Life after Ali

Life after Ali: Beautiful, insightful read What a beautiful, insightful read about the superstitions and expectations surrounding a Muslim widow. An easy and delightful read as Rashida's first book. Highly recommended!

Life after Ali: Book Review Being a widow doesn’t mean I have to die too, or stop living to my potential because it makes people like you uncomfortable.🦄🦄🦄Life After Ali is a contemporary women's fiction novel by Rashida Tayabali that touches upon various aspects about what it's like to be a widowed Muslim in present times.I'm not a Muslim, and my knowledge of Islam is not as vast as I would like it to be, so I went into this book as someone who might be understanding and learning something new.After the death of her husband, Tasneem battles for the life she wants to have versus the one that she is expected to live by society. She has always been the one to follow the rules but at the same time does not want to be bound by expectations.There's a certain part in the beginning of the book where one of her 'friends' thinks that she's having 'too much fun' after the death of her husband while she should be mourning. This rubbed me the wrong way because everyone does not grieve the same way and I loved Tasneem's response to it. It was at that moment I realised she would be a character I liked because she does not let people boss her around, but she still maintains her self-respect. While (some) people around her constantly try to bring her down, she's fighting to keep her head held high, even after the tragedy she went through.A main part of this book is romance, and it happens after the death of her husband. When I first started dwelling into the relationship, I wasn't too keen on it because it felt too soon (and for me personally in real life it may be too soon) but the relationship progresses with respect for her husband. I would have liked to see it stretched out s bit more, but in the end not only does the relationship prove to be a good thing, it also brings the family closer together.Overall, I loved the book and couldn't put it down. There's a balance between understanding and respecting the culture while working around the stigmas associated with being a widow.🦄🦄🦄Rated 8/10Melina L.

Life after Ali: A really enjoyable read I learned so much about Australian Muslim culture reading this book, and really got into the story - from the highly emotional scenes of Tasneem and her family navigating the loss of Ali, to the family's healing journey towards happiness. I started to really care for the characters and waited impatiently to get back to them at the end of the day when I had a moment to curl up with my Kindle! Looking forward to seeing what this author does next.

Life after Ali: Life after Ali Excellent read. Really enjoyed the book. Great for a first timer. Will watch impatiently for Rashida's next books. Do keep it up and all the best in this career!

Life after Ali: Couldn't put it down Life after Ali took me on a beautiful, heartbreaking, but hopeful journey into the world of life-changing loss. And gave an enlightening insight into the cultural expectations facing Muslim Indian Australian women in times of grief. I devoured this book over a weekend, taking every spare moment to unfold the story of Tasneem and her family. Life after Ali is about honouring loss, but also about how grief fits us all differently, and the hope that comes with moving on.

Life after Ali: A beautiful debut novel Life After Ali is a fresh insight into the culture, challenges and shifting expectations of Muslim Indian Australians. Rashida gently tackles the devastating question of 'what would you do if you lost your partner?' with a sense of grace and serendipity. Her characters are warm and believable as they move through their shared grief to creating their new life post loss. The perfect novel for a rainy Saturday afternoon by the fire.