I’m supposedly a writer but right now, I can’t write. 

I’m sitting here with my laptop literally on my lap but I can’t bring myself to open it and type out words that may or may not end up in a book somewhere, some day, one day.

Instead, I doom scroll. I weep. I wonder why and how this past year happened, if things will ever change, if Palestine really will be free. Some day. One day? 

I wonder if there is such a thing as justice. I wonder how humans can be so abhorrent. 

I wonder if happiness really does exist, or is it just a fleeting moment of increased endorphins..a chemical reaction that dies as quickly as it comes.

I wonder if I will ever smile from the heart again.. if it will ever be more than lips contorted upwards in an attempt to project normality? 

Then I feel guilty about wondering, instead of actually doing something.

366 days of genocide that much of the world has ignored. 76 years of misery.

Free Palestine.. inshallah. 

What’s everyone reading this bank holiday weekend? I usually read lighter books during the holidays, but I received Brotherless Night in my goodie bag at The Diverse Bookshelf Pod event and I’d been desperate to get stuck in. So while it’s not my typical August bank holiday read, I’ve not been able to put it down after the most epic opening line: I recently sent a letter to a terrorist I know.

Brotherless Night is a haunting exploration of the Sri Lankan Civil War through the eyes of Sashi, a young Tamil woman who dreams of becoming a doctor in 1980s Jaffna. It brilliantly weaves personal and political turmoil, shedding light on the devastating impacts of a conflict that lasted nearly 26 years. Which, I’m ashamed to admit that I knew very little about before. 

It’s not just a story of war though, but a powerful testament to the endurance of hope amidst unimaginable darkness. Sashi’s journey, marked by loss and resilience, embodies the struggle of a generation caught in the crossfire of history as they are forced to make choices that will change them forever. 

So yeah. I struggle with keeping things concise 🙊

But the other day, my editor asked me if I’d be up for writing a short story for #TheDailyExpress Sunday magazine, Love Sunday People.

I love a challenge… so yeah. I did it. I wrote a short story called Speed Dating at the Mosque and I did it in less than 900 words!!!

That’s one writing challenge off my bucket list, alhamdulillah!

I’d been wanting to read this book for ages, and was thrilled when I discovered it in @readwithsamia goodie bags from @thediversebookshelfpod second anniversary event – I was like YES, I’m gonna take this on holiday with me (despite the fact that it weighs 2kg and gave me a hand cramp… I’m too old for hardbacks 🤣)

And I’m so glad I did! Hidden Fires is a story of family secrets, past and present, told from the perspective of three family members from three generations. There’s Yusuf, who recently lost his wife and fumbles through life alone as dementia slowly clouds his mind. There’s Hassan, Yusuf’s youngest son, who is struggling to cope with his stressful job and family circumstances. And then there’s Rubi, Hassan’s daughter, who is the victim of horrific bullying online and offline but hides the extent of the impact it has on her mental health from her family. 

The story starts with the Grenfell Tower fire and the way the tragedy triggers Yusuf and brings forward traumatising memories that he has been hiding his entire life ever since the Partition…. 

There’s so much to unpack here, but what I loved the most was the relationship between Rubi and her grandfather, and how they both help each other heal from their traumas and secrets. Yusuf definitely stole my heart and reminded me a lot of my dad. 

May God protect our elders and loved ones – having supportive family really is a privilege and @sairish.hussain had me tearing up constantly whilst on holiday with how beautifully she depicted those complex relationships. 

Now excuse me while I go and listen to the @thediversebookshelfpod interview with the author – I’m not quite ready to let these characters go.