Unmarriageable, as many no doubt know, is an entertaining re-telling of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice - with a twist.

If you are familiar with the original Austen story, then the premise of Unmarriageable will be familiar to you; it is, in fact, the same. The difference, and what works so well, is that it is set in today's modern Pakistan. If you are unfamiliar with the history of Pakistan, it once was part of India, separated now after a war for Independence, and is a thriving democracy that still very much is based on its British colonial past that it learned while it was part of British colonial rule. All that to say, they study English classics more often than many westerners outside of the UK and have a fascination with British literature rarely seen outside of Europe. And, while so much of Pakistan is quite modern, its class structure still is very much stuck in the colonial past. The roles of women, while evolving, still is stuck there as well. That is why this particular setting for this particular book is so utterly fascinating.

Kamal's writing is tight and, while she doesn't have a flare for wit like Austen (few do,) her characters are charming and their observations about the Pakistani culture are very much on point. I have several friends from Lahore, Pakistan and while reading Unmarriageable I could hear their voices and see their streets come alive in my mind. Although Kamal now lives in America, her Pakistani roots still very much shine through in her writing and those of us who rarely get a glimpse of the sub-continent are able to see a bit of it through her work.

Whether you are an Austen fan or just a fan of great fiction, you will find Unmarriageable delightful, entertaining as well educational.

My copy was furnished by #Netgalley, #RandomHousePublishing, #BallentineBooks

it's a truth universally acknowledged that when a pride & prejudice retelling publishes, i'm there to check it out. unmarriageable is the modern pakistani take on jane austen's classic. and while at times i thought that the story hewed too closely to the source material, with the characters hitting the same beats and saying the same thing as the original, this was still an interesting take on lizzy and darcy's story.

we follow the binat family as they make their way through dilipabad society encountering the binghas, the darsees and the dey baghs. (see what i'm saying here? it's almost too on the nose.) but here's the thing, if you love the original, and i certainly do, why would i complain about that? what makes this story fresh is the fact that the characters are muslim and live in pakistan. and it's actually really cool to see this culture contextualized on the page this way.

unmarriageable might not be making any huge waves from a plot perspective, but the rich character and cultural details that adorn the narrative more than make up for that fact.

**unmarriageable will publish on january 22, 2019. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/random house publishing group (ballantine) in exchange for my honest review.

UNMARRIAGEABLE is a charming, brutally clever, beat-for-beat PRIDE & PREJUDICE retelling that recontextualizes the infamous Regency era for the slightly-less-well-known early Musharraf years in Pakistan. It's an incisive look at Pakistani culture - the underlying ethnic tensions in Pakistani Punjab, the interplay between diasporic movement and lifestyles in the West and in the Middle East, the absurd social stratification, the attention paid to manners/morals/familial background - that feels all the more vital to me, as a member of the Pakistani diaspora. Though I was less than enamored with just how closely Soniah Kamal hews to the original plot, and particularly with the choices in adapting the names (Valentine Darsee, Jeorgeullah Wickaam), Alys is an engaging Lizzy, and her chemistry with Darsee (made deeper by some novel POV-switching) is as strong and heartwarming as ever. What's especially exciting for me is how Kamal engages with so many questions about what it means to be Pakistani at this time (and frankly in 2019 as well). Though some of the dialogue about those questions, about diaspora and colonial literature, etc are a bit on the nose, they're conversations that I don't see happening in quite so bold terms anywhere else. Also, so much of the social, cultural, and linguistic world-building (so to speak) resonated extremely deeply with me. The idea that I'd find 'array ghairay nathu khairey' in an Austen retelling would have boggled my mind even 5 years ago. A charming, cutting debut that leans on a familiar story to ask newer postcolonial questions.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the egalley.

I'm normally not a fan of P&P retellings because they all seem so contrived when compared to Austen's work but this one was an absolute delight! I love how Kamal was able to take characters who were flat in Austen's work and give them a back story that allowed the reader a chance to better understand their actions. I also loved the nods to people in Austen's real-life with the naming of background characters. I will be recommending this book to anyone who enjoys Austen!

Received an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I am realizing the more I read them, I might be too picky with my modern Austen adaptations. I think I've distilled my requirements to: 1) must stand on its own as a story, 2) must loosely hit the beats of the classic story without seeming to force them, and 3) must have characters that are recognizable in their updated iterations.

