Diving Deep Into Cultural Reflection with the Author of “Unmarriageable,” Soniah Kamal
Novelist/Essayist/Public Speaker
Show Notes:
In this engaging conversation, Soniah Kamal, an acclaimed Novelist, discusses the profound connections between food, memory, and cultural identity. She reflects on the complexities of enduring love, the challenges of caregiving, and the nuanced nature of villainy in both literature and life. Through her insights, Soniah emphasizes the importance of emotional connections and the role of music and food in shaping our experiences and relationships. In this engaging conversation, Soniah Kamal and Farida Rafique explore the complexities of personal identity, the immigrant experience, and the importance of kindness. They discuss the nuances of being perceived as a villain, the balance between humility and confidence, and the significance of reclaiming one's dreams. The dialogue emphasizes the power of kindness in relationships and the shared human experience, encouraging listeners to appreciate the present while navigating cultural expectations and personal aspirations.
Takeaways:
Soniah Kamal emphasizes the deep connection between food and memory.
Enduring love is likened to a cloud that changes shape over time.
Caregiving can have both emotional and physical roles.
Villains in stories often need to be understood, reflecting the complexity of human nature.
Music transcends language, resonating with our souls and emotions.
Culinary traditions are a vital part of cultural identity and connection.
Emotional parenting can be a heavy burden in South Asian cultures.
Understanding the complexities of villainy requires a nuanced perspective.
Apologizing can facilitate healing in relationships, even if the hurt remains.
Forgiveness grounds us and is a form of humility.
Humility is often overlooked in today's success-driven culture.
Quiet confidence is a powerful and underappreciated trait.
Immigrants contribute significantly to society with their dreams and skills.
Regret often stems from a lack of agency in life choices.
Living in gratitude helps us appreciate the present moment.
Kindness is essential in human relationships and has a ripple effect.
CHAPTERS
00:00 Introduction to Soniah Kamal
02:19 Culinary Memories and Cultural Connections
07:11 The Role of Caregiving in Love
14:02 Enduring Love and Its Complexities
22:28 Villains: Misunderstood or Malevolent?
28:16 The Complexity of Being the Villain
32:42 Humility and Quiet Confidence
34:40 The Immigrant Experience and Civic Duty
42:12 Reclaiming Dreams and Personal Agency
56:00 The Essence of Kindness in Relationships
Resources Mentioned in Episode:
Guide (1965) Featuring Song: Aaj Phir Jeenay Ki Tamanna Hai (Starring Waheeda Rehman)🎬
Music Video: Song by Lata Mangeshkar 🎵
English Translation (Song)🎵
Redreaming the Dream | Soniah Kamal - Ted Talk
Order “Unmarriageable” the book
ABOUT SONIAH KAMAL
Soniah Kamal is an award-winning novelist, essayist and public speaker. Her most recent novel, Unmarriageable, has been hailed "the gold standard of Pride and Prejudice adapatations". Unmarriageable is a Financial Times Readers’ Best Book of 2019, a New York Public Library, a NPR Code Switch Summer Read Pick, a People’s Magazine pick, a ‘Books All Georgians Should Read,’ a 2020 Georgia Author of the Year for Literary Fiction nominee and shortlisted for the 2020 Townsend Award for Fiction and more. Soniah's work has appeared in critically acclaimed anthologies and publications including The New York Times, The Guardian, The Atlantic. Soniah has an MFA from Georgia State University where she was a Paul Bowles Fiction Fellow and a BA in Philosophy from St. Johns College where her thesis received the Susan. B. Irene Award.
Soniah’s short story ‘Fossils’, judged by Claudia Rankine, won an Agnes Scott Festival Award for Fiction and her short story ‘A Suitable Girl’ was selected for The Best Asian Stories Series. Other works have received Pushcart nominations, short listed for the Sequestrum Editor’s Reprint Award, the Payton James Freeman Prize, and been recommended reads by Longreads and VELA. Soniah curated and edited Sugar Mule Literary Magazine’s South Asian issue ‘No Place Like Home’ a groundbreaking compilation of memoir, poetry and fiction exploring partition, borders and boundaries from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Soniah’s TEDx talk is about the cultural implications of What Will People Say. ‘We are the Ink’, her address at a U.S. Citizenship Oath Ceremony is about the real American Dream. She has taught creative writing at Emory University, Oglethorpe University and Reinhardt University and given workshops in the U.S. and internationally.
Soniah grew up in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and England and resides in the U.S.
2020 Nominee for Georgia Literary Fiction of the Year
a 2019 Book All Georgians Should Read
Financial Time: A 2019 Best Book Pick
NPR Code Switch 2019 Summer Read Pick
a People Magazine Pick
A New York Public Library Summer 2019 Reads Pick
STARRED Review Publishers Weekly "must-read for devout Austenites."
STARRED Review Shelf Awareness "If Jane Austen lived in modern-day Pakistan, this is the version of Pride and Prejudice she might have written"
STARRED Review Library Journal "enlightening and entertaining"
