ROSES, IN THE MOUTH OF A LION

Bushra Rehman performs her novel of a queer Pakistani American girl who is coming of age in the 1980s and '90s. Razia Mirza is the daughter of Pakistani immigrants in Corona, a neighborhood in Queens. Though her parents are very traditional, preparing her to one day marry a man and have children, Razia feels the stirrings of wanting something different. Rehman brings complexity to her performance of Razia's story. As Razia begins rebelling in small ways, Rehman adds a layer of emotional intimacy to Razia's conflicted feelings. By the time Razia is accepted to a prestigious high school in Manhattan, she is beginning to realize she will have to choose between her family and the freedom to decide what she wants for her life. K.D.W. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: JANUARY 2023]