Heart Tantrums and Brain Tumours by Aisha Sarwari
When Aisha Sarwari left her childhood home in Uganda for America as a young woman, she set out to create her own identity and story. The daughter of Pakistani and Indian migrants, she had never lived in South Asia. Raised to be a 'good Muslim girl', she struggled to reconcile these cultural expectations with her desire for equality and acceptance. After she met Yasser, a Pakistani law student, they returned to their ancestral country and married. Little did they know that a brain tumor would become an almost lethal third wheel in their relationship. The cancer gnawed at Yasser's personality, provoking aggressive outbursts. The illness explained Yasser's violence, Aisha told herself; but at what point did it become the excuse? She began to see their marriage within a bigger picture--of women's place in an oppressive society, and of the tug between feminist principles and personal happiness. Between Africa, the USA and Pakistan, this is a unique story of abuse and trauma, identity and belonging, misogyny and motherhood, patriarchy and power. With searing honesty and political passion, Heart Tantrums and Brain Tumors reveals one woman's battle to redefine the rules--by fighting for, and sometimes with, the man she loved.
‘A searing account of one woman’s journey in Pakistan through career, marriage, abuse and her husband’s life-shattering cancer’ -- The Guardian, '50 Brilliant Holiday Reads 2023'
‘The book tackles deeply ingrained societal norms and familial expectations that have, for far too long, silenced women’s voices in the South Asian community.’ -- The News on Sunday
‘In complicating everything we know and feel about the ‘Pakistani woman stereotype’… Sarwari breaks down the monolith of women’s identity in Pakistan.’ -- Dawn
‘A ferocious, piercing, and powerful narration of a Pakistani woman’s struggle with misogyny, abuse, identity, and patriarchy … a captivating memoir … a magnificently well-told story … a necessary work of art calling out the frailty of human psychology.’ -- Glamsham
'A powerful, intelligent, raw and disturbing book.' -- Mohsin Hamid, author of 'The Reluctant Fundamentalist' and 'Exit West'
'Genuinely moving. Exceptional.' -- Moni Mohsin, author of 'The Diary of a Social Butterfly' and 'Tender Hooks'
'A beautifully written, moving story. The power of words hasn't been better evoked!' -- Shashi Tharoor, Indian MP and author of 'Inglorious Empire: What the British Did to India'
'A brilliant book. Tragic, painful and yet so inspiring.' -- Nadeem Farooq Paracha, journalist, historian and author of 'Soul Rivals' and 'Points of Entry'
‘The book tackles deeply ingrained societal norms and familial expectations that have, for far too long, silenced women’s voices in the South Asian community.’ -- The News on Sunday
‘In complicating everything we know and feel about the ‘Pakistani woman stereotype’… Sarwari breaks down the monolith of women’s identity in Pakistan.’ -- Dawn
‘A ferocious, piercing, and powerful narration of a Pakistani woman’s struggle with misogyny, abuse, identity, and patriarchy … a captivating memoir … a magnificently well-told story … a necessary work of art calling out the frailty of human psychology.’ -- Glamsham
'A powerful, intelligent, raw and disturbing book.' -- Mohsin Hamid, author of 'The Reluctant Fundamentalist' and 'Exit West'
'Genuinely moving. Exceptional.' -- Moni Mohsin, author of 'The Diary of a Social Butterfly' and 'Tender Hooks'
'A beautifully written, moving story. The power of words hasn't been better evoked!' -- Shashi Tharoor, Indian MP and author of 'Inglorious Empire: What the British Did to India'
'A brilliant book. Tragic, painful and yet so inspiring.' -- Nadeem Farooq Paracha, journalist, historian and author of 'Soul Rivals' and 'Points of Entry'
Aisha Sarwari is a public speaker, women's rights activist, co-founder of the NGO Women's Advancement Hub, and author of two books on feminism. Her commentary has appeared in 'The Economist', 'The Guardian' and 'The Express Tribune'; on NPR and the BBC World Service. Based in Islamabad, she tweets as @AishaFSarwari.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9781787388932 |
| ISBN 10 | 178738893X |
| Title | Heart Tantrums and Brain Tumours |
| Author | Aisha Sarwari |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Paperback |
| Publisher | C Hurst & Co Publishers Ltd |
| Year published | 2023-08-10 |
| Number of pages | 456 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |