Customer Reviews

Cutting Loose

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Take a peek into the lives of three diverse women and see how their culture and life choices have brought them together.

Told from multiple points of view, Cutting Loose weaves the lives of three women into an entertaining novel with solid characters and plenty of conflict. Offering more than just the standard 'chick-lit' fare, Nadine Dajani draws on her own her own exotic life experiences to create characters who struggle to reconcile their culture with life in sultry, hedonistic Miami.

Ranya, Zahra, and Rio each arrive in Miami with baggage from their other lives. Ranya escapes Montreal and her sham of a marriage, Zahra leaves Boston and a career-ending disaster which was precipitated by a one night stand with an unrequited love, and Rio runs from the slums of Honduras and manages to climb her way to the top of a niche magazine.

From the cover, I figured the book would follow a predictable path and that the women would become fast friends despite their differences. How wrong I was! Each character grapples with her own internal and external conflicts but the friendships I predicted never materialized. Instead, mutual respect and camaraderie developed.

Ranya struggles with the deeply ingrained rules of her Muslim upbringing, while Zahra buries her emotions and feelings for her boss in work and comfort food, and Rio tries hard to stay emotionally unattached in a 5-year 'fling' with her boss's younger brother.

Religion, relationships, and personal growth are strong themes throughout the novel. The three women try to supress parts of themselves but ultimately realize that in order to find true love and personal happiness they have to embrace their whole selves. They are dynamic characters who change and develop with every experience.

Overall, this book was an entertaining and interesting read--perfect to get me in the mood for summer! I enjoyed the multicultural angle, characters, and Miami backdrop.

I first heard about Nadine Dajani's novels through the website of the wonderful Jess Riley, author of Driving Sideways. She featured an interview about Ms. Dajani's new novel, Cutting Loose, and I was immediately intrigued. Those of you who read this blog regularly know that I love multicultural fiction, especially when that fiction can fit in the genre of chick lit. This book seemed to fit the bill, and I was thrilled when Ms. Dajani's publicist sent me not just one, but both of her books to review!

I think the strongest point of Cutting Loose is its wonderful characters. When I first picked up the book, I figured that these three women, Ranya, Rio, and Zahra, would become friends and that's what the novel would be about because that's how most chick lit works. Imagine my surprise when these three didn't become fast friends; instead, Zahra and Rio seemed to resent and severely dislike Ranya. I thought that added an extra ingredient to the novel and I really enjoyed it.

I liked the character of Ranya a lot, though Rio and Zahra didn't. I might have actually found their immediate judgment of her irritating, had the book not also been told from their points of view. Sometimes a book with multiple narrators can be confusing, but in this case, the tool is very effective. It is easy to understand why each of these women act in the manner they do. Dajani is a talented writer who really understands the dynamics of female relationships.

I also loved that these women were from very different backgrounds. Yes, Ranya and Zahra were both from the Middle East, but basically from completely different worlds within that area. I like how Dajani makes clear that growing up rich in Saudi Arabia is not the same as growing up as a poor Palestinian; too often, the Middle East is painted as one homogenous area. It's nice to be reminded that's not the case. And Rio, being from Honduras, throws something entirely different into the mix.

Cutting Loose is well-written, fun, easy to read, and very interesting. If you enjoy chick lit, or books about different cultures, don't miss this one! A big thank you to Ms. Dajani and her publicist for getting these books to me and making sure I received them!

4.5 stars rounded up to 5

In Montreal, originally from Riyadh, Ranya looks forward to ending her marriage to a gay person when she meets fourth generation Lebanese-American Georges who intervenes when an idiot opens her mouth about Arab terrorists.

Georges leaves her to sit with his subordinate business woman Zahra, who has doubts ingrained since her West Bank childhood re a woman succeeding in business and her attraction to Joe who doe not reciprocate.

In Miami Honduran expatriate Rosario, called Rio by friends, knows she should not have an intermittent affair with Joe, as she as the editor in chief of Sueltate magazine sort of works for him though his brother Georges runs the publication.

