UNIMAGINED Book

'Forthright, wry, entirely enjoyable & [he] grew up amid English Christians and questioned his adherence to Islam ... Small but significant events began to shape the author's sense of justice, underscored by his training from age 11 at an Islamic school ... has an engaging voice ... his mannered prose is winning ... At Stirling University in Scotland, he found theology texts more compelling. He was tortured by the suspicion that loving Jesus was the way into Heaven, as instructed by his Evangelical friend Magnus, and that Islam was the religion of Satan ... A scrupulously well-intentioned look at how Christians and Muslims might live respectfully side by side.'

Kirkus Reviews

' ... wonderfully funny, heart-warming, perceptive, enlightening and ironic ... His episodic story of coming to terms with the ways of the West is reminiscent of Adrian Mole, with echoes of White Teeth, but it has its own unique voice ... endearing, deadpan humor ... Likely to be a word-of-mouth hit ... has the makings of a slow-build bestseller ... '

publishing news

‘Imran Ahmad came second in the Karachi Bonnie Baby competition. The photograph taken to commemorate his achievement is reproduced on the cover of this delightful book. “Smartly dressed, suave and handsome, I looked like James Bond, although I was somewhat unsteady on my feet.” Imran was denied the first prize – the daughter of the organizers won. The judges were their friends. “I began my lifelong struggle against corruption and injustice.” Unimagined is beautifully written, funny and endearing, and in its own quiet way, important.’

Sue Townsend

Describing her one selected book in The Guardian ‘Books of the Year’

'Hurrah for a memoir that isn't miserable! Hurray for Imran Ahmad's terrific sense of humour ... an entertaining, moving and thoroughly thought-provoking tale of our times.'

The Daily Mail

'Wonderfully evocative and strangely touching.'

The Sunday Times

'A compelling quest for belonging ...'

The Guardian

'A fascinating insight ...'

The Sydney Morning Herald

'... had the audience in stitches of laughter ...'

Edinburgh Festival Review

'... an amusing and highly accessible book which deals with a range of theological and cross-cultural issues ...'

The Canberra Times

'... deserves all the praise it's had ... it's very clearly and vividly written, it's funny and perceptive about schools and neighbors and friends and girls and especially about the narrator himself, with his continuing puzzlement about religion ...

It's very clever, actually, to have presented a character so original and unusual, and yet so warmly human and recognisable. The "I" of the book is a real literary creation, and I don't mean, of course, that you made any of it up: just that a successful memoir depends just as much on art as a successful novel does ...'

Philip Pullman

'The tender humor and intelligence of this memoir belies its political importance; through it, Muslims are humanized. Imran Ahmad, Pakistan-born and London-raised, writes beautifully of his life ... Just beautiful.'

Antonella Gambotto-Burke Author, journalist, campaigner

'I loved the fresh and uninhibited honesty of Imran Ahmad's Unimagined.'

Bruce Elder Writer, literary critic, music reviewer

'My favourite book of 2007 is this memoir of a Muslim boy, born in Pakistan, who moves to London at the age of one in the 1960s. With his Islamic identity and desire to embrace the West, the book paints a beautiful picture of growing up in a strange culture ... the end result is unforgettable.'

Ann Widdecombe Member of Parliament, author, columnist

'Unimagined is a funny, beguiling and insightful account of a young British Muslim boy growing up in 60s and 70s British society, his encounters early on in life with racism, and later with the material world of fashion, cars and girls.

Above all, though, it’s his struggle to find his religious identity that makes this timely book so important. Imran Ahmad takes us with him on his personal journey of discovery, gradually learning the meaning of Islam, measuring it alongside Christianity and working out where and how he fits in. I can’t wait to read more.'

Sue Cook Broadcaster, writer

'This absorbing personal tale probably does more to help us understand each other in our multi-cultural society than one hundred Downing Street seminars. It’s also very funny.'

John Pienaar BBC Senior Political Correspondent, BBC Radio Five Political Editor

'Charming, informative and honest ... a childhood memoir in which the occasional bad thing happens, but is remembered and communicated without the melodrama or martyrdom of the form. The author has a photographic memory for all the important bits: mechanical failure in secondhand cars, dialogue and news stories glimpsed on television and precise exam scores.

I enjoyed the book very much ... I read Unimagined in two days.'

Andrew Collins Presenter: BBC Radio 6 Music; Film Editor: Radio Times; Author: Where Did It All Go Right?

'I was delightfully surprised to find a witty and incredibly relevant memoir which had me laughing out loud on more than one occasion. It reminded me of Nigel Slater's Toast with the short, pithy chapters which are both moving and funny at the same time ... What's more, he has the best author [cover] photo I have seen in years. '

Scott Pack Former Buying Manager: Waterstone’s; Commercial Director: The Friday Project

'In Unimagined, Imran Ahmad writes with warmth, humour and insight about the challenges and joys of growing up nerdy, dreamy and Muslim in Britain.'

Emily Maguire Writer, columnist

'Compelling, revealing, and very easy to read. I liked the short chapters and the way the incidental observations added up to a bigger picture.'

Rosie Boycott Broadcaster, journalist, author

'I consumed Unimagined as soon as I started it. I couldn't wait until the plane ride. It was an absolute joy to read. I loved every moment of it ...'

Randa Abdel-Fattah Writer

'... style and a sense of humour ... what a change ... what a delightful change ... brilliant stories too about the joys and confusions of identity politics ...'

Yasmin Alibhai-Brown Broadcaster, journalist, author; Columnist: The Independent

Unimagined follows Imran Ahmad through his childhood days growing up as a Muslim in Britain during the 60’s, 70's and 80's, through school, university and into his first job. It is engaging, an easy read and truly very funny. Most of all it is profound and revealing, giving the Western reader a deep insight into the Muslim psyche. In these days of incomprehensible suicide bombings and agonising military campaigns, when we live under the shadow of the 'Clash of Civilizations', this is a book that gives the world clarity and, perhaps, optimism.

Hugh Fraser Broadcaster, writer

Book of the Week

Unimagined by Imran Ahmad I am jumping unashamedly onto this particular bandwagon as this is one of the best books I have read in ages. Clever, simple, funny and sad, the book describes the author's experience of growing up a Muslim in a newly multi-cultural Britain. Impossible to put down and equally impossible to forget.

Clare Christian Managing Director: The Friday Project

'Imran's book is so refreshing ...'

James McBride

'This [Unimagined] could have been really successful in the US if it had been launched properly.'

John Berendt Author of 'Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil'

From: Kelder, Jeroen

To: Ahmad, Imran

Sent: Wednesday, April 18, 2007 5:41 PM

Subject: Your book

Amazing - I sat next to a gentleman in the plane and he was reading your book and laughing. Have to note that he was quintessentially British.

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