Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this one though I wasn't keen on the book.  I was interested in reading it because I love Nadya Hussein and knew that the author had ghost written books for her in the past.  

The storyline was far fetched about a British Muslim man who wants to build a mosque in a village that doesn't really need one.  It was interesting reading about what goes into building a Mosque though.

What irritated me was the amount of language that was used and not translated, even insulting words for white people (I'm mixed race part Indian btw). On each page, there is quite a bit, which makes me wonder if the only people who would really like it are fans of chick lit, which I can take or leave or people who understand the language.  

I'll give a few examples below:

"Khala, the buddi thinks your shalwar kameez is nice"

Now, there is no translation but when I tried to look it up a 'buddi' refers to a backwards person.

Not my cup of tea.

This book is Malik’s latest look at contemporary life through Muslim eyes, placed, this time, in a very, very English setting.

Bilal (Bill) Hasham and his wife Mariam and stepson Haaris live in the quintessentially English village of Babbel’s End.  She writes for a local paper, he runs an accountancy firm and is on the parish council. His best friend seems to be the local vicar. They are accepted, it seems. Bilal’s family are back in Birmingham, where the couple originally met, although, after his mother dies his closest relative is his aunt, Khala Rukhsana. When Ruhksana has a fall, however, Bilal cannot let her stay alone in the home she shared with his mother so he brings her back to Babbel’s End. Her visit reminds Bilal of the promise he made to his mother on her deathbed – to build a mosque in the village – and these things combine with Bilal’s own grief to bring issues of race, religion, acceptance and prejudice to the fore. If the Parish Council (or rather the leader of the Council, Shelley Hawking) were upset about an overgrown shrub they are about to become hysterical about even the idea of a mosque. Divisions within the seemingly idyllic village go far beyond the issue of the mosque as past tragedies are dug up and old scores are settled.

Some great characters – I loved Ruhksana and the ebullient Birmingham gang of aunties – and some interesting points made about the fact that essential similarities are far more important than perceived differences. And, of course, when a common foe presents themselves a sensible community learns to appreciate the other’s point of view. (And we are all ‘other’ to someone).

I'm a big Ayisha Malik fan and as expected this book also lives up to its hype and I'm so glad it exists. Can't wait to read more by her.

This a sweet meditation on belonging, identity, love and loss set in a small village in this green and pleasant land. As a fan of Malik's first two books, I eagerly anticipated the release of this title. I was surprised (in a good way) to see that this work tackles something new and yet familiar. I found that this book contained more in terms of character development with the plot making space for supplementary characters to have their independent arcs. The third-person narrative was effective at facilitating this.
The main story and its ending were very moving and I particularly liked the nuanced story that underpinned Bilal and Mariam's relationship. However, the character who stole my heart was Khala Rukhsana. Khala represents to me the countless aunties who are a pillar of their communities but often viewed from a distance by the younger generations. Khala's story, her lost love, her poetic abilities and the warmth she spreads wherever she goes reminded me (and I hope will remind others) how interesting, exciting and worthy they are to learn more than how to cook from. The inclusion of that gorgeous original Urdu poem was also a delight.

I found the start of the book a little difficult to get into. However, it was not off-putting and was worth pushing on. A pleasant story with some really strong characters. A really good 3 1/2 stars from me.

A nice read about a small very English country town that is broken apart by Bilal, who wishes to build a mosque. For years he has tried to fit in quietly, and everyone in the town has just stayed quiet about everything that has ever happened in the past, so there are many  unhealed wounds that are ripped open when all this comes to pass. Nicely put together with interesting characters

“She wondered: did you build a mosque in a place that felt like home? Or to make it feel like home?”

This Green and Pleasant Land is set in Babbel’s End, a traditional British village that is home to Bilal, his wife Mariam and stepson Haashim. Their quiet life is torn apart when accountant Bilal, acting on his mothers dying wish, decides to build a mosque in the village he calls home. Malik explores issues of racism, grief and identity. She also makes readers consider what it means to be British and what makes a place our home. As a British Muslim, this struck a chord- I have always felt British- but do others see me as such?

