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aayjaysbookshelf's reviews
49 reviews
The Geography of Thought: How Asians and Westerners Think Differently...and Why by Richard Nisbett
informative
reflective
slow-paced
3.0
I had this book on my shelf since 1st Jan 2024 and I finally started reading it on 1st Jan 2025. Took me two whole months to finish reading it, mainly owing to its subject, but also because of the writing.
The book does a pretty good job at exploring how our thoughts and ideas are actually very influenced by where we come from - a fact that is not unknown, but hasn't been as thoroughly explored either. Nisbett, being a psychologist and a social scientist, complemented his ideas by real, scientific data which is the main premise of the book.
Although it may seem a bit generalized; the terms of Easterners and Westerners, and not exactly capture the diversity of the human cultures, Nisbett does mention that he has used the terms in broad context only, and how the findings cannot be applied to all groups a 100%.
For me, the most interesting part of the book was the start where the historical context is explained and how it implies to our different ways of thinking now. The difference in attitude between Greeks (Westerners) and Chinese (Easterners) and how that was influenced by the 'geography' they were from, and how THAT set the tone for the world for centuries to come, is really insightful. I think I was looking for more of such anecdotes in the book ahead, maybe some connection of geography with genetics and how that influences our thinking, but couldn't find much to my dismay.
The book is really insightful, packed with loads and loads of study references, but that also makes it a bit too dry and academic on the writing part, and I couldn't keep up with reading it for a long time in one go. Probably the main reason why it took me so long to finish it. The ideas presented are amazing, but the writing lacks the creative element in it which would have definitely made this book unputdownable if done rightly. Nonetheless, a good read. Anyone wishing to explore anthropology, sociology and psychology in cultural context should really give it a go.
The book does a pretty good job at exploring how our thoughts and ideas are actually very influenced by where we come from - a fact that is not unknown, but hasn't been as thoroughly explored either. Nisbett, being a psychologist and a social scientist, complemented his ideas by real, scientific data which is the main premise of the book.
Although it may seem a bit generalized; the terms of Easterners and Westerners, and not exactly capture the diversity of the human cultures, Nisbett does mention that he has used the terms in broad context only, and how the findings cannot be applied to all groups a 100%.
For me, the most interesting part of the book was the start where the historical context is explained and how it implies to our different ways of thinking now. The difference in attitude between Greeks (Westerners) and Chinese (Easterners) and how that was influenced by the 'geography' they were from, and how THAT set the tone for the world for centuries to come, is really insightful. I think I was looking for more of such anecdotes in the book ahead, maybe some connection of geography with genetics and how that influences our thinking, but couldn't find much to my dismay.
The book is really insightful, packed with loads and loads of study references, but that also makes it a bit too dry and academic on the writing part, and I couldn't keep up with reading it for a long time in one go. Probably the main reason why it took me so long to finish it. The ideas presented are amazing, but the writing lacks the creative element in it which would have definitely made this book unputdownable if done rightly. Nonetheless, a good read. Anyone wishing to explore anthropology, sociology and psychology in cultural context should really give it a go.
