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When We Were Sisters

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( 6,411 ratings, 929 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
When We Were Sisters by Fatimah Asghar is a poignant tale that explores the bond between three orphaned sisters navigating life after the loss of their parents. Set against the backdrop of cultural identity and family dynamics, the story delves into their struggles and triumphs as they try to find a sense of belonging and stability amidst the complexities of their shared and individual journeys. This beautifully woven narrative captures the essence of sisterhood and resilience.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

You might enjoy this book if you're drawn to stories exploring themes of family, identity, and resilience. It delves into the lives of three sisters orphaned at a young age, capturing their struggles and deep bonds in a narrative that beautifully weaves together poetry and prose.

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An orphan grapples with gender, siblinghood, family, and coming-of-age as a Muslim in America in this lyrical debut novel from the acclaimed author of If They Come For Us

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

In this heartrending, lyrical debut work of fiction, Fatimah Asghar traces the intense bond of three orphaned siblings who, after their parents die, are left to raise one another. The youngest, Kausar, grapples with the incomprehensible loss of her parents as she also charts out her own understanding of gender. Aisha, the middle sister, spars with her 'crybaby' younger sibling as she desperately tries to hold on to her sense of family in an impossible situation. Noreen, the eldest, does her best in the role of sister-mother while also trying to create a life for herself, on her own terms.

As Kausar grows up, she must contend with the collision of her private and public worlds, and choose whether to remain in the life of love, sorrow and codependency she's known or carve out a new path for herself. When We Were Sisters tenderly examines the bonds and fractures of sisterhood, names the perils of being three Muslim American girls alone against the world, and ultimately illustrates how those who've lost everything might still make homes in each other.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

When We Were Sisters by Fatimah Asghar is praised for its lyrical narrative and exploration of family bonds amidst tragedy. The book resonates with readers through its vibrant characters and emotive storytelling, as it delves into themes of grief, self-reclamation, and childhood trauma. Reviewers commend its poetic beauty and intimate portrayal of sisterhood, making it a memorable and moving debut novel.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781472157614

Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 06 October 2022

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Corsair

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 30.0mm

Width: 152.0mm

Height: 234.0mm

Weight: 440g

Pages: 336

About the Author

Fatimah Asghar is an artist who spans across different genres and themes. They have been featured in various outlets such as TIME, NPR, Teen Vogue and the Forbes '30 Under 30' list. Their first book of poems If They Come For Us explored themes of orphaning, family, the violence of the 1947 Partition of South Asia, the legacy of colonization, borders, shifting identity, and violence. Along with Safia Elhillo they co-edited an anthology for Muslim people who are also women, trans, gender non-conforming and/ or queer, Halal If You Hear Me, which was built around the radical idea that there are as many ways of being Muslim as there are Muslim people in the world. They are the writer and co-creator of the Emmy-nominated Brown Girls, a web series that highlights friendship among women of colour that was in a development deal with HBO, and wrote and directed Got Game, a short film that follows a queer South Asian Muslim woman trying to navigate a kink party after being single. They are also a writer and co-producer on Ms. Marvel on Disney +.

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