Unmarriageable managed to hit two and three, usually where books lose me, but I had problems with the story standing on its own because I felt it relied too much on a sort of shorthand because it assumed we all knew Pride and Prejudice. Some plot and character development that I would have loved to see play out were turned into two paragraph summaries from an omniscient narrator with no explanation. It was most often used when a character was changing their opinion or making a big choice... it was done as a conclusory statement, the ultimate telling and not showing on introspection that Jane Austen would spend three pages covering.

I also think I take issue with modern P&P where the original exists and the characters have knowledge of it but somehow don't realize they're living in Pride and Prejudice. How can Alysba love this book so much but then meet a snob named Darsee and not make any connections?

I enjoyed the setting and a look at a culture I don't read about often and I jotted down some of the books the characters recommended to read more. I've read much, much worst Pride and Prejudice updates, but I think I'll keep waiting for a favorite.

This charming rendition of Pride and Prejudice takes place in modern day Pakistan. The author charmingly blends aspects of that culture with elements of the original story, making it feel both familiar and new. Elizabeth Bennett is now Alys Binat, a teacher at a school for girls. She is clever, unmarried (much to her mother's chagrin, and the cause of much maternal lamenting), and not afraid to rock the boat when it comes to empowering and educating her students. True to Austen's beloved story, Alys runs into her own pompous Darcy, the rude and insulting Valentine Darsee.
Kamal has written an fresh and cleverly witty rendition of this cozy and familiar tale. There are many tongue in cheek references that do not require a robust understanding of Austen's original story, serving only to strengthen her own story instead of detracting from it. While I felt as if I knew who would end up happily married by the book's end, it was still an enjoyable race to the end to see if my guesses had been correct. The fully fleshed out characters and their many nuances made this feel like a brand new story, which is difficult for many writers to achieve when attempting a retelling. I laughed out loud numerous times and would wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a happy ending.

Unmarriageable puts the familiar story of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice in an unfamiliar (to me) setting of Pakistan. This mixture of a familiar story in an unfamiliar culture was both fascinating and frustrating. I loved that through reading Alys and Jena Binat’s story I was learning a new culture, but also frustrating because that culture, even in modern times, doesn’t treat women well. In some cases, worse than the Bennett ladies in 1797 England. My emotions fluctuated from fascination to outrage as each scene was revealed yet kept me reading at the same time- pushing for the finish line because I couldn’t wait for the novel to be finished with the happy ending I fully expected.

As with the Bennett family, the Binat family has fallen on hard times and due to their lack of money their social standing in Pakistan society has fallen. The two elder daughters, Alys and Jena, have an honorable position as teachers in an all girls school, but at the same time are dishonored for having to work and bring in an income for their family. Alys our main protagonist is a modern woman. Outspoken, educated and honest she has visions of living her life without being forced to marry. Her mother, however, just wants to see all of her daughters settled, both for their own good but also to help raise their families social standing. Mrs. Binat was a termagant raised in an era where the quality of your marriage defined your life, she harangued, nagged, and spoke down to her daughters so much that it was hard to see the love behind her words and actions.

Unmarriageble mirrored Pride and Prejudice so much that it took away some of the pleasure of reading the novel. The only good distraction was the setting of Pakistan. An area of the world that I am completely unfamiliar with except in news stories or rare visits to a local restaurant or international grocery store. I really enjoyed reading about the clothing, food, and culture of courtship and marriage, even if I disagreed with the ages of the bride and groom in some instances. Knowing arranged marriages still take place in some cultures is one thing, but this novel made that so much more real.

As far as the actual story, I could obviously identify with the more modern Alys and rooted for her love story with Darsee. I would have liked a little more creative license taken with the storyline but Pride and Prejudice is popular for a reason. Alys does finally see Darsee for the grumpy ‘prince’ that he is and falls in love regardless of her misinterpretations of everything he does throughout the novel. The shenanigans of the rest of the Binat girls added more color, but also gave a great sense of the struggles women in Pakistani culture have balancing the modern with tradition.