Teesra Kinara / تیسرا کنارا by Mudassir Hussain Malik
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
مدثر حسین ملک کے افسانوں کا مجموعہ ، "تیسرا کنارا" تصوف، نفسیات ، فلسفہ اور انسانی فطرت جیسے موضوعات پہ مشتمل ایک کتاب ہے جو 2017 میں شائع ہوئی۔ مصنف کی تخیلاتی فطرت کا ان کے کام پہ گہرا اثر اس کتاب میں نظر آتا ہے، جس میں استعاروں کا بےدریغ استعمال کیا گیا ہے، بلکہ یہ کہنا غلط نہ ہوگا کہ پوری کتاب ہی استعاروں سے سجائی ہوئی ہے۔ اکثر جگہوں پہ حقیقت اور تصور کی لکیر ایک دوسرے میں ملتی ہوئی محسوس ہوئی ، جو میرے خیال میں مصنف نے ارادی طور پہ کیا ہے۔ چند افسانوں میں مابعدالطبیعات (metaphysics) کے موضوعات پہ بھی طبع آزمائی کی گئی ہے، جو مجھے دور حاضر کے اردو کے کام میں اچھی لگی۔
اگرچہ یہ ایک نثری کتاب ہے ، لیکن استعاروں کے استعمال اور افسانوی سانچے نے اسے شاعرانہ شکل زیادہ دی ہوئی ہے، جہاں کرداد کم اور خیالات کا مکالمہ زیادہ ہے۔ تخلیقی اعتبار سے کافی مناسب کام ہے، لیکن چونکہ مجھے خیالات و کردار کا توازن زیادہ پسند ہے، اس لیے مجھے ایک وقت کے بعد اس یکسانیت سے تھوڑی الجھن ہونے لگی۔ کچھ جگہوں پہ ایسا بھی محسوس ہوا کہ بات نامکمل رہ گئی ، اور کچھ جگہوں پہ باتوں کا ربط نہ بن پایا۔ بہرحال ، ایک اچھی کتاب، جو وقت اور ورق گردانے کے لیے موزوں ہے۔
اگرچہ یہ ایک نثری کتاب ہے ، لیکن استعاروں کے استعمال اور افسانوی سانچے نے اسے شاعرانہ شکل زیادہ دی ہوئی ہے، جہاں کرداد کم اور خیالات کا مکالمہ زیادہ ہے۔ تخلیقی اعتبار سے کافی مناسب کام ہے، لیکن چونکہ مجھے خیالات و کردار کا توازن زیادہ پسند ہے، اس لیے مجھے ایک وقت کے بعد اس یکسانیت سے تھوڑی الجھن ہونے لگی۔ کچھ جگہوں پہ ایسا بھی محسوس ہوا کہ بات نامکمل رہ گئی ، اور کچھ جگہوں پہ باتوں کا ربط نہ بن پایا۔ بہرحال ، ایک اچھی کتاب، جو وقت اور ورق گردانے کے لیے موزوں ہے۔
The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This is the first Kafka book I read. As expected, it's a pretty sad book, of the fiction category. Although it's a straightforward story, in which the protagonist, Gregor Samsa wakes up one day to find himself transformed into a giant bug and the story revolves around his life from there onwards, I looked it up on SparkNotes side by side and that helped. The exploration of one's relation with his family and it being connected to one's financial capability is done well in the book, although a bit too much on the gloomy side, which is understandable coming from Kafka. It's a sad story of a man who has lived his life away in service of his family and do not feel worthwhile on his own, which reflects in his metamorphosis into a giant bug and the changed attitude of his family towards him, which is concern and pity at the start, and which morphs into contempt and disgust to the point of indifference towards the end, and this gradual change of interrelations and emotions is very artfully done by Kafka, perhaps my most favorite element of this book. I am sure a lot of the meaning must have been lost in the translations (it's a German book originally) and I do like the creative element of explaining relations, money and expectations through a story like this, I still don't see why this book is counted as amongst the greatest works of literature. Or perhaps, I don't have the appetite yet for writers like Kafka, Virginia Woolf or Manto, and need to read them through more experienced eyes and mature lenses to understand the hype about them. Overall, a fine read. Might pick it up a few years later to see how my perception about it has metamorphosised.
In Other Rooms, Other Wonders by Daniyal Mueenuddin
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
A contemporary fiction novel which seems divided into different chapters, but is actually a collection of 8 short stories which are separate from each other in their story but tied together by the common thread of a Punjabi feudal lord (K.K Harouni) who is the denominator in all these stories. 'In Other Rooms, Other Wonders' was reflective of its name in its writing; it felt like peering into different rooms in the same house at different times, the stories quite different, yet somehow connected to each other. Regarded as an outlook in the sociological structure of a modern day Pakistani society, this book did a good job with describing the characters and the places vividly, making it really easy to imagine it all. The stories are of different factions of the society, but mainly focusing on the stark difference between the upper and lower classes, with the middle class appearing only momentarily. From stories of maids and servants to feudal lords and elites, the book sheds light on our general society through specific characters, which I think is quite good writing.
What I particularly liked about the writing was the poignant way of describing or hinting at the many nuances and micro behaviours that go unnoticed by many but leave an impact nonetheless. Also, the way the stories are of different times and characters yet gravitating back to the common denominator (their relation to K.K Harouni) subtly is an example of a creative writing. Although I find it perplexing that this (supposedly) main character is not given the due main character attention.
