(Reviewed by JD Jung)
“There is one unforgivable sin in any society: to be different. Be different and be damned. And yet—whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.”
There are so many extraordinary quotes in I Did Not Survive. I Just Refused To Stop that I wanted to share them all, but there are simply too many. This collection brings together twenty years of thoughts, observations, poetry, and prose from what the author, MissFit Writes calls “the abnormal life of an average Desi Muslim girl.”
From the beginning, she writes about knowing she was different and resisting the life her family and society had mapped out for her. She explores being taken advantage of, relationships, identity, and the expectations placed on women in a patriarchal society. As the book progresses, we see her evolve. She begins to see her authentic self more clearly and, ultimately, embraces it unapologetically.
Although MissFit writes from the perspective of a Muslim woman and incorporates terms from her culture and faith, (which are thoughtfully explained in footnotes and later in the glossary), I found the themes surprisingly universal. Women of different backgrounds, religions, and ethnicities can recognize pieces of themselves in these pages.
I personally saw a lot of myself here. In fact, I found myself wishing I had possessed this kind of self-knowledge when I was her age. Her journey toward self-acceptance is both honest and inspiring.
This is a thoughtful, deeply personal book about identity, womanhood, and finding the courage to be yourself. I think it would make a meaningful gift for any woman.
MissFit also states that 10% of every book sold will support education and skill development for underserved communities in Pakistan.