If I Loved You Less

Le sigh. Another damp squib. I have read a few retellings of Emma set in the South Asian community and the author is correct: 'It is amusing how Pakistani culture is so similar to Regency-era England, with all the rules and courting.' However, what really makes the comparison work is a comprehension of the book and the characters, and that is where this version falls down. Sure, Qureshi can quote, from both the novel and the various adaptations - primarily the 2009 BBC miniseries ('Men do not like women who argue!'), which is curious given that she cites the 2020 film as inspiration - but she either doesn't really understand Emma Woodhouse or the strength of the original character is lost in translation.

Humaira Mirza is a 23 year old show more graduate and works full time as a civil engineer at her father's firm, although she doesn't actually do any work. Her mother died when she was thirteen and her father's youngest sister, who came to look after Humaira and her sister, has just married and left the Mirza house. Humaira claims to be lonely but she lives with her father, and her sister's in-laws live down the street, including Fawad Sheikh, Humaira's Mr Knightley. She is not isolated, intellectually and socially, like Emma, who is a big fish in a small pond. Humaira lives in New York City, for heaven's sake! She is also depressed where Emma is lively and cheerful, and 'looking for the great love of her life', which Emma was not really interested in. Humaira does say that she is waiting for The One, a 'great romantic love story', rather than just settling, but her end goal is to get married, have children and give up her career, rather than being confident and independent in herself.

I did like the relationship between Humaira and her father, who is needy in an emotional rather than a physical sense, and the family banter is realistic and funny. The descriptions of Pakistani food and the references to religious and cultural practices, like Humaira keeping her hair covered in the presence of men, also helped to make the characters and story work in a modern and original setting, rather than relying too much on Austen. (Although, suggesting that the point of the hijab is 'to privatize a woman’s beauty so they are sought after for something other than their physical looks, like their intellect and heart' is a bit ironic, considering the amount of time Humaira spends judging men by their appearance!)

That is also where the the narrative failed for me, reading as a rabid devotee of Austen's novel - there was both too much and too little reliance on the source material. Humaira and Fawad are the cliched frenemies to lovers that Autumn de Wilde turned Emma and Knightley into, with Humaira staring at Fawad's physical features (shoulders, torso, fingers, hair, eyelashes, collarbone!) from almost the first chapters, while the whole point of Austen's novel is that Emma is quite literally clueless about her own feelings for Knightley. Harriet becomes Shanzay - or Shaznay, as I kept reading her name - who is 'fresh off the boat', as the Elton character describes her, and 'unrefined' in Fawad's words. She also morphs into Miss Bates during the infamous picnic scene, and Rizwan/Frank doesn't get his secret love affair with Jane either, which is a disappointment.

The first person narration didn't work for me and doesn't work for Emma either. Humaira describes everyone like she's compiling a photofit for the police, noting height, build and hair/eye colour, even her own 'rosy cheeks', and she is too aware of her own qualities to the point of arrogance. Meanwhile the dialogue is all over the place, from quoting Austen directly and formal English (of a kind - 'Rizwan and I's love story'?) to American teenspeak (or Clueless soundbites anyway).

Too much quoting, not enough cohesion, and entirely too much Autumn de Wilde, which is also lacking as an adaptation. Read Polite Society or Duty Free instead, or watch Aisha (2010). show less

4.5 Stars

This book is currently only available (or will be as of June 17, 2024) in the UK and Canada. I don't know if/when the publishers will release it in America.

A Pakistani retelling of the classic book Emma by Jane Austen.

After spending a little time with this book, I found myself dying to rewatch Emma with Gwyneth Paltrow and Jeremy Northam! This book was a very close copy of that movie but with Pakistani players and a bit more modern background.

It was a bit difficult for me to actually like Humaira Mirza (Emma), for she was, as she admitted, a spoiled rich girl who had everything she ever needed. But once the story got rolling, Humaira kind of grew on me. However, it's not enough to give this a full 5-star review. Fawad Sheikh as show more George Knightley (Emma) was perfect in the author's retelling.

This book was amusing, clever, and emotionally satisfying. It was a fast read and would be perfect for your summer vacation.

*ARC was supplied by the publisher HarperCollins UK/One More Chapter, the author, and NetGalley. show less

I am surprised at how much I liked this given that Emma is one of my least favourite JA novels. This was funny, well written and a pleasure to read.