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Unfettered Wings
A collection of short stories about Pakistani women, from different walks of life and different social backgrounds.
224 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 1, 2018
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153 people want to read
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February 18, 2019Found through Tashfa.
Read her fantastic review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Read her fantastic review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
August 17, 2018
20th Book of 2018
Quote from the Book I Liked - 'While we would be more comfortable in believing that the world is getting smaller with the advent of technology, the fact remains that the physical borders around countries are getting taller and more barbed.’ (Page 193)
Rating - 5 Stars
Synopsis - A collection of short stories about Pakistani women, from different walks of life and different social backgrounds.
From the barren dustbowl of Nushki, a small town in Balochistan, to the posh white marble bungalows and magnificent mansions of Lahore, this book captures vignettes of the lives of Pakistani women who brave battles, big or small, every day. These women compare with their Indian counterparts as much as they contrast. Whether it is little Farida, through whose innocent eyes we see the drawing of political borders and the destruction of many families, or Meera, whose attempt at reaching out across these very borders is met with ridicule by her own countrymen; Summi, who shares the painful burden of her husband’s past; or the wanton Maria for whom love and relationships matter naught—these are real-life characters grappling with issues that are as timeless as they are contemporary.
Unfettered Wings is about strength and fortitude; of relationships in ordinary settings that unfold into extraordinary situations.
My Review - I’ve wanted to read a book from a Foreign Author of neighboring Countries of India especially from Pakistan for a long time and this wish of mine was fulfilled by Rupa Publications who sent me the copy of ‘Unfettered Wings’ by Sana Munir. I was so excited to read this book when I saw it while unpacking the parcel.
The book is a collection of short stories all focusing on different Women of different descend, Lines of work and Age. All in all, there are 10 stories. Each story talking to you from the perspective of the Women in focus. These 10 women are just ‘Ordinary Women with Extraordinary Stories’ as the Tagline of the book goes. All the 10 stories are titled with a Women’s name and a short tagline which gives a glimpse of what the story is about. But don’t get carried away with the tagline, once you start reading these stories, you’ll get deeper and deeper into the characters emotions and her perspective towards the life.
How thought-provoking it is that the stories she wrote from her surrounding of Pakistan are similar to what we here in my country India and maybe almost every country’s Women faces no matter how developed or underdeveloped the country is. The stories might be written from a different geographical plane but the resemblance of the hard goings a woman face is all the same. May it be Male Chauvinism, Molestation or Harassment or the Norms created by Society for women, all of it simply makes the life of a Women so Restricted, so confined.
Recently a few of my friends were talking about such incidences of women suppression when a dear friend of mine (Female) stated that she hadn’t met a girl in her life who haven’t faced any incident which left a scar on her soul. That moment I had a similar thought, having heard so many Soul chilling cases of such wrongdoing I felt a raised up anger and disappointment in Humanity. That’s why such a book as ‘Unfettered Wings’ is required for the society which shows a mirror of reflection and the Mighty powers of a Women which can’t and shouldn’t be suppressed by the Morons around.
Recently I read a Quote which was a thoughtful one and I would love to share with you –
‘Our generation is becoming so busy trying to prove that women can do what men can do that women are losing their uniqueness. Women weren’t created to do everything a man can do. women were created to do everything a man cant do.’
The above thought opened my mind to a different perspective which I wanted to share with my readers too. I Hope you too find it thoughtful.
The author did a great work writing such a profound book on the hardships of women and showing their strength which ultimately made me a huge fan of hers. I would definitely recommend this book to all around me and to whomsoever I met. I would also love to read more such books from her.
Verdict - The book will touch you the way, only a Women who saw and faced such circumstances can write. Just go for it and you’ll LOVE it.
Link to Blog - The Tales of Fugitive Biker
Quote from the Book I Liked - 'While we would be more comfortable in believing that the world is getting smaller with the advent of technology, the fact remains that the physical borders around countries are getting taller and more barbed.’ (Page 193)
Rating - 5 Stars
Synopsis - A collection of short stories about Pakistani women, from different walks of life and different social backgrounds.
From the barren dustbowl of Nushki, a small town in Balochistan, to the posh white marble bungalows and magnificent mansions of Lahore, this book captures vignettes of the lives of Pakistani women who brave battles, big or small, every day. These women compare with their Indian counterparts as much as they contrast. Whether it is little Farida, through whose innocent eyes we see the drawing of political borders and the destruction of many families, or Meera, whose attempt at reaching out across these very borders is met with ridicule by her own countrymen; Summi, who shares the painful burden of her husband’s past; or the wanton Maria for whom love and relationships matter naught—these are real-life characters grappling with issues that are as timeless as they are contemporary.
Unfettered Wings is about strength and fortitude; of relationships in ordinary settings that unfold into extraordinary situations.
My Review - I’ve wanted to read a book from a Foreign Author of neighboring Countries of India especially from Pakistan for a long time and this wish of mine was fulfilled by Rupa Publications who sent me the copy of ‘Unfettered Wings’ by Sana Munir. I was so excited to read this book when I saw it while unpacking the parcel.
The book is a collection of short stories all focusing on different Women of different descend, Lines of work and Age. All in all, there are 10 stories. Each story talking to you from the perspective of the Women in focus. These 10 women are just ‘Ordinary Women with Extraordinary Stories’ as the Tagline of the book goes. All the 10 stories are titled with a Women’s name and a short tagline which gives a glimpse of what the story is about. But don’t get carried away with the tagline, once you start reading these stories, you’ll get deeper and deeper into the characters emotions and her perspective towards the life.
