(reviewed by JD Jung)
“And she can never figure out who she is cheating. Is it Iskander, the man she has decided she can only be grateful to? Or is it the man who loves her to distraction and makes her feel so happy…
But what about cheating herself?”
Zuleikha left her home in Pakistan to live in Irving, Texas, joining her new husband Iskander, a Pakistani American. Her father saw to it that her marriage contract would include that she was to be given certain amenities, such as a car and a piano, and Iskander saw to it that she received those things. She loved the instrument and even found a job teaching piano and Iskander encouraged it. She even gave birth to a son, whom she loved and with whom Iskander was totally involved.
So why was she unhappy and wanting more?
Years ago, her father sold banned American movies and books on the black market to pay for her education and wedding dowry. He didn’t mind when Zuleikha snuck one of these DVDs or books into her bag to watch. Even though she realized that Hollywood was not the real world, this exposed her to a broader way of life.
Now, still having connections with the Muslim community in Texas, she becomes part of a scandal and must make important decisions.
The Black-Marketer’s Daughter is an intricately crafted, plot-driven story, which is well-written and fast-moving. It is narrated from the third person, which gives it objectivity. The author was fair to each character, careful not to villainize anyone. I appreciate how difficult that can be for a writer. That is what I particularly enjoyed about the book. It is realistic, as life can be messy.
If readers enjoy novels that explore life the way it is, with shades of gray, this is the book for you. Highly recommended!
