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The Beauty of Your Face by Sahar Mustafah (debut)
Publisher: W.W. Norton Company
Release Date: April 7, 2020
Length: 312 pages
Amazon
{A Bit of Backstory}
Single Sentence Summary
Facing a shooter determined to slaughter what he will not understand, Afaf Rahman looks back on the complicated journey life took to deliver her to this very spot.
From the Publisher
“A uniquely American story told in powerful, evocative prose, The Beauty of Your Face navigates a country growing ever more divided. Afaf Rahman, the daughter of Palestinian immigrants, is the principal of Nurrideen School for Girls, a Muslim school in the Chicago suburbs. One morning, a shooter—radicalized by the online alt-right—attacks the school.
As Afaf listens to his terrifying progress, we are swept back through her memories…”
The Draw
- Girls’ Muslim school in Chicago.
- Principal face-to-face with a school shooter.
- Memories of bigotry surrounding her own childhood.
{My Thoughts}
The Beauty of Your Face begins as Afaf Rahman walks away from her office at the Nurrideen Schoolofor Girls, a Muslim school. She slips away to a small room that years ago was a confessional when the building was originally a nunnery. This is where Afaf goes to do her morning prayers in private, but on this day, her prayers are interrupted by the terrifying sound of gunfire. This opening might lead you to believe that this is a story about a school shooting, but really it’s not. There is a school shooting and that plays a role in Afaf’s story, but The Beauty of Your Face is just that. Afaf’s story.
Afaf was born the second child of Palestinian immigrants. Her parents, much older sister and younger brother lived in a small apartment in the Chicago area. Their’s was not a happy family, nor were they a religious family. Their father was a drunk who cheated on their mother. Their mother was a deeply unhappy woman who desperately wanted to return to Palestine. The three kids got by, supporting each other, until that fell apart, too. At 10-years old, Afaf’s older sister vanished, just vanished.
“Afaf squeezes in and out of spaces, trying not to make noise around the apartment and at school. But Nada is bold and fearless. So different from her. So different from Mama.”
Now, you might think I’ve told you the whole story, but you’d be wrong. All I’ve shared is really just the set up for this beautiful character-driven story about Afaf, the life she led inside her very damaged family, and the journey that finally took her off the sad path her parents had put her on.
“Still her mother pines for the ones who are gone – Nada, Majeed – denying her and Baba, the ones who have stayed.”
The Beauty of Your Face has been one of my favorite books this year, but I know it won’t be for everyone. It started off a little slowly, but the further I read the more I cared about Afaf and the more I wanted to know how she could have ended up in that closet. Within the writing, you’ll find quite a bit of Arabic, often not translated. In the beginning this bothered me, but soon I realized I didn’t need an official translation. I could interpret the sentiment on my own. If those two small facts won’t bother you then this is a book well worth your time. Debut author Sahar Mustafah told a wonderful story and I loved the structure, each chapter ending with just a glimpse of what was happening back at the school. The Beauty of Your Face was the second book on this year’s Spring Preview and it was my second A book. Let’s hope the rest can live up to this high bar! Grade: A
If you liked this book you might also enjoy:
- The Family Tabor by Cherise Wolas – The story of a Jewish family facing a crisis of faith and personal identity when the father dies and his secrets begin to come to light. (my review)
- Only Child by Rhiannon Navin – This story of a school shooting follows the surviving son and his parents as they all try to go on after their incredible loss. (my review)
Note: I received a copy of this book from W.W. Norton Company (via NetGalley) in exchange for my honest review.
Hmm. I’m glad you liked this one a lot. The premise sounds good — in which there are two stories going on — in the present with the gun situation and with her background. I could use more Palestinian tales so I’ll look for it. ps. Isn’t it sad that it’s always the U.S. with the gun shooting tales. ugh.
It is sad that the US is known for such an awful thing as school shootings. Though there is a horrible one in this book, it’s not the main focus.
I really liked this novel overall. I just wish she hadn’t tried to go in so many directions. I don’t think it’s a spoiler to say I did not care about the shooter’s perspective at all. And the way she wrote about him was very flat. I kind of get why- don’t give him too much attention, but it didn’t quite work for me.
I can see what you mean about how she wrote about the shooter, but that’s how she wrote about Afaf’s whole life really, her parents, herself. Only her conversion brought out much emotion in the character.