The setting, food, and colorful scenery balanced out my frustrations with those original plot similarities leaving me with only a slight sense of dissatisfaction. Did I love the novel? Not really. I enjoyed reading about a different culture and I was left with empathy for the struggles women are going through but in the end it was that lack of adding a newness to an already re-told (a million times) plot that left me in that gray area of it wasn’t great but it wasn’t bad either. For this reason, I am giving Unmarriageable a 3.5 rating. ❤️❤️❤️❣️

I was given a free ARC of this novel through NetGalley for my honest review and it was honest!

There have been numerous novels written which echo the plots of Jane Austen’s books, and Sonia Kamal’s updated version of “Pride and Prejudice”is a stand-out in that sub-genre. Set in Pakistan, the Binat family endeavors to make matches for their five daughters with wealthy, successful, and handsome bachelors. Complications and misunderstandings ensue, enlivened by Kamal’s witty and delightful writing. While the plot may be familiar to Austen fans, the Pakistani setting reveals much about that country, their culture, and the expected roles of women. The descriptions of their cuisine immediately had me searching for Pakistani recipes. (Of course, being the kind of cook I am, I had to find the easiest recipes and discovered Allrecipes is a great source!) A charming, funny, and recommended read.

My review was posted on Goodreads on 1/20/19.

For being a fairly straightforward retelling, I love how new this book feels. I enjoyed getting a glimpse into the Pakistani culture, and found myself researching some reading. This needs to be adapted by Netflix ASAP.

Unmarriageable by Soniah Kamal is a retelling of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. While Kamal precisely follows the plot points of the original, the story is set in modern-day Pakistan (circa 2000) and portrays an economically-focused social hierarchy in which women are defined in terms of what they wear and to whom they are married.

In the interests of fairness, Pride and Prejudice is one of my all-time favorite novels. I tend to be tough on retells and extensions. Unmarriageable provides enough detail of Pakistani culture to be interesting. It offers all of the characters we expect, although their edges are sharper and their demeanors harsher than Austen’s original. While Austen presents even her villains with affection and understanding, Kamal’s characters often come off as superficial and crass. Also, largely absent are the unforgettable language, the acerbic wit, and social commentary of the original.

Kamal deserves credit for attempting the herculean task of retelling a beloved classic. Ultimately, the effort falters because the need to conform to the original becomes contrived. Neither the story nor the characters are ever fully the Kamal’s. If you have never read Pride and Prejudice, treat yourself and read it. If you have read it, give this a try.

“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a girl can go from pauper to princess or princess to pauper in the mere seconds it takes for her to accept a proposal.”
Pakistan seems a perfect place to plop P & P characters into modern times as marrying well and having a family seems to still trump everything for women. Alys is a good version of Elizabeth Bennett but wasn’t quite as witty and spunky to me. Kamal got all the annoying secondary characters, namely Mrs. Binat and Lady (Mrs. Bennett and Lydia), perfect.
Overall, good adaptation but I did feel it was a bit slow moving in the middle and I was a little weirded out by the big time jump about a quarter into the book. 3.5/5

I loved this book! A new take on Pride & Prejudice, set in early 2000s Pakistan, I was immediately mesmerized by this story. Kamal's descriptions are vibrantly rich and charming, and her characters beautifully developed (there are a huge number of characters to keep track of, so this is quite an achievement). I was particularly taken with how funny the book was, which was completely unexpected. This book was an utter delight to read and I will be recommending it to many!

Title: Unmarriageable
Author: Soniah Kamal
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 4.5 out of 5

“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a girl can go from pauper to princess or princess to pauper in the mere seconds it takes for her to accept a proposal.”

This is the belief that Alys Binat, second of five daughters and a literature teacher, faces in her students, girls who will likely marry instead of finishing school. That’s just how things are in Pakistan in the early 2000s, but Alys hopes to influence some of her students, nonetheless. Then her family is invited to the society wedding of the year, and her mother sees it as the perfect opportunity to showcase her five daughters.

The eldest, sweet Jena, catches the eye of “Bungles” Bingla, a wealthy entrepreneur, and Mrs. Binat is convinced a proposal is imminent. Alys and her best friend, Sherry, who is determined to marry so she can escape her home life, watch in amusement—and horror—as Aly’s mom and other three sisters—uber-religious Mari, flighty Lady, and artistic Qitty—make a less than stellar impression on Bungles’ sisters and very rich Valentine Darsee, his best friend. Alys hears Darsee’s scathing remarks about her and writes him off as a jerk.

