Kindle
$9.49
Available instantly
Audible Logo Audiobook
$0.00
with membership trial
Paperback
$14.70
Audio CD
from $52.99
Buy new:
$14.70
FREE delivery: Wednesday, May 1 on orders over $35.00 shipped by Amazon.
Ships from: Amazon
Sold by: London on the track
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery Wednesday, May 1 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35. Order within 7 hrs 32 mins
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
$$14.70 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$14.70
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Amazon
Ships from
Amazon
Returns
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Returns
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Payment
Secure transaction
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime
FREE delivery Wednesday, May 1 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35. Order within 6 hrs 32 mins
Used: Good | Details
Sold by Jenson Books Inc
Fulfilled by Amazon
Condition: Used: Good
Comment: This item shows wear including some highlighting or writing and moderate wear to edges and cover.

Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) is a service we offer sellers that lets them store their products in Amazon's fulfillment centers, and we directly pack, ship, and provide customer service for these products. Something we hope you'll especially enjoy: FBA items qualify for FREE Shipping and Amazon Prime.

If you're a seller, Fulfillment by Amazon can help you grow your business. Learn more about the program.

Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
Amazon book clubs early access
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Amazon book clubs early access

Join or create book clubs

Choose books together

Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Explore Amazon Book Clubs
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Shamim Sarif
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

I Can't Think Straight Paperback – November 11, 2008

by Shamim Sarif (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 612 ratings
See all formats and editions
{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$14.70","priceAmount":14.70,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"14","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"70","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"E%2FiKJuCMW9cC%2FjCHQkn6064evlvrL0H76nblV7qvhpxP%2BLGLTAQe2m%2B5Z025uPQJUT7UsYTN3V4QGWMwGP%2BhF6B%2BG2QIZNjGTO1WPDATeMrMKLVClK7Xq0a%2BBhK%2FmQwrVXt4QYXP0M%2ByypCWIW8xZx5T%2BTngQETs%2FaCOK1sPoat%2BD1eEh3zfI4c7hSVaDBuj","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}, {"displayPrice":"$9.99","priceAmount":9.99,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"9","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"99","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"E%2FiKJuCMW9cC%2FjCHQkn6064evlvrL0H7h7WxJGiSoryE4WjaMK0pUOPuMKc2j%2F1%2Fzkd9wDAKJM1NSGnx2tB8C5FvYuO%2BePAavN%2BjecYI3R8QOGKPxB51qEhd9PaHGq%2BDoASrHDq0npt1YmPjNiTaCWp7OIVQCXafO4F0c4LPoanHBzjZhA19curKWV01UUgk","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":1}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

Tala, a London-based Palestinian, is preparing for her elaborate Middle Eastern wedding when she meets Leyla, a young British Indian woman who is dating her best friend.Spirited Christian Tala and shy Muslim Leyla could not be more different from each other, but the attraction is immediate and goes deeper than friendship. But Tala is not ready to accept the implications of the choice her heart has made for her and escapes back to Jordan, while Leyla tries to move on with her new-found life, to the shock of her tradition-loving parents.As Tala's wedding day approaches, simmering tensions come to boiling point and the pressure mounts for Tala to be true to herself.Moving between the vast enclaves of Middle Eastern high society and the stunning backdrop of London's West End, I Can't Think Straight explores the clashes between East and West, love and marriage, conventions and individuality, creating a humorous and tender story of unexpected love and unusual freedoms.
Previous page
  1. Print length
    216 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    November 11, 2008
  4. Dimensions
    5.5 x 0.49 x 8.5 inches
  5. ISBN-10
    0956031617
  6. ISBN-13
    978-0956031617
  7. See all details
Next page
Books with Buzz
Books with Buzz
Discover the latest buzz-worthy books, from mysteries and romance to humor and nonfiction. Explore more

Frequently bought together

I Can't Think Straight
$14.70
Get it as soon as Wednesday, May 1
Only 1 left in stock - order soon.
Sold by London on the track and ships from Amazon Fulfillment.
+
The World Unseen
$13.39
Get it as soon as Wednesday, May 1
Only 6 left in stock (more on the way).
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Details
Added to Cart
One of these items ships sooner than the other.
Show details Hide details
Choose items to buy together.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Shamim Sarif recently directed the motion picture adaptation of I Can’t Think Straight. She is also the writer/director of the award-winning feature film, The World Unseen, which is based on her novel of the same name. The book of The World Unseen won the Pendleton May First Novel Award and a Betty Trask
Award. She is the author of a further novel, Despite the Falling Snow. She lives in London with her partner Hanan and their two children.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Enlightenment Productions; Illustrated edition (November 11, 2008)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 216 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0956031617
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0956031617
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 11.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.49 x 8.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 612 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Shamim Sarif

Shamim Sarif

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Shamim Sarif

Writer and director Shamim Sarif is an award-winning novelist, screenwriter and director for film and TV. Her debut novel, 'The World Unseen' won the Pendleton May First Novel Award, and the Betty Trask Award.

