Book Description
Submissive, docile, exotic... These are the images of South Asian women living in the USA that are created and perpetuated by society and the media--images that define and limit the boundaries of identity formation for these women. This book enables them to speak out as they redefine themselves, their families, and their communities in their journey of exploration and growth and in forging a biocultural identity. Written by South Asian immigrant gender specialists, this collection of original essays explores women's experiences with immigration. The chapters span different generational, religious, and regional points of view and at the same time cover women's varied and often conflicting roles as mothers, homemakers, and professionals. Among aspects covered are whether the experiences of South Asian women differ from other women, they way in which their experiences are different from those of male immigrants, the impact of home culture on gender role expectation, and their way of dealing with these conflicting pressures. A significant and timely book on an important but under-researched phenomenon. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

new perspective from second generation
Emerging voices provided a glimpse into the experience and voice of the second generation of Asian Indian women.Each chapter introduced us toviews and beliefs that challenged the stereotypes we see elsewhere.This book was an excellent update to perspectives on the matters that impactwomen every day: marriage, dating, divorce, remarriage. ... Read more

Book Description
Introduction to the history, heritage, culture, and customs of Pakistani Americans. ... Read more

Book Description
The race for the presidency is on, and Sameera’s dad is a contender. Sameera’s looking forward to some cool campaign perks: hobnobbing with celebrities, meeting smart and hunky young voters, and getting a total makeover. The makeover succeeds in making her look more polished, but some of the campaign staffers aren’t content to stop there. They think the candidate’s dark-skinned, adopted daughter could hurt his chances if she doesn’t “try to be more American.” As the pressure builds, Sameera is forced to choose: Will she hide behind a fake persona or speak up for her true self? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Such a Great Read!
You know that great feeling when you read a book for the first time and just fall in love with the character or the author? That's what happened to me when I read this book.No, I'm not fourteen, but if you haven't ever read children's or teen literature just for you, you might be missing out.Not only that, but occasionally reading what they are reading is a great way to connect with your teen or preteen.

Sixteen-year-old Sameera Righton is the adopted Pakistani daughter of white parents. Her father James Righton is running for President. Between boarding school and tagging along with her ambassador father, Sameera has lived much of her life abroad, and the campaign team thinks that she needs to look and act more "American." Sameera, or Sparrow, as she is known to her friends and family, is a typical American teen--she texts, she blogs, she's interested in sports, and well, yes she's glad that this makeover sponsored by her dad's campaign team might make her visible to the opposite sex. It's an inspiring book, because we get to see a teen on the cusp of adulthood who respects herself and stands up for herself. What mom doesn't want that for her own daughter? It reminds me a great deal of the movie The Princess Diaries (Special Edition) because it is an accurate portrayal of the many teens who don't choose an R-rated lifestyle or attitude, but are still modern and fun. ... Read more

Book Description
The linked stories in this collection take place in the Pakistani community of North America. Set primarily among a large extended family from Lahore, at the center of which is the young and sensitive Connecticut housewife Zenab. The different voices of the stories all converge upon the shaky, though no less exciting and wonderful world of the immigrant. That world is relentlessly evolving, at times amid protests and at times in surprising ways. Guilt walks hand in hand with nostalgia, the desire to stay never completely overcomes the longing to return. But ultimately, as Zenab says, "All is not lost, is it?" ... Read more

Book Description
In First Daughter: Extreme American Makeover, Sameera showed the United States it was ready for a Pakistani-born First Daughter. With her brains and bravado, she helped her dad win the presidential election. Now she's living in the White House. Fabulous! Right? Actually, it's no fairy tale. The Secret Service and the paparazzi follow Sameera everywhere. She misses her friends--and even her school--back home. So Sameera decides to escape. Will she be able to pull it off, or will her plan backfire on the entire First Family? This smart and funny novel continues the adventures of a Pakistani-American teen in the spotlight. ... Read more

Book Description

Being part of a violent community in revolt can be addictive--it can be fun. This book offers a fascinating inside look at present-day political violence in Pakistan through a historical ethnography of the Muhajir Qaumi Movement (MQM), one of the most remarkable and successful religious nationalist movements in postcolonial South Asia. The MQM has mobilized much of the "migrant" (Muhajir) population in Karachi and other urban centers in southern Pakistan and has fomented large-scale ethnic-religious violence. Oskar Verkaaik argues that urban youth see it as an irresistible opportunity for "fun." Drawing on both anthropological fieldwork, including participatory observation among political militants, and historical analyses of state formation, nation-building, and the ethnicization of Islam since 1947, he provides an absorbing and important contribution to theoretical debates about political--religious and nationalist--violence.