But fate—and Jena and Bungles’ romance—keep throwing Alys and Darsee back into proximity, and Alys discovers the haughty man might not be quite as horrible as she thought. When Lady’s antics destroy the Binat family’s chances of ever holding their heads up in public, no one can save them. Except, maybe, Mr. Darsee.

Fact: I love Pride and Prejudice. Jane Austen had a phenomenal insight into people and portrayed them very well. Fact: I know basically nothing about Pakistani culture.

Unmarriageable is a close re-telling of Pride and Prejudice, but it’s still its own story. The characters’ names made me laugh—Bungles—but there’s enough of the original in them to make them feel like old friends. I found Mr. Binat much more ineffectual than Mr. Bennet, but everyone else I enjoyed. Even Lady, annoyingly oblivious as she was. Alys was much more of a feminist than Elizabeth Bennet, but I love how her mind worked, and how quick she was to grasp her own mistakes. I highly recommend this!

Soniah Kamal was born in Pakistan, but grew up in England and Saudi Arabia and now lives in the U.S. She is an award-winning author and a creative-writing teacher. Unmarriageable is her newest novel.

(Galley provided by Random House Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review.)

I'm such a sucker for Pride & Prejudice retellings. Honestly the world needs more of these, am I right? Unmarriageable had all of the heart I loved from the original book woven throughout the story but with a refreshing tone to it as well. Set in modern day Pakistan, I enjoyed reading about this culture and seeing all the new elements that Soniah Kamal was able to incorporate into an already beloved story. Fans of Austen are sure to love this one. <3

This is a very long story. A modern Pride and Prejudice set in Pakistan. It follows the original story. Some of the original charcters name were changed so I initially had difficulty catching who was who (esp in a newer setting/ different environment). I could have enjoyed this more if I was familiar with the place and culture but since I am not I was really overwhelmed and instead of focusing on the story I had to focus on what was being told... Sometimes I forget that they are talking about the place or something to do with tradition. I had to skim through the pages as at times was I lost (I guess it made the story even longer for me). Because of all these mentioned, I couldn't appreciate the interaction between the characters. I think it could have been an informative and refreshing variation but I got too carried with a lot of the words. Some words repeated multiples (from my standpoint) that i felt was not necessary. Someone more knowledgeable about customs, language and area really will appreciate this. Neveretheless, I love/like most Pride and prejudice stories, so being a fan... this slighlt kept my interest.

I had been given the opportunity to borrow the book for review. (the access to the copy expires) Though I love Pride and prejudice variations, I am not sure I would pay the price to buy this book, It is a bit pricey.

In case I’ve never said it before (though I’m fairly certain I have), I am a sucker for Jane Austen and, by extension, re-imaginings of Jane Austen. So, when I saw Unmarriageable by Soniah Kamal, it was a no-brainer for me. Set in Pakistan, a country still fairly backward in women’s rights, Alysba Binat is past prime marriageable age, working as a teacher and trying to inspire her female students to challenge gender norms and aspire to be more.

Soniah Kamal has weaved a rich, occasionally confusing, cast of characters that vividly showcase what life in Pakistan is like for women. Sometimes scary (there’s a scene where Alys’ family are assured that she won’t become the victim of an acid attack), sometimes hilarious (seriously, Mrs. Binat!), it’s definitely an eye-opener (and do be sure you check the back of the book to see what the organizations referenced in the book actually do). Most interestingly, Ms. Kamal has stayed very true to the original Pride And Prejudice, even with the modernization and culture shift.

I loved the little habit of re-framing the universally known "It is a truth universally acknowledged..." line, especially with Alys’ students.

Where this book fell a little flat for me was with the names and nicknames. I understand that the use of nicknames is commonplace in Pakistan, but some seemed a little silly and forced, especially when some characters had their names melded together, like poor HammySammy, Bungles sisters. A bit more of a variation in larger characters would have been less out of place too - I mean, I’m not *that* up on Pakistani naming conventions, but “Georgeullah Wickaam” just seemed a little unbelievable.

Despite those little quirks, if you’re looking for a quick read with a fresh take on a beloved classic, look no further than Unmarriageable.

I would rate this six stars if I could.

