Roses, in the Mouth of a Lion Summary
Bushra Rehman

Roses, in the Mouth of a Lion Overview

In Bushra Rehman's novel Roses, in the Mouth of a Lion, first person narrator Razia Mirza's life is dictated by her insular Pakistani Muslim community in Corona, Queens. Although she initially accepts her family's and culture's expectations for her life, as Razia comes of age she becomes increasingly eager to shape a new and independent identity and future for herself. Razia's relationships with friends, classmates, and family members deeply impact her evolution throughout the course of her narrative. The novel explores themes including identity, freedom, and friendship.