The key to this superb character study is the prime cast members all are fully developed and seem genuine as each seeks happiness although none appear to know how to obtain it. Their lives intermingle with Ranya and Zahra being childhood friends and Georges the connection to Rio. Readers will relish following the escapades of the women and the two brothers who chase them whether it is Canada, Florida or London. Nadine Dajani provides a wonderful contemporary tale.

Harriet Klausner

All I can say is `WOW, what a book!!!`

When I received this book in mail, my only intention was to scan the book, read a couple of pages and then keep it aside for future reading. I mean I do have a TBR pile and I would feel kind of guilty reading this book immediately. But honestly, once I read the first couple of pages I couldn't stop. It was just that good.

3 woman-Ranya, Zahra and Rio. All 3 of them are from different backgrounds, have different problems and different ways of handling them. Somehow all land in Miami working together for the same firm.

Ranya is a rich woman from Middle East settled in Montreal with her parents. Just after one month of marriage she discovers that her husband is gay. Instead of going back to her parents she runs away to Miami to sort out her life. Zahra comes to Miami to be with the only person she has really loves, Georges. Although he has no idea about her feelings, she stays with his firm for many years just to be close to him and hopes that he would one day feel the same for her. Rio rises from the slums in Honduras, Latin America and builds a life for herself as an editor in chief of a magazine owned by the same company Zahra and Ranya work in. Rio is in love with Georges brother who is a Casanova and she knows they have no future together.

When these 3 women cross paths, I somehow imagined all of them forming everlasting friendships and helping each other find their destiny. But surprisingly that is not the case. All 3 of them have different stories but somehow their fate is connected to each other.

Ranya has to decide what do with her life. As a rich girl who never had to suffer even for a single day in her life, even finding a job is a huge challenge. Zahra has to take her life in control and think about her choices. Does she want to live in a city she hates and work in something that she does not love, just for a man who is pining for another woman? Will Rio will be able to leave the only thing she loves and the only thing she thinks is her biggest accomplishment, her magazine?

As the story progresses, all three of them find the courage required to cut loose their ties from the past, enter into a whole new and challenging territory, leaving something that is painful but familiar behind.

Call it woman's fiction or multicultural fiction or even chick-lit, Cutting Loose has a great story, fantastic characters and beautiful writing. What more could you want in a book?

Dajani serves up a great mix of the "chick lit" beach read combined with complex topics of culture, race, and class in personal and moving ways. Set in the fashion world of Miami, our three main characters clash personally and culturally. Another great global fiction read--I wish there were more writers like her.

I'm not sure I've read a book that was this much fun in a long time. Things are heading toward summer in my neck of the woods (I say heading, because we've had a pretty gray and gloomy week, but I still have hope), and Cutting Loose just FELT like a summer book. It's set mainly in sunny Miami, and has a light, breezy tone that would make it perfect "sitting in the sun with a tropical drink in your hand" fare.

Dajani's three main characters take turns narrating the novel, and each voice is distinct and developed. I felt an immediate empathy with both Ranya and Zahra - each was facing issues I could completely relate to, and it made me feel a connection to the characters right away. Rio took a little bit longer to click with me, but I came to appreciate her strength and drive, and by the end of the novel was rooting for her as well.

When I say the novel is fun and light, I don't want to imply that it is lacking in depth or emotion. All three women have serious obstacles to face - from money and job situations to difficult family and personal relationship issues, each has to face up to their past and decide which path to take, and how to grasp happiness for themselves. It was this honest journey for each of her characters that kept me turning pages, eager to find out what happened next.

I completely enjoyed this novel. It would make a perfect beach or vacation read! It does contain adult language and situations, so if that bothers you, you might want to steer clear of this one. However, if you are looking for a novel that goes deeper than the usual chick-lit fare, but still retains the fun and romance, I would definitely recommend you pick up this book.

[...]

Story Overview
Set primarily in glitzy Miami, this book tells the stories of three different women at a crossroads in life.

* Ranya is a stunningly beautiful but sheltered daughter of wealthy Lebanese parents. She has lived a pampered existence and recently won the "marriage sweepstakes" -- until she finds out her new husband seems to prefer their interior decorator Paolo. Fleeing her sham marriage and protective family in Montreal, she travels first to London where she meets Georges Mallouk -- a handsome, kind millionaire who is quite taken with her. She eventually ends up in Miami, where she seeks out Georges' help in starting a new life.