I found this book difficult to get in to, mainly because I didn’t like how Bilal just decided to build a mosque- he wasn’t really a practicing Muslim and building a mosque is not an easy thing to do! Nonetheless, I persevered, and did like elements of the book- Khala Rukshana was a favourite of mine- I thought her friendship with Shelley really was beautifully developed. 3.5/5 stars

This was a poignant, real and sometimes witty story about legacy, identity, community separation and togetherness. THIS GREEN AND PLEASANT LAND centred on community and family. This was an own voices exploration of muslim main characters navigating an often stuffy English village life. It was enjoyable and kept my attention most of the time.

Bilal and his family were navigating a recent bereavement, deathbed promises and guilt built on top of that legacy. Bilal decided that this promise to build a mosque in his little patch of England would be followed through and the journey to seeing this to fruition was the meat of this story. The characters around Bilal, his family, his community connections were witty and rich, full of prejudice and yet sometimes supportive. These characters were an eclectic mix and some were just plain eccentric.

What engaged me most was the laughs it brought to me as I identified with the struggles that Bilal had with the people around him and just how hard this goal would be to achieve. The descriptions and dialogue were rich and vibrant. The story gentle wove the familial and community philosophies, prejudices and politics into everyday life; just as it really is. An enjoyable read.

I had a eARC and audio review copy and so I did a combination read of both. The narration was good throughout and captured the nuances of the characters and dialogue, so I would recommend both formats.

I was expecting the cultural flair from this going in, having read Ayisha Malik's previous books, and with desi/Indian origins, the addition of Urdu words and some Punjabi didn't jar me a lot, though I expected some people without this knowledge would trip up a bit and need translations (which are provided at the end, but it would've read more seamless if the meaning had been worked into the prose itself). On this note, I wasn't disappointed.
But then maybe because the book I absolutely loved from Ms. Malik was Sofia Khan Is Not Obliged and the heroine was a 20-something young woman and this resonated with me with more ease, I found it hard to get into this story, the characters not gelling with me and I kept feeling distanced from them when I had once been swept into the very tale Ms. Malik wove. That was a bit of a disappointment, but once I got past this 'watching from the sidelines' feel, I was better able to enjoy the tale for the whole it was and acknowledge that it is a different plot and type from the aforementioned book.

I found this book quite off-putting to begin with but I am glad I persevered.  The characters are likeable, and I eventually found it an easy and enjoyable read.  It's not a book I will treasure for ever (but most books I read aren't), but it would make a very entertaining holiday read.

I LOVE this author and I was so glad to get a read of this book! it was such a pleasant story and read and really heart warming too. more from Malik please!

Bilal and Mariam are of Pakistani background.  Bilal has his own accountancy business and the family have moved 8 years ago into a quiet village some distance from Birmingham where they had previously been living. They seem to have been accepted by the villagers and integrated into the local community. However, when Bilal’s mother dies, as a dying wish she asks Bilal to build a mosque in the village. Predictably this outrages the locals and disrupts the previously harmonious atmosphere. 

The story is beautifully told, with humour and perception  It  sensitively explores the relationships,  feelings and tensions between different racial groups.

This book was really hard to get in to, I had to push through, but it was worth it once I got a little bit further in. The characters grew on me eventually and it was worth reading to the end.

