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31 pages 1 hour read

Disgraced

Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 2012

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Book Brief

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Ayad Akhtar

Disgraced

Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 2012
Book Details
Pages

79

Format

Play • Fiction

Setting

New York City • 2010s

Publication Year

2012

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

Disgraced by Ayad Akhtar explores the intersecting lives of Amir, a successful lawyer who has rejected his Muslim upbringing, and his White artist wife, Emily, who incorporates Islamic influences in her work. Over a dinner with friends, tensions arise around identity, religion, and personal ambitions, leading to revelations and conflicts that challenge their relationships and self-perceptions.

Dark

Unnerving

Emotional

Challenging

Reviews & Readership

4.2

4,540 ratings

72%

Loved it

19%

Mixed feelings

9%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Ayad Akhtar's Disgraced receives acclaim for its gripping exploration of cultural identity, religion, and societal tensions, with sharp, provocative dialogue. Critics praise its emotional intensity and thoughtful character development. However, some find its confrontations exaggerated and its resolution abrupt, potentially simplifying complex issues. Overall, it's a compelling, if polarizing, dramatization of contemporary conflicts.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Disgraced?

Readers who appreciate intense social dramas like A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry or The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid will find Disgraced by Ayad Akhtar compelling. They will enjoy its exploration of identity, cultural tension, and the personal costs of ambition and social expectations.

4.2

4,540 ratings

72%

Loved it

19%

Mixed feelings

9%

Not a fan

Character List

Amir Kapoor

An attorney with Pakistani heritage who seeks to assimilate into American society by changing his last name and distancing himself from his cultural roots. His struggle with identity and societal pressures serves as a focal point in the narrative.

Amir's wife, an artist intrigued by Islamic art and culture, who navigates her own privilege and complex relationships throughout the story.

Amir's nephew who initially admires his uncle’s American Dream but grapples with his own cultural identity, starting with a name change from Hussein to Abe.

A Jewish curator at a prominent New York museum, who interacts with Amir and Emily, revealed to hold deeper biases amidst his cultural and professional engagements.

An African American attorney working at the same firm as Amir, who is pragmatic and successful, navigating professional challenges without succumbing to racialized tensions.

Book Details
Pages

79

Format

Play • Fiction

Setting

New York City • 2010s

Publication Year

2012

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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