Someone Like Her by Awais Khan
Multan, Pakistan. A conservative city where an unmarried woman over the age of twenty-five is considered a curse by her family.
Ayesha is twenty-seven. Independent and happily single, she has evaded an arranged marriage because of her family’s reduced circumstances. When she catches the eye of powerful, wealthy Raza, it seems like the answer to her parents’ prayers. But Ayesha is in love with someone else, and when she refuses to give up on him, Raza resorts to unthinkable revenge...
Ayesha travels to London to rebuild her life and there she meets Kamil, an emotionally damaged man who has demons of his own. They embark on a friendship that could mean salvation for both of them, but danger stalks Ayesha in London, too. With her life thrown into turmoil, she is forced to make a decision that could change her and everyone she loves forever.
About the author
Pakistani author Awais Khan is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario in Canada and Durham University in the UK, and he is an alumni of the Faber Academy. His debut novel, In the Company of Strangers, was published to great critical acclaim, as was his next novel, No Honour – which convincingly and emotively explored honour killings – was published in 2021. When he’s not writing, Awais teaches a popular online creative writing course to aspiring writers around the world, and regularly appears on TV and Radio in his native Lahore.
Review
‘Someone Like Her’ is a beautifully drawn tale of abuse, acceptance and the power of reclaiming your life from your abuser. After, reading ‘No Honour’ I knew that Awais Khan was determined to give a voice to women who suffer in Pakistan and once again this is proven true. This time he is giving a voice to women whose lives are devastated by being attacked with acid. This is a hard read but a powerful one. But overall there is a message of hope and a yearning for the change that is occurring. I was blown away by this book, it is tremendous.
Ayesha is a young woman living in Multan, Pakistan. She is 27 and determined to live life on her own terms. She doesn't want an arranged marriage and she works for a charity that helps domestic abuse victims. When she catches the eye of wealthy Raza, her parents are delighted. However, Ayesha wants nothing to do with him as she is in love with someone else. But she knows that her family would not accept him due to his financial circumstances. Raza is determined that he is going to get the girl and Ayesha’s reluctance causes him to do the unthinkable.
Ayesha travels to London in an attempt to rebuild her life. She is staying with a family friend and there she meets Kamil, a man who is also emotionally damaged. They embark on a friendship, one that helps to heal both of them. But danger finds Ayesha even in London.
Ayesha was a character that is beautifully constructed and I was rooting for her from the start. Already defying societies construct - she is unmarried at 27, has a boyfriend, works for a living and doesn't cover her hair. She is independent, fierce, loyal, determined to help women through the charity that she works at. She may only do the accounts but she wholeheartedly agrees with their mission to help women in domestic violence situations. But when she finds herself in this horrid situation of being swept along with Raza she still has this inner core of steel. Even after the horrific attack she has the will to live and fight. She is tenacious and I loved seeing her start to thrive again in a safe environment in London.
Kamil was another character that was beautifully drawn. His vulnerability, anger and confusion over what happened to him was elegantly written. Male domestic abuse victims are hard-pressed to find acceptance even in the UK. It's not something that is widely talked about and I am sure it's even more of a taboo in an Asian household/society where patriarchy is the norm. Kamil stole a bit of my heart and I am never giving it back.
Awais is a master at creating characters that you fall for and he has managed it again with Ayesha and Kamil and even in a way with Raza. As a reader, you HATE HIM WITH ABANDON! It is Awais’s amazing writing that allows us to feel this way. These will be characters that will live in my psyche for a long time and I will always be wondering what they are getting up to.
So this was a subject which I knew nothing about. Yes, I knew there was a problem of course with women finding it hard to assert their independence in a conservative country but the rise of acid attacks was a horrific revelation. I have since done a lot of research. The official figures of 400 acid attacks per year in Pakistan are lower than what is probably happening, as so many women don’t report it. I read an article on the BBC and a doctor was saying he saw at least one or two patients a week who has suffered from an attack and he was based in Multan. Which would mean if going by official figures that Multan sees 25% of all acid attacks in Pakistan. Why? That's not something I was able to see a reason for but maybe I am restricted by only being able to access articles in English. But it makes my heart sore. That so many women are having their lives destroyed by acid and the men are getting away with it. The worst part is that many women are forced to return to live with the families/men who perpetuated the attack in the first place!
This is why I love reading books that are set in different cultures. It means you learn about worlds of which you know nothing. I class myself as being well-informed and well read but nothing can prepare for books that shock you like this one did me. Awais gives a voice to women who need it and by doing so he goes against the grain in his home country. That in itself is brave. I hope he is aware of that. He is allowing his writing to place a lens on issues that the government and other conservative groups don't want him to. I am sure that is not an easy thing to do and I applaud him for this!
I'm looking forward to seeing what is coming next from him.