The stories built up nicely but end abruptly, which I found frustrating. Moreover, the sense of time is a bit confusing since it sometimes describe the 70s and 80s and sometimes zoom into the 2000s. It's heavily Punjabi centered, though, so I would also not call it a true or whole representation of a Pakistani society, but of a faction of it only (Punjabi) which, albeit it being a large one, is not representative of the diverse Pakistani society. A nice read overall.
What I particularly liked about the writing was the poignant way of describing or hinting at the many nuances and micro behaviours that go unnoticed by many but leave an impact nonetheless. Also, the way the stories are of different times and characters yet gravitating back to the common denominator (their relation to K.K Harouni) subtly is an example of a creative writing. Although I find it perplexing that this (supposedly) main character is not given the due main character attention.
The stories built up nicely but end abruptly, which I found frustrating. Moreover, the sense of time is a bit confusing since it sometimes describe the 70s and 80s and sometimes zoom into the 2000s. It's heavily Punjabi centered, though, so I would also not call it a true or whole representation of a Pakistani society, but of a faction of it only (Punjabi) which, albeit it being a large one, is not representative of the diverse Pakistani society. A nice read overall.
Ooper, Neechay aur Darmiyaan اوپر نیچے اور درمیان by Saadat Hasan Manto
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
منٹو کے مضامین اور چند افسانوں کا مجموعہ ، 'اوپر، نیچے اور درمیان ' میرا منٹو کی تحاریر سے پہلا واسطہ نہیں ہے۔ منٹو کی تحریروں کی خاص بات ان کا بےدھڑک انداز ہے، جو بغیر کسی بناوٹ کی سماجی پیچیدگیوں کو پرت بہ پرت کھولتا ہے۔ اکثر ایسا محسوس ہوتا ہے کہ لکھائی کم اور کلام زیادہ ہے۔
اس کے باوجود ، مجھے منٹو کی لکھائی کچھ خاص سمجھ نہیں آتی ۔ کیٔ بار یہ شبہ ہوتا ہی کہ تحریر کا کویٔ رخ، کؤی راستہ نہیں ہے، اور نہ ہی کوئی اصل شروعات یا اختتام ۔شاید یہ ہی منٹو کا انداز ہے یا شاید اس کی وجہ میرا منٹو کو ازخود سمجھنے کی کوشش ہے، اور منٹو کے کام کو ان کے صحیح معنوں میں سمجھنے کے لیے ایک استاد کی ضرورت ہو۔
بہرحال ، سماجی بناوٹوں کو اگر واقعی میں کسی نے کھول کے پیش کیا ہے تو وہ منٹو ہیں، اور ان کی یہ خاصیت اس مضامین کے مجموعے میں بھی موجود ہے۔ تقسیمِ ہند کے آس پاس کے دور میں لکھا گیا یہ کام نہ صرف برصغیر بلکہ 1940-1950 کی ساری دنیا کا ایک مطالعہ ہے، جس میں بالخصوص امریکہ ، روس اور عظیم جنگوں کے دنیا پہ اثرات کو منٹو نے اپنے تیکھے لہجے میں بیان کیا ہے۔ سوشلزم کے موضوعات پہ بھی طنز کے پیرائے میں بات کی گئی ہے۔ اس لحاظ سے اس کتاب کو منٹو کے سماجی نظریات کا عکس کہنا غلط نہیں ہوگا ۔
اس کے باوجود ، مجھے منٹو کی لکھائی کچھ خاص سمجھ نہیں آتی ۔ کیٔ بار یہ شبہ ہوتا ہی کہ تحریر کا کویٔ رخ، کؤی راستہ نہیں ہے، اور نہ ہی کوئی اصل شروعات یا اختتام ۔شاید یہ ہی منٹو کا انداز ہے یا شاید اس کی وجہ میرا منٹو کو ازخود سمجھنے کی کوشش ہے، اور منٹو کے کام کو ان کے صحیح معنوں میں سمجھنے کے لیے ایک استاد کی ضرورت ہو۔
بہرحال ، سماجی بناوٹوں کو اگر واقعی میں کسی نے کھول کے پیش کیا ہے تو وہ منٹو ہیں، اور ان کی یہ خاصیت اس مضامین کے مجموعے میں بھی موجود ہے۔ تقسیمِ ہند کے آس پاس کے دور میں لکھا گیا یہ کام نہ صرف برصغیر بلکہ 1940-1950 کی ساری دنیا کا ایک مطالعہ ہے، جس میں بالخصوص امریکہ ، روس اور عظیم جنگوں کے دنیا پہ اثرات کو منٹو نے اپنے تیکھے لہجے میں بیان کیا ہے۔ سوشلزم کے موضوعات پہ بھی طنز کے پیرائے میں بات کی گئی ہے۔ اس لحاظ سے اس کتاب کو منٹو کے سماجی نظریات کا عکس کہنا غلط نہیں ہوگا ۔
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
I had heard great things about this book so I picked it up with a lot of expectations. Truth be told, I struggled to pick up pace at the beginning and the plot felt a bit too dense for me to follow, until SparkNotes came to the rescue and the novel reached the point where Nina comes in and after that it was a good read for me.
