Fed up with orientalist Muslim representation in books? Here’s a book for you

Book review — The Family Tree

The Family Tree follows the story of Amjad, who after his wife died, is left to raise his son and newborn daughter. The story then follows the family and a devastating incident that breaks the family apart, and how the pieces are haphazardly put back together again.

I’ll be honest, I dont tend to run towards books/media with muslim representation because I would rather avoid the standard orientalist, pandering narratives that they can often have. What can I say, I prefer a stress free life 🤷🏾‍♀️ Fortunately, the family tree doesn’t have that, and for that, it was a refreshing read. Rather, it is a story about the resilience of familial love, the devestation of drugs, redemption, and the uncertainty of life. At the heart of this book, is the story of how lives are turned upside down through one momentous incident, and its subsequent ripple effects. The family's Muslim and Pakistani identity was not subtly mocked or portrayed as backward or as the root of their problems, rather it was portrayed with nuance, with religion itself being shown as a source of redemption.

Overall, it was a saddening, bittersweet and heartwarming read. The characters felt so familiar, especially Ammi's character, who made me laugh a few times throughout the book. An enjoyable read that had me in my feels.