Radiant Fugitives

This novel's unusual narrator exists within his mother's uterus as a keen observer of the family dynamic within which he will soon he born. The family at the center is Muslim Indian, and in the present the mother, Nafeesa, and younger daughter, Tahera, are visiting the elder daughter, Seema, in San Francisco as she prepares to give birth. The strained dynamic requires a lot of back story, and this is what is largely told throughout the book. Seema was estranged from her family when she came out as queer, and Tahera's increasing devotion to Islam had also isolated her from the rest of the family. The father remains behind in Chennai, refusing to have anything to do with Seema. That leaves Nafeesa, who is ill and will not live long, to bridge the gaps.
The first part of the story could have been the book by itself, but the second part delves into Seema's life as an activist and organizer in the early 2000s, her relationship with Bill (the narrator's father), and the subsequent dissolution of their marriage. Seema grapples with her queer identity while growing close to Bill, and this is juxtaposed against the election of President Obama.
The story also provides some back story for Tahera, who felt left behind by her older sister and whose increasing practice of Islam sets her apart from the rest of her family. She married a more devout man, had two children, and now works as a doctor in Texas. Through Tahera and her son, issues around spirituality and morality are explored as well.
Nawaaz Ahmed writes a complex family with dynamics that are constantly shifting. He gets into the character's insecurities, their innermost thoughts, and all the fleeting feeling that affect how they interact in each moment. Radiant Fugitives is a hefty novel, but one worth the time.

I wasn't sure what to expect based on the summary, but this one really surprised me. Told from the perspective of her unborn child, the novel explores the life of Seema, a political campaign volunteer, and the dynamics of her relationships, including with her mother (Nafeeza) and sister (Tahera), who have come to help her with the pregnancy. Seema was disowned several decades prior after coming out as a lesbian to her father, and hasn't seen her family in years.

During the course of the novel, we see Seema fighting against the compromises politicians make at the expense of LGBTQ people and Middle Eastern civilians. She also struggles with her queer identity, and still identifies as a lesbian even after marrying a man and having her entire community abandon her. We also see Tahera's Muslim identity and family, including the Islamophobia they face, and how easily it can push an angry young man to a type of extremism. These are all woven together with mentions of Keats, Wordsworth, and the Quran, a beautiful literary device that did start to lose me by the end, but otherwise really impacted the story in a positive way.

More than anything, this is a novel about the gray areas of life and identity, about family dynamics and responsibilities, and how some wounds never heal. What do we owe to our communities? To our families? To ourselves?

4.5 stars. This beautifully written book had me tearing up by the end of it.

This unique story is told to Seema’s grandmother by her unborn child. Seema lives in San Francisco, is nine months pregnant, and is trying to reconcile with her estranged mother and sister after having been driven away for years when she came out as lesbian to her family.

Seema’s mother, is dying and desperately wants to re-establish family bonds even though she is still coming to terms with her daughter’s sexuality. Tahera is a devoutly religious Muslim who lives with her family in Texas. Nafeesa and Tahera join Seema in San Francisco for a fateful week that will change their lives. During this time, the trio must confront their differing beliefs, prejudices, and jealousies.

The sections about Seema’s time as a political activist during Obama’s early presidency really brought her character to life and captured my interest.

This is a story that just sweeps you along and will probably have you bawling by the end of it. It is masterfully written with wholly realistic and imperfect characters. It takes some time to get into, but once it gets going it is hard to put down. I found myself thinking about the characters when I wasn’t reading it.

Thank you to Netgalley and Counterpoint Press for the digital ARC.