A Gentleman in Moscow is a hitorical fiction novel; a story of a Russian aristocrat, Count Alexander Rostov, who is detained for life in a hotel in Moscow after the Bolsheviks revolution in early 1900s. As such, the whole novel is based in a single place mostly (Hotel Metropol), with accounts of other places through memories and recollections. An insight into Soviet Russia, and exploration of Russian culture, it follows the life of Count and those around him in the hotel, with the Russian history in the background running side by side. There are a ton of literary references in the novel, Russian specially, which might be hard to understand if you don't have prior idea about them; but if you do, it would be an absolute delight to read. Themes of individualism vs communism are well explored in the novel, and what makes it stunning is the exploration of these concepts through a heartwarming story and not academically only. I specially liked how all the characters were given their due arc, place and closure in this novel, regardless of them being the main character or the supporting one. The writing is lovely, though the plot moves at too slow a pace, oftentimes feeling like the story isn't moving at all - which might be intentional by the writer, as a nod to the Count's detainment and his staying in one place for most of his life. It made me laugh at quite a few places, and shed a tear at some, and reaffirmed the point about human connections being amongst the most treasured assets for one. Delightful dialogues, philosophical annotations, heartfelt conversations and wise words are sprinkled throughout the story, making it a lovely read if you're in for a slow one. This was my first interaction with Russian literature and it makes me want to read more of the Russian classics. A classic written in a contemporary way is how I'd define A Gentleman in Moscow. A book to be re-read years later. ❤️
A Gentleman in Moscow is a hitorical fiction novel; a story of a Russian aristocrat, Count Alexander Rostov, who is detained for life in a hotel in Moscow after the Bolsheviks revolution in early 1900s. As such, the whole novel is based in a single place mostly (Hotel Metropol), with accounts of other places through memories and recollections. An insight into Soviet Russia, and exploration of Russian culture, it follows the life of Count and those around him in the hotel, with the Russian history in the background running side by side. There are a ton of literary references in the novel, Russian specially, which might be hard to understand if you don't have prior idea about them; but if you do, it would be an absolute delight to read. Themes of individualism vs communism are well explored in the novel, and what makes it stunning is the exploration of these concepts through a heartwarming story and not academically only. I specially liked how all the characters were given their due arc, place and closure in this novel, regardless of them being the main character or the supporting one. The writing is lovely, though the plot moves at too slow a pace, oftentimes feeling like the story isn't moving at all - which might be intentional by the writer, as a nod to the Count's detainment and his staying in one place for most of his life. It made me laugh at quite a few places, and shed a tear at some, and reaffirmed the point about human connections being amongst the most treasured assets for one. Delightful dialogues, philosophical annotations, heartfelt conversations and wise words are sprinkled throughout the story, making it a lovely read if you're in for a slow one. This was my first interaction with Russian literature and it makes me want to read more of the Russian classics. A classic written in a contemporary way is how I'd define A Gentleman in Moscow. A book to be re-read years later. ❤️
A Coal Miner's Bride: The Diary of Anetka Kaminska, Lattimer, Pennsylvania, 1896 by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
emotional
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This is a historical fiction novel in the young adults category, which I happened to find randomly at a bookshop. Not knowing the context of this series (Dear America), I started the book with a blank slate, and I wasn't disappointed.
