Author and immigration lawyer Tawseef Khan will be at The Grove Bookshop to discuss his new novel, Determination, on Thursday 27 June from 7pm.
Jamila Shah is twenty-nine and exhausted.
An immigration solicitor tasked with running the precious family law firm, Jamila is prone to being woken in the middle of the night by frantic phone calls from clients on the cusp of deportation. Working under the shadow of the government’s ‘hostile environment’, she constantly prays and hopes that their ‘determinations’ will result in her clients being allowed to stay.
With no time for friends, family or even herself (never mind a needy partner), Jamila’s life feels hectic and out of control. Then a breakdown of sorts forces her to seek change – to pursue her own happiness while navigating the endless expectations that the world seems to have of her, and still committing herself to a career devoted to helping others.
In this polyphonic, assured and character-driven debut, we meet the staff of Shah & Co Solicitors, who themselves arrived in the UK not too long ago, and their clients, more recent arrivals who are made to jump through hoops to create a life for themselves whilst trying to achieve some semblance of normality.
Tawseef Khan is a qualified immigration solicitor and holds a doctoral degree from the University of Liverpool, where he examined the fairness of the British asylum system. He is also a graduate of the creative writing programme at the University of East Anglia, where he received the Seth Donaldson Memorial Bursary. His fiction has appeared in Lighthouse and Test Signal: a Northern anthology; his non-fiction in the New York Times, The Face and Hyphen. His debut non-fiction book Muslim, Actually was published by Atlantic in 2021. He lives in Manchester.
Tickets are £7 and refreshments will be served. Contact The Grove Bookshop for tickets, 01943 609335.
Starbucks smaller advertising pole refused
Ilkley Carnival 2026 - a real celebration of community spirit
Ilkley law firm unveils new head of personal law
More Ilkley children to benefit from Fruit & Veg for Schools programme
Ilkley travel company proves biggest isn't always best!
Ilkley Pool and Lido group pauses fundraising
Countdown begins for 167th Great Yorkshire Show
Multi-million pound Kex Gill scheme enters final stages
Bookmark Project celebrates major milestone
Ilkley – a solar energy success story!
Plans for Addingham's most chaotic and hilarious day of the year
Former cop turned comedian returns to King's Hall
Clarke Foley announces ‘Wellbeing Month’ in May
Entries for Ilkley Triathlon 2026 open on Friday
Ilkley butcher brings home the bacon
Charity football match to return to honour teen
London Marathon success as local runners raise more than £10k for The Principle Trust
Ilkley charity’s volunteer wins special award
Ilkley Veterans Breakfast Club celebrates fourth anniversary
Countdown to Ilkley Carnival begins!