How thought-provoking it is that the stories she wrote from her surrounding of Pakistan are similar to what we here in my country India and maybe almost every country’s Women faces no matter how developed or underdeveloped the country is. The stories might be written from a different geographical plane but the resemblance of the hard goings a woman face is all the same. May it be Male Chauvinism, Molestation or Harassment or the Norms created by Society for women, all of it simply makes the life of a Women so Restricted, so confined.
Recently a few of my friends were talking about such incidences of women suppression when a dear friend of mine (Female) stated that she hadn’t met a girl in her life who haven’t faced any incident which left a scar on her soul. That moment I had a similar thought, having heard so many Soul chilling cases of such wrongdoing I felt a raised up anger and disappointment in Humanity. That’s why such a book as ‘Unfettered Wings’ is required for the society which shows a mirror of reflection and the Mighty powers of a Women which can’t and shouldn’t be suppressed by the Morons around.
Recently I read a Quote which was a thoughtful one and I would love to share with you –
‘Our generation is becoming so busy trying to prove that women can do what men can do that women are losing their uniqueness. Women weren’t created to do everything a man can do. women were created to do everything a man cant do.’
The above thought opened my mind to a different perspective which I wanted to share with my readers too. I Hope you too find it thoughtful.
The author did a great work writing such a profound book on the hardships of women and showing their strength which ultimately made me a huge fan of hers. I would definitely recommend this book to all around me and to whomsoever I met. I would also love to read more such books from her.
Verdict - The book will touch you the way, only a Women who saw and faced such circumstances can write. Just go for it and you’ll LOVE it.
Link to Blog - The Tales of Fugitive Biker
July 22, 2018
Read The Full Review Here: https://poesyinchrysalis.wordpress.co...
REVIEWED BY SOHINEE DEY
Sana Munir has crafted this book by putting together stories of ten different women who belong to the same country but are posed with different issues that changes their lives forever. Unfettered, as described as someone or something who is not restrained to progress is such a befitting title for the book when added with wings. Together these two words sits so well with the idea of these ten Pakistani women who even though chained by societal laws, aren’t restrained to dream about being free and battle everyday to have a chance at living a better life.
Even though our cultures are at variance with one another, there’s such a striking similarity between the lives of these Pakistani women and us, Indian women. Divided by borders and yet narrating such homogeneous stories, we truly are each other’s counterpart.
Travelling back in time with Munir’s narration, I found myself close to Farida, who with her innocent eyes had to witness such cruelty between humans; her innocent perspective on the world, ripped away from her. It was heartbreaking to read her story, to find that in a single moment she had to lose everything that were dear to her.
Next, I found myself sitting next to Reema, who even at the age of 80 had to reminisce when 10 year old herself falling a victim to child abuse. I could feel the pain when she was reliving those memories. Memories that no woman should ever have to think of.
The stories of Summi, Habiba, Nazia, Saima, Beena, Meera and Eeman were equally engrossing as the tales of these three women. These women had fought their battles with unwavering spirit. They were resolute in their opinions and it’s really something to think of how such remarkable stories are born in the quotidian life; accounts that feel oh so similar.
FINAL THOUGHTS
A book which is light in its weight but dense in its substance. ‘Unfettered Wings’ was such a gripping and riveting book to read. I’ll be waiting to read more books from this author.
Recommended to everyone out there.
POESY IN CHRYSALIS RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
For more reviews and bookish posts, follow my blog at www.poesyinchrysalis.wordpress.com. For review and promotional enquiries, write to me at query.sohinee@gmail.com.
REVIEWED BY SOHINEE DEY
Sana Munir has crafted this book by putting together stories of ten different women who belong to the same country but are posed with different issues that changes their lives forever. Unfettered, as described as someone or something who is not restrained to progress is such a befitting title for the book when added with wings. Together these two words sits so well with the idea of these ten Pakistani women who even though chained by societal laws, aren’t restrained to dream about being free and battle everyday to have a chance at living a better life.
Even though our cultures are at variance with one another, there’s such a striking similarity between the lives of these Pakistani women and us, Indian women. Divided by borders and yet narrating such homogeneous stories, we truly are each other’s counterpart.
Travelling back in time with Munir’s narration, I found myself close to Farida, who with her innocent eyes had to witness such cruelty between humans; her innocent perspective on the world, ripped away from her. It was heartbreaking to read her story, to find that in a single moment she had to lose everything that were dear to her.
Next, I found myself sitting next to Reema, who even at the age of 80 had to reminisce when 10 year old herself falling a victim to child abuse. I could feel the pain when she was reliving those memories. Memories that no woman should ever have to think of.
The stories of Summi, Habiba, Nazia, Saima, Beena, Meera and Eeman were equally engrossing as the tales of these three women. These women had fought their battles with unwavering spirit. They were resolute in their opinions and it’s really something to think of how such remarkable stories are born in the quotidian life; accounts that feel oh so similar.
FINAL THOUGHTS
A book which is light in its weight but dense in its substance. ‘Unfettered Wings’ was such a gripping and riveting book to read. I’ll be waiting to read more books from this author.
Recommended to everyone out there.
POESY IN CHRYSALIS RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
For more reviews and bookish posts, follow my blog at www.poesyinchrysalis.wordpress.com. For review and promotional enquiries, write to me at query.sohinee@gmail.com.
July 12, 2018
Unfettered Wings embraces ten exceptional fables of Pakistani women showing their resilience and endurance. It’s a novel recounting regular life situation of these women in an imposing way.
Each story brought the multitude of emotions and I was flowing along with the stories being totally arrested in the narration. I was feeling the pain with Farida, was disturbed to read Reema’s childhood exploitation, heartbroken when Habiba was executed, untangling the bride’s murder with Saima and wishful for Nazia’s happiness.