Based in Poland and America of late 1800s, The Diary of Anetka Kamnisokva is a story of a young girl who migrates from Poland to America against her will and forced by circumstances. The book does a really good job at the character sketching of the characters, and specially the lead, Anetka, whose life story transforms from that of a 13year old child to a 13 year old woman, all in a span of just an year. The story is sweet, the writing is easy, and the narrative flows easily. The book revolves around the Polish history, the Czars, the industrial revolution of America, and mainly the coal mining industry and the Lattimer massacre of 1897 which marked the beginning of a new age in America, and running alongside is the story of Anetka and her family, who find their own ways of life amidst the discrimination, racism and contempt against them as immigrants in America of late 1800s.
The story is written in a journal entry kind of manner, and it is, quite actually, the documentation of history through the diary of a young girl. I particularly liked the very subtle yet poignant shift in character of Anetka through the story, as she morphs from a child in her hometown to one forced by fate to become a woman in a foreign country, yet continues to preserve her fieryness and nerves. The exploration of Polish history is lovely, and a side I had never read about before. The description of coal mining industry, the exploitation of its workers and the plight of their families is well explained as well.
It has a continuity to its prose that makes it un-put-downable, and the sweetness of the characters tugs at the heart as you near the end. The only thing I felt could have been better is the end which seems a little rushed to me after the slow buildup throughout the book, and the climax of the novel (The Lattimer massacre) lacked the punch you expect in the climax. The book is predicable, but in a nice sort of way. The copy that I have also has real pictures from that time, and the historical context added which makes it more contextual. Overall, a very nice read.
Based in Poland and America of late 1800s, The Diary of Anetka Kamnisokva is a story of a young girl who migrates from Poland to America against her will and forced by circumstances. The book does a really good job at the character sketching of the characters, and specially the lead, Anetka, whose life story transforms from that of a 13year old child to a 13 year old woman, all in a span of just an year. The story is sweet, the writing is easy, and the narrative flows easily. The book revolves around the Polish history, the Czars, the industrial revolution of America, and mainly the coal mining industry and the Lattimer massacre of 1897 which marked the beginning of a new age in America, and running alongside is the story of Anetka and her family, who find their own ways of life amidst the discrimination, racism and contempt against them as immigrants in America of late 1800s.
The story is written in a journal entry kind of manner, and it is, quite actually, the documentation of history through the diary of a young girl. I particularly liked the very subtle yet poignant shift in character of Anetka through the story, as she morphs from a child in her hometown to one forced by fate to become a woman in a foreign country, yet continues to preserve her fieryness and nerves. The exploration of Polish history is lovely, and a side I had never read about before. The description of coal mining industry, the exploitation of its workers and the plight of their families is well explained as well.
It has a continuity to its prose that makes it un-put-downable, and the sweetness of the characters tugs at the heart as you near the end. The only thing I felt could have been better is the end which seems a little rushed to me after the slow buildup throughout the book, and the climax of the novel (The Lattimer massacre) lacked the punch you expect in the climax. The book is predicable, but in a nice sort of way. The copy that I have also has real pictures from that time, and the historical context added which makes it more contextual. Overall, a very nice read.
Inheritance by Balli Kaur Jaswal
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I got this book on a preloved books sale, and I had no idea about the writer, the content or the story. But I am glad this turned out to be a good read, and a very new one for me as far as the story background goes.
Set in the developing Singapore of 1970s to 1990s, Inheritance is the story of a Sikh immigrant family that unfolds in parallel to the developing sociopolitical and geographical landscape of Singapore. The book being about a certain community (Sikh)already had my attention, but what made it unusual is the Singaporean element, which I found very odd until I read the book and got to know about the integration of Sikh community in Singapore by the British. Very strange, I know.
Anyways, coming to the story, this is a very well written contemporary fiction that handles sensitive topics like mental illness, identities and family dynamics with both clarity and grace. You could feel a palpable tension throughout the book as the family struggles to stay together yet is forced to tear apart, and the calmness of the resolution towards the end. I particularly liked how Balli Kaur's prose had a poetic quality to it, and how intricately it captured the micro behaviours and the subtle shifts and linked it with the slowly transforming landscape of Singapore of that time. The book offers an insight into not just the struggles of an immigrant family, but also the customs and traditions that are both a binding factor for a desi community yet also very limiting in a lot of ways. There is a tinge of sadness throughout the book, and the end is kept elusive, too, so pick this up if you're in the mood for a sad read, I'd say. Overall, a very good read. Balli Kaur's words are impactful, the story moves at a good pace and the ends are tied tightly ; a quality I've recently come to admire in books. Would like to read more of her works now.
