LeilaAboulela’sAmericandebutisaprovocative,timely,andengagingnovelaboutayoungMuslimwoman--onceprivilegedandsecularinhernativelandandnowimpoverishedinLondon--graduallyembracingherorthodoxfaith.WithherMuslimhijabanddown-turnedgaze,Najwaisinvisibletomosteyes,especiallytotherichfamilieswhosehousesshecleansinLondon.Twentyyearsago,Najwa,thenatuniversityinKhartoum,wouldneverhaveimaginedthatonedayshewouldbeamaid.Anupper-classWesternizedSudanese,herdreamsweretomarrywellandraiseafamily.ButacoupforcestheyoungwomanandherfamilyintopoliticalexileinLondon.Soonorphaned,shefindssolaceandcompanionshipwithintheMuslimcommunity.ThenNajwameetsTamer,theintense,lonelyyoungerbrotherofheremployer.Theyfindacommonbondinfaithandslowly,silently,begintofallinlove.Writtenwithdirectnessandforce,MinaretisalyricandinsightfulnovelaboutIslamandanalluringglimpseintoacultureWesternersareonlyjustbeginningtounderstand.
