Unmarriageable – A book review

I know retellings are all the rage recently. It looks like I am late to catch up, like every other trend out there. Retelling, a relatively new genre, refer to a new version of a familiar classic maybe in a modernized set up or imagined from a different point of view. After a lot of persuasion (wink.. wink..), I picked Unmarriageable, a new version of Pride and Prejudice.

After a lot of persuasion (wink.. wink..), I picked Unmarriageable, a new version of Pride and Prejudice. Read on to know how that worked for me. Click To Tweet

About the book

Unmarriageable

Book Name: Unmarriageable

Author: Soniah Kamal

Genre: Fiction – Romance, Retelling

Characters: Jena, Alysba, Mari, Qitty, Lady, Mrs. Pinkie, Mr Barak (The Binats), Valentino Darsee, Bungles Bingla, Jujeen Darsee, Sherry Looclas, Fahad Kaleen

Setting: Pakistan

The plot

Unmarriageable, set in Pakistani background, follows the Pride and Prejudice to the T revolving around the five daughters of Mr and Mrs Binat. Their elder daughters Jena and Alysba work in a school nearby and meet their counterparts “Bungles” Bingla and Valentino Darsee in a wedding.

While Jena and Bungles like each other right from the start, Darsee looks down upon the Binats, thanks to the actions of their dramatic sister and materialistic mother. Alys finds Darsee to be haughty and vain, and she befriends Jeorgeulla Wickaam, Darsee’s cousin who further tarnishes his image.

Soon the Binat family hates him and when Bungles leaves the town without proposing to Jena, they assume it was Darsee’s doing. Do they end up together forms the rest of Unmarriageable.

My initial thoughts

I picked Unmarriageable because I missed Jane Austen and wanted to get into her world, and Unmarriageable did exactly that. I could see the Austen’s characters in Soniah Kamal’s and it stayed true to the original. The sub plots of Kaleen and Sherry (Colleen – Charlotte) and the way they had been adapted to the modern Pakistan fit perfectly.

While I understand it is a retelling, I wish the author had explored the characters deeper. Lady’s character was a cliche and I felt there was more scope for development, given the period it is set in.

I couldn’t avoid feeling it was weird that the characters discuss so much about Austen and even a character talks about Alys being similar to Lizzie, but they didn’t figure out they were literally acting like them. A glaring plot hole maybe?

Things that worked for me

  • Unmarriageable stayed true to the original Pride and Prejudice, in terms of social commentary and the plot. 
  • I loved many of the desi version of the characters like Sherry and Kaleen.
  • There are parts where the author shines, especially where she had changed Austen’s text to suit her narration. 

Things that didn’t work for me

  • Maybe, Unmarriageable was too close the original and I found it unimaginative at places.
  • There were places that the prose to be dragging. 
  • I didn’t find the charm of the Lizzie Bennet in Alysba, but that might be a personal bias.

Bottom-line

While there are lot of things that I wish were better with Unmarriageable, but as a retelling the author succeeds in making me fell nostalgic about Pride and Prejudice. I am still on the lookout for a better retelling of Pride and Prejudice. If you know any, let me know.

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Unmarriageable

Let us chat

Have you read this one? Do you like reading retellings? If so, what is favorite retelling book? Let us chat.

17 Comments

  1. Ara @ Open Pages

    I love retellings a lot so I’m definitely reading this, but I will definitely be going in with not too high expectations!

    (I’m hoping the Mary character isn’t too much of a caricature because over the years, she’s becomg my favourite.)

    Reply
    • Gayathri

      You will be surprised I am sure.

      Reply
  2. Becky

    Defintely sounds like a unique take on Pride and Prejudice, but sad that you didn’t enjoy it as much as you could’ve! I think I’d feel similar about it if it’s not unique enough and lack of depth in places!

    Reply
    • Gayathri

      This is my first retelling, so am not sure if I was having huge expectations.

      Reply
  3. Gemma

    I do love a good retelling. Fairy tales are my favourite kind.
    Gemma @ Gemma’s Book Nook

    Reply
    • Gayathri

      I am still looking for a good retelling. Maybe can you recommend me some?

      Reply
    • Gayathri

      I don’t regret reading though.

      Reply
  4. Bianca

    I’ve seen this one around and I think I’m going to give it a skip

    Reply
    • Gayathri

      Maybe it will work for you. Lot of my friends did.

      Reply
  5. Kathy West

    Great review!!!
    Retelling a story can be really hard and it takes a lot of work to get it just right.

    Reply
  6. DJ Sakata

    As always, an excellent and thoughtful review!

    Reply
  7. Justine

    Loved your review!

    First, wow is your blog gorgeous! Next, I’m actually a really big fan of retellings, but I think this one does sound a little close to the original for me.

    Reply
  8. Ashley Jayne

    great review

    Reply
  9. Genesis @ Whispering Chapters

    It’s interesting how they were discussing Austen.. I’d be kinda confused 😂 Retelling a can be a hit or miss for me. I haven’t read this one, but while I like the story to stay the same in a general aspect, I like when the author dives in deeper and brings in new ideas to the story.

    Reply
  10. Julianna Aislynn d'Merricksson

    Great review! I recently received an egalley of this via Netgalley. I’m looking forward to reading it! I’m interested how it plays out in a culture quite different from that of the original P&P.

    Reply
  11. Sam@wlabb

    A retelling can be so tricky. I think it’s a balance of being fresh, while still maintaining the spirit or essence of the original. This one is on my TBR, and I think it sounds worth a try for me.

    Reply

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Gayathri

Gayathri

Gayathri has been reviewing books since 2010. When she is not reading books or creating online content, she works as a writer and a digital marketer. Head over to meet me!