What a book. I'm not sure I know how to begin reviewing a book as mighty as Shabnam Minwalla's Zen. It is such a compelling read that even though it's over 600 pages long, I chose to carry it with me when I travelled, instead of carrying my Kindle the way I usually do. How could I wait two whole weeks without finding out where the book would take me?Zen is the story of two Zainabs. Zainab Essaji's story is set in 1935, and it seems like her destiny is to marry the man her family chooses for her. More, she is expected to be excited about it. Zainab Currimji's story is set in 2019, and she's just trying to keep her head down while her activist friend Menka rages against injustice and discrimination. Of course, the two Zainabs are related and as we race through the gripping book, we discover both their stories. A book full of secrets, Zen is masterfully plotted and leaves us … [Read more...]