Migrants and Militants brings together two perspectives on political violence. Recent studies on ethnic cleansing, genocide, terrorism, and religious violence have emphasized processes of identification and purification. Verkaaik combines these insights with a focus on urban youth culture, in which masculinity, physicality, and the performance of violence are key values. He shows that only through fun and absurdity can a nascent movement transgress the dominant discourse to come of its own. Using these observations, he considers violence as a ludic practice, violence as "martyrdom" and sacrifice, and violence as "terrorism" and resistance.

Amazon.com
In his smashing debut story collection I Dream of Microwaves, Imad Rahman navigates the world of marginal actors looking for work--and love--in quirky, unseemly venues. Following the travails of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, a young Pakistani actor whose career highlight has been playing perpetrators in crime reenactments on America's Most Wanted, Rahman offers over-the-top episodes of astounding wit and hilarity, in no particular chronological order, as Kareem: finds work as a costumed hawker of a trendy drink at a dive bar where he battles a dwarven rival for the crowd's business; reprises Brando's role of Kurtz in a musical production of Apocalypse Now at the Steak 'N Stage dinner theatre; and partakes in his recurring girlfriend, Eileen's, plan to pry money from her philanthropic grandmother. In the latter, title story, Kareem pretends to be a Bosnian war survivor, pitted against Eileen's ruse. The B-listers recognize each other and, rather than tattle, enter into a duel of "acting one-upsmanship," telling increasingly grandiose stories of atrocity and third-world living. After joining a Shakespeare troupe stranded in Pakistan and watching their driver revive his van with a mouthful of gas, then immediately light a cigarette without incident, Kareem: "expected his head to pop off with a bang, flames bellowing out his open neck." Self-deprecating and funny, Kareem is a memorable thespian worth following around.--Michael FerchBook Description

Customer Reviews (12)

An entertaining combination of sarcasm and irony
"I dream of Microwaves" is like sitting in your favorite couch and flipping through channels on the TV when there is nothing good on... And then by chance landing on a show on some obscure channel that totally captivates you and forces you to watch it till the credits are done rolling.
A simple yet hillarious account of the adventures (or misadventures) of an underrated Pakistani Actor trying to survive from day to day in the land of freedom filled to the brim with stereotypes.
The book offers you something you will rarely find in storytelling these days: the simple absence of fantastic events. Something for everyone; this book applies to all our lives at some point in time. The character of Kareem Abdul Jabbar (no relation to the NBA star) is just trying to make ends meet and do what he knows best: act. His overanalysis of every situation and his 'Forest Gump' ways make for hours of good story telling.
A must-read for those who find joy in simple things and find Irony humorous.

I loved this book
I absolutely loved this book.This collection takes off like a firecracker and keeps spinning, with flinty sparks of cynicism and satire, until the last page.It's imaginative, smart, and stakes out its own territory rather rehashing the familiar workshoppy world of the short story.And that, I think, is what I like most about this collection: the author takes a familiar from, the short story, and then cuts a new groove so that the stories don't really seem like very many stories I've seen before.I told two friends (from my days in grad school) to buy the book and if they didn't like it, I'd buy the book off them.So far no one's come to me for a refund!I Dream of Microwaves is good stuff.

Wierd
Wierd but good. It's like "My Fractured Life" meets Wierd Al Yankovik or Mel Brooks.