The stories are insightful letting you delve deep into the characters and their troubled life. Beena, a gynaecologist, though living a full filling life had always desired admiration and love from his husband just like Shah Rukh Khan act in his movies. Meera, professor of Political Science, whose work didn’t get acknowledged in her own country and Eeman who fought her Down’s syndrome since her birth.
I was mesmerized both in the writing and storytelling artistry of the author. The best part of the book is its storytelling and the narrative style of the author along with her brilliant choice of words to entice the readers. Each story left an enduring effect on my mind and even after completing it, it stayed.
I loved the cover which is so aptly exhibited. The grass, still water and especially the boat depicts emptiness and yet serene. It portrays the state of being broken within yet composed.
The book is stirring, moving and a compelling read. I loved reading every part of it and highly recommend it.
Each story brought the multitude of emotions and I was flowing along with the stories being totally arrested in the narration. I was feeling the pain with Farida, was disturbed to read Reema’s childhood exploitation, heartbroken when Habiba was executed, untangling the bride’s murder with Saima and wishful for Nazia’s happiness.
The stories are insightful letting you delve deep into the characters and their troubled life. Beena, a gynaecologist, though living a full filling life had always desired admiration and love from his husband just like Shah Rukh Khan act in his movies. Meera, professor of Political Science, whose work didn’t get acknowledged in her own country and Eeman who fought her Down’s syndrome since her birth.
I was mesmerized both in the writing and storytelling artistry of the author. The best part of the book is its storytelling and the narrative style of the author along with her brilliant choice of words to entice the readers. Each story left an enduring effect on my mind and even after completing it, it stayed.
I loved the cover which is so aptly exhibited. The grass, still water and especially the boat depicts emptiness and yet serene. It portrays the state of being broken within yet composed.
The book is stirring, moving and a compelling read. I loved reading every part of it and highly recommend it.
August 8, 2018
Follow Just A Girl High On Books for more reviews.
"I received a copy of this book from the publishers in exchange for an honest review."
Unfettered Wings by Sana Munir is a collection of ten extraordinary stories of ordinary women. The stories revolve around Pakistani women dealing with different situations and things in life—things I can perhaps never imagine letting myself experience, things I will definitely cower away from. These short stories are brutal and the fact that they have happened to real women, living in our neighbourhood (I'm an Indian) makes them a little more real and emotion and actually, ferocious.
If you follow my reviews, then you'll probably know that I have a thing for well-researched books. This book by Munir, according to me, is one such book. A plethora of emotions run through the pages of the books that would have probably been absent had Munir not sat down and actually talked to the women she featured in her book.
Don't get me wrong here, though! The book does not deal solely with sad stories, or only victims of a ruthless past— no, the stories also feature completely independent women who have learnt to take care of themselves, women like Maria, Beena, Saima and Meera. On the other hand, it also features special girls like Eenam and brave women like Summi and Nazia. In fact, I believe there were more women without a checkered past in the book than the ones with such a past.
No matter what though, each of them managed to become something other than the ordinary. And each of their stories is something out-of-the-box. This is exactly what makes this book so special.
Perhaps, if you ask me to pull a favorite out of these ten women and their stories, I wouldn't be able to. I admire all of them equally. I was in each of them by the time I finished that person's story.
Basically, what I'm trying to say is that I loved the book and would definitely recommend you to read it. Of course, the cover and the title of the book make it an attractive one, something you would probably go and pick up in a bookstore. Obviously though, they are not the only things special about this beautiful piece. The stories, the pace of each story, the story-line of each and then again, the woman behind each of these stories also makes for a good one. If there was one thing about the book that I probably did not like, it was the sudden shift in point-of-views from one person to another. It was something constant throughout each story, so I'm guessing that's because of the writing style of the author. I hope that can be worked upon, because this bothers me a lot but I'm ready to partly let go of it this time because Munir's writing was so beautiful otherwise!
In a nutshell then, Unfettered Wings is a beautiful novel that I'm guessing you will hopefully love, provided you give it a chance.
"I received a copy of this book from the publishers in exchange for an honest review."
Unfettered Wings by Sana Munir is a collection of ten extraordinary stories of ordinary women. The stories revolve around Pakistani women dealing with different situations and things in life—things I can perhaps never imagine letting myself experience, things I will definitely cower away from. These short stories are brutal and the fact that they have happened to real women, living in our neighbourhood (I'm an Indian) makes them a little more real and emotion and actually, ferocious.
If you follow my reviews, then you'll probably know that I have a thing for well-researched books. This book by Munir, according to me, is one such book. A plethora of emotions run through the pages of the books that would have probably been absent had Munir not sat down and actually talked to the women she featured in her book.
Don't get me wrong here, though! The book does not deal solely with sad stories, or only victims of a ruthless past— no, the stories also feature completely independent women who have learnt to take care of themselves, women like Maria, Beena, Saima and Meera. On the other hand, it also features special girls like Eenam and brave women like Summi and Nazia. In fact, I believe there were more women without a checkered past in the book than the ones with such a past.
No matter what though, each of them managed to become something other than the ordinary. And each of their stories is something out-of-the-box. This is exactly what makes this book so special.
Perhaps, if you ask me to pull a favorite out of these ten women and their stories, I wouldn't be able to. I admire all of them equally. I was in each of them by the time I finished that person's story.
Basically, what I'm trying to say is that I loved the book and would definitely recommend you to read it. Of course, the cover and the title of the book make it an attractive one, something you would probably go and pick up in a bookstore. Obviously though, they are not the only things special about this beautiful piece. The stories, the pace of each story, the story-line of each and then again, the woman behind each of these stories also makes for a good one. If there was one thing about the book that I probably did not like, it was the sudden shift in point-of-views from one person to another. It was something constant throughout each story, so I'm guessing that's because of the writing style of the author. I hope that can be worked upon, because this bothers me a lot but I'm ready to partly let go of it this time because Munir's writing was so beautiful otherwise!
