The Groom to Have Been
Ratings2
Average rating3.5
15
Ratings2
Average rating3.5
A love story inspired by The Age of Innocence, about a young man and woman thwarted by tradition and the fears of a world suddenly defined by tragedyJust as Nasr, a young man with a vibrant professional and social life in New York, begins to prepare for the arranged marriage he hopes will appease his Indian Muslim family and assure him a union as happy as his parents', he starts to suspect that his true love has been within his reach his entire life. Nasr has known Jameela since they were children, and for nearly that long she has flouted the traditions her community holds dear. But now the rebellion that always made her seem dangerous suddenly makes him wonder if she might be his perfect match. Feeling increasingly trapped as his wedding date approaches, Nasr contemplates a drastic escape, but in the wake of 9/11, new fears and old prejudices threaten to stand between him and the promise of happiness. Current in its political themes and classic in its treatment of doomed love, The Groom to Have Been is a graceful and emotionally charged debut.
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Though I enjoyed this book, it does not stand out as a phenomenal book that I would recommend rereading. I found Nasr to be a complicated yet still enjoyable protagonist. (I would have been curious, however, to see this story with a female protagonist, or from a first-person narrative.) The plot unravels slowly but it's often vague, hidden in a tiny paragraph or stuck in a metaphor.
I think this book benefits much more from being read aloud; I had the fortune of being able to meet Saher Alam at a university book signing, and she also read excerpts from the novel. I think that because of its slow, developed place, The Groom to Have Been is best contemplated and absorbed slowly as well.
