The year 2020 was not a complete write-off for Sairish Hussain. Towards the end of the year, a silver lining appeared in the form of that one thing all debut writers yearn for: recognition. Hussain received news that her book, The Family Tree, which took five years to write, had secured a place on the Costa Book Awards shortlist for First Novel.
“I didn’t win the category in the end,” Hussain says, “but just to have the book on the shortlist, especially when there were so many incredible debuts to choose from, it made my whole year.”
Her novel is an immersive, big-hearted multigenerational saga about a British Muslim family living in the North of England. It follows a widowed father and his two children through three decades of collective problems, shared pain and personal upheavals. Each character is skilfully drawn and warmly sympathetic.
Single-parent Amjad tries to stay strong and in control while battling his grief. Saahil starts out as a good pupil with bright prospects until a tragedy sends him into a downward spiral of addiction and homelessness. And angry, feisty Zahra, who becomes socially aware and politically engaged, turns to writing to make sense of the world around her.
Bradford-born Hussain began work on her novel while studying creative writing at university. She had influences – James Baldwin, Khaled Hosseini, Kamila Shamsie – "writers who are known for writing back from the margins of society". But at this stage in her life her dream of being a writer was tinged with disillusionment. Her doubts were not to do with her ability. Instead, they revolved around how she was perceived as a British Muslim.
“I could quite happily relate to all the characters I read as a child and young adult, whether it was the Roald Dahl books, or the Harry Potter series,” she explains. “I think the problem is that publishing folk felt like no one could relate to somebody like me. That the only time I would be interesting enough to write about was if I ran away to become a jihadi bride or if my parents were forcing me into an arranged marriage. Unsurprisingly, I was doing none of those things. Neither were my friends. So where was my story being told?
“Sometimes people talk about representation in a very superficial way, like it can simply be achieved by seeing someone who looks like you on a magazine cover. It’s much deeper than that. It’s about feeling seen and validated, and not in a tokenistic way. It’s about demanding to be recognised as a full, complex human being. I believe stories are where we can start to address some of these issues.”
The only time I would be interesting enough to write about was if I ran away to become a jihadi bride or if my parents were forcing me into an arranged marriage
Hussain’s story is one that she wanted to tell and one that she imagines her younger, more frustrated self would have wanted to read. Right from the outset she had a clear vision: she would write a family drama about British Muslims, which focused on normal lives and everyday concerns – “not about them being Muslim”. Just because her characters happened to be, as she puts it, “brown, Muslim, working class and northern”, she would not limit the narratives they could be a part of.
“Muslims, South Asians and people of colour in general also experience grief, bereavement, illness, financial difficulties and addiction,” she says. “Why can’t books feature characters tackling these issues? Again, why are we only interesting if we’re blowing something up or if we’re victims of an honour killing? Life happens to us too, though this has been largely ignored in artistic portrayals.”
Throughout her book, Hussein eschews stale tropes regarding attitudes towards Muslims. However, she was acutely aware that there were certain issues she couldn't completely sidestep. The events of 9/11 cast a shadow over the lives of her characters, as indeed they did for her. "It was the beginning of being treated with suspicion, distrust and, at times, contempt," Hussain says.
“There is a certain trauma that comes with growing up feeling like your country hates you. And that has been reinforced by the dehumanisation of Muslims on the news, in films, books, as well as in everyday interactions. As much as I was determined to distance my work from that post-9/11 fascination with Islam and Muslims, just completely disregarding that aspect of our lives is also not quite the whole picture.
“It’s like telling half a story. As Muslims, we are politicised because of who we are. If I’d ignored 9/11 and its impact, that doesn’t reflect our lived experience, which is why Zahra is the character who actively engages with current affairs and world events.
"At the same time," she says, "not all Muslims are political or interested in politics, and I can't overstate the importance of this. Arguably, it's been thrust upon us. More pressing problems affecting young Muslims today include relationships, mental health, career prospects and financial security. I tried to portray this with Saahil."
Hussain could have overwhelmed her readers with her characters’ problems. Fortunately, the book contains memorable moments of light relief. A perfect comic creation is Amjad’s mother, who is keen to help and quick to interfere, particularly in her efforts to find her son a new wife from Pakistan. And a stand-out set piece is the family’s disastrous trip to Birmingham to celebrate Eid with Amjad’s boastful brother Javid and his spoilt-brat offspring.
Flitting between humour and pathos while all the time toppling expectations and challenging stereotypes, The Family Tree feels like a breath of fresh air. Does Hussain think British publishers are now allowing more authentic stories to be told?
“It is changing for the better,” she replies. “An example of this would be the success of diverse authors in genre fiction such as Kia Abdullah, Ayisha Malik, A A Dhand and Abir Mukherjee. Writers of colour don’t just have to write epic, sprawling novels about identity, they can write crime fiction, courtroom dramas or romantic comedies.”
Hussain’s next novel is none of these. “It’s an ‘unlikely friendship’ story between a grandfather and his granddaughter,” she says. “She’s a neglected, moody teenager and he’s an elderly man who is suffering from delayed trauma from experiences during the partition of India.” The book is due out next year and, like its author, is one to watch.