In a nutshell then, Unfettered Wings is a beautiful novel that I'm guessing you will hopefully love, provided you give it a chance.
August 17, 2018
Unfettered wings
An emotional book suffused with a lot of emotional sentiments & infused with copious amounts of emotions & feelings.
Cover is beautiful & has been designed in an elegant manner.
Title is excellent & couldn't have been better considering the plot & the way it has been written.
The book is a sololique of stories of different women from Pakistan working in different fields & aspects of life. What amazes me is the book is the collection of short stories, a total of 10. All written from the view of the writer & presented to the ordinary public which acts as an inspiration to all.
All the stories are gripping, emotional, catchy & inspirational. A must read for all the young women out there who wish to reach the heights of greatness. The dreams of women, their zeal to accomplish things in life has been presented in an elegant manner.
An interesting, interactive, challenging, gripping, emotional & informative book.
An emotional book suffused with a lot of emotional sentiments & infused with copious amounts of emotions & feelings.
Cover is beautiful & has been designed in an elegant manner.
Title is excellent & couldn't have been better considering the plot & the way it has been written.
The book is a sololique of stories of different women from Pakistan working in different fields & aspects of life. What amazes me is the book is the collection of short stories, a total of 10. All written from the view of the writer & presented to the ordinary public which acts as an inspiration to all.
All the stories are gripping, emotional, catchy & inspirational. A must read for all the young women out there who wish to reach the heights of greatness. The dreams of women, their zeal to accomplish things in life has been presented in an elegant manner.
An interesting, interactive, challenging, gripping, emotional & informative book.
February 26, 2019
The entire collection is thought provoking and the rawness of life, pain, growth, human emotion is wrapped in Munir's lyrical style and diction. This book was a joy to read. There is compassion and poignancy in every story, in every aspect of human life explored. Must read.
January 10, 2020
Unfettered wings, is a collection of short stories of Pakistani women. Some stories are inspiring, some are heart-breaking with collections from rural Pakistan to posh areas of Lahore. I loved the simplicity with which the book is written - extraordinary stories of ordinary women.
August 13, 2018
The subtitle of Sana Munir’s Unfettered Wings (‘Extraordinary Stories of Ordinary Women’) suggests that these are non-fiction: anecdotes, perhaps, of indomitable courage or resilience or other virtues, culled from the lives of everyday women. As the blurb on the back cover further explains it: “From the barren dust bowl of Nushki… to the posh white marble bungalows and immense mansions of Lahore, this captures vignettes of the lives of Pakistani women who brave battles, big and small…”
But no, the women of Sana Munir’s book are fictitious women. Farida, who is uprooted from her village in Patiala and taken to Pakistan in 1947. Maria, a wealthy prostitute who entrances a carpet seller. Habiba, ‘the girl with topaz eyes’, whose closest male relatives—father, younger brother and cousin—kidnap people as ‘assignments’. The divorced single mother, Nazia, who has escaped an abusive husband only to find herself ostracized by a society which regards her as the guilty party.
Of the ten stories contained in this book, only one—Maria: The wanton one—is told from the point of view of a man. The others are all from the perspective of a woman or a girl. All the stories are of a woman living life on their own terms, whether she’s a police officer investigating a crime, a girl defying the purdah that stops her from giving food to a hungry stranger, or a woman trying to come to terms with being raped in her childhood. Or a professor who refuses to buckle under pressure to conform. Or a woman who’s such a diehard fan of Shahrukh Khan’s that her idea of the perfect wedding anniversary celebration is to watch the star’s latest movie with her husband.
All of these stories are, to some extent, grim: at times horribly and realistically so (Habiba, Farida, and Reema stand out in this respect). Others have the grimness softened by the counterbalance provided by love, friendship, other aspects that make a woman’s life less of a challenge from birth to death.
The stories themselves are a varied lot, with the best at the beginning of the book. It is in stories like Farida, Maria, Habiba, Summi and (in some ways) Reema that Munir’s storytelling shines through: her descriptions evoke a Pakistan that few Indians, at least, would be familiar with. Not just the physical aspects of the country, but its people, culture, society. In these stories, she displays an adeptness at depicting life in a gripping, hard-hitting way.
In contrast, the stories further on fall a bit flat. Meera and Eeman veer off into more ‘telling’ and less ‘showing’, thus diluting the message; and Saima, which is a whodunnit at its core does not really fit with the rest. The language, though mostly adequate, goes off the rails now and then, with grammatical errors and incorrect idioms. And Reema has several embarrassing anachronisms (I doubt if the average Pakistani home had TVs and freezers in 1948; and were there really call centres in Pakistan in 1960)?
(From my review for The New Indian Express, August 12, 2018: http://www.newindianexpress.com/lifes...)
But no, the women of Sana Munir’s book are fictitious women. Farida, who is uprooted from her village in Patiala and taken to Pakistan in 1947. Maria, a wealthy prostitute who entrances a carpet seller. Habiba, ‘the girl with topaz eyes’, whose closest male relatives—father, younger brother and cousin—kidnap people as ‘assignments’. The divorced single mother, Nazia, who has escaped an abusive husband only to find herself ostracized by a society which regards her as the guilty party.
Of the ten stories contained in this book, only one—Maria: The wanton one—is told from the point of view of a man. The others are all from the perspective of a woman or a girl. All the stories are of a woman living life on their own terms, whether she’s a police officer investigating a crime, a girl defying the purdah that stops her from giving food to a hungry stranger, or a woman trying to come to terms with being raped in her childhood. Or a professor who refuses to buckle under pressure to conform. Or a woman who’s such a diehard fan of Shahrukh Khan’s that her idea of the perfect wedding anniversary celebration is to watch the star’s latest movie with her husband.
