The Daughters Of Rosebud
By Sonny Buttar
Absolut literary gold, I am speechless!!!
The story follows a Pakistani immigrant family in the late 1970s. As children, sisters Salma and Asma are inseparable, but cracks begin to show as they enter young adulthood, a slow fracture triggered by the choices and actions of their parents. The novel beautifully showcases the delicate struggle of trying to preserve your culture in America while staying tethered to your roots.
When the central tragedy unfolds, it is utterly heartbreaking. Because the narrative shifts back and forth between the past and the present, you know early on that something terrible has happened to one of the siblings, though the full truth isn’t revealed until the very end. I usually lose patience with a delayed reveal, but this slow burn character development was essential, and I was entirely captivated by it.
Gaining a window into another culture is always eye opening, and that was certainly true here. The author has crafted a beautiful, rich, and all encompassing story with writing so immersive that I didn’t want it to end. It poignantly shows how tragedy can permanently reshape a person, leaving no path back to who they used to be. The way grief manifests and dictates the characters’ lives is both haunting and deeply real. This is a magnificent book from beginning to end.
Cursed Daughters
By Oyinkan Braithwaite
Twelve-year-old Ebun told sixteen-year-old Monife that she didn’t believe in curses. “That’s fine,” said Monife, between the slow chewing of gum, “but what if the curse believes in you?”
Wow, just wow this is an immediate 5-star read for me! I absolutely could not put this book down, and there was truly never a dull moment. The writing is incredibly smooth and beautiful, completely drawing me into the story from the very first page.
Throughout the entire book, I found myself constantly questioning whether the family curse was actually real, or if these women were simply manifesting it themselves. Fear of the curse drove them to make so many questionable decisions that it made me wonder if they were creating their own misfortune.
The dynamics between the women exploring the deep, emotionally complex relationships between cousins, mothers and daughters, sisters, and nieces and aunts were painfully layered. Ebun try everything in her power to shield her daughter from Monife’s haunting memory, only for them to get pulled right back in. Her daughter’s fight to break free from the shackles of the family curse was incredibly gripping and painful to witness. This stunning book has earned a permanent spot on my all time favorites list, and it’s a story I will be thinking about for a very long time!