* Zahra is Georges's intelligent, competent right-hand woman and CFO of his company. Her Palestinian roots run deep -- as do her insecurities about her appearance. She knew Ranya when they were in school years ago. Although Zahra recognizes Ranya instantly upon running into her, Ranya barely remembers her. Zahra is half in love with Georges -- and still wishing that the night they shared years ago will return and Georges will realize Zahra is the right woman for him. But waiting is getting her nowhere -- especially when Georges seems to have fallen for Ranya.

* Rio is the tough-talking, ambitious editor of Sueltate magazine -- an up and coming Latina magazine that is Rio's pride and job. Rio is proud of how she's escaped the poverty of her native Honduras -- even though her parents don't seem to appreciate her success as much as she wished. Her affair with Georges's younger playboy brother Joe is not always the best thing for her -- but Rio can't seem to just say no. After all, she can't let anything jeopardize her position at the magazine. But with the Mallouk brothers questioning whether the magazine truly benefits their company, Rio's hard work may be for naught.

Circumstances bring these three women together in Miami, but what transpires between them is not quite what you might expect. Each woman learns important lessons about themselves and their past and realize that to move forward, you sometimes need to "cut loose."

My Thoughts
What I liked most about this book was seeing the three women go from being their own worst enemies to learning how to trust and believe in themselves. When we meet them, each lets herself be defined by a man, family expectations, and her own need to "fit in" to the world where she chose to live. Yet each is fundamentally unhappy. Over the course of the book, each woman learns that letting others define you leads to an unfufilling life. Only when they learn to "cut loose," do they begin to find true happiness and success.

It was interesting to have three strong female characters from different cultural backgrounds that you don't often see represented in mainstream fiction. Yet the author does a good job of making each woman "universal." They all worry about their appearance, anguish over the "wrong guy," and try to please their parents. One aspect of the book that I thought was "right on" was how each woman struggled with similar issues but their fears and insecurities keep them from opening themselves up to each other. For example, Zahra is intimidated by Ranya's beauty, and Ranya is awed by Zahra's intelligence. Therefore, they never allow themselves to become friends. Unfortunately, I think this is quite accurate in female relationships. We often feel jealous of what we think we don't have so we keep our distance from the women that could probably help and empathize with us the most.

The book has a very modern, up-to-the-minute feel. There are lots of references to celebrities, fashion and cultural touchstones that squarely place the book in the modern era. I think the author does a good job of capturing the voice of each character; each chapter switches from one woman to the other and is written in the first person. This lends a kind of intimacy to each woman's interior thoughts, and I think it works better than if the author had chosen to write the book in the third person.

My Final Thoughts
This book is a fun but thoughtful book that has some important messages (clothed in the latest designer duds!) about how women can lose a part of themselves when they let men, family or career define them. The book isn't preachy nor does it follow many of the conventions of "chick lit," which I'm thinking it is the genre that it will be "lumped into." I also think the book will be of particular interest to women whose cultural backgrounds are reflected in the three women.

We started a book club over a year ago, and this was one that was picked for all 8 of us to read. What a delightful, fun, girlie summer read! We had a special bonus, the author attended our meeting!!
She was lovely, and it was one of our best book club girlie nights ever. We all look forward to the release of her new book, which of course, we got a sneak peak at. Nadine, write quicker!!!!

For those of you who read Nadine Dajani's first book, Fashionably Late, you will love her second work. All 3 women bring a unique perspective to life and love and it's engrossing until the end. The character development is superb and there is a realism to the story line that stems from Dajani's own world experience. And how could you not love a book set in beautiful Miami!

Cutting Loose is the story of three women who are trying to make it in a modern world while living up to family and cultural expectations. Ranya finds out her new husband has a secret that changes everything she thought their future held; Zahra is in love with her boss who is only interested in her as an employee and friend; and Rio loves a man who will never commit to her. I found the book entertaining and would recommend including it in your summer reading.