All of these stories are, to some extent, grim: at times horribly and realistically so (Habiba, Farida, and Reema stand out in this respect). Others have the grimness softened by the counterbalance provided by love, friendship, other aspects that make a woman’s life less of a challenge from birth to death.
The stories themselves are a varied lot, with the best at the beginning of the book. It is in stories like Farida, Maria, Habiba, Summi and (in some ways) Reema that Munir’s storytelling shines through: her descriptions evoke a Pakistan that few Indians, at least, would be familiar with. Not just the physical aspects of the country, but its people, culture, society. In these stories, she displays an adeptness at depicting life in a gripping, hard-hitting way.
In contrast, the stories further on fall a bit flat. Meera and Eeman veer off into more ‘telling’ and less ‘showing’, thus diluting the message; and Saima, which is a whodunnit at its core does not really fit with the rest. The language, though mostly adequate, goes off the rails now and then, with grammatical errors and incorrect idioms. And Reema has several embarrassing anachronisms (I doubt if the average Pakistani home had TVs and freezers in 1948; and were there really call centres in Pakistan in 1960)?
(From my review for The New Indian Express, August 12, 2018: http://www.newindianexpress.com/lifes...)
March 5, 2019
Unfettered Wings is an anthology of short stories which revolves around the women of Pakistan. This book has ten short stories, and you won’t end up in swimming in the pool of your tears. I bought this book after reading review of my friend @komal_bibliomaniac and i am writing this review as @sanamunir82 wished for it.
I got misty-eyed while reading the book “Unfettered wings” by “Sana Munir”. It seemed as I were seeing everything with my own eyes. Every woman showed a great stoicism during her decisive battles of life. Sana has given life to words in her own style.
The story about Farida got my interest. Farida, literally, made me imagine the massacre that had happened with my grandfather, taya (who passed away after migration) and phupho, who passed away on 26th October, 2018. She used to tell us about her painful past. Anyhow, Farida was like a bird whose parents longed for freedom but what she got, was a caged heart with a Free country with no one around to console her.
If you look at the story of Reema, it speaks itself about the pain and suffering of an unimpeachable mind; the unspoken words, never does harm others but in the long run they do tilt your world, upside down. It speaks about the story of Maria who wasn’t bound to any ties but her malignant actions ruined the life of Baseer. It is the tale of Summi, who lived her life without complaining and endured his husband’s guilt. It narrates how Habiba was brutally murdered on the name of “Honour”, just because she defied the Pardah rule and gave food to the captives. It tells us about the strong willed woman, Nazia, who was a divorced single mother who absconded her disrespectful husband but she was the one who was at fault in the eyes of society. A story about Beena, the fanatic fan of Shahrukh Khan, makes us realise that no matter how much small the thing is, it can make you smile and it can make you sad, only if that thing matters to you. Story about Meera's life, who fulfils her dream without being discouraged and the never ending courage of a mother, mother of Eemaan who has a down syndrome.
A fiction written in simple words, that is motivational and will make you emotional. It is full of tragedies but gives you the lesson of courage and strength.
I got misty-eyed while reading the book “Unfettered wings” by “Sana Munir”. It seemed as I were seeing everything with my own eyes. Every woman showed a great stoicism during her decisive battles of life. Sana has given life to words in her own style.
The story about Farida got my interest. Farida, literally, made me imagine the massacre that had happened with my grandfather, taya (who passed away after migration) and phupho, who passed away on 26th October, 2018. She used to tell us about her painful past. Anyhow, Farida was like a bird whose parents longed for freedom but what she got, was a caged heart with a Free country with no one around to console her.
If you look at the story of Reema, it speaks itself about the pain and suffering of an unimpeachable mind; the unspoken words, never does harm others but in the long run they do tilt your world, upside down. It speaks about the story of Maria who wasn’t bound to any ties but her malignant actions ruined the life of Baseer. It is the tale of Summi, who lived her life without complaining and endured his husband’s guilt. It narrates how Habiba was brutally murdered on the name of “Honour”, just because she defied the Pardah rule and gave food to the captives. It tells us about the strong willed woman, Nazia, who was a divorced single mother who absconded her disrespectful husband but she was the one who was at fault in the eyes of society. A story about Beena, the fanatic fan of Shahrukh Khan, makes us realise that no matter how much small the thing is, it can make you smile and it can make you sad, only if that thing matters to you. Story about Meera's life, who fulfils her dream without being discouraged and the never ending courage of a mother, mother of Eemaan who has a down syndrome.
A fiction written in simple words, that is motivational and will make you emotional. It is full of tragedies but gives you the lesson of courage and strength.
March 24, 2019
Sana Munir’s powerful book captures the day-to-day relatable lives of ten women from Pakistan, each in a different setting and with unique conflicts. While some stories portray the harsh and hard-hitting realities of the condition of women, the rest offer insights into the minds of some special souls.
The subtitle says, ‘Extraordinary Stories of Ordinary Women’, but it may be noted here that the book is even more. While each story revolves around a female protagonist, ‘Unfettered Wings’ is also about the brave men in the lives of these women who provide strength and support, thus enabling them to see their full potential.
Some stories make you feel deeply for the characters; the rest bring a smile to your face.
Some notable mentions:
Farida’s story, narrated from the point of view of a child, leaves you feeling emotional.
.
Reema’s life mirrors many incidents from our society; her sadness and naivety are well-sketched.
.
Summi’s wisdom and maturity bolster her spouse. The kind of understanding and love they share is beautiful..
.
Eemam is a distinct girl – a champion –who battles all odds and emerges victorious even in the face of serious medical conditions.
