Why did I love this book?
I was hooked on Unmarriageable from the very first page. This book is a retelling of Pride and Prejudice in modern-day Pakistan, featuring an independently-minded teacher, Alys Binat, who wants to broaden the perspective of her female students and who fully intends to never marry. Instead of an assembly at Longbourn, we meet Mr. Bingla and Mr. Darsee at a fabulous Pakistani wedding. All the characters are brilliant (though my personal favorite is probably the Charlotte character, who is also a teacher at Alys’ school). The book illustrates that Jane Austen’s themes are still relevant today, and explores the complicated nature of families and the necessity of finding your way as a woman in spite of restrictions and societal expectations.
3 authors picked Unmarriageable as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.
“This inventive retelling of Pride and Prejudice charms.”—People
“A fun, page-turning romp and a thought-provoking look at the class-obsessed strata of Pakistani society.”—NPR
Alys Binat has sworn never to marry—until an encounter with one Mr. Darsee at a wedding makes her reconsider.
A scandal and vicious rumor concerning the Binat family have destroyed their fortune and prospects for desirable marriages, but Alys, the second and most practical of the five Binat daughters, has found happiness teaching English literature to schoolgirls. Knowing that many of her students won’t make it to graduation before dropping out to marry and have children, Alys…