Immitation is the Sincerest Form of Flatery
The thing that bothered me about I DREAM OF MICROWAVES is the same thing that I liked about it. You just can't get past the point-by-point way it follows the same story as MY FRACTURED LIFE. On the one hand this is what I enjoyed about it because it does cover the same territory so it was familiar to something I already enjoy. However it was also bothersome in some ways because I wanted something more than the main character being turned into a middle easterner and renamed after a basketball player. It is a nicely written book. I did enjoy it. However I did not enjoy it as much as MY FRACTURED LIFE because it didn't seem to add as much to the story as I would have liked.

Enjoyable
In the same tradition as "My Fractured Life", "I Dream of Microwaves" is a fun stomping of Hollywood's B-list subculture. If you enjoyed "My Fractured Life" and "Running With Scissors" you should enjoy this. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Book Review for Nadia's Hands
Book Review for Nadia's Hands
By Shilpa Krishnan

This book is a fantastic story about a Pakistani girl who lives in America. It is very detailed. You can learn about the culture and the weddings in Pakistan.
This exciting story tells about how Nadia needs to be a Pakistani in America. For example, she needs to put Henna on her hands but does not want to show them at school. As you flip through the pages, the pictures will catch your eyes. They are colorful and detailed. The pictures are big, so you won't miss it. There is also a lot of background information on Pakistan words. On the first page of the book, there is some Pakistan words and their meanings.
I recommend you to read Nadia's Hands. The pictures and texts are very detailed. If you would like to learn about Pakistani culture, you would love to read this astounding book.

Wonderful story - from an Indian's perspective
We checked out this book from the library for our almost 4 year old daughther, who is born here but very much in love with everything Indian - from food to bindis to the religious events.When I read it at first, it seemed unnecessarily graphic about Nadia's feelings.After my 3rd or 5th read, I realized that the book brought forth emotions in Nadia, not uncommon amongst multi-ethnic kids in the American culture.Of course they're confused about the wierd customs of their parents, the expectations and rituals.It is only through an understanding of the very customs through the kids' extended families does confusion melt away.If more books like this existed for the kids, maybe the ABCD (American Born Confused Desi) stigma would seem more like a rite of passage.A definte read for any Indian parent raising a child in America.

Touching and thoughtful
This book is a wonderful window into the Pakistani culture and the experiences of immigrants struggling to blend their traditions with the culture of their new homes. No offense to the Hindi reviewer, but this book is about a young girl, not an adult, and it seems unfair to judge it so harshly. I have bought a copy of this book to donate to my son's classroom and think it is a wonderful way to discuss and embrace multiculturalism.

Patience rewarded for young Nadia
Karen English is to be congratulated for Nadia's Hands. There is a dearth of stories on issues faced by Pakistani-American children. Nadia's Hands makes a rich and stunning contribution to this area.

The storyline is splendidly rendered. Nadia has been chosen to be the flower girl in Auntie Laila's traditional Pakistani wedding. Her hands are to be decorated with intricate designs of mehndi henna. The love of a large extended family assists her in understanding cultural traditions and accepting her role in the wedding celebrations.

Notably, Karen English presents a theme rarely found in children's literature - patience. After the mehndi is applied, Nadia's mother gently reminds her: "Be patient Nadia. Remember sabr - patience." The theme is similar to that of Subira Subira by Tololwa M. Mollel, an Arusha Maasai from Tanzania. In Swahili, "subira" means patience and is derived from the same root as "sabr". In Mollel's story, a brave young girl Tatu embarks on plucking three whiskers from a lion. In taming the lion, Tatu learns the power of patience and song.

"Sabr","subira" and the theme of patience are indicative of the richness presented by the increasing number of multicultural stories in children's literature.

My four year old really enjoyed Nadia's Hands and it remains a favourite. The pastel colours in the book are warm and evocative. A small complaint is the mispelling of Zahra Khan's name on the last page. Also a Pakistani-American child would likely address an aunt as "Laila Auntie" instead of "Auntie Laila".

Not what i thought!
this book was not what i had thought it would be! i am hindu and i LOVE wearing mehind! i really like to show my religon to my friends and to know what the different deigns mean! unless this book was based on a true experience i think that this book was very selfish and dissaponting! ... Read more