.
.
My favourite, however, is Maria – “The Wanton One”, who shares a special bond with a man younger than her. The writing is so beautiful, and I was compelled to read it twice. The author has employed various devices while narrating this story. It’s literary fiction at it’s best; easily one of the best short stories I have read. The yearning between the characters is so real and heartfelt.
Ratings:
While the stories make me want to settle for a 4.5, the writing is so intricate and well-woven and is a notch above many other books of its genre. 5 stars would be an understatement with the writing style.
.
Overall, it’s 5/5 for me.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
.
#unfetteredwings #sanamunir
#bookreview #bookreviewer #bookoftheweek #indianauthors #pakistaniauthors #
#literaryfiction
The subtitle says, ‘Extraordinary Stories of Ordinary Women’, but it may be noted here that the book is even more. While each story revolves around a female protagonist, ‘Unfettered Wings’ is also about the brave men in the lives of these women who provide strength and support, thus enabling them to see their full potential.
Some stories make you feel deeply for the characters; the rest bring a smile to your face.
Some notable mentions:
Farida’s story, narrated from the point of view of a child, leaves you feeling emotional.
.
Reema’s life mirrors many incidents from our society; her sadness and naivety are well-sketched.
.
Summi’s wisdom and maturity bolster her spouse. The kind of understanding and love they share is beautiful..
.
Eemam is a distinct girl – a champion –who battles all odds and emerges victorious even in the face of serious medical conditions.
.
.
My favourite, however, is Maria – “The Wanton One”, who shares a special bond with a man younger than her. The writing is so beautiful, and I was compelled to read it twice. The author has employed various devices while narrating this story. It’s literary fiction at it’s best; easily one of the best short stories I have read. The yearning between the characters is so real and heartfelt.
Ratings:
While the stories make me want to settle for a 4.5, the writing is so intricate and well-woven and is a notch above many other books of its genre. 5 stars would be an understatement with the writing style.
.
Overall, it’s 5/5 for me.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
.
#unfetteredwings #sanamunir
#bookreview #bookreviewer #bookoftheweek #indianauthors #pakistaniauthors #
#literaryfiction
July 24, 2018
So, I finished reading Sana Munir’s presently written collection of stories about ten different women. These women have their own stories to revolve around and they all are one of us or someone we have known or met once in our life. I have remembered a number of women and men while reading through the pages of this book.
“Oh, this looks like one of our Chemistry teacher in college who never got married but was successful..” (Meera) OR “Yeah, that man who had slaughtered his wife when I was in 12th grade...”(Saima) OR “Ayesha struck to me as myself” (Habiba) - so on and so forth
There is nothing common in these stories, the women have totally different personalities, their characters weave into their own plots but what is unique about all of them is that they dared to challenge the norm, if they lost - at least they tried to fight.
Today, I was having a discussion and a lady said that women have to go through harassment so that they can fit in. My reply was why try to fit in when you have your own identity. The moment women think they have to act like men and fit in, they have lost before even starting! Women are different and they are created to do what men cannot do and do better at what they do.
This collection of stories gives this message exactly that there is no fitting in - there is only making a way for yourself. Whether it is Farida, Summi, Nazia, Beena, or Eeman - they carved their strength, bravery, and beauty themselves which belongs to them only. And with them, the rest characters have fallen in their roles.
I hope to read more from the author, in the coming future. Her writing style being modern still gives you the ease of common language communication. Best of luck to Sana!
“Oh, this looks like one of our Chemistry teacher in college who never got married but was successful..” (Meera) OR “Yeah, that man who had slaughtered his wife when I was in 12th grade...”(Saima) OR “Ayesha struck to me as myself” (Habiba) - so on and so forth
There is nothing common in these stories, the women have totally different personalities, their characters weave into their own plots but what is unique about all of them is that they dared to challenge the norm, if they lost - at least they tried to fight.
Today, I was having a discussion and a lady said that women have to go through harassment so that they can fit in. My reply was why try to fit in when you have your own identity. The moment women think they have to act like men and fit in, they have lost before even starting! Women are different and they are created to do what men cannot do and do better at what they do.
This collection of stories gives this message exactly that there is no fitting in - there is only making a way for yourself. Whether it is Farida, Summi, Nazia, Beena, or Eeman - they carved their strength, bravery, and beauty themselves which belongs to them only. And with them, the rest characters have fallen in their roles.
I hope to read more from the author, in the coming future. Her writing style being modern still gives you the ease of common language communication. Best of luck to Sana!
March 9, 2019
4/5!♦️♦️♦️♦️/5
✨Presenting ‘Unfettered Wings’ by Sana Munir✨
I absolutely love reading short story collections set in Pakistan or South East Asia, especially ever since I read Tehmina Khan’s Things She Could Never Have. It was for this reason I got In Other Rooms and Other Wonders by Daniyal Moeenuddin, Saints and Charlatans by Sarim Baig and Unfettered Wings by Sana Munir.
Unfettered Wings was thoroughly an amazing read. I love all of the stories, from that of Farida, the dutiful loyal daughter and granddaughter, to the Topaz-eyed girl Habiba, and to the single mother Nazia and all others. All these women were special in their own unique distinct way.
•
Though I enjoyed reading about all these women, I would like to specifically mention Farida’s story. It was her tale which made me read all the following stories in the book. I was totally immersed from the beginning till the end, and finished the book in one sitting.
•
“Farida, belongs to a family which is migrating from Patiala to Lahore in the wake of Indo-Pak partition. Her story encompasses everything that innocent people on both sides of the border had to go through, the way they suffered, but despite that remained steadfast for the sake of their family. It is a must-read beautifully written, powerful and heart-breaking story.”
