Alright, I admit- I like Pakistani writers. So sue me. Anyway- Haji is of Indo- Pak descent , so there!
This book is diaspora writing but not about displacement angst or alienation. It is about rebellion, growing up and family.
Saira is rebellious. But this is not a cultural rebellion but more of a generational battle, one which she discovers many others have fought in other times in other places. Saira travels through many years and to many cities in different countries only to come full circle. You can never escape your inheritance or your destiny or your past or your family. Saira learns this as does her sister, her mother and others with her.
The book is lyrically written without becoming cloying fulsome. It touches all the right emotional chords. The characters come alive and we all can thing on at least one Ammena or Big Nanima or the mother or anybody else in the book.
Read it- It may not be brilliant or intellectually challenging but it's emotionally very satisfying. A very good read. And it's after all about people like us.
Maya
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