes from a wealthy family in Pakistan, but the family is not traditional. They aren't super religious, and they're kinda broken. Her mom has left and is only sometimes in her life. When she marries and moves to New York and gets pregnant, things look up, but then her husband dies on 9/11, and when her baby comes it has lots of special needs.
Told with in a back-and-forth way, with lots of revealing flashbacks, this is really the story of how Arissa longs for, obtains, and then loses an ideal life, eventually coming to terms with that. When, at the very end, her friend talks about how children complete their lives, she agrees reluctantly, adding, "Sometimes not in the way we imagined. Maybe it's wrong to see perfection as the key to bliss." I guess everybody goes through that reassessment.
Speaking as a white dude from Arizona, this novel has the added benefit of being told in the voice of a Pakistani immigrant woman, giving me access to the kind thoughts I wouldn't usually get to hear. It allows Arissa to become a unique voice in my head, differentiating her from generic South Asian Woman, whatever stereotype that has been for me. That education is probably the greatest benefit to me as a reader. Also, seeing her reaction as a both a Muslim and a victim of 9/11 was a useful corrective for many of the narratives emerging from that day.
The prose is fine--not too ornate, not an overabundance of figurative language--and I like the characters okay, especially her in-laws who come to take care of her after their son dies. But the plot is just "How will she get along now, raising a special needs son as a single mother in America?" It's pretty good. It's not my thing, usually. That's why 3 or 3.5 stars. I found it more interesting in a "hmmmm" kind of way than truly entertaining.
Still, it was worth reading for the other benefits, so I'm satisfied overall. Others may enjoy it much more than I did, and that's cool.
March 3, 2018
A young Pakistani woman suffers a heartbreak when her husband is killed during the 9-11 attacks on the World Trade Towers. And as a Muslim, she suffers in another way, people are looking at her differently. Not only is this the only tragedy she is suffering from, she is going through a troublesome pregnancy and has been told her child would have disabilities. She finds a novel that her husband had started & vows to complete it, but can't quite seem up to it. Her mother-in-law & father-in-law are staying with her through all this time & she finds a quiet, loving calm that helps her along, as her own mother was never quite the mother she should have been.
The main character is a person that made me care about her, I felt saddened by her tragedy and very uplifted by her triumphs.
The main character is a person that made me care about her, I felt saddened by her tragedy and very uplifted by her triumphs.
November 17, 2021
Thank you #goodreadsgiveaway and #ShailaMAbdullah #ModernHistoryPress for this wonderful #SaffronDreams. This book got me from page one to the last page. A fictional Pakistani-American Muslim Woman residing freely came face to face with racism and hatred right after 9-11 and the death of her beloved husband. This book speaks volumes of how people view and perceive the Islam religion and treatment of peace-loving Muslims in United States. Albeit fiction, it’s scary how a turn of event changed the people who did not want to partake nor have any affiliation or association to the other non-peaceful Muslim people who intended to destroy the factors of the environment. This is a must read. It is a book about struggles, determination and redemption. A 5⭐️.
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