‘I needed to write someone true to themselves, not succumbing to what other people expect them to be,” says British author Ayisha Malik.
“When you are a Muslim writer considering the faith aspect, not only are you trying to engage your reader, but you need to stay true to the God you believe in.”
The 34-year-old writer accomplished that with her acclaimed debut novel, Sophia Khan Is Not Obliged. Described as a "Muslim Bridget Jones", the book follows a British Muslim woman of Pakistani origin, navigating London's publishing industry, all the while attempting to find her Mr Right.
The humour, in particular, presents the novel as a deceptively light read, and yet it contains some deeper messages. Readers should identify with Khan as she balances her quest for love, honouring her family and excelling in the workplace.
“I draw upon some serious issues because I think they are important to get across,” says Malik. “But humour is a great vehicle to get ideas and concerns across without feeling heavy-handed.”
The family values of the central character in her book were particularly important to Malik. “I wanted a main character who is a practising Muslim, in touch with her faith, but I wanted her to be likeable, to have people love her the way they loved Bridget Jones,” she says.
“Someone unique and fun, approachable and relatable and modern. I wasn’t sure how it would be taken – I just hoped for the best.”
The book is written as a series of diary entries, with a few blog posts scattered throughout.
"I loved the diary format, so there was always going to be a comparison," she says of the inevitable parallels the literary phenomenon Bridget Jones's Diary.
“The very conception of the book was always going to be a Muslim Bridget Jones to me,” she says before describing herself as an unabashed fan of Helen Fiedling’s loveable character. “I love her, loved reading her.”
The similarities between Malik and Sophia are also obvious. They are both in their early 30s, living with immigrant Pakistani families, and working in London’s publishing industry. But the author says Sophia is nonetheless distinctive.
“Her trajectory is very much fictitious but I think it’s hard to write about a British Muslim living in London and working in publishing without drawing on my own experiences and those of my friends,” she says.
Malik has already completed a sequel to her debut novel, which is scheduled for release in the United Kingdom in April next year. Ideas have also started to brew for a third book, she says.
“I’m done with Sophia Khan for now,” says Malik.
“But with the second book, without me intending to, I’ve left it open to write a third one, potentially, if I want to in the future. So who knows?”
Malik will be in the UAE this week to take part in a panel discussion at the Sharjah International Book Fair about the perception of women in literature.
“The concept of women’s fiction is quite contentious in itself,” she says.
“It’s interesting how we talk about women’s fiction as a theme when we don’t do the same for men. “There’s a lot to be said, and in my case, it will be about Muslim women particularly, and how they are perceived and how important it is to challenge stereotypes while also recognising that certain stereotypes are there for a reason.
“It goes into the whole idea of diversity and who is telling the story, what story is being told and why it’s being told.”
Malik says she did not set out to create a character that defies stereotypes, but did have a clear idea of what she did not want Sophia to be.
“I know I wasn’t going to write a downtrodden character, or another Muslim woman oppressed by her family and conflicted about her faith,” she says. “It’s not a true experience for every Muslim woman. There is another side to the way we live and I think it was important to portray that.”
• Ayisha Malik will discuss the perception of women in literature at the Sharjah International Book Fair on Thursday, November 10, at 7.15pm at the Book Forum
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Coming up at Sharjah International Book Fair
Here are the highlight events not to be missed during the closing weekend of the Sharjah International Book Fair.
Wednesday, November 9
Literature Forum, 6pm
The UAE's own Maha Gargash, author of The Sand Fish set in 1950s Dubai, and the recently released That Other Me set in the mid-1990s in Dubai and Cairo, will conduct a seminar on The UAE Novel – how it has changed over the years, and how it can portray the reality of life in the country – from past to present.
Thursday, November 10
Literature Forum, 7:15pm
In Arabic there is a marked difference between writing in formal, classical Arabic and employing the informality of different dialects while writing. An ongoing cultural movement believes writing with a formal dialect is the proper and approved literary way of writing, while others lean toward slipping away from formal dialects. Or should the focus be on the content, rather than the language to reflect ideas? Syrian novelist Mahmoud Hasan Jasim, author of Mariam's Journey, Emirati writer and children's literature critic Ali Al Hammadi, and international journalist and writer Daniel Lak, will lead the discussion.
Friday, November 11
Ballroom, 6pm
Algeria’s best-known female writer and poet, Ahlam Mosteghanemi, will discuss the relationship between the writer and his or her pen, one she feels is stronger than blood relationships. Writing, will argue Mosteghanemi, can change the course of humanity, and become the only humanitarian act a writer possesses.
Saturday, November 12
Al Taaween Entrance, 10:15am
Children between the ages of 6 and 12 are invited to create their own book and learn about every step that goes into the process – from coming up with a book idea and subject to writing the content, designing the cover and illustrating the pages, and finally printing their book.
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