A review by hunter_akridge
In Other Rooms, Other Wonders by Daniyal Mueenuddin

3.0

I thoroughly enjoyed the process of reading this book. But that ease also frightened me. Wasn't I reading about violence, poverty, inequality, the afterlives of colonialism, heteropatriarchy? As told from moments of drama in the life stories of an array of fictional characters that span Punjab's class spectrum, everything else fell out. Of course, a novel shouldn't necessarily be weighed down by analysis, history, and the like. But I worry that the effervescent movement of these characters, their enviable fall into chaos actual obscured the isms working in the background. These moments of drama are sensational, often centering around a relationship between a man and a woman. The woman is too often either victim to her circumstance or otherwise devilishly manipulating it. This to, upon reflection, is troublesome.

All of this being said. It was an truly enjoyable read and gave me a window into a world I am largely ignorant of. In short, it was a fun bit of escapism.