A Place for Us

A Novel

By: Fatima Farheen Mirza

Narrated by: Deepti Gupta, Sunil Malhotra

Length: 16 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

Instant New York Times Best Seller

New York’s “One Book, One New York” Pick

Named one of the Best Books of 2018 by:
Washington Post
NPR
People
Refinery29
Parade
Buzzfeed

"Mirza writes with a mercy that encompasses all things." (Ron Charles, Washington Post)

"A Place for Us is a book for our times." (Christiane Amanpour)

The first novel from Sarah Jessica Parker's new imprint, SJP for Hogarth, A Place for Us is a deeply moving and resonant story of love, identity, and belonging

As an Indian wedding gathers a family back together, parents Rafiq and Layla must reckon with the choices their children have made. There is Hadia, their headstrong eldest daughter, whose marriage is a match of love and not tradition. Huda, the middle child, determined to follow in her sister's footsteps. And lastly, their estranged son, Amar, who returns to the family fold for the first time in three years to take his place as brother of the bride.

What secrets and betrayals have caused this close-knit family to fracture? Can Amar find his way back to the people who know and love him best? A Place for Us takes us back to the beginning of this family's life: from the bonds that bring them together to the differences that pull them apart. All the joy and struggle of family life is here, from Rafiq and Layla's own arrival in America from India to the years in which their children - each in their own way - tread between two cultures, seeking to find their place in the world as well as a path home. A Place for Us is a book for our times: an astonishingly tender-hearted novel of identity and belonging and a resonant portrait of what it means to be an American family today. It announces Fatima Farheen Mirza as a major new literary talent.

©2018 Fatima Farheen Mirza (P)2018 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Ambitious...a family epic that is textured and keenly felt...Mirza draws Amar’s lifelong struggle with the concept of unconditional devotion so poignantly that readers will find it exceedingly relatable. But so too is the mysterious whisper in his ear urging him always to return, no matter how far he strays, back home.” (New York Times Book Review)

“The thinking person’s summer read, a rich and layered tale about family and assimilation.” (Entertainment Weekly)

"[An] impassioned debut novel.... Mirza is attuned to the subtle ways in which siblings and parents compete for one another's affection. A ruminative final section, in which the father addresses his wayward son, is a moving coda." (The New Yorker)

Beautiful

I loved the insight into the Muslim religion and how it is lived by this family. I appreciate it teasing out what is religion and what is culture, what is healthy and what is not, what serves and what does not. Many of the problems this family faces translates to any family. Congruently, other challenges of living a life of faith in modern society this family encounters also is shared by families of other religions. Life lessons that can apply to anybody bloom by the end of this book.

WOW,

A must read. Will reach every one of your heartstrings and question if you can ever Love your children enough Definitely gave me a new appreciation for mine.

Disappointing

The performance was good through most of the story, and there are interesting characters developed to a point. But then nothing really comes of it. I guess any examination of a family’s inner workings can be interesting, and for me, I was interested in learning a bit about a family with a different culture than mine. And I did learn a little in that regard. But there isn’t enough there to sustain it. I thought the final part, read from another perspective was just rambling regrets of a father, and not believable for the character we spent much of the book with.
I would skip it.

Cliché

Besides the fact that the story was average, it ok much details and the performance very slow (had to put the last let on x1.5 speed); it was disappointing to see yet another book stereotyping Muslim immigrants.

brilliant and heartbreaking

Few books are able to touch the heart as Fatima has with A Place for Us. The characters and their journeys will stay with me indefinitely.

Relatable and insightful but lacking

It was hard for me to get into this book and it jumps around with memories without warning or at least a pause to let you know. You’re all the sudden trying to figure out what is happening in the story and once you realize it’s a memory you have to try to comprehend what you just head again. Because I am a parent I could appreciate parts of this book and the insight into their religion and culture kept me going too but it’s nothing I would rave about.

Great read, but not on Audible.

I started with Audible, which I DON'T recommend. I was so confused most of the first part of the reading, I had to physically pick up the book and flip through the first chapter to see what was going on? I realized the scenes/time period changes frequently and it is not translated well on audible format. I also felt the female narrator was reading the book with not much emotion. She did not differentiate her voice much to indicate a change in the scene and it was difficult to understand without actually seeing the change markers from the actual book. I just didn't like the narration and preferred reading the actual book; however, the story was so good I couldn't wait to finish, so the final quarter of the book I started Audible again while I worked. To my surprise the narrator changed to a male voice for the final part of the book. He was a excellent and the ending was beautiful. This is the reason I gave the performance 3 stars. I still don't recommend the Audible version, because the book is beautifully written and shouldn't be spoiled by the poor narration at the beginning. I highly recommend this book. It's about a family and I think so many of people can relate to it in so many ways.

Family Endurance

Family dynamics are at play during their process of acclimating to a new country - the USA. Sacrifices are necessary to blend in and become accepted - especially after 911. Strong faith and family bonds give strength to that commitment. Told from the father's point a view who dwells on his lost son, this book humanizes the reader's experience. More importantly, a better understanding of a person's religion gives depth and meaning to one's life.

For you. Please read.

This book is a special piece. It’s a real life account of expectation, commitment and the love that families share. We all have our own things...it will touch your heart in the way you will always be grateful. Forgiveness and unconditional love are the most selfless things you can give to another soul. This book details that and makes you understand the true gravity of those gifts.

Profound and moving

Honestly, I loved this book more than anything I've read in ages. Mirza has such profound insights into family, love, God, religion, parenthood--the list could go on and on. And they're all delivered so deftly, through such an engrossing story.

I will never forget the story of the Prophet allowing his grandson to climb on his back, and how that tale was woven into Mirza's novel. It made me see my own life--being a father and a Christian--in a new way.

This one's going to stick with me for a long, long time. Oh - the narrators are wonderful, too.