ALL THE RESULTS
Bantamweight
Siyovush Gulmomdov (TJK) bt Rey Nacionales (PHI) by decision.
Lightweight
Alexandru Chitoran (ROU) bt Hussein Fakhir Abed (SYR) by submission.
Catch 74kg
Omar Hussein (JOR) bt Tohir Zhuraev (TJK) by decision.
Strawweight (Female)
Seo Ye-dam (KOR) bt Weronika Zygmunt (POL) by decision.
Featherweight
Kaan Ofli (TUR) bt Walid Laidi (ALG) by TKO.
Lightweight
Abdulla Al Bousheiri (KUW) bt Leandro Martins (BRA) by TKO.
Welterweight
Ahmad Labban (LEB) bt Sofiane Benchohra (ALG) by TKO.
Bantamweight
Jaures Dea (CAM) v Nawras Abzakh (JOR) no contest.
Lightweight
Mohammed Yahya (UAE) bt Glen Ranillo (PHI) by TKO round 1.
Lightweight
Alan Omer (GER) bt Aidan Aguilera (AUS) by TKO round 1.
Welterweight
Mounir Lazzez (TUN) bt Sasha Palatkinov (HKG) by TKO round 1.
Featherweight title bout
Romando Dy (PHI) v Lee Do-gyeom (KOR) by KO round 1.
6 UNDERGROUND
Director: Michael Bay
Stars: Ryan Reynolds, Adria Arjona, Dave Franco
2.5 / 5 stars
The biog
From: Upper Egypt
Age: 78
Family: a daughter in Egypt; a son in Dubai and his wife, Nabila
Favourite Abu Dhabi activity: walking near to Emirates Palace
Favourite building in Abu Dhabi: Emirates Palace
FORSPOKEN
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Baldur's%20Gate%203
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Assassin's%20Creed%20Mirage
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Starfield
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Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Company%20profile
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What is graphene?
Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged like honeycomb.
It was discovered in 2004, when Russian-born Manchester scientists Andrei Geim and Kostya Novoselov were "playing about" with sticky tape and graphite - the material used as "lead" in pencils.
Placing the tape on the graphite and peeling it, they managed to rip off thin flakes of carbon. In the beginning they got flakes consisting of many layers of graphene. But as they repeated the process many times, the flakes got thinner.
By separating the graphite fragments repeatedly, they managed to create flakes that were just one atom thick. Their experiment had led to graphene being isolated for the very first time.
At the time, many believed it was impossible for such thin crystalline materials to be stable. But examined under a microscope, the material remained stable, and when tested was found to have incredible properties.
It is many times times stronger than steel, yet incredibly lightweight and flexible. It is electrically and thermally conductive but also transparent. The world's first 2D material, it is one million times thinner than the diameter of a single human hair.
But the 'sticky tape' method would not work on an industrial scale. Since then, scientists have been working on manufacturing graphene, to make use of its incredible properties.
In 2010, Geim and Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics. Their discovery meant physicists could study a new class of two-dimensional materials with unique properties.
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
UAE squad
Humaira Tasneem (c), Chamani Senevirathne (vc), Subha Srinivasan, NIsha Ali, Udeni Kuruppuarachchi, Chaya Mughal, Roopa Nagraj, Esha Oza, Ishani Senevirathne, Heena Hotchandani, Keveesha Kumari, Judith Cleetus, Chavi Bhatt, Namita D’Souza.
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
MATCH INFO
Barcelona 4 (Messi 23' pen, 45 1', 48', Busquets 85')
Celta Vigo 1 (Olaza 42')
More on Quran memorisation:
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
England v South Africa schedule:
- First Test: At Lord's, England won by 219 runs
- Second Test: July 14-18, Trent Bridge, Nottingham, 2pm
- Third Test: The Oval, London, July 27-31, 2pm
- Fourth Test: Old Trafford, Manchester, August 4-8
Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – UAE won by 36 runs
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
David Haye record
Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Fixtures (all times UAE)
Saturday
Brescia v Atalanta (6pm)
Genoa v Torino (9pm)
Fiorentina v Lecce (11.45pm)
Sunday
Juventus v Sassuolo (3.30pm)
Inter Milan v SPAL (6pm)
Lazio v Udinese (6pm)
Parma v AC Milan (6pm)
Napoli v Bologna (9pm)
Verona v AS Roma (11.45pm)
Monday
Cagliari v Sampdoria (11.45pm)
Champions League Last 16
Red Bull Salzburg (AUT) v Bayern Munich (GER)
Sporting Lisbon (POR) v Manchester City (ENG)
Benfica (POR) v Ajax (NED)
Chelsea (ENG) v Lille (FRA)
Atletico Madrid (ESP) v Manchester United (ENG)
Villarreal (ESP) v Juventus (ITA)
Inter Milan (ITA) v Liverpool (ENG)
Paris Saint-Germain v Real Madrid (ESP)
RESULT
Manchester City 1 Sheffield United 0
Man City: Jesus (9')
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