Set in the developing Singapore of 1970s to 1990s, Inheritance is the story of a Sikh immigrant family that unfolds in parallel to the developing sociopolitical and geographical landscape of Singapore. The book being about a certain community (Sikh)already had my attention, but what made it unusual is the Singaporean element, which I found very odd until I read the book and got to know about the integration of Sikh community in Singapore by the British. Very strange, I know.
Anyways, coming to the story, this is a very well written contemporary fiction that handles sensitive topics like mental illness, identities and family dynamics with both clarity and grace. You could feel a palpable tension throughout the book as the family struggles to stay together yet is forced to tear apart, and the calmness of the resolution towards the end. I particularly liked how Balli Kaur's prose had a poetic quality to it, and how intricately it captured the micro behaviours and the subtle shifts and linked it with the slowly transforming landscape of Singapore of that time. The book offers an insight into not just the struggles of an immigrant family, but also the customs and traditions that are both a binding factor for a desi community yet also very limiting in a lot of ways. There is a tinge of sadness throughout the book, and the end is kept elusive, too, so pick this up if you're in the mood for a sad read, I'd say. Overall, a very good read. Balli Kaur's words are impactful, the story moves at a good pace and the ends are tied tightly ; a quality I've recently come to admire in books. Would like to read more of her works now.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Toxic relationship
The Crow Eaters by Bapsi Sidhwa
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Having read Bapsi Sidhwa's Ice Candy Man earlier, I knew I could hope for a lovely storytelling and I wasn't disappointed. Interestingly, The Crow Eaters had been in my TBR even before Ice Candy Man but it was only now that I got my hands on it and I really enjoyed it.
Sidhwa's finesse with novel writing is quite evident in this very Parsee-centric, pre partition story of a Parsee family that migrated to Lahore and established themselves there from a humble background to a powerful one. The novel mainly revolves around the life of Fareedoon or Freddy Junglewalla and the people associated with him, and written in a humourous, satirical manner which made me laugh quite a number of times in the first half of the novel. Through this novel, you get to have a deeper insight into the lives, traditions and customs of Parsees or Zoroastrians, and I particularly loved how subtle yet poignant Sidhwa was in her expression of both love for her community and constructive criticism on some of its elements, and how all of this was portrayed through fiction.
I liked the details, the characters drawn in a way that I could visualise them, the story having no loose ends, the way Sidhwa builds on the quirks of the main characters throughout the story to use it as a climax later on, the detailed mention of Lahore and Bombay of 1900s, the satire, the glance at the British India and the irony of British empire. The writing of this novel have the beauty of classic writing but without the difficulty and jargons, and the relevance of it being set in this region makes it all the more interesting.
Overall, a really nice novel. Though I would have liked if it talked more about Yazdi and his character arc; I felt a few loose ends were left in his part of the story, and the ending seemed a bit abrupt to me after the slow and detailed built-up throughout the novel. If you enjoy slice-of-life family sagas, especially ones that focus on groups (in this case Parsis in pre-independence Lahore) that are typically underrepresented in literature, then I’d recommend checking this one out.
Sidhwa's finesse with novel writing is quite evident in this very Parsee-centric, pre partition story of a Parsee family that migrated to Lahore and established themselves there from a humble background to a powerful one. The novel mainly revolves around the life of Fareedoon or Freddy Junglewalla and the people associated with him, and written in a humourous, satirical manner which made me laugh quite a number of times in the first half of the novel. Through this novel, you get to have a deeper insight into the lives, traditions and customs of Parsees or Zoroastrians, and I particularly loved how subtle yet poignant Sidhwa was in her expression of both love for her community and constructive criticism on some of its elements, and how all of this was portrayed through fiction.
I liked the details, the characters drawn in a way that I could visualise them, the story having no loose ends, the way Sidhwa builds on the quirks of the main characters throughout the story to use it as a climax later on, the detailed mention of Lahore and Bombay of 1900s, the satire, the glance at the British India and the irony of British empire. The writing of this novel have the beauty of classic writing but without the difficulty and jargons, and the relevance of it being set in this region makes it all the more interesting.