•
For full thoughts-cum-review, link in bio.
✨Presenting ‘Unfettered Wings’ by Sana Munir✨
I absolutely love reading short story collections set in Pakistan or South East Asia, especially ever since I read Tehmina Khan’s Things She Could Never Have. It was for this reason I got In Other Rooms and Other Wonders by Daniyal Moeenuddin, Saints and Charlatans by Sarim Baig and Unfettered Wings by Sana Munir.
Unfettered Wings was thoroughly an amazing read. I love all of the stories, from that of Farida, the dutiful loyal daughter and granddaughter, to the Topaz-eyed girl Habiba, and to the single mother Nazia and all others. All these women were special in their own unique distinct way.
•
Though I enjoyed reading about all these women, I would like to specifically mention Farida’s story. It was her tale which made me read all the following stories in the book. I was totally immersed from the beginning till the end, and finished the book in one sitting.
•
“Farida, belongs to a family which is migrating from Patiala to Lahore in the wake of Indo-Pak partition. Her story encompasses everything that innocent people on both sides of the border had to go through, the way they suffered, but despite that remained steadfast for the sake of their family. It is a must-read beautifully written, powerful and heart-breaking story.”
•
For full thoughts-cum-review, link in bio.
February 17, 2019
Sana Munir has brilliantly captured the pathos prevalent in the lives of women in her debut book, Unfettered Wings.
The book evokes pain, makes you cringe, and forces you to question your intentions or beliefs.
Comprising 10 stories, aptly named after women from all walks of life, irrespective of age or background, Sana has woven a tale that any woman, be it in Pakistan, India, or a First World country can immediately correlate and empathize with.
The craft of writing, a lofty one indeed, demands a certain degree of mastery over the use of prose to sway the reader, enough to make them share their time and mindspace with the author. Effortlessly, Sana moves into your mind, plays with your emotions, and captured your heart. Be it Reema in 'The Keeper of Secrets' or be it Farida, the eldest child in the family who must live with a terrible nightmare, Sana weaves into each story, turbulent emotions and the aftermath of mindless violence.
About the Cover:
> The cover has my favorite color, Blue, with red letters announcing the name of the book. The lonely boat waiting for its occupant tells a tale by itself.
>I loved the embossing, maybe I have a thing for embossed letters, but I feel it adds to the richness of the text.
About the Book:
>I am giving it a 5/5 rating. I wish I could give it more. I loved it a lot. It made me cry, it made me sad. I had to take a few days off to get back to normal.
>The raw appeal in Sana's words make you cringe, which can be quite a body blow if you are unprepared.
>This one doesn't read like a debut book at all. The maturity in her writing comes from being prepared for this profession for ages.
Final words:
I highly recommend this book.
The book evokes pain, makes you cringe, and forces you to question your intentions or beliefs.
Comprising 10 stories, aptly named after women from all walks of life, irrespective of age or background, Sana has woven a tale that any woman, be it in Pakistan, India, or a First World country can immediately correlate and empathize with.
The craft of writing, a lofty one indeed, demands a certain degree of mastery over the use of prose to sway the reader, enough to make them share their time and mindspace with the author. Effortlessly, Sana moves into your mind, plays with your emotions, and captured your heart. Be it Reema in 'The Keeper of Secrets' or be it Farida, the eldest child in the family who must live with a terrible nightmare, Sana weaves into each story, turbulent emotions and the aftermath of mindless violence.
About the Cover:
> The cover has my favorite color, Blue, with red letters announcing the name of the book. The lonely boat waiting for its occupant tells a tale by itself.
>I loved the embossing, maybe I have a thing for embossed letters, but I feel it adds to the richness of the text.
About the Book:
>I am giving it a 5/5 rating. I wish I could give it more. I loved it a lot. It made me cry, it made me sad. I had to take a few days off to get back to normal.
>The raw appeal in Sana's words make you cringe, which can be quite a body blow if you are unprepared.
>This one doesn't read like a debut book at all. The maturity in her writing comes from being prepared for this profession for ages.
Final words:
I highly recommend this book.
Read
June 25, 2019Honest, sublime and unputdownable, Sana Munir’s ‘Unfettered Wings’ speaks of many worlds and paints many hues with its own distinct colors in the minds firmament.
A girl caught in the midst of the Partition mayhem who after losing everyone dear to her finally marries a man twice her age for the sake of refuge, a woman who has legally battled her way out of a nefarious relationship and is now resurrecting her life from scratch, a girl who took bullets for her kindness towards a stranger, a woman who battled the trauma of childhood molestation all her life, a mother of 3 sons who realized the true significance of ‘motherhood’ only after giving birth to a girl child with Down Syndrome. These are some of the characters that pulls you like a magnet and leaves you overwhelmed with their incredible tales. These are the women residing the pages of ‘Unfettered Wings’ written by Sana Munir.
The book is a collection of 10 shorts that speaks about the ‘extra ordinary stories of ordinary women’ with each story having its own flavor and taking the reader on a literal journey through the various contours of Pakistan. It is most fascinating how the author has covered different parts of the country in her stories.
While reading the story ‘Maria’, I was literally transported to the quaintly beautiful Baluchistan, the land of the deserts, from where comes a merchant to the city of Lahore to sell his carpets. In his land, poetry is sung to the rhythm of ‘dutar’ that may not be a ‘’grand orchestra of sorts, but is so titillating that the vibrations reach from the eardrum to a place deep inside.” Simplistic Baseer lands in the city and falls in love with the beautiful Maria. Soon he loses his sleep over her and stands outside her mansion daily to get a glimpse of her. After days of waiting to see her in person, he finally makes it to her mansion one day, his naïve self gets exposed to the riches of her world. But he soon realised that for Maria ‘love’ has no meaning, its isn’t something she is seeking. Through her words, he understood where her ‘interest’ lies and could rationalize why so many men came in and went out of her huge mansion at different times of the day. With a broken heart, this rural lad left her mansion that day. He ‘stopped standing in front of Maria’s house, but she kept house in his heart….she stayed in his subconscious mind, when he made love to his wife, who bore him 4 children’.