Hard to get into but then warmed to the characters particularly Bilal. He wants to fulfill his dead Mother’s wishes without causing too much conflict. Can he succeed? Written with humour and open mindedness

The fictional village of Babbel’s end is the setting for This Green and Pleasant Land, a quintessentially English place. It’s home to Bilal and his family although his roots are in Pakistan. This is a very funny and lighthearted exploration of cultural identity, religion and what can happen when you don’t quite fit in. 
Although to be fair,this family most definitely fit into village life and always have. That is until Bilal decides to carry out his dying mother’s wishes to build a mosque in Babbel’s end which sparks controversy and conflict dividing what was once a harmonious community.
The humour is what makes this such an enjoyable read. I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly I warmed to the characters and storyline as this perhaps isn’t a title that I’d necessarily have picked up whilst browsing the bookshelves. Cue the adage ‘Don’t judge a book by it’s cover’!! Bilal himself is an odd character, mild mannered but very keen to keep the peace despite being responsible for causing havoc with his suggestion of a mosque. He doesn’t seem to have the courage of his convictions and would rather sweep all nasty behaviour under the carpet whilst contemplating life and the surreal nature it’s taken from his own recently dug grave! Sounds bizarre I know but it really tickled me. I couldn’t help but have some sympathy for a man that whilst dealing with unexpected outpourings of hatred from fellow residents is also wondering if his marriage is on the rocks. He does engender feelings of frustration so perhaps you can understand why Mariam’s head has been turned by the return of ex husband Saif.
Shelley is the instigator of outrage amongst the villagers ‘forcing’ them to take sides in the dispute with poor Reverend Richard stuck in the middle. Every village needs or has a character like Shelley (my knowledge from fictional novels only!!) and her and those in agreement with her really show their true colours. But all of this is dealt with in such a lighthearted gently mocking way that you can’t help but be detracted from what is a serious issue and instead be swept up in all the ensuing antics.
Without doubt my favourite character is kahal (aunt) Rukhsana who brings the community gradually back together in surprising ways. She’s such a sweet,funny lady with hidden talents,keen to finally embrace the English language and our peculiar ways which make for hilarious reading. It’s her unlikely friendship with Shelley that proves the tipping point in this countryside brouhaha, as well as a couple of great twists that turn events into one of a farcical nature. With a smattering of English and a few delightful Indian desserts to hand, Rukhsana manages to understand the behaviour of these people far better than Bilal or Mariam. Language in this case doesn’t seem to be such a huge barrier since this unassuming heroine of the hour is adept at reading body language and it’s amazing what can be learned about our fellow human beings this way.
I loved how many of the characters change over the course of events, mellowing and possibly coming round to new ways of being since this is also a novel about loss and grief and how we deal with that,as evidenced by Anne’s backstory as well as Bilal’s.
Towards the end the humour is replaced with a more bittersweet tone and perhaps concludes with an ending that is rather rose tinted but overall this novel is definitely worth a read and good for a laugh.
My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read.

Lovely story about the tensions in a small community when one of the residents wants to build a mosque. Very well written with great characters. 

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

I wasn’t sure I  would like this book but boy was I wrong I loved it 
I laughed out loud in places and cried in others. It could be set in many a village in the great English countryside 
Mariam and Bilal moved here from Birmingham to give their son a better life 
Bilal's mum came to stay with them she shouted at Bilal for not remembering his roots, not speaking Urdu or praying enough
At her house she had dug a full size grave which she frequently lay in to contemplate her life and death
Just prior to her passing she told Bilal he must build a mosque 
After Bilal mentioned this to his friend Richard who happened to be the local vicar, he said let’s see what we can do??? 
And Bilal starts his rollercoaster of a journey

A charming, feel good book set in a picturesque village. A clash of cultures ruffles feathers when one resident, who is Muslim plans to build a mosque following his mother's death. Battle lines are drawn with a range of characters clashing. With a number of plot twists, the village becomes united and moves into the 21st century.
An optimistic, hopeful book in a world where we can be so divided.

As if Ayisha Malik managed to better the Sofia Khan duology. I am shook. SHOOK.
Basically, if you thought Sofia Khan is not Obliged and the Other Half of Happiness were works of genius, take a seat because you ain’t seen nothing yet.

I don’t think I have the words to quite articulate what this book stirred in me, from our main protagonist, Bilal, with his insecurities to Miriam with her frustrations and the various villagers that add their voices t this incredible ensemble. Every one of them spoke to me in a way I’ve not experienced for a long time.



