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  • A Glasgow Girl

  • A memoir of growing up and finding your voice
  • By: Aasmah Mir
  • Narrated by: Aasmah Mir
  • Length: 7 hrs and 59 mins
  • 4.9 out of 5 stars (48 ratings)

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A Glasgow Girl

By: Aasmah Mir
Narrated by: Aasmah Mir
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Summary

A fascinating and emotive narrative capturing the journey many second-generation Britons have travelled from the familial bonds of their parents' countries to establishing a life and identity for themselves in the United Kingdom.

A Pebble in the Throat is two stories told in unison. Aasmah Mir growing up in Glasgow - the place of her birth - and the upbringing of her mother in Pakistan a generation before. It is an emotional and thought-provoking narrative on what it is like to live in two very different cultures whilst all the time aware of racism, prejudice and stereotyping of gender from the 1960s onwards.

A Pebble in the Throat captures life from the lens of a little girl, teenage loner, and grown-up student leaving the safety of home - a witness, sitting on the edge of two cultures, describing what it means to be striving for acceptance in one whilst attempting to fulfil expectations in the other. It will capture the essence of life as a Pakistani in Glasgow and bring vividly to life the one character who shaped her childhood - her mother - who gave her the confidence to seize life and find her voice.

©2023 Aasmah Mir (P)2023 Headline Publishing Group Ltd
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Critic reviews

Full of beauty, wit and inner strength, this unique dual voiced memoir moved me deeply. Aasmah Mir's childhood may have been bittersweet but her writing, like her broadcasting, is pure gold (Samira Ahmed)

I will be thinking of Aasmah's story for a very long time. She writes with such richness of her life, such detail of her time at school and the love for her young brother. This book will resonate with many people no matter that they be Christian or Muslim, British or Pakistani. A treasure of a book. (Fern Britton)

An exquisite memoir, revealing how the wheels of progress have turned across two generations - but how they have also got very stuck. It is at times heart-breaking and poignant but also so very funny and clever and full of small moments that you want to pause and reread. (Fi Glover)

What listeners say about A Glasgow Girl

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Read by the author, made her story enthralling and fascinating

The way the story moved back and forth in the life of Aasmah was a joy to listen to.

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The author as narrator was so compelling, and easy to listen to, I was hooked a few minutes into the book.

An honest account about the struggles of a young Asian female growing up in this country in 1980’s and the awful prejudice, which she faced but learnt to deal with admirably in her own way, but not without turmoil at times. A truly inspirational story from a woman who has had gone from strength to strength.
Also a fascinating look into the culture of a Pakistani family.
Funny, colourful, sad, happy and very thought provoking.

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  • Overall
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Fascinating story

Beautifully written and fascinating account of the life of a family building a life in Glasgow

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Wonderful

Being Pakistani, I was excited to listen to this as my parents arrived in the Uk in the 1950’s and found myself nodding through her story at certain parts. Aasma has a lovely soothing voice and whilst I got a bit confused at first as to whose story it was I figured it out. I found the final part of the book particularly poignant.

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Writers voice makes it even better!

Being Pakistani myself I have a huge fascination with all diaspora memoirs and story telling, the narration of both Asma’s story herself and her mothers story in Pakistan makes it even more enlightening. I have to say that sometimes I would be confused by which of the two women was the narrator - (you need to pay close attention!) but the confusion was worth it to hear the story from Asma’s own voice - really gentle, soothing and wonderful to listen to!

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Simply wonderful

Absolutely fascinating and moving to read Aasmah’s story and also the stories of her immediate family members as well as guardian angel, Helen. I felt so many emotions whilst reading it. It so well written, I felt like I was transported there, be it 1980s Glasgow or 1950s Pakistan. And I enjoyed every minute of it.

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Brilliant cross continent life

As someone who grew up in Glasgow in 1970’s then lived and worked in Pakistan in the late 90’s this was a perfect read - so many wonderful, true, insights and reflections.

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Excellent

Beautifully written and evocative. Aasmah reads her, and her mother's, story so well. Definitely recommend

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An absolute treat from start to finish

Be prepared to feel all the feels listening to this absolute belter of
a memoir. My only complaint is it’s over too soon. Brilliantly written and wonderfully moving. I loved every minute of it.

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Wonderful book

This is the amazing story of mother and daughter and their experiences in Glasgow and Pakistan. Sadness at the racism they experienced in Glasgow in the 70s and 80s, and the challenges of their beloved Imran.
But there is joy in the love between mother and daughter, and also the unfailing loyalty of wonderful Helen. A lovely listen is Aasmah’s gentle voice.

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