Syed Masood

Syed M. Masood is a Pakistani-American author celebrated for his sharp wit and ability to navigate the complexities of identity, culture, and belonging.

Masood was born in Karachi, Pakistan. He has led a nomadic life, holding citizenship in three countries and nine cities. This multicultural journey deeply informs his writing, which often explores the common humanity that transcends borders and backgrounds.

Masood's literary journey began with a degree in English Literature from the University of Toronto, followed by a law degree from the William and Mary School of Law.

His previous works, including The Bad Muslim Discount and More Than Just a Pretty Face, have been praised for their humour, poignancy and nuanced portrayals of the immigrant experience.

His latest novel, The Last Man in Paradise (2024), is a profoundly moving and darkly comic exploration of family, faith and identity.

In The Last Man in Paradise, Masood introduces readers to Azaan, a young man forced to return to his estranged family in Redding, California, under the guise of being an imam — a role he has invented to maintain a lie he has lived for years.

As a rebellious teenager, Azaan was banished to a religious academy in Egypt after being caught kissing Madison, his forbidden high school girlfriend. Instead of following his family's path, he abandoned his studies to pursue an acting career. Now, with his grandfather's dying wish to see him brought home, Azaan must navigate the complexities of his past and present while pretending to be a spiritual leader.

Back in Redding, Azaan reconnects with Madison and old friends while uncovering shocking truths about his family, including revelations that could expose his father's long-held deceptions. Through his journey, Azaan learns that the path to reconciliation and self-acceptance is fraught with challenges but also with healing potential.

Syed M. Masood now lives in Sacramento, California, where he balances a career as a lawyer with writing and raising his two young children.

Photo credit: www.syed-masood.com
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