Hafsa Lodi explores faith and feminism in ‘Turbulence’

Dubai-based publisher The Dreamwork Collective has launched a novel that explores faith, feminism and identity, through the eyes of a young Muslim woman, who lives a life she never planned. Written by award-winning American-Muslim journalist and author Hafsa Lodi, “Turbulence” is an introspective work of woman-oriented fiction that confronts the precarious balance between culture, ambition and family obligation. The book was launched with a sold-out session at the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature on January 22 and was released globally on February 8.

Set across London, New York and an unnamed city in the Middle East, “Turbulence” follows aspiring documentary-maker Dunya Dawood, whose plans for her future are upended, when she falls in love.

When she is pregnant and travelling to New York, she is upgraded to business class, separating from her husband and young son. Removed from her life of domesticity in the Middle East, she reflects on the personal choices, compromises and relationships that have shaped her life’s trajectory. When a shocking discovery sends her into labour mid-air, Dunya is forced to make an impossible decision; it will redefine her faith. Through the protagonist’s internal monologue and shifting timelines, the book examines the delicate balance many women navigate between culture, faith, ambition, family obligation and feminism. It speaks to mothers, wives and even young adult readers interested in global stories, while shedding light on some of the grey areas and the unspoken struggles that a young Muslim woman faces, which are often absent from portrayals of Muslim women in contemporary literature.

Discussing her motivation for writing the book, Lodi says that “the struggle between faith and feminism is a common one, not only among women of my generation, but especially among Muslim women. I wanted to craft a protagonist who felt empowered by, and passionate about her religion, who was motivated by her faith in all aspects of life, from her career aspirations to her approach to motherhood. So often, Muslim women in fiction are written in binaries: the ‘pious’ good girl or the ‘rebellious’ secular woman who ultimately rejects her faith. With Turbulence, I wanted to explore the internal dilemmas that a young Muslim woman might have about balancing culture, career, faith, family and feminism.”

The inspiration for the novel began with a real-life news story Lodi encountered in 2020 about a woman who gave birth on an Emirates flight to Lagos. When Lodi herself became pregnant, the image stayed with her, becoming the novel’s narrative hook. The writing process evolved organically, with Lodi initially drafting the story in third person before later rewriting it in first person, to heighten its intimacy and introspection. A seasoned journalist with more than a decade of experience and the former features editor at “Vogue Arabia,” Lodi is widely known for her writing on the intersection of faith, fashion and feminism. She has written for regional and international publications including Vogue, Stylist, Glamour, Conde Nast Traveller Middle East, GQ Middle East, Grazia Middle East, The Independent, The Guardian, The National, Business Insider, Refinery29 and Mojeh, among others.

Her debut non-fiction book, “Modesty: A Fashion Paradox,” commissioned and published by Neem Tree Press, was launched at the 2020 Emirates Literature Festival. It became a #1 bestseller on Amazon UAE; it explores the causes, controversies and key players of the global modest fashion movement from cultural, religious, political and feminist lenses. Harper’s Bazaar US called it “a well-researched and tender portrait of the politics and people behind a movement.” Lodi has a BA in journalism from Ryerson University (Toronto) and an MA in Islamic law from SOAS, University of London. Founded by creatives for creatives, The Dreamwork Collective is a women-founded and run author-centric publishing house, sharing diverse stories and varied voices with the world. “We publish books, courses and free resources to ignite your creativity and expand your consciousness,” they say. “Dedicated to making sure that no story goes untold, we are driven to make today’s knowledge, wisdom and stories accessible to everyone and for many generations to come.”