A Pebble in the Throat contrasts Aasmah’s experience growing up in Glasgow with that of her mother growing up in Pakistan and came to Glasgow as a young bride. Housing themes of family, identity, racism, marriage and more, this is a vivid, poignant and moving memoir. “For my mum and dad, who gave us everything. And for my daughter R, who is my everything,” the book kickstarts with this ode to her loved ones. Asian Voice spoke to Aasmah Mir about the book.
What inspired the title of the book?
A story my mother used to tell me when I was a child, about a bird that couldn’t sing. Then an eagle befriended it checked inside his mouth and pecked out a tiny belle in his throat. From that day on he was free to sing like his siblings. It has always stayed with me, that idea of freedom, of stopping circumstances or people holding you back.
What kind of mind space and clarity do you need to write a book that showcases cultures while telling moving stories with historic details?
It’s a two-layer thing. You write down the bald facts - when, who, where etc - then you add in what you remember - the emotion, the smell, the fabric of your school blazer or the feel of your favourite blanket, the food that sweetened your mouth after yet another sour encounter. You have to revisit passages and chapters many many times to add in stuff, to make it flow, to make it emotive but not self-pitying. It’s such a long process - I felt like i was going round and round in circles. I would probably still be writing it now if i hadn’t had a deadline.
Why do you think telling immigrant stories is so relevant in contemporary scenario?
Because these stories are always in danger of disappearing, that immigrant stories from the 1970s and 80s still have resonance today - for the people who lived them and for their children. Many people who are not immigrants said that they never knew these things happened - and why would they really? I think if you can paint a picture while imparting information that’s a useful thing to do.
What amount of diligence and abstraction does it take to tell a personal story, while making sure that one doesn’t hurt the sentiments of the people involved in it?
The book has to stand the test of time, it is something that will always exist for the next generation of my family. I left some stuff out that couldn’t go on the page - not everything can - and my mother read every chapter twice for fairness and accuracy. No one has complained - yet.
I love the opening dedication of the book where you call your dad and mom your everything. This is a sentiment many South Asian daughters often share publicly and its heartwarming. Please elaborate a bit on this.
I actually said that ‘my mum and dad’ gave me everything. They worked all hours, and poured all their money into us - our education, everything. They gave us love. They gave us everything they thought we needed - they did their best. They couldn’t have empathised with what we were going through but they gave us so much love.
