More Than Just a Pretty Face by Syed M. Masood
“They say the devil is in the details, and I’ve always been taught to avoid tangling with the devil whenever possible. In a way, living carefree is the most Muslim thing you can do.”
Danyal Jilani doesn't lack confidence. He may not be the smartest guy in the room, but he's funny, gorgeous, and going to make a great chef one day. His father doesn't approve of his career choice, but that hardly matters. What does matter is the opinion of Danyal's longtime crush, the perfect-in-all-ways Kaval, and her family, who consider him a less than ideal arranged marriage prospect.When Danyal gets selected for Renaissance Man--a school-wide academic championship--it's the perfect opportunity to show everyone he's smarter than they think. He recruits the brilliant, totally-uninterested-in-him Bisma to help with the competition, but the more time Danyal spends with her...the more he learns from her...the more he cooks for her...the more he realizes that happiness may be staring him right in his pretty face.
Honestly, I’m a little conflicted about this book.
On one hand, More Than Just a Pretty Face was a hilarious rom com with a desi twist. Danyal is great; he’s witty, charming, and confident in what he wants. Though his family is traditional, he has made peace with the fact that his father won’t accept his ambitions. He’s an amazing chef (who cooks daal and creme brulee with equal competence), fully acknowledges his flaws, and an overall sweet person. He’s wise, empathetic, and hardworking when he wants to be. His characters develops through the story, in exactly the ways you would expect from this synopsis: what he always wanted was not actually right for him etc.
Truth be told, I came here for the culture, and I got it. From getting thrashed by chappal to Kuch Kuch Hota Hai references, this book was absolutely iconic.
However, the story packs in A LOT more than this. We delve into the arranged marriage structure, which is apparently being pushed on seniors in high school, and the glaring issues that come with it. We also get to follow along Danyal’s project for Renaissance Man, and then hear his entire speech at the end. This is a whole subplot involving history, racism, and colonialism. In fact, there is a point where this exchange between Danyal and his history teacher goes down:
Danyal Jilani doesn't lack confidence. He may not be the smartest guy in the room, but he's funny, gorgeous, and going to make a great chef one day. His father doesn't approve of his career choice, but that hardly matters. What does matter is the opinion of Danyal's longtime crush, the perfect-in-all-ways Kaval, and her family, who consider him a less than ideal arranged marriage prospect.When Danyal gets selected for Renaissance Man--a school-wide academic championship--it's the perfect opportunity to show everyone he's smarter than they think. He recruits the brilliant, totally-uninterested-in-him Bisma to help with the competition, but the more time Danyal spends with her...the more he learns from her...the more he cooks for her...the more he realizes that happiness may be staring him right in his pretty face.
Honestly, I’m a little conflicted about this book.
On one hand, More Than Just a Pretty Face was a hilarious rom com with a desi twist. Danyal is great; he’s witty, charming, and confident in what he wants. Though his family is traditional, he has made peace with the fact that his father won’t accept his ambitions. He’s an amazing chef (who cooks daal and creme brulee with equal competence), fully acknowledges his flaws, and an overall sweet person. He’s wise, empathetic, and hardworking when he wants to be. His characters develops through the story, in exactly the ways you would expect from this synopsis: what he always wanted was not actually right for him etc.
Truth be told, I came here for the culture, and I got it. From getting thrashed by chappal to Kuch Kuch Hota Hai references, this book was absolutely iconic.
However, the story packs in A LOT more than this. We delve into the arranged marriage structure, which is apparently being pushed on seniors in high school, and the glaring issues that come with it. We also get to follow along Danyal’s project for Renaissance Man, and then hear his entire speech at the end. This is a whole subplot involving history, racism, and colonialism. In fact, there is a point where this exchange between Danyal and his history teacher goes down:
“The history of your country, Mr. Jilani. You were born in India, correct?”
“San Diego, actually.”
Tippett sighed. “Yes, but your parents were born in India, were they not?”
I shook my head. “Pakistan.”
“Those are very nearly the same thing.”
I guess I could say that I’m lucky enough to have grown up in a place where no one makes such awkward racial assumptions, but I literally live in the same city as Danyal. Yes, I’ve been on day trips to Lake Elizabeth just like Danyal and Bisma, and I can take the BART to San Francisco just like he does. Somehow, the subplot of history hiding the horrors of colonialism did not sit well with me because every single history teacher I’ve ever had has gone out of their way to show both sides of the story. Never have I ever had to worry about failing history because I wrote about a lesser-known aspect of it. History,, is history?? As long as your paper is factually accurate and well-written, your teacher won’t fail you just because your opinion differs from their own (unless they’re a horrible human being).
We also get to hear a lot about being Muslim, and more generally, the struggles of balancing a somewhat antiquated culture with being American. Danyal finds himself stuck between his friend Sohrahb, who is becoming increasingly obsessed with Islam, and his friend Intezar, who believes that the traditional rules need not be applied so strictly. Danyal’s struggles with these ideas, and where he finds himself on the spectrum, make up a hefty subplot as well.
Overall, More Thank Just a Pretty Face was a sweet story, with a likable and fresh protagonist. However, the heavy subplots may diminish the glamour of the book if you are not familiar with these subjects. If you, like me, have given significant thought to being a second-generation immigrant, the boundaries of religion, and the truth about colonialism, you will be able to coast through this book. If these topics are difficult for you, you may find this book more somber than it was intended to be.
“San Diego, actually.”
Tippett sighed. “Yes, but your parents were born in India, were they not?”
I shook my head. “Pakistan.”
“Those are very nearly the same thing.”
I guess I could say that I’m lucky enough to have grown up in a place where no one makes such awkward racial assumptions, but I literally live in the same city as Danyal. Yes, I’ve been on day trips to Lake Elizabeth just like Danyal and Bisma, and I can take the BART to San Francisco just like he does. Somehow, the subplot of history hiding the horrors of colonialism did not sit well with me because every single history teacher I’ve ever had has gone out of their way to show both sides of the story. Never have I ever had to worry about failing history because I wrote about a lesser-known aspect of it. History,, is history?? As long as your paper is factually accurate and well-written, your teacher won’t fail you just because your opinion differs from their own (unless they’re a horrible human being).
We also get to hear a lot about being Muslim, and more generally, the struggles of balancing a somewhat antiquated culture with being American. Danyal finds himself stuck between his friend Sohrahb, who is becoming increasingly obsessed with Islam, and his friend Intezar, who believes that the traditional rules need not be applied so strictly. Danyal’s struggles with these ideas, and where he finds himself on the spectrum, make up a hefty subplot as well.
Overall, More Thank Just a Pretty Face was a sweet story, with a likable and fresh protagonist. However, the heavy subplots may diminish the glamour of the book if you are not familiar with these subjects. If you, like me, have given significant thought to being a second-generation immigrant, the boundaries of religion, and the truth about colonialism, you will be able to coast through this book. If these topics are difficult for you, you may find this book more somber than it was intended to be.
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