Stay, Daughter

Yasmin Azad's Stay, Daughter is a profound account of the lives of Muslim women as they try to find their identity while negotiating the orthodoxy in Islam. Azad tries to convey that customs and beliefs should exist in equilibrium with modernity and individual freedom.
I am an Indian from Kerala, which makes much of this book’s contents—even the geography and food—familiar and relatable. Besides, I have many Muslim friends, who call their parents Wappah and Umma; observe pretty much the same rules; and love and respect their extended family as much.
Moreover, other than the religious observances, I too was expected to respect elders, behave with propriety, and a long list of such unwritten rules. Goes to show how similar a Hindu and Muslim household is!
The book portrays the experiences of growing up in a Muslim family in an enchanting, yet funny, manner. The descriptions of characters, locales, customs, and food are quite vivid. This is why although it sometimes seemed to drag, it was an enjoyable read.

Note: I received a free copy of this book from BookSirens in exchange for an honest review.