I knew I would read some Jane Austen this year, it’s her 250th, but I didn’t realize how much or that I’d decide I’m going to re-read all six of her novels plus an adaptation of each. That’s new because when the publisher reached out about this debut novel, it put me at 1/3 of the way done so I was like “heck yeah!”*
Yours, Eventually, is a modern day retelling of Austen’s Persuasion set in a Pakistani-American community in California. I loved that it wasn’t your expected setting or even culture! I immediately was reminded of Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin which has languished on my shelf for far too long, but it’s a Pride and Prejudice adaptation, and there are a million of those, so I’m glad I went with a less-often adaptation first!
I was looking back on my last re-read of Persuasion and I think that it’s one of the least polished of Austen’s complete works. That being said, I think Maznavi addressed many of my concerns with her adaptation. She has written many supporting characters that have both depth and personality, which vastly improves the amazing work Austen originally wrote. From Asma’s best friend Fatima to her sisters Maryam and Iman to Farooq and the many other characters, she refreshed all of them and gave them a place and meaning that felt missing from the original.
Those aunties are so annoying. And most of them have their own skeletons. We can’t live our lives based on the fear of what they might say—especially because you know they’re talking about you anyway. (Ch. 26)
This adaptation also works really well due to the conservative tightly-knit patriarchal-driven Pakistani-American community. Sure you could adapt it into another community, but the family dynamics translate from 19th century England to modern society so much smoother when you have cultural expectations and norms built in that are similar:
That was the problem: in a community that deemed marriage the ultimate goal for a young woman, what people said actually mattered. Couples were introduced to each other based on status rather than compatibility, and weddings were the marriage of families, not just individuals. Everyone in their community was kept in check by social code, shackled by the fear of what people would say if they broke it. Everyone, including Asma. (Ch. 2)
But what it does even better is it allows the characters to break out of those norms and customs in an even more powerful way than the original. Sure, Asma and Farooq will still live within their community, but they’re redefining what that looks like. Same thing with Iman and Fatima, and everyone else whose story we got to touch on briefly in this novel.
‘Long story short, I realized that I have to find a way to finally stop making excuses and go after the life that I want,’ Asma replied. Shocked at how easily the words came out. (Ch. 26)
There wasn’t anything to really complain about from the novel. I had to sound out some of the names every time they came up (i.e. the Dadabhoys—ya’ll those lowercase d’s and b’s are so damn hard for me to see the difference), but that was just from either my own inability to read it (see previous parenthetical) or just unfamiliarity. And that’s a good thing! Own voices and diversity of cultures is so important in literature!
Recommendation: Overall, as a debut novel this was solidly written and I was kept engaged throughout. It helped that I know the source material so well, but honestly this could stand on its own without the direct connection to Persuasion. Maznavi did an excellent job of rounding out characters that Austen never had the chance to go back to see and modernizing a timeless story of long unrequited due to familial and societal expectations. 100% worth the read whether you’re an Austen fan or not.
*I received a copy of Yours, Eventually via NetGalley in return for my honest opinion. No goods or money were exchanged.
Opening Line: “The Qawwali singer hit the note, then held it. He sang for so long that the audience stopped breathing. Finally, he inhaled.”
Closing Line: “They were home, together. At last.” (Whited out to avoid spoilers, highlight to read.)
Additional Quotes from Yours, Eventually
“Part of her wanted to remind her father that she could have been married years before Maryam, if it weren’t for his disapproval. She had to focus for a moment to swallow that old bitterness back.” (Ch. 1)
“Asma spotted Omar sitting on a bench outside the restaurant, wearing linen shorts, a polo, and sunglasses. He looked good, like a model in the diversity issue of a surf-and-sand magazine, if they had such a thing. Asma didn’t realize how intently she was admiring the view until he turned and saw her. She felt herself flush, then waved, hoping he hadn’t noticed her checking him out.” (Ch. 20)
“I waited eight years—what’s another fifteen minutes?” (Ch. 27)