A Flat Place
As seen:
By Noreen Masud
avg rating
2 reviews
SHORTLISTED FOR THE SUNDAY TIMES YOUNG WRITER OF THE YEAR AWARD 2024
SHORTLISTED FOR THE WOMEN’S PRIZE FOR NON-FICTION 2024
SHORTLISTED FOR THE JHALAK PRIZE 2024
SHORTLISTED FOR THE ONDAATJE PRIZE 2024
BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023 ACCORDING TO THE GUARDIAN, SUNDAY TIMES, NEW YORKER
Raw and radical, strange and beguiling – a love letter to Britain’s breathtaking flatlands, from Orford Ness to Orkney, and a reckoning with the painful, hidden histories they contain
‘Expansive and arresting’ Financial Times
‘Sharp, subtle and very moving’ Robert Macfarlane
Noreen Masud has always loved flat landscapes – their stark beauty, their formidable calm, their refusal to cooperate with the human gaze. They reflect her inner world: the ‘flat place’ she carries inside herself, emotional numbness and memory loss as symptoms of childhood trauma. But as much as Britain’s landscapes provide solace for suffering, they are also uneasy places for a Scottish-Pakistani woman, representing both an inheritance and a dispossession.
Pursuing this paradox across the wide open plains that she loves, Noreen weaves her impressions of the natural world with the poetry, folklore and history of the land, and with recollections of her own early life, rendering a startlingly strange, vivid and intimate account of a post-traumatic, post-colonial landscape – a seemingly flat and motionless place which is nevertheless defiantly alive.
‘Beautifully written and elegantly constructed’ Kamila Shamsie
‘A Flat Place reminds us that there is hope in the smallest of gestures’ Sara Ahmed
TweetReviews
A beautiful, melancholy, hopeful book full of the most lovely writing about various flat landscapes in Britain and the author's physical journey through them. This is set in the context of, and interwoven with, musings about her upbringing in Pakistan and the resulting cPTSD, all done with a very delicate touch. Moving, relatable and very interesting.
In "A Flat Place," Noreen Masud draws us into the expansive terrain of her inner life, presenting a memoir that is as profoundly touching as it is insightful. At the heart of this book lies a nuanced exploration of trauma—not the loud, cinematic type, but the quiet, persistent kind that subtly colours everyday life. Masud articulates her experiences with a raw, refreshing, and deeply resonant honesty.
Through her skilled storytelling, Masud navigates the flat landscapes of memory and emotion, where she addresses the nature of complex PTSD and the ongoing, often overlooked struggles that accompany it. This memoir skilfully combines personal experiences with broader cultural and familial expectations that serve as a personal revelation, as well as a critique of societal norms.
One of the most touching elements of Masud's narrative is her relationship with her cat, Morvern. This bond extends beyond simple companionship, highlighting the silent strength found in being present with another being. Morvern provides comfort without words, exemplifying the book’s central message that healing often resides in the unspoken, quiet companionship between beings.
The metaphor of the "flat place" recurs throughout the book, symbolising both the external world and the internal landscapes where one confronts trauma. Masud challenges us to look beyond the surface, to explore the depth of their own flat places—where the terrain of trauma and recovery stretches out, vast and uninterrupted.
"A Flat Place" is an invitation to rethink our understanding of trauma and healing. It urges readers to recognise the landscapes of their own lives, acknowledge the scars we carry, and appreciate the slow yet significant path toward healing.
Masud's writing is accessible and straightforward with a simplicity that conceals the complexity of her themes. Her story resonates deeply, turning each page into a reflection of our own stories, making "A Flat Place" a mirror in which our truths are laid bare.
This book offers a gentle, affirming nod for anyone who has felt their suffering overlooked or struggled to find a voice in a world that values only the most dramatic stories. Noreen Masud doesn’t just share her story, she invites us into it, offering a space to breathe, reflect, and perhaps heal.
I am honoured and humbled to be part of this book's shadow reading with the Women’s Prize for Nonfiction and The Reading Agency, along with my friends at Heritage Reads Book Club. "A Flat Place" is a companion for anyone on a journey to understand the landscapes of their own life, and is highly recommended for its gentle insight and profound empathy.
Do you see your own "flat places" in Masud's narrative? How does her story inspire you to reflect on or share your experiences with trauma and healing?