I loved it. It is a modern-day retelling of Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice set in Pakistan. It is so clever and so witty, while also being tender and heartwarming. Kamal’s writing is smart, bright, and fresh with wonderfully well-placed humor and a deep dive into contemporary Pakistani society and culture. Like a musical refrain, Kamal returns again and again to the Pride & Prejudice text to build a filigree of interconnections between it and Unmarriageable. Where the two stories march together is just as fun as when the stories diverge allowing Pakistan to shine through the fabric of the book.

Kamal’s comprehensive and thorough understanding of Austen’s Regency-era culture and social norms and those of Pakistan’s today, allows her to draw many parallels between the two — how in essence, the women have the same concerns, anxieties, triumphs, sacrifices, compromises, and limitations. Their lives are just as hemmed in today as they were two hundred years ago. Marriage is the culmination of womanhood and a woman is nothing without that status — whether she is happy in that union or not is immaterial. Like Austen, Unmarriageable is not a Romance genre novel. It is a sharply observant and witty commentary on Pakistani society and culture and the myriad relationships among the people who live in it.

https://frolic.media/conversations-over-coffee-pride-and-prejudice-in-pakistan/

Having not read Pride & Prejudice, I thought this one would be fun without the background - however, I think I was missing that special something that I would have been able to enjoy more having known the original story. I thought Kamal did a great job describing the family dynamic in Pakistan and the over the top way that marriage and weddings are viewed. I think those who are fans of P&P and interested in learning about new cultures will surely enjoy this more than me. The writing is wonderful and I truly enjoyed learning the cultural aspects, however, the story didn't blow me away - but I think I am an anomaly here and this will be a winner for many others!

4.5 stars

I absolutely ADORED this book!

“It was a truth, universally acknowledged, … that people enter our lives in order to recommend reads.”

Unmarriageable is a charming retelling of Pride and Prejudice that takes place in Pakistan the early 2000's. Soniah Kamal captures the essence of the original and at the same time creates something new by transporting the characters and the plot to modern day Pakistan.

The plot stays true to the original P&P. Kamal effortlessly weaves in Pakastani cultural norms to add a new twist to the plot, as well as to emphasize gender norms and other elements of Pakistani culture.

P&P is one of my all-time favorite books. I have reread it numerous times. I also have read many modern updates and retellings. Some of these have failed greatly, while others have hit the mark. I must say, that Unmarriageable is one my new modern favorites retellings because not only does Kamal hit the mark on capturing the feeling of the original plot, but she also captures the spirit of the characters, while at the same time adding something new by highlighting the conventions of marriage and gender norms of Pakistani culture through the lens of the original.

I would highly recommend Unmarriageable to those who love Pride and Prejudice, as well as to those who have never read the original. This is a story that never loses its charm.

I received an ARC of this book from Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Unmarriageable is a fun and charming modern take on the classic, Pride & Prejudice. In the course of 300 pages, the reader is introduced to the eccentric, but tight-knit Binat family and Pinkie Binat’s (the mother) quest to marry off her daughters.

I’ll admit that the first few chapters of the novel were unbearably slow for me, almost to the point where I wanted to DNF the book, but I stuck with it. Though I don’t like the original story that the book is based on of, I love new retellings in different settings. What attracted me to pick up the book in the first place was its multicultural focus and that its set in Pakistan. However, I was a bit disappointed that this retelling mirrors a lot of the original subject material and I wanted it to branch out and do something new with the plot.

As for the characters, they were written very well! The Binat family was entertaining and I loved all of their vibrant personalities. Except I was uncomfortable about they bully Quitty about her weight. Lady and Quitty got on my last nerves, with their constant bickers, but the eldest sisters Alys and Jena’s calm personality. Alys is definitely modern-day replica of Lizzie Bennett. She has spunk, is headstrong and is very vocal about her beliefs.

One of my favorite parts about the book is that Alys is such an avid reader. When she has conversations with anyone her love for books is evident, she’s always referencing famous pieces of literature. She also reads a wide variety of books. One of my favorite lines from the story was:
“I’ll never be lonely,”— Alys gave a satisfied sigh—“because I’ll always have books.”

Overall this was an okay retelling (for me). I enjoyed how rich the culture is in this story and the characters, but it lacked a bit of a spark for me.