Sweet and enjoyable.
Amal Awad has written across a wide range of genres, including non-fiction, screenplay, journalism, and fiction. Her latest project, The Things We See in the Light, is a fictional novel that focuses on the experience of a young Muslim-Australian woman.
Sahar returns to Australia after eight years living in Jordan with her husband in an increasingly unhappy marriage. She comes back to rekindle old friendships and to take back her career as a pastry chef. Gaining a position in a local cake and chocolate shop, under the tutelage of the imposing Maggie, Sahar has to start at the bottom again. As Sahar gradually learns more about the business of sweets, her friends learn more about what happened to her in Jordan. The slow unravelling of her past weaves around her gradual discovery of herself both within and outside of her Muslim heritage. And, of course, love rears its head in the most surprising places.
Sahar is a refreshing character: rather than the expected rebel, she is in fact quite conservative, embracing her Islamic faith and traditions. Her journey of self-discovery does not mean simply throwing off the head-covering and going wild. And Awad doles out the secrets judiciously enough to maintain narrative suspense and keep those pages turning. Structurally, interweaving present-day with memories of Sahar’s time in Jordan also helps maintain interest.
Disappointingly, though, Awad does far too much telling and not enough showing. The dialogue is laboured and awkward, with most characters speaking in the same voice, especially the women.
The Things We See in the Light is a charming and engaging enough read, a testament to friendships, and a hymn of praise to the pâtissier.
A good choice for a lockdown read, a long plane flight (if we ever get to take one of those again!), or your book club.
Reviewed by Tracey Korsten
Twitter: @TraceyKorsten
Distributed by: Pantera Press
Released: September 2021
RRP: $29.99
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