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daniellelouis_'s review
4.0
In The Company of Strangers is a glitzy debut that plunges into the world of Pakistan's elite, a life filled with glamour and a head turn away from the rules. This captivating novel beautifully describes the backdrop of Pakistan while building upon two main characters from different societal classes. Mona is a caged women living in a traditionally misogynistic world, a women trapped within a stale marriage with a man that uses her and throws her aside. She's a strong woman but Bibal, her husband, breaks her down mainly using psychological tactics. I couldn't help but connect with Mona, while also sympathising with her at the same time. On the flip side of the societal coin is Ali, after shock family event, he is swung into Mona's world. As he acclimatises himself within the world of the elite, his life becomes submerged within a Lahori High Society drama that you, yourself can't help being tantalized by.
Awais has penned a attention grabbing atmospheric novel, that is both gorgeous and dark at times. The backdrop of Pakistan creates an alluring that entraps the reader within it's literary setting. I could feel the warmth on my skin and imagine the twinkle of my surroundings. As you can imagine, it's very well described and written, with a beautiful prose that nudged me further into the novel. I also enjoyed the mainly dual narrative, with flecks of other narratives sprinkled throughout. The flicking between narratives worked really well, flowed eloquently and complimented one another. I just couldn't help but love the people Ali and Mona were, they were both created with such depth with an injection of honesty and tradition. Awais has created a perfect balance of passion, humanity and scandal, I loved it!
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the storyline, the feel of it, the execution of it! I adored every single page, I finished this layered novel completely shocked and utterly bereft as a whole. Gripped from page one, it was a deserving first read of 2020. I can't wait to see what else Awais has up his sleeve for his reader with his next book. Grab a copy, slip away from the real world and dip your toe in this heatwave of a fictional one.
Awais has penned a attention grabbing atmospheric novel, that is both gorgeous and dark at times. The backdrop of Pakistan creates an alluring that entraps the reader within it's literary setting. I could feel the warmth on my skin and imagine the twinkle of my surroundings. As you can imagine, it's very well described and written, with a beautiful prose that nudged me further into the novel. I also enjoyed the mainly dual narrative, with flecks of other narratives sprinkled throughout. The flicking between narratives worked really well, flowed eloquently and complimented one another. I just couldn't help but love the people Ali and Mona were, they were both created with such depth with an injection of honesty and tradition. Awais has created a perfect balance of passion, humanity and scandal, I loved it!
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the storyline, the feel of it, the execution of it! I adored every single page, I finished this layered novel completely shocked and utterly bereft as a whole. Gripped from page one, it was a deserving first read of 2020. I can't wait to see what else Awais has up his sleeve for his reader with his next book. Grab a copy, slip away from the real world and dip your toe in this heatwave of a fictional one.
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