Writer, Shaila Abdullah, takes you into the life of Arissa Illahi, a Muslim, born into the upper class struggling to find who she is. Abandoned by a mother, who could not find a way to love, hesitant to fall in love herself, until one-day fate intervened.  Meeting an aspiring author, over a stack of books, who turned out to the man of her dreams. Marring   

Faizan, moving to New York, and starting a family, life was starting to come together for

 Arissa. Unfortunately, a happy ending was not theirs to have, and one fateful day changed their lives forever. On September 11, 2001, Faizan died in the World Trade Centers. Now, a widow, pregnant with a disabled child, and viewed as an outsider in the

land that she now calls home. She decidedes to take off her veil but keep her culture. Struggling with the challenges of moving to a new city, starting a new job, and raising a child with multiple disabilities. She has also decided to finish Faizan’s novel, breathing life into the characters he created and bring his novel to a close. Slowly, she starts letting go of the anger she held for her mother, and bit by bit letting go of  the man he loves. Willing herself to carry on for the amazing gift that Faizan left, their son Raian. Proving that she is intrepid, and will continue on.

    Vividly written, with the phrasing  being as bold as the colors Arissa painted with. I could almost smell the jasmine floating through the air, as I lost myself in a different world. With characters as spicy and flavorful as curry, you could not help but to fall in love with each and everyone of them, It was as if you were with Arissa on the emotional rollercoaster that became her life, and felt the strength she finally find. I was elated at every milestone that Raian accomplished and found myself hoping for another, Abdullah has offered readers an inside look into the Muslim culture, and blended it perfectly with the American.

  “Saffron Dreams” is an ingenious work of art that captures the raw emotions of love, loss, the path of letting go and the one that leads to self discovery. Abdullah wrote that,

“presentation, is the key to leaving a lasting impression”. With this book she has accomplished that goal with the beautifully written way in which she tugs at your

heartstrings. This will defiantly be a book I will remember. Truly a book that should be on every must read list .   
Book Title: Saffron Dreams

Author: Shaila Abdullah

  Writer, Shaila Abdullah, takes you into the life of Arissa Illahi, a Muslim, born into the upper class struggling to find who she is. Abandoned by a mother, who could not find a way to love, hesitant to fall in love herself, until one-day fate intervened.  Meeting an aspiring author, over a stack of books, who turned out to the man of her dreams. Marring   

Faizan, moving to New York, and starting a family, life was starting to come together for

 Arissa. Unfortunately, a happy ending was not theirs to have, and one fateful day changed their lives forever. On September 11, 2001, Faizan died in the World Trade Centers. Now, a widow, pregnant with a disabled child, and viewed as an outsider in the

land that she now calls home. She decidedes to take off her veil but keep her culture. Struggling with the challenges of moving to a new city, starting a new job, and raising a child with multiple disabilities. She has also decided to finish Faizan’s novel, breathing life into the characters he created and bring his novel to a close. Slowly, she starts letting go of the anger she held for her mother, and bit by bit letting go of  the man he loves. Willing herself to carry on for the amazing gift that Faizan left, their son Raian. Proving that she is intrepid, and will continue on.

    Vividly written, with the phrasing  being as bold as the colors Arissa painted with. I could almost smell the jasmine floating through the air, as I lost myself in a different world. With characters as spicy and flavorful as curry, you could not help but to fall in love with each and everyone of them, It was as if you were with Arissa on the emotional rollercoaster that became her life, and felt the strength she finally find. I was elated at every milestone that Raian accomplished and found myself hoping for another, Abdullah has offered readers an inside look into the Muslim culture, and blended it perfectly with the American.

  “Saffron Dreams” is an ingenious work of art that captures the raw emotions of love, loss, the path of letting go and the one that leads to self discovery. Abdullah wrote that,

“presentation, is the key to leaving a lasting impression”. With this book she has accomplished that goal with the beautifully written way in which she tugs at your

heartstrings. This will defiantly be a book I will remember. Truly a book that should be on every must read list .