DIVINE
  • English
    • Français
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Food
  • Family
  • Health
  • Travel
  • Living
  • Reviews
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact us
  • Instagram
  • Legal
Stay Connected
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Pinterest
DIVINE
  • English
  • French
DIVINE
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Food
  • Travel
  • Living
  • Family
  • Health
  • Reviews
  • Reviews

DIVINE Reads: A Good Wife – Escaping The Life I Never Chose

  • August 2, 2019
  • 2 minute read
  • Jill Schneiderman
A Good Wife
Total
0
Shares
0
0
0

A Good Wife – Escaping The Life I Never Chose by Samra Zafar recounts the horror a hastily arranged marriage brought into the author’s life and how she rose abuse and pursued her dreams.  It is based on a 2017 article from Toronto Life Magazine; but it was a story that needed a deeper dive than the pages of a periodical could provide.  Noted author and editor, Meg Masters collaborated with Zafar on this memoir.

Zafar was encouraged by her parents to be independent and to pursue her education.  It was shocking that she was paired off in marriage to a man 12 years her senior, at the tender age of 16.  Allowed to finish high school in Pakistan before she fully lived with her husband and in-laws, she dreamed of moving to Canada to pursue a higher education.  Once there, the horror and cycle of abuse started, from her husband and passive aggressive in-laws.  Having two children did not stop the sadness of her day-to-day existence, and that’s what she was doing – existing, not living in her predicament.

Year, after year, Zafar recounted her small steps towards living her version of an independent lifestyle.  Everything from her parents constant fighting to happier memories of her young life in the U.A.E. and Pakistan are covered and we see the exploration of how her childhood both set the stage for the abuse that she suffered, but also helped her continue to dream about a better, more intellectually satisfying life.

Every bit of progress was met with a setback, usually through her own community and family’s ideas of the social stigma of divorce and a woman’s need to be married and her own lack of funds.  Eventually, she realizes that the need to stand up against the people that were holding her back from being the woman that she needed to be, not only for herself, but for her two young daughters.  The fact that Zafar was so vulnerable and open to sharing her weakest moments is another demonstration of her bravery.  Her own pursuit of helping women from her culture, trapped in the same situation, shows her humanity.

A Good Wife – Escaping The Life I Never Chose is a must read, especially in a time when women are breaking through the barriers of inequality.  This year’s theme for International Women’s Day is #BalanceforBetter.  The goal is to not only seek a more gender balanced world, but to celebrate women’s achievement.  This book is a perfect example of what Women’s Day is trying to accomplish. DIVINE celebrates Samra Zafar for her courage and determination.

 

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
You May Also Like
EVA Air Royal Laurel Class: Vienna, Austria - May 20, 2018: EVA Air Boeing 777-300ER B-16707 passenger plane arrival and landing at Vienna Airport
    • Reviews
    • Travel

EVA Air Royal Laurel Class: A Seamless Journey from Taipei to Toronto

  • Natalie Preddie
  • September 10, 2025
McVeggie Sandwich: Veggie Burger resting on a McDonald's paper wrapper
    • DIVINE Delights
    • Food

McDonald’s Canada Adds the McVeggie Sandwich to Its Canadian Menu

  • Jill Schneiderman
  • September 9, 2025
Nancy Screw & The Case of the Dirty Benjamins: Stack of books
    • Books
    • Reviews

DIVINE Reads: Nancy Screw & The Case of the Dirty Benjamins by Jane Laboucane

  • Jill Schneiderman
  • August 27, 2025
Hexclad: Hybrid 12" Pan
    • Food
    • Reviews

Hexclad Cookware Review: Testing the 12” Hybrid Pan at Home

  • Jill Schneiderman
  • August 23, 2025
Burgers to Beat MS: Two burgers with "Supporting Canadians Burger by Burger" in between
    • DIVINE Delights
    • Food

Burgers to Beat MS Returns on August 21st

  • Jill Schneiderman
  • August 13, 2025
Related Topics
  • Autobiography
  • Biography
  • Book Reviews
  • Books
  • True Stories
Jill Schneiderman

Jill Schneiderman is a publicist and editorial director/partner at DIVINE.ca, where she blends her extensive experience in media with her passion for storytelling. An award-winning marketing professional, Jill has dedicated her career to crafting compelling stories and campaigns in the media landscape for both blue chip clients and the stable of lifestyle experts that she now works with.

Previous Article
  • Reviews

DIVINE Reads: The Gown

  • August 2, 2019
  • Jill Schneiderman
View Post
Next Article
  • Reviews

DIVINE Reviews – Our Must Reads for Everyone

  • August 2, 2019
  • Jill Schneiderman
View Post
1 comment
  1. Pingback: Bleaker House: Chasing My Novel To The End Of The World - DIVINE

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Search
Featured Posts
  • Cleaning Business: Man and woman cleaning in orange jumpsuits and playfully smiling at one another

    Running a Cleaning Business? 9 Ways to Get More Clients

    • 5 min
    View Post
  • Avarra: Woman In Bathroom.

    Comfortable and Modern Underwear With Avarra

    • 3 min
    View Post
  • Frank Ferragine: Frankie Flowers in a greenhouse

    Frank Ferragine Plants New Roots: Continues as Canada’s Leading Gardening Expert

    • 2 min
    View Post
Get in on the Fun
Top Posts
  • Interior Doors: Hallway with several doors 1
    Interior Doors: Style, Functionality, and Comfort in Every Room
    • 3 min
  • Hexclad: Hybrid 12" Pan 2
    Hexclad Cookware Review: Testing the 12” Hybrid Pan at Home
    • 4 min
  • Apple Watch for Kids: 3 Apple Watches with memojis 3
    Apple Watch for Kids: A Smart Family Ally!
    • 2 min
Stay Connected
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
Pinterest
Featured Posts
  • Mother's Day Gift: Heart shaped pancakes with MOM letters. Mothers Day breakfast concept. Top view table scene with a white wood background.

    Mother’s Day Gift Guide: Our Top 6 Last Minute Gift Ideas

    • 3 min
    View Post
  • Wedding Photography: Polaroids of a bride and groom set against a white background with gold confetti

    Wedding Photography Mistakes to Avoid

    • 3 min
    View Post
  • Dubai Style Chocolate Bar: Lindt's Maître Chocolatier next to a large mock up of the chocolate bar package

    Lindt’s Dubai Style Chocolate Bar Has Finally Landed in Canada

    • 2 min
    View Post
about
DIVINE Magazine

Canada's Online Women's Magazine

DIVINE Magazine is the bilingual online destination for Canadian women. Bringing you trending features that are relevant and interesting to Canadian women, DIVINE is the place to visit for useful, practical and entertaining content.
Subscribe
Partner Network
SWAGGER Magazine, North America’s
Online Men‘s Luxury Lifestyle Magazine.Ohlala.ca, Canada’s Destination for Everything You Need to Know About Dating & Sex.
about
Stay Connected

Follow along on Instagram @DIVINEdotca

Kick your feed up a notch with the hottest beauty, style trends, recipes and more! It's not too late, follow along today and you might just catch the behind-the-scenes of our next shoot or even a contest. You can thank us later. ;) #Divinistas
Follow Us
DIVINE
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Making your life a little more DIVINE.

Copyright © 2022 Divine.ca · All Rights Reserved

Input your search keywords and press Enter.