Ebook194 pages3 hours
Beneath My Mother's Feet
By Amjed Qamar
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
4/5
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About this ebook
"Our lives will always be in the hands of our mothers, whether we like it or not."
Nazia doesn't mind when her friends tease and call her a good beti, a dutiful daughter. Growing up in a working-class family in Karachi, Pakistan, Nazia knows that obedience is the least she can give to her mother, who has spent years saving and preparing for her dowry. But every daughter must grow up, and for fourteen-year-old Nazia that day arrives suddenly when her father gets into an accident at work, and her family finds themselves without money for rent or food.
Being the beti that she is, Nazia drops out of school to help her mother clean houses, all the while wondering when she managed to lose control of her life that had been full of friends and school. Working as a maid is a shameful obligation that could be detrimental to her future -- after all, no one wants a housekeeper for a daughter-in-law. As Nazia finds herself growing up much too quickly, the lessons of hardship that seem unbearable turn out to be a lot more liberating than she ever imagined.
Nazia doesn't mind when her friends tease and call her a good beti, a dutiful daughter. Growing up in a working-class family in Karachi, Pakistan, Nazia knows that obedience is the least she can give to her mother, who has spent years saving and preparing for her dowry. But every daughter must grow up, and for fourteen-year-old Nazia that day arrives suddenly when her father gets into an accident at work, and her family finds themselves without money for rent or food.
Being the beti that she is, Nazia drops out of school to help her mother clean houses, all the while wondering when she managed to lose control of her life that had been full of friends and school. Working as a maid is a shameful obligation that could be detrimental to her future -- after all, no one wants a housekeeper for a daughter-in-law. As Nazia finds herself growing up much too quickly, the lessons of hardship that seem unbearable turn out to be a lot more liberating than she ever imagined.
Author
Amjed Qamar
Amjed Qamar graduated from The Ohio State University with degrees in English and psychology. She currently resides in Ohio and works for the Dublin City School District. Amjed lived in Pakistan for several years and returns regularly. This is her first book.
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Reviews for Beneath My Mother's Feet
Rating: 3.75 out of 5 stars
4/5
8 ratings6 reviews
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Whilst this book gave an interesting insight into the life, culture and limitations placed on girls living in Pakistan, I found the plot fairly slow and struggled to connect with the main character. I'm not sure that this book will have wide appeal to readers despite it's eye-catching front cover.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5I liked the book a lot. It was surprising the way men in Pakistan were portrayed, not at all when I have read in other books. I was a little disappointed that they plight of the gatekeeper was not set to rest. But the author ended the book well. I was glad the mother was redeemed in the end.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5All I can say is, wow, is this really life for some women around in the world? I loved how it showed that no matter our material circumstances, there are always choices we can make.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Highly Recommended Nazia is fourteen years old and her family is fairly well off in Karachi, Pakistan. He father supports the family and Nazia attends school and is getting ready for an arranged marriage. When Nazia’s father get hurt and can no longer support the family, Nazia and her mother start cleaning houses for the rich. It is a secret because Nazia would be unmarriageable with her fall from status. Another blow to Nazia happens when her older brother steals the dowry intended for her marriage and she has to rewrite her future. Nazia gets an offer from Ms. Haroon to come stay with her and Nazia agrees.This is the author’s debut novel and is well written. She won several writing/author prizes for this book, when it was published in 2008. There are not many YA novels written by Pakistani-American women, so I think this would make a good school library addition for cultural diversity. I have a difficult time reading about girls who have no say in their life. They go to school with the eventual outcome being marriage; a marriage that the family has to pay dearly for. Reading about cultures where the females are a burden is not at the top of my list. I like that this story has a strong female character, trying to make a good life for herself. I like that she gets to make her own path in life. The reader is left with a feeling of empowerment. I think this would be a good book for our World Studies teachers to promote Islamic culture or modern day life in Pakistan. I have a lot of books written by Indian-American women authors in my library and this might be my first Pakistani-American author. We have a large community of Muslim girls, so I think some of them would enjoy reading this book. None of the content is objectionable, so it would appeal to conservative readers. I will also share this book with our 10th grade literature teachers as they have a novel of choice assignment for immigrant American authors. We also have a Pakistani Student Association that might be interested in this book, so I will post it on their Moodle page.
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5"What must a girl sacrifice to be a good enough daughter?" So thinks Nazia, a daughter who must leave school to clean homes for wealthy Pakistani families after her father deserts her family. In the end, Nazia decides to change the course of her life and search for her independence with money her mother has saved for her.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Dutiful daughter Nazia's life turns around when she must join her mother as a housecleaner after her father loses his job. School and an arranged marriage are no longer a possibility and she must rethink what it means to be dutiful and to whom.
Book preview
Beneath My Mother's Feet - Amjed Qamar
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