Customer Reviews

Salaam, Paris

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

 

 

Though the book is readable, it's ultimately unsatisfying. The only remotely rounded character is the narrator; other players merely move the plot along with their single characteristics. The end is completely unconvincing. It's culture-clash lite.

Very average piece of fiction that comes at a time when lot of Islam is under the magnifying glass. Standard fare - Star struck Muslim girl from an orthodox family in India makes it to Paris and decides not to go back home (oh yes overstaying her visa illegally)- rises to modeling stardom within a few weeks !!!! The reason - Paris is smitten by the curiosity factor!!! Thrown into the mix is the "arranged marriage" variable - another seemingly amazing and curious concept in today's world (?!). No guesses needed on how that ends up. I got bored half-way and proceeded to complete the rest of the book on an evening when I had nothing better to do (which is very rare - so unfortunately I now can say I have read the book). Get it at your local library and save your self a few bucks if you still think you should read it.

I really like Indian Food and I love Paris. I know this isn't exactly how you're supposed to choose a book but I went out on a limb here. Salaam, Paris hooked me with the first line of the first page. Anyone intersted in cross-cultural stories, the lives of women and their likes and dislikes as well as societies prejudices, both internal and external will like this book. Don't be put off, some of the characters come across as very "Bollywood", but I'm all about the Bollywood. Ok, I admit it, it's my dirty little secret. Pick this book up, make a pot of tea, get comfortable and enjoy this delightful story. Salaam, Paris
I want to recommend three other reads, all just as good, ranging from the Mughal Empire to present day. Imaginery Men Imaginary Men], The Twentieth Wife [[ASIN:0743428188 The Twentieth Wife: A Novel and Serving Crazy with Curry Serving Crazy with Curry,every one of them will give you a glimpse of a fascinating India and it's people, mores and morays. Enjoy

Maybe it's because I myself am an Indian and absolutely sick and tired of stereotypical bollywood themed stories but I thought this might be different. The title didn't clue me in but it's not as great as I thought. Just another mediocre Eastern Indian book about walking out of traditional bondage to experience the western lifestyle and realizing it's not all it's hyped up to be.

I'm a fan of Kavita Daswani's work...She manages to write light-hearted chick lit that's also heartwarming. With that said, I did not find Salaam, Paris to be as engrossing and readable as her other two books. I found it implausible that a character as meek, sheltered, and traditional as Tanaya would all of a sudden become an international supermodel. It was entertaining...but ultimately, rather forgettable. I also found that she did not quite resolve the issues with her disapproving grandfather, her angry mother, and her would-be fiance, Tariq, at the end. To me, the book had an interesting storyline...but ultimately wasn't quite as satisfying as Daswani's other 2 novels. It's readable...but not great.

Salaam Paris is about a 19 year old Indian Muslim girl, Tanaya Shah, from a conservative family. She leaves Mumbai to go to Paris under the guise of meeting the man she has been promised to. Once in Paris, she breaks away from her family. Ignoring the gnawing guilt of behaving unlike a good Muslim and to find the her individual freedom that she romantically links with Paris, having dreamed of achieving Zen-like satisfaction a la Audrey Hepburn in Sabrina.

She goes on to become one of the most sought after models in the Paris fashion industry. The book follows her rise and super stardom and her time amongst the rich, beautiful and famous in Paris and New York. Sounds promising for a quick fun read, doesn't it. I thought so. I was wrong. Its an absolute bore.

For a book with so much to play around with, there is no flavor or pizazz to it. It gives no more insight into the orthodox Muslim world than the 2 words themselves "orthodox Muslim". The same goes for the "fashion industry".

For a story that revolves around exciting and beautiful cities, Mumbai, Paris, New York, the book is a real drab. I was hoping it would be full of insights into the fashion world, or maybe some tender thoughts of a young Muslim girl abandoned by her family for wanting to be an individual. Instead it reads more like a Women's Era story. It may sound harsh but there was not a single line which made me laugh, enjoy the moments or cheer for her in her quest for freedom.

Do I even have to say what happens in the end. Like every unimaginative Hindi movie, this too ends with Tanaya leaving her (pretty cool, I think) job for a husband. All that rebellion for nothing! Don't get me wrong, I am not against her choice, just that somehow a lot of books/movies tend to focus and preach on the struggle of a woman to prove herself and then show her ending up with the very life she was rebelling against. As if a woman is only truly satisfied with a husband and kids. The only thing I agreed with was when she slightly redeems herself in the end by trying to live her own life finally and not be bogged down by guilt passed on by her family.

Kavita Daswani tries to pull off a compelling let-me-live-my-life book but it's very weak. I think I had high expectations seeing that she had been a fashion editor.

I would have been better off reading one of the raunchy Shoba De books.

http://ireadokay.blogspot.com

After seeing Audrey Hepburn star in the original Sabrina, Tanaya Shah yearns to visit Paris, which looked so enticing and exciting in the movie, but knows her Muslim family would never allow her to go especially unescorted to the decadent west. When her family arranges for her to marry Tariq Khan, who already lives in Paris, Tanaya agrees with one stipulation; they meet in Paris before they wed to see if they are reasonably compatible. He is her ticket to seeing Sabrina's world.

However, Tanaya proves devious as she has no plans to marry her chosen mate. Instead she ditches him and the wedding plans to become part of the city. Shockingly, Tanaya becomes a highly regarded supermodel, but her behavior as she hobnobs with the decadent music and modeling industries lead to her family disowning it her. When she meets Tariq again, she has second thoughts about her blithe decision to dump him as she now wants to marry him and through him reconcile with her family, but fears he will not forgive her.

SALAAM, PARIS is a well written character study that plays out on two levels; on the one hand it is a coming of age tale while on the other it is a clash between traditional values and outside values in a shrinking world. Though Tanaya seems a bit selfish with how she initially treats Tariq, readers will forgive her as they realize that she did not mean to hurt him or disobey her family,; all she wanted was to see Paris through the eyes of her heroine. Tanaya is right that if you have not seen the original Sabrina you are missing a great romance.

Harriet Klausner

I initally approached this book with much skepticism and trepidation but it turned out to be an interesting read. I was so sure this would be yet another story about an Eastern/Muslim woman running off to the West and finding that indeed, she is "free now" and wishes to forget her culture and people in order to live as an individual. However, the story line is more complicated than that and so are the choices before Tanaya. A great read!

About halfway through this book I wanted to rush through the rest of it so I could write a review about how horrible this book is. The writing is solid and good, but everything else about this book is awful. Ms. Daswani's first book, "For Matrimonial Purposes," was considered sacred by my friends and my, Sindhi girls destined for arranged marriages while living in a modern world. Her second book wasn't as good as her first, but still mildy entertaining. This one has no redeeming factor.

This book tells the story of Tanaya Shah, a Muslim girl that leaves India for Paris in search of a Sabrina Moment, and becomes a model. There is nothing to like about Tanaya. There is nothing to like about any character in this book. Tanaya is written without any personality, any real character. Only in the end, when she gets really angry, do I feel even a glimmer of affection for her. Her family is awful, Tariq (the man she was meant to marry in Paris) is an idiot, the people she works with are annoying.

So much of this book is offensive and horrible, especially to an Indian girl like me, and I hope Ms. Daswani decides to make her next heroine stronger, more interesting, and a better representation of Indian women around the world.

A great book. Perfect for a day by the beachside or a serious moment to reflect back on your roots.