Overall, a really nice novel. Though I would have liked if it talked more about Yazdi and his character arc; I felt a few loose ends were left in his part of the story, and the ending seemed a bit abrupt to me after the slow and detailed built-up throughout the novel. If you enjoy slice-of-life family sagas, especially ones that focus on groups (in this case Parsis in pre-independence Lahore) that are typically underrepresented in literature, then I’d recommend checking this one out.
The Runaways by Fatima Bhutto
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I started this book with high expectations and it didn't come through at all. While the start was promising, with Karachi's bustling landscape in the background interchanging with Portsmouth's(UK) bland one as the story shifted from one character to another, the novel soon delved into confusion after confusion as it struggled to keep up with the irony of its rapidly changing storyline and extremely slow paced plot.
The Runaways is a story of 3 young people, 2 from Karachi (though of vastly different backgrounds) and 1 from UK, supposedly on a quest to 'find themselves' and exploring their identity. The writer sure does a nice job at attempting to explain the identity crises, the social differences and its consequences, and the fatal grip of needing peer approval/validation, and the story would have turned out fine with just these elements. But when it delved into topics like Islamic extremism, jihad, LGBT, the complexities of which demanded a solid plotline and well crafted characters to make the tale gripping and understandable, the writer failed miserably at this. There was no plot, no storyline, no character development, everything barely touched even the surface and left me more frustrated than before. It felt like putting in a bunch of complex topics together and blending them in a juicer mixer, instead of handpicking each ingredient carefully and deciding intentionally which to put in what amount. The plot was painfully slow when the characters reached Iraq, and felt like 60% of the book was spent just travelling through the barren desert. I kept waiting for it to unfold in a way which was explainable, for an end that would tie the pieces together and present a complete puzzle, but none of that came. There was no climax either, all too bland and predictable. And how EXACTLY the characters were transported from their own cities to Iraq remained an (unneeded) mystery, too, except for Sunny maybe.
And might I add, this novel felt like just another brown writer's attempt at west-washing the jihad narrative for appeasing the Western audience. The radicalization concept needed far deeper context for it be believable than explored in the book. But it wasn't still as disappointing as the sheer lack of a good novel writing. It felt like I kept waiting for a climax, an explanation that never was to come anyway. Very disappointing.
Giving it 2 stars rating - 1 for the mention of Karachi and the familiarity of its areas, and 1 for the author's attempt at explaining the identity crises and its background. Other than that, not a good read at all.
The Runaways is a story of 3 young people, 2 from Karachi (though of vastly different backgrounds) and 1 from UK, supposedly on a quest to 'find themselves' and exploring their identity. The writer sure does a nice job at attempting to explain the identity crises, the social differences and its consequences, and the fatal grip of needing peer approval/validation, and the story would have turned out fine with just these elements. But when it delved into topics like Islamic extremism, jihad, LGBT, the complexities of which demanded a solid plotline and well crafted characters to make the tale gripping and understandable, the writer failed miserably at this. There was no plot, no storyline, no character development, everything barely touched even the surface and left me more frustrated than before. It felt like putting in a bunch of complex topics together and blending them in a juicer mixer, instead of handpicking each ingredient carefully and deciding intentionally which to put in what amount. The plot was painfully slow when the characters reached Iraq, and felt like 60% of the book was spent just travelling through the barren desert. I kept waiting for it to unfold in a way which was explainable, for an end that would tie the pieces together and present a complete puzzle, but none of that came. There was no climax either, all too bland and predictable. And how EXACTLY the characters were transported from their own cities to Iraq remained an (unneeded) mystery, too, except for Sunny maybe.
And might I add, this novel felt like just another brown writer's attempt at west-washing the jihad narrative for appeasing the Western audience. The radicalization concept needed far deeper context for it be believable than explored in the book. But it wasn't still as disappointing as the sheer lack of a good novel writing. It felt like I kept waiting for a climax, an explanation that never was to come anyway. Very disappointing.
Giving it 2 stars rating - 1 for the mention of Karachi and the familiarity of its areas, and 1 for the author's attempt at explaining the identity crises and its background. Other than that, not a good read at all.