Trigger Warnings: The mention of certain content and topics in this article may be triggering to some readers. Please check the TWs before reading about the books below.
It’s not often that esteemed South Asian writers get the recognition they need to reach keen South Asian readers like me. That’s why, for this article, I’ll be highlighting all of the South Asian books that I’ve read and deeply enjoyed, and ones that are on my TBR! Fellow South Asians, I’ve got you. From contemporary novels to poetry books, I’ve made sure to cover the lot.
Hidden Fires by Sairish Hussian
Trigger Warnings: This book includes mention of grief, intergenerational trauma, death, racism, rape, suicide attempt, and war.
Hidden Fires is a novel that brings three generations together, making the story incredibly inclusive. The story follows the blossoming relationship of Grandad Yusuf and his granddaughter Rubi. When Rubi learns of Yusuf’s past troubles, it becomes clear to her just how little she truly knows about her grandfather. Yusuf speaks of his experiences of the partition between Pakistan and India, shocking his granddaughter.
One of Hussain’s motives for this novel was to feature the importance of the partition to educate individuals about its history and impact. In an interview I conducted with The Publishing Post, Hussain stated the disadvantages of never learning about the topic of ‘Britain’s shared history’. She therefore felt it was her duty to speak up for the voices of people who were always blocked out. I also attended one of Hussian’s talks at the Bradford Literature Festival, in which she explained how difficult it was for her to openly discuss the partition with her own grandparents. Her real-life experiences are beautifully illustrated in the relationship between Yusuf and Rubi.
Similar to her debut novel, The Family Tree, Hussain explores topics that aren’t usually discussed in traditional South Asian Pakistani families. She highlights cultural taboos, like homelessness and drug use, in hopes of reaching readers who know about them and also readers who don’t. Her drive and passion in her writing are truly remarkable.
Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur
Trigger Warnings: This book includes sexual assault, rape, and sexism.
I’ve never been a lover of reading poetry because all the poetry I’ve ever read has been for academic purposes. It was the type of poetry you had to deeply analyze to understand. But Milk and Honey stood out to me instantly. The collection was easy for me to read and understand because Kaur has a way of making simple language so incredibly effective. Although I couldn’t relate to every event she wrote about, I found that it allowed me to ponder over some of the subjects anyway.
Some people argue that Kaur’s poetry isn’t poetry at all, but just a collection of quotes. But I believe that one of the most important features of a poem isn’t to rhyme or have incredibly complex language. The most important feature is the ability to relate to other people, people you never thought you’d reach. Kaur perfectly achieves this with her abundance of emotions.
I was actually quite surprised to see the number of reviews that had two or three stars on Goodreads, but the one that stood out to me in particular was by Ellie:
I feel as if the people giving it three stars or so went in expecting it to ravish them, thrill them but it was not meant for that… This was her story, she isn’t asking for you to judge if it’s ’exciting’ enough…
I couldn’t agree more with Ellie. Milk and Honey is a very personal collection that has been shared. To judge every single piece in the book would be to completely ignore its distinctiveness.
From a self-published author and illustrator to a number one, New York Times Bestselling Author, Rupi Kaur has made an immense impact.
A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
Trigger warnings: This book contains depictions of domestic abuse, rape, abortion, suicide, and war.
I’m still reading this book, but I’ve already been caught up in the emotional language Hosseini uses. The tale unfolds life in Afghanistan before it became war-torn, offering a heartwarming story of love and friendship along the way. The writer portrays the awful effects of the Taliban rule, telling us the story through two different women. Despite their unique struggles, Hosseini still manages to relate to millions of other women worldwide through his incredible insight. Here is one of my favorite quotes:
“Learn this and learn it well, my daughter: Like a compass needle that points north, a man’s accusing finger always finds a woman.”
Hosseini shows a great love for his birth country, allowing readers to explore the real Afghanistan and putting aside the negative stereotypes the modern media portrays. The best-selling international novel deserves attention because of its ability to relate to women of all colors and backgrounds in all countries. This is a novel that isn’t just restricted to Afghanistan, but a novel that reaches out to all women and consoles them deeply. Hosseini has a wonderful gift for weaving his historical fiction in a way that people from the modern world can relate to it as well.
As a South Asian person who doesn’t know too much about Afghanistan, this book both educated me and made me tear up in the best way possible.
The Singles Table by Sara Desai
Trigger warnings: This book contains depictions of mental health struggles and cancer.
I’ve nearly finished reading this book, and I’m gutted that it’s nearly over. Being the last book in a trilogy, The Singles Table follows lawyer Zara Patel, who is determined to matchmake like the rishta (proposal) aunties during wedding season. Whilst also trying to avoid a rishta herself, Zara finds herself in an unexpected enemies-to-lovers relationship.
One thing I absolutely adore about this book is how the wedding season is so vibrantly brought to life and feels like a Bollywood movie. As someone who loves any good reason to get dressed up in cultural clothes and eat cultural food, Desai’s ability to paint that picture truly did it for me. The book is incredibly humorous in places and serious in others, which, in my opinion, mirrors the perfect balance between all minor and major plots. And who doesn’t like a good enemies-to-lovers romance? But this isn’t just ‘any’ enemies-to-lovers. This book, in particular, will make you utterly sympathize with the characters and their experiences as well as appreciate the beauty of South Asian culture.
All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir
Trigger warnings: This book contains depictions of sexual assault, racism, child abuse, and alcoholism.
This is a book that has been on my TBR for a while now, but I’m waiting for a chance to properly consume it. Tahir’s novel reads like an incredibly relatable story for many Pakistanis, Muslims, children of immigrants, and immigrants themselves. Although YA, the novel covers many adult themes. The story follows two Pakistani-American best friends. Throughout the book, we see the friends, Salahudin and Noor, deal with the problems that their families are currently facing. Salahudin has to witness his mother dying and watch his father wallow in alcohol because of grief. Noor has to deal with her spiteful uncle.
I turned to Goodreads to get a better picture of what to expect from the book. A lot of the reviews warned me against the myriad of triggers to expect, and I was a little surprised to see Islamophobia and racism being one of them. I think writers have a very tough job sometimes, ensuring that the way they approach these issues is handled correctly. As a Muslim reader, I would personally like to see Islam and the faith being shown in such a way that praises and celebrates it, despite the Islamophobic occurrences that take place. I was pleased to see that many reviewers were extremely happy with the way Tahir handles these tough subjects. Additionally, reviewers praised her ability to weave Punjabi, Urdu, and Hindi words throughout her novel in the most natural way. I adore when writers do this! I do it myself sometimes in my own stories.
I’m excited to read this novel, however difficult it may be. But I strongly agree that books of this nature deserve to be studied in schools and academia. They provide an excellent base knowledge of what it’s like for a Western-born South Asian to have to confront racism, our history, and morals, and educate non-South Asian people more about us!
Whether you’re South Asian or simply looking for something colorful and new to read, I hope that this guide has given you a good place to start. And if you can’t make your mind up, add them all to your TBR! Every writer I’ve mentioned in this article has more than one book, so make sure you also check the others out to see which one can be most suited for you.
Sexual Assault
To feel safe at all times is a fundamental human right; let’s work to make this world physically and mentally safe for everyone. We urge you to make the call to seek the help you need if you or a loved one has experienced the devastating effects of Sexual Assault.
Help is available at the National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673
Child Abuse
National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-422-4453 (4 A CHILD)
To learn more about romance books with Muslim characters, click here.
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