The Making Of Mr Hai's Daughter
Memoirs of his Daughter
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'A thoughtful, funny memoir on the realities of immigration' Guardian
'Ebullient and sharply humorous about the conflicts and confusions of growing up and adapting to a country (and family) in a constant state of political flux and, often, social fantasy' The Times
Mr Hai arrived in London in 1964. But, while becoming British via a passport had been relatively easy, becoming English was something to be studied - and then passed on, first to his wife, newly arrived from Pakistan, and then to his children. No more speaking Urdu, no more long plaits, no shalwar kameezes, and - even though they were Muslim - no more religion.
Mr Hai put his family firmly on the road to assimilation, and his first-born daughter Yasmin was his star pupil. However, being second-generation British Asian was not quite so simple... especially as their Muslim community was about to go through some very profound changes and challenges.
Brilliantly told, with intelligence and humour and passion, this is a fascinating story about immigration and identity, about religion and roots, and about a daughter's understanding of her father.
'Ebullient and sharply humorous about the conflicts and confusions of growing up and adapting to a country (and family) in a constant state of political flux and, often, social fantasy' The Times
Mr Hai arrived in London in 1964. But, while becoming British via a passport had been relatively easy, becoming English was something to be studied - and then passed on, first to his wife, newly arrived from Pakistan, and then to his children. No more speaking Urdu, no more long plaits, no shalwar kameezes, and - even though they were Muslim - no more religion.
Mr Hai put his family firmly on the road to assimilation, and his first-born daughter Yasmin was his star pupil. However, being second-generation British Asian was not quite so simple... especially as their Muslim community was about to go through some very profound changes and challenges.
Brilliantly told, with intelligence and humour and passion, this is a fascinating story about immigration and identity, about religion and roots, and about a daughter's understanding of her father.
- Published: Mar 05 2009
- Pages: 352
- 196 x 126mm
- ISBN: 9781844082704
Press Reviews
- The Times
[Yasmin Hai] is ebullient and sharply humorous about the conflicts and confusions of growing up and adapting to a country (and a family) in a constant state of political flux and, often, social fantasy. Her personality is as engaging as her insights are illuminating
- Waterstones Books Quarterly
A very personal story filled with family tales, social history and politics, and making an important contribution to the debate about life in modern multicultural Britain
- Spectator
Had Mr Hai succeeded in turning his daughter into an Englishwoman? I'm not sure it really matters anymore, but his kindly influence obviously enabled his little Yasmin to write this unbelievably funny, passionate autobiography
- The Times
[Yasmin Hai] is ebullient and sharply humorous about the conflicts and confusions of growing up and adapting to a country (and a family) in a constant state of political flux and, often, social fantasy. Her personality is as engaging as her insights are illuminating.
- Spectator
Had Mr Hai succeeded in turning his daughter into an Englishwoman? I'm not sure it really matters any more, but his kindly influence obviously enabled his little Yasmin to write this unbelievably funny, passionate autobiography.
- Guardian (Guide - for the Radio 4 Book of the Week)
A thoughtful, funny memoir on the realities of immigration
- Waterstones Books Quarterly
A very personal story filled with family tales, social history and politics, and making an important contribution to the debate about life in modern multicultural Britain.