Her new book, The Athena Protocol, is an all-female action thriller released by HarperCollins in October 2019 as the first in a Young Adult series. The book is currently being developed for the screen.

Shamim’s most recent feature as writer/director is Despite the Falling Snow, which released in the US in March 2017. The movie stars Rebecca Ferguson and Charles Dance and is based on her acclaimed second novel published by St Martin’s Press and Hodder.

Her first feature film as writer/director, ‘I Can’t Think Straight’ won 11 awards. Her follow up movie ‘The World Unseen’ based on her award-winning book, debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival before garnering 23 awards internationally.

An accomplished speaker, Shamim has spoken at TED events worldwide, at the INK Conference in India and DLD in Munich. Corporate speaking events have included Deloitte, Goldman Sachs, Citibank and Disney.

Shamim is a member of the Society of Authors, the WGA, BAFTA and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Social Media

Twitter: @shamimsarif

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shamimsarif

Instagram: shamimsarif

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
612 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

skywatcher
5.0 out of 5 stars Engaging, heartfelt coming out story-hilarious & descriptive-LOVED IT!
Reviewed in the United States on July 31, 2009
Verified Purchase
Love the book/film?

Come chat about this director's films & books! Search for Shamim Sarif at Yahoo Groups!

My partner and I saw the film "I Can't Think Straight" at the recent 2009 Philly Qfest and absolutely loved it. As the DVD was already released in the UK a few months ago, we already owned it, but had not watched it. Since we were attending the film festival already we decided to show our support again. My review for the film under the "I Can't Think Straight/The World Unseen" DVD Pack.

Shamim Sarif, the writer and director of ICTS had described the production schedule for her 1st two films and mentioned that the novel was finished after the screenplay was written for ICTS, because they were on a very tight schedule. She said that there were differences, and since we loved the movie, we decided to read the novel. It was absolutely fantastic!!! Since we have seen the movie (ahem, several times), we were able to read the novel to each other, complete with voice inflection of the various characters and had a blast doing so! Most notably there is additional character development in the book that helps you understand the thought process, time and place, family standing, and underlying motivations, which we found very helpful and entertaining.

Shamim crafts a beautifully descriptive novel that we were not able to put down, and fans of "Tala" and "Leyla", will enjoy their scenes, which are slightly more detailed in the book. Hani, Reema and Yasmin, in particular are described in fantastic detail, and with poetry and humor in many sections. You may even laugh out loud as we did, during Yasmin and Maya (Leyla's mom), scenes. "Tala" and "Leyla" are also created with many additional levels, as we see what they are actually thinking before we the "scenes" in the film. You will enjoy the backstories of each, and the additional emotion that is conveyed from their dialogue.

This story has numerous elements that can applied to many of our coming out stories-unrequited love, some or many unsupportive family members, anguish, longing, and possibly even a happy ending. This novel is an engaging combination of humor and reality, and we laughed throughout. It's a must for all fans of Shamim Sarif's and of course, our two central heroines-Tala and Leyla!

Stay updated on Shamim's work by joining her Facebook page,
Official website for Englightenment Productions, Lisa Ray and Sheetal Sheth's FaceBook pages!

In addition, 2 fan-created discussion groups also exist for 1) Lisa Ray (visit Yahoo>Groups and search for "LISA_RAY_INTL_FANS" and 2) search for "Shamim Sarif" for the Yahoo froup. Sheetal Sheth also has an existing Yahoo group, and her own website, which you can google.
3 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Thredith
5.0 out of 5 stars Loved the movie, yes, but loved the book EVEN MORE!
Reviewed in the United States on April 3, 2015
Verified Purchase
I first watched the movie almost two years ago, and I loved it! The cast was well picked, and the story was incredibly funny! Then, one day after surfing Amazon's Kindle catalogue, I found the book! I had no idea the film was based on this story. Moreover, I wasn't aware Shamim Sarif was responsible for both! Of course, knowing how the story went in the film, I immediately decided to purchase its written counterpart.

The plot of the book is pretty similar to the film, but it develops many details and aspects the film just couldn't portray. It adds depth to both Leyla and Tala's personal struggles: how their families live, their customs, their expectations! It gives the reader extra information about secondary characters such as Tala's mother, Hani, Ali, and many more.

