Have you ever found yourself in the mood to sit down and read a book, but you just don’t know where to start? Like many, you might struggle to find books that pique your interest, making it hard to develop a reading habit. If that sounds familiar, I have a recommendation for you: “A Good Wife” by Samra Zafar. Initially, I picked up this book as part of an assignment, but it quickly captivated me, and I found myself eager to read on, unable to put it down. Samra Zafar is a human rights advocate, speaker, and writer. Her personal story unfolds in this powerful memoir.
What to expect
The book opens with a glimpse into her teenage life and the cultural tradition of arranged marriages. At just fifteen, Samra lives with her family in Pakistan, full of dreams about going to university and pursuing her own path. She dreams of a bright future, but her parents shatter those dreams by arranging her marriage to a stranger in Canada.Her new husband and his family promise that this marriage and move will fulfill her aspirations, but as Samra settles into her new home, it gradually becomes a prison. Realizing the depth of her betrayal, she becomes determined to escape, devising a plan for herself and her two daughters.
Struggles Zafar faced
Zafar thinks back on her childhood, which was warm but overshadowed by a difficult relationship with her parents and community. A key aspect of her story highlights how mothers pass down generational trauma to their daughters, as well as how mothers-in-law transmit it to their daughters-in-law. In some cultures, it challenges societal norms that permit certain behaviors in the name of honor. Despite the risks of homelessness and financial instability, Zafar chooses to break the cycle for her daughters’ sake. This is truly a heroine’s tale. Today, Samra Zafar is a TEDx speaker, an author, a mother, a master’s degree holder, and a student.
Zafar’s Success
The book invites readers to consider important questions: How much does Zafar’s story resemble the lives of women around us? In what ways are we similar to Zafar’s relatives? How many women like her continue to endure such marriages? The book was named as one of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s 2019 best non-fiction books of the year[9] and was listed as a top ten book to read in 2019 by Angela Haupt in the Washington Post.[11] In 2020, it was listed by the CBC as one of 21 books by Canadian women to read now.[12] If you enjoyed her first book, you will likely love her latest one, titled “Unconditional: Break Through Past Limits to Transform Your Future.” It is available for pre-order and is expected to be released on February 18, 2025, in collaboration with Kim Pittaway.
