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#ItHadToBeYou Day 24: There is definitely #Betrayal in this collection of short stories. I did not enjoy reading the novel – I found the male-centric gaze constant, uncomfortable, patronizing. I have been asking myself whether I am being too hard on the author, as he may merely be depicting the realities of Pakistani culture. However, there were hardly any effort to shift the gaze to get into the female characters‘ truths. https://wp.me/pDlzr-o9J

Glorious writing. From 'Muscle'

What writing. This is not from the tagged book but from a story in the New Yorker called 'Muscle'.

#ItHadToBeYou Day 3: There is #heartbreak in these interlinked stories - but I also find the narrative a tad misogynistic - or is it just me? I am reading this for our #DecolonizeBookshelves2022 reading theme but having a hard time with the underlying denigrating view of women. Has anyone else read this book?

“Do you know what they say? The world is like a cucumber. Today it‘s in your hand, tomorrow it‘s up in your ass.”

#SeptemberDanes Day 15: #RoomWithAView reminds me of the tagged book reviewed by my academic friend @ GatheringBooks a few years back. She noted: In this book of interlinked short stories, the life of K. K. Harouni, a retired civil servant and landowner in Lahore, Pakistan is intertwined with the day-to-day life of servants, family members, corrupt government officials, petitioners, and opportunists. Full review: https://wp.me/pDlzr-5Z

These are the first stories I‘ve read which take place in the sprawling estates, winding roads, and intimate homes of Pakistan. The stories move effortlessly between the triumphs and tragedies of characters from different socioeconomic classes. A great collection to read after “England” - another musing on the disparate lives led by those bound together as one nation.

I definitely need to read more #SouthAsianWriters, because I wasn't familiar with any of the ones Google came up with. #AndItsAugust

SUNDAY AFTERNOON USED BOOK HAUL #6 of 7

Short stories by a Pakistani writer.

This book was a lovely surprise. It's a book of short stories, most of them set around Lahore and in the world of an important family, the Harouni. The stories feature members of the family, members of the staff. Different characters, of different social classes : well to do young men and women, servants, field workers.
You get a feel of a Pakistan we don't read or hear about.

You get a feel of a Pakistan we don't read or hear about. Every day life, every day people, with every day, tragic and devastating problems and every day lovely surprises. My copy was borrowed and has not returned. That happens sometimes. If you come across it, please read it. It's a lovely short stories book. #septphotochallenge #shortstories

Coworker left this one in my inbox.

Finished reading A darker shade of magic and loved it. Moving on to other books! Have been meaning to read this one for a long time. Hope it's up to my expectations *fingers crossed*