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sispud's review
challenging
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
s_smiadak's review
3.0
The story paints a sad, bloody picture of how traumatic life can be for some people living in Pakistan post 9/11, especially minorities but not exclusively. It was easy for me to draw comparisons to our Jim Crow era though the discrimination was for different reasons, the injustices were tragically similar. It was well written and I liked it as much as you can enjoy a book like this but it does leave you feeling heartbroken.
ldvico's review against another edition
1.0
Forse c'era pure una storia da raccontare in questo libro, ma l'autore non ha saputo scriverla quindi meh
megatsunami's review against another edition
5.0
Beautiful, just beautiful. Loved the weaving in of Islamic history.
mubeenirfan's review
3.0
One of my office colleagues is an ardent fan of Nadeem Aslam and had pushed me to read his first book 'Maps for lost lovers' which I felt to be mediocre. I was pushed again by the same colleague to read this one highlighting that this is probably his best work yet and that I will change my opinions on Nadeem Aslam post reading this. Sadly, for him, I maintain that Nadeem Aslam is an over-rated writer.
This book is a mash-up of different plot lines. Raymond Davis, Pakistani society's attitude towards blasphemy and utilizing it to take revenge upon unsuspecting Muslims & non-Muslims and Kashmir jihad, have all been included in this book of 360 odd pages. I felt that it was too much condensed into a single book and dropping one or two plot lines would not have hurt the fluidity of this novel. Nadeem Aslam could probably have done away with a hundred pages too, to remain on the point.
A very average read and like the recent Pakistani-English fiction, it portrays a very bleak picture of a regressive Pakistani society where the hope of a change is minimal. In real life, this point remains debatable.
This book is a mash-up of different plot lines. Raymond Davis, Pakistani society's attitude towards blasphemy and utilizing it to take revenge upon unsuspecting Muslims & non-Muslims and Kashmir jihad, have all been included in this book of 360 odd pages. I felt that it was too much condensed into a single book and dropping one or two plot lines would not have hurt the fluidity of this novel. Nadeem Aslam could probably have done away with a hundred pages too, to remain on the point.
A very average read and like the recent Pakistani-English fiction, it portrays a very bleak picture of a regressive Pakistani society where the hope of a change is minimal. In real life, this point remains debatable.
marshaskrypuch's review against another edition
4.0
Beautifully written and timely novel about religious intolerance. Set in modern-day Pakistan, it is an intricately woven story that builds compassion by letting the reader step into the shoes of those who hate and are hated, and those who persecute and who are persecuted. Didn't care so much for the magic realism.
anniinha's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
doramac's review
challenging
dark
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
3.25