P&T Knitwear is pleased to welcome Bushra Rehman to celebrate her new novel, “Roses, In the Mouth of a Lion”, with a talk, audience Q&A, and book signing. “An ode to adolescence in the vein of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn” (The New Yorker) set in 1980s Queens, “Roses, In the Mouth of a Lion” is an unforgettable story about female friendship and queer love in a Muslim-American community.

Bushra will be joined in conversation by poet & librarian Adeeba Afshan Rana. After the talk, Bushra will sign copies of her book.

Reserve your signed copy of “Roses, In the Mouth of a Lion”

Available to ship to most places

Razia Mirza grows up amid the wild grape vines and backyard sunflowers of Corona, Queens, with her best friend, Saima, by her side. When a family rift drives the girls apart, Razia’s heart is broken. She finds solace in Taslima, a new girl in her close-knit Pakistani-American community. They embark on a series of small rebellions: listening to scandalous music, wearing miniskirts, and cutting school to explore the city.

When Razia is accepted to Stuyvesant, a prestigious high school in Manhattan, the gulf between the person she is and the daughter her parents want her to be, widens. At Stuyvesant, Razia meets Angela and is attracted to her in a way that blossoms into a new understanding. When an Aunty discovers their relationship in the community, Razia must choose between her family and her own future.

Punctuated by both joy and loss, full of ’80s music and beloved novels, Roses, in the Mouth of a Lion is a new classic: a fiercely compassionate coming-of-age story of a girl struggling to reconcile her heritage and faith with her desire to be true to herself.

• This is a free in-store event with limited amphitheater-style seating
• We encourage all guests to wear masks.
• The talk will be followed by a book signing. Books signed at P&T Knitwear events must be purchased from P&T Knitwear. If you want a signed copy and cannot attend the event, we’ll take your pre-order. We ship to most places!

Praise for roses, in the mouth of a lion

“Stunningly beautiful...Rehman evokes time and place like a poet, with descriptions both precise and lyrical, making the streets of this working-class neighborhood come alive on the page... Where a lesser book might have stooped to stereotypes about Muslims or immigrants, Rehman shows readers the complexities within Razia’s community. Individuals are allowed to be surprising, even to themselves, in this deft and empathetic novel.” — The New York Times Book Review

“Razia’s growing pains with her cultural heritage, Muslim faith, parental pressures, queer sexuality, and more lead to self-discoveries that help her reshape complex family and friendship ties. These pages are filled with plenty of 1980s Pakistani and American markers — music, movies, books, clothing — to evoke a singular worldview of the Pakistani immigrant community of that time and place.” — NPR

"An ode to adolescence in the vein of A Tree Grows in Brooklyn...As Razia strains against the restrictions imposed by her Muslim family, Rehman ably evokes the period—the AIDS epidemic—and the texture of life in a jumble of immigrant communities.“— The New Yorker

“Rehman fully immerses readers in Razia’s world, but she writes with a contemporary edge. The narrative never seems historical or predetermined. It feels, rather, like the account of a warrior describing her journey.” — Los Angeles Times

“A queer coming-of-age novel about friendship, love, and loyalty set in 1980s Queens, Roses, in the Mouth of a Lion masterfully depicts the complicated and rich relationships among young women—and the lines that are crossed to follow true passion.” — Good Morning America

“An unforgettable voice that moves you from the start.” — People Magazine

About the author

Bushra Rehman’s dark comedy, Corona, was chosen by the NY Public Library as one of its favorite books about NYC. She is the co-editor of Colonize This! Young Women of Color on Today’s Feminism and author of the collection of poetry Marianna’s Beauty Salon. Her novel, Roses, in the Mouth of a Lion, is a modern classic about what it means to be Muslim and queer in a Pakistani-American community. Roses has been featured as a “Best Book” by The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, People Magazine, Good Morning America, Goodreads, The Chicago Review, BuzzFeed, Lit Hub, Lambda Literary, BookRiot, Ms. Magazine and more.

About the moderator

Adeeba Afshan Rana is a poet and librarian who reads and writes in Brooklyn, NY. She is committed to compassion, engagement, and the wonder of inquiry. She often goes on adventures, works with young people, swims in oceans, and cooks meals for family and friends. Adeeba earned her MFA in poetry from Stonecoast at the University of Southern Maine and her Master’s in Library Science at Pratt Institute. She is often found behind the reference desk at the Bedford branch of the Brooklyn Public Library and aspires to be a goddess of knowledge.

Time: 7:00 PM — 8:00 PM EST

Free!

Registration