Everyone has a place they call home. But who gets to decide where you belong?
For years Bilal Hasham and his wife Mariam have lived contented, quiet lives in the sleepy rural village of Babbel’s End. Now all that is about to change.
On her deathbed, Bilal’s mother reaches for his hand. Instead of whispering her final prayers, she gives him a task: build a mosque in his country village.
Mariam is horrified by Bilal’s plan. His friends and neighbours are unnerved. As outrage sweeps Babbel’s End, battle lines are drawn. His mother’s dying wish reveals deeper divisions in their village than Bilal had ever imagined. Soon Bilal is forced to choose between community and identity, between faith and friendship, between honouring his beloved mother’s last wish and preserving what is held dear in the place that he calls home.

At its heart, this is an exploration of home and community and what those things mean to different people. Is it where you were born, where you choose to be or something else entirely? To Bilal, the quiet village he’s settled in with his wife and step son is home, he’s part of a community and he’s happy. Until all of a sudden he isn’t.

This Green and Pleasant Land is funny, engaging and real. Ayisha Malik manages to expertly weave the intelligent and compassionate narration we all loved from Sofia Khan into this story that tackles everything from islamophobia to grief and honestly, this was fantastic. I can’t stress enough how blown away I was by this! I remember saying when I posted my long list of Netgalley reads that I hadn’t gotten to yet that I was excited to read this and seriously, past Leah needs to have a word with herself because she could have experienced this so much sooner! This is Ayisha Malik’s best book. I can’t wait to read what comes next.

I loved this book 💕💕💕 This is a light-hearted and considered approach to how people behave towards each other when someone wants to introduce change within a comfortable community.

It’s about a Muslim family that lives quite comfortably in a predominantly white community. Bilal is a very well respected member of the parish council.  The family is included, it belongs. This is until Bilal wants to introduce change by building a Mosque in the village. Oh my goodness no! God forbid!

I didn’t really get into it until around 30% through, then it gripped me.

Bilal’s mother’s dying wish was for him to build a Mosque in Babbel’s End and when he shared this desire with the community some of his friends and neighbours turned on the family.  Others supported him wholeheartedly.

A reaction of NIMBY... ‘not in my back yard’ which got quite nasty to begin with and quite shocking.

‘How much had his mum understood when she’d asked him to build that mosque? Surely she’d have anticipated the breakdown that had ensued. Or perhaps she understood that doing things as you have always done them isn’t living; that to live is to change, however hard it might be.’

There’s humour, racism, prejudice, romance, faith, grief and heartwarming relationships explored throughout the course of the book.  It’s about belonging, friendship, conflict, religion, culture, intimate relationships and ethnicity.

Ayisha gets across quite simply how cultures differ and how communities can divide when faced with diversity and change.

What I liked most was the introduction of Bilal’s aunt (Khala) Rukhsana. She made me smile, just loved her adorable character. What a gem. Her approach, philosophy and faith brought tears to my eyes.

‘In only seconds they’d passed it and were on a windy lane where Bilal stopped in a lay-by to let a car go by. The person waved at him. ‘You know him?’ asked Khala. ‘No.’ People were obviously politer in villages.’

‘Bilal steadied himself in the pub car park, only to catch sight of Khala’s shoe and socks combo again, which did nothing for his anxiety.’ 😂😂😂

‘Rukhsana decided that there must be something, other than Allah’s wisdom, that made Shelley’s lips so thin.’ 🤣🤣🤣

I imagine this to be a true to life reflection on how village life can be and this could quite easily be turned into a short TV series or play as it is more or less scripted throughout the book. Very cleverly pieced together.

This is a really special story, Ayisha has created a good mix of characters good and bad that we can all relate to.  I would recommend everyone to read it.

Thanks to the author, Netgalley, Zaffre and Bonnier Books UK for this ARC provided in exchange for this unbiased review.  Publication date 30th April 2020.