The Colour of God: A Story of Family and Faith

**A memoir of a fundamentalist Muslim childhood and of redefining faith, belonging and family in adulthood** **‘Engrossing.’ Monica Ali** **‘Heartbreaking and really funny.’ Ross Gay** **‘This book fell into my heart.’ Sabrina Mahfouz** **‘The kind of authentic voice that is rarely heard.’ Saima Mir** This is the story of a child raised in Canada by parents who embraced a puritanical version of Islam to shield them from racism. The author explores the joys and sorrows of growing up in a fundamentalist Muslim household, wedding grand historical narratives of colonialism and migration to the small intimate heartbreaks of modern life. In revisiting the beliefs and ideals she was raised with, Chaudhry invites us to reimagine our ideas of self and family, state and citizenship, love and loss. A memoir of a fundamentalist Muslim childhood and of redefining faith, belonging and family in adulthood Shortlisted for the William Saroyan International Prize 2022 Engrossing...brilliant Monica Ali Heartbreaking and really funny Ross Gay This book fell into my heart Sabrina Mahfouz The kind of authentic voice that is rarely heard Saima Mir Ayesha tells the story of growing up in a fundamentalist Muslim household; of parents who spent most of their lives away from Pakistan; of stealing her mothers hijabs to wear to school as a five-year-old; of revisiting the beliefs and ideals she was raised with; of failed dreams and heartbreaks, but also of joy and love. Life-affirming and funny, The Colour of God uncovers surprising answers to questions of faith, belonging, family and liberation, and offers a vision of freedom that isnt measured in fabric. At the age of 23, Ayesha Chaudhry removed her face veil to begin her studies in New York City. Braiding together Western, South Asian and Quranic storytelling styles, Chaudhry weaves her personal experiences with incisive social commentary to uncover the meaning of faith and belonging, love and betrayal, family and womanhood. In so doing, she offers us a vision of freedom that isnt measured in fabric. Chaudhry is a Professor of Gender and Islamic Studies at the University of British Columbia