Where Jasmine Blooms

“Where Jasmine Blooms” by Holly S. Warah, is a book about understanding relationships and their importance in one’s life. It is about the expectations one holds from others and how far one goes to get them met. This book is written in the context of cross-cultural marriages in which people of different faith and cultures join themselves in matrimony and thereby

simultaneously start a new set of struggles as they try to negotiate and bridge their cultural differences.

Though the narrative speaks about the toils of the couple and their families based on the protagonist’s opinion, yet it manages to cover the emotions of others very beautifully. The protagonist is a western woman who has been bred and brought up in the states and is married to an Arab man who is the eldest among seven siblings. As such, being the eldest makes him responsible for the well-being of his family and take on his father’s role after their father dies. He also must take care of his widowed mother, who is having a hard time adjusting to her western daughter-inlaw’s western customs. The desperation of characters to retain their cultural identities while not offending the other is exhilarating.

The cultural difference amongst intercultural and interfaith couple is thought-provoking as well as the struggles of how to blend them together. This difficult cultural difference raises several questions. When to carry on and when to give up? This can cause stresses and breakage in relationships. The cultural practices carried out for hundreds of years are not easy to blend and hard to understand even after living together for twenty years. To blend is like saying that one has no connection to one’s history and ancestors. So, what do we do? Should we bend or let it be? What will be the result on the next generations? How would they turn out? What will happen to them when pulled towards two strong opposing cultures and faiths from both sides?

This highly readable story is so unique and compelling that the reader wishes to know what happens next. The story encompasses the realization of what is important and how to get it without leaving what one must live with, thus providing a lesson in mediation and reconciliation between two opposing parties.

The struggles and expectations of all the characters with others are baffling yet very real. Many of you might not think that the ending defines what the modern world requires- a world that favors the individualistic self over giving to others- however, the ending is well worth it as it satisfies the emotional needs of all its well drawn characters and helps them become better, more giving and more generous persons.

This book gives an excellent introduction to what a blended family really is. The love at first sight scenario can only extend if the couple works for it because if circumstances change and situations are not dealt with wisdom or compromise, relationships can easily fall apart. The key lies in being compassionate, having empathy for each other, doing good to others and understanding that it will require tons of sacrifices to carry on with life in order to be successful in relationships. Anyone who is interested in interfaith or cross-cultural marriage must understand what they are getting into. This book might provide an eye-opening glimpse for them.

I think it’s a beautiful read for everyone, and a must read, especially for married couples.