Multan, Pakistan. A conservative city where an unmarried woman over the age of twenty-five is considered a curse by her family.
Ayesha is twenty-seven. Independent and happily single, she has evaded an arranged marriage because of her family’s reduced circumstances. When she catches the eye of powerful, wealthy Raza, it seems like the answer to her parents’ prayers. But Ayesha is in love with someone else, and when she refuses to give up on him, Raza resorts to unthinkable revenge…
Ayesha travels to London to rebuild her life and there she meets Kamil, an emotionally damaged man who has demons of his own. They embark on a friendship that could mean salvation for both of them, but danger stalks Ayesha in London, too. With her life thrown into turmoil, she is forced to make a decision that could change her and everyone she loves forever.
Exquisitely written, populated by unforgettable characters and rich with poignant, powerful themes, Someone Like Her is a story of love and family, of corruption and calamity, of courage and hope … and one woman’s determination to thwart convention and find peace, at whatever cost…
It is such a pleasure to be hosting the blog tour for Someone Like Her today. Many thanks to Awais Khan, Orenda Books and Anne Cater from Random Things Tours for inviting me and for my advance copy of the novel.
One of the many joys of reading is the window it can give us into different countries and cultures. Moreover, the best fiction transcends that and writers like Awais Khan construct piercingly perceptive, compassionate narratives which allow us to almost viscerally empathise with his characters. Someone Like Her is as exquisitely moving as his previous novel, No Honour and like that book, a devastatingly important exploration of harrowing topics.
The superb opening chapters introduce Ayesha and give readers an insight into her character. It's soon obvious that she is determined and rather headstrong and that she persistently challenges the rigid expectations of young women in the conservative city of Multan. At twenty-seven she is unmarried and has a job, both of which have been the cause of consternation to her parents, particularly her father who is the son of one of Multan's formerly richest feudal families. He has experienced a marked change in his circumstances yet still adheres to traditional beliefs. Despite his arrogance and her mother's submissiveness, it is always clear that they both adore their only daughter and the novel strikes a poignant balance between recognising the tragedy of their mistakes and understanding their abiding love for her.
The juxtaposition between the established orthodoxy and those who push back against it is examined throughout Someone Like Her and the candid, thoughtful storyline looks at some of the issues facing modern Pakistan, however, Awais Khan also reflects on how these themes affect those who have moved away from the country. Although the chapters set in London are often markedly warmer and more humorous, it's apparent that the older and younger generations still have to figure out how to negotiate their different expectations. Kamil and his sister, Sharmeela (Shar) are products of their Western upbringing and their ambitions and dreams contrast with the more traditional objectives of their mother, Nevertheless, Jamila is a wonderful character whose innate kindness is evident in the light-hearted moments as well as the deeply emotional scenes.
Of course, a book which is concerned with such dark subjects will necessarily include some distressing events and Ayesha's terrible ordeal at the hands of the cruelly obsessive Raza is horrendous to read about. The sense of foreboding is chilling as his desire to possess her in every sense of the word manifests itself gradually at first and then with extreme brutality. Awais Khan carefully ensures we are left in no doubt as to the extent of her emotional and physical suffering but his writing is never gratuitous. Throughout the novel, it's the strength of the victims which makes the most profound impression, whether that's Ayesha's desperate courage or Kamil's own bravery as he seeks support in coming to terms with his own tormented past. His storyline may be more about acceptance than immediate survival but it's so important to recognise that some men are also victims of violence and it's handled with great understanding here.
Someone Like Her is an evocative, compellingly intense story of savage obsession and stunning defiance but it's also a powerfully emotive attestation of love and hope. Beautifully written, with unflinching honesty and great sensitivity, I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Someone Like Her is published by Orenda Books and can be purchased directly from their website, further purchasing links can be found here.
Follow the blog tour, details are below.
Awais Khan is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario and Durham University. He has studied creative writing with Faber Academy. His debut novel, In the Company of Strangers, was published to much critical acclaim and he regularly appears on TV and Radio. Awais also teaches a popular online creative writing course to aspiring writers around the world. He is currently working on his third book. When not working, he has his nose buried in a book. He lives in Lahore.
Thanks for the blog tour support x
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