Something I also liked about this book was the amount of new things I was able to learn about Jordanian and Indian culture! Due to my cultural background I'm not really familiar with them, so this book gave me a brief glimpse of some interesting aspects of these societies. In other words, not only did I enjoyed a great story, but I was also able to learn a thing or two about history and culture.

Loved it!
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
A. T. Lee
4.0 out of 5 stars give me "typical" any day!
Reviewed in the United States on July 18, 2010
Verified Purchase
okay, I wasn't going to review this book, because it was so typical - and since I haven't read that many lesbian books, I'd say - of love / self-discovery stories. thank god, especially after reading the horrendous atypical drivel I had the last 2 nights that made me want to re-re-evaluate my sexuality. the characters in this book are like-able and genuine. I still don't understand how one can fall in love after such limited encounters, but maybe that's what meeting "the one" is about. I enjoyed the writing style and story-telling: it's clear, succinct and the storyline flows. A nice break from the mundane and perfect for a short afternoon break.
2 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Lisa H.
5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect!
Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2024
Verified Purchase
Is there anything sweeter two souls, who are meant to be together, finally finding their way to each other? This is such a beautiful love story. In fact, it is one of my all-time-favorites.
Helpful
 Report
Cris Ascunce
5.0 out of 5 stars A poignant coming out story
Reviewed in the United States on July 21, 2011
Verified Purchase
Shamim Sarif, an extraordinary author, has taken a theme so old it could be a fossil fuel and drove it directly to the hearts and minds of women confronted with a decision so painfully difficult, it could burn a hole in the ozone. This book not only speaks to those who are going through this tug-of-war that is "coming out," but it also makes that task inviting and delightful and purposeful. It is heart-wrenchingly positive. No one dies, no one gets killed and we are all better for having read it. This wonderfully written book, not only opens you up to the characters' angst about this process, it also helps you see how they overcome it and the other obstacles that surround loving relationships. I read this book in about eight hours, it takes you in and ceases to let you go.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
RJRossas
5.0 out of 5 stars Ainda melhor que o filme
Reviewed in Brazil on May 23, 2023
Verified Purchase
Nossa. Pensei que iria ler um script e tudo bem, porque amo esse filme, mas quando percebi estava envolvida por detalhes mais profundos do universo da história, que ficaram de fora da produção. Amei
Report
Mariel
5.0 out of 5 stars Can you think straight?
Reviewed in Mexico on July 1, 2020
Verified Purchase
Si conoces la película, ya conoces el libro. La trama puede caer en lo típico: Dos chicas se conocen, se vuelven amigas y después esa amistad se vuelve algo más. Ellas dos sin saber que gustaban de mujeres (o tal vez ignorando ese detalle). Vaya, no he escuchado esa trama antes?

Mi parte favorita, sin embargo, de este libro es el detalle con el que se describen las diferencias culturales entre Leyla y Tala, y las presiones que ellas tienen que sobrellevar por parte de su familia y de los canones aceptados en cada cultura. Este libro ahonda en los detalles culturales, la idiosincrasia, la vida en Surrey y en Medio Oriente, y los presenta de una manera natural. Todas las dudas y la inconformidad por ir en contra de su cultura, son muy bien descritas y lleva al lector a entender la posición de cada una de ellas.

Yo ya era fan de la película, pero nunca supe que la película estaba basada en este libro. A pesar de que la película cae en una comedia palomitera, el libro viene a cerrar el círculo y a hacer de esta novela una experiencia multicultural y muy enriquecedora.
3 people found this helpful
 Report
Lydia
5.0 out of 5 stars Romantic and beautiful
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 5, 2020
Verified Purchase
Worth reading even if you have seen the film. There is so much depth and internal monologues in this book with the characters really fleshed out. I’m not a big fan of novels generally but I found her writing style so enchanting it’s a great book and was totally engrossing!
Report
Preiksha Jain
5.0 out of 5 stars ♥️
Reviewed in India on June 28, 2019
Verified Purchase
Love this book more than I loved the movie.
And I love the movie a lot.
2 people found this helpful
 Report
EricaccA
3.0 out of 5 stars Identico al film
Reviewed in Italy on January 11, 2019
Verified Purchase
Ho visto il film, che mi è piaciuto anche se lo trovo un po' superficiale nella rappresentazione dei personaggi. Speravo che nel libro ci fosse un maggior approfondimento, invece non è così. Libro e film sono perfettamente identici.
One person found this helpful
 Report