Each story in this fantastic collection will tug a string in the reader’s heart, with its wonderful narration and immense impact.
In the story ‘Habiba’, the author takes us to the rugged terrains in the district of Nushki that's surrounded by hills and rocks. Habiba’s father is a contract killer who takes ‘assignments’ of kidnapping high profile people. Habiba, the rebellious of the two sisters, with a heart of gold, falls for this ‘prisoner’ who was stationed at their place and eventually meets a fatal end for an act of kindness towards him, which was misunderstood for adultery. Girls like Habiba are the ones who follow strict purdah and hence are totally cut off from the outside world. The author describes, “at fifteen years of age, Habiba’s beauty has not been admired by a man’s eye. She always had every bit of her skin covered, except her eyes - they were like a poetic mix of blue and green, with specks of gold and black in them.’
The harsh reality of the patriarchal society in the rural parts of Pakistan and the vulnerability of the human heart is effectively brought through this touching tale. The effect of the last few lines of this story are tremendous and I for one, couldn’t move on to the next story before taking a few moments to let the heaviness subside.
In the story ‘Eeman’, the author takes us to a strange world, that of motherhood that emerges and evolves with the birth of a girl child. With three sons already borne out of her, it is only when Zainab gave birth to Eeman that she realized the true strength of a woman, a girl. The author writes, “every time a woman gives birth to another, she is possibly channeling another mother into the world, another source of God’s system to keep the world running. A female foetus develops ovaries and eggs in her body, even before she comes into the world. She is prepared to be a mother even before her own birth. That, and that alone is reason enough to welcome a girl child’. Powerful lines, it really moved the woman in me to the core.
To read the full review, click here :
https://thebookbuzz.net/2019/06/22/un...
A girl caught in the midst of the Partition mayhem who after losing everyone dear to her finally marries a man twice her age for the sake of refuge, a woman who has legally battled her way out of a nefarious relationship and is now resurrecting her life from scratch, a girl who took bullets for her kindness towards a stranger, a woman who battled the trauma of childhood molestation all her life, a mother of 3 sons who realized the true significance of ‘motherhood’ only after giving birth to a girl child with Down Syndrome. These are some of the characters that pulls you like a magnet and leaves you overwhelmed with their incredible tales. These are the women residing the pages of ‘Unfettered Wings’ written by Sana Munir.
The book is a collection of 10 shorts that speaks about the ‘extra ordinary stories of ordinary women’ with each story having its own flavor and taking the reader on a literal journey through the various contours of Pakistan. It is most fascinating how the author has covered different parts of the country in her stories.
While reading the story ‘Maria’, I was literally transported to the quaintly beautiful Baluchistan, the land of the deserts, from where comes a merchant to the city of Lahore to sell his carpets. In his land, poetry is sung to the rhythm of ‘dutar’ that may not be a ‘’grand orchestra of sorts, but is so titillating that the vibrations reach from the eardrum to a place deep inside.” Simplistic Baseer lands in the city and falls in love with the beautiful Maria. Soon he loses his sleep over her and stands outside her mansion daily to get a glimpse of her. After days of waiting to see her in person, he finally makes it to her mansion one day, his naïve self gets exposed to the riches of her world. But he soon realised that for Maria ‘love’ has no meaning, its isn’t something she is seeking. Through her words, he understood where her ‘interest’ lies and could rationalize why so many men came in and went out of her huge mansion at different times of the day. With a broken heart, this rural lad left her mansion that day. He ‘stopped standing in front of Maria’s house, but she kept house in his heart….she stayed in his subconscious mind, when he made love to his wife, who bore him 4 children’.
Each story in this fantastic collection will tug a string in the reader’s heart, with its wonderful narration and immense impact.
In the story ‘Habiba’, the author takes us to the rugged terrains in the district of Nushki that's surrounded by hills and rocks. Habiba’s father is a contract killer who takes ‘assignments’ of kidnapping high profile people. Habiba, the rebellious of the two sisters, with a heart of gold, falls for this ‘prisoner’ who was stationed at their place and eventually meets a fatal end for an act of kindness towards him, which was misunderstood for adultery. Girls like Habiba are the ones who follow strict purdah and hence are totally cut off from the outside world. The author describes, “at fifteen years of age, Habiba’s beauty has not been admired by a man’s eye. She always had every bit of her skin covered, except her eyes - they were like a poetic mix of blue and green, with specks of gold and black in them.’
The harsh reality of the patriarchal society in the rural parts of Pakistan and the vulnerability of the human heart is effectively brought through this touching tale. The effect of the last few lines of this story are tremendous and I for one, couldn’t move on to the next story before taking a few moments to let the heaviness subside.
In the story ‘Eeman’, the author takes us to a strange world, that of motherhood that emerges and evolves with the birth of a girl child. With three sons already borne out of her, it is only when Zainab gave birth to Eeman that she realized the true strength of a woman, a girl. The author writes, “every time a woman gives birth to another, she is possibly channeling another mother into the world, another source of God’s system to keep the world running. A female foetus develops ovaries and eggs in her body, even before she comes into the world. She is prepared to be a mother even before her own birth. That, and that alone is reason enough to welcome a girl child’. Powerful lines, it really moved the woman in me to the core.
To read the full review, click here :
https://thebookbuzz.net/2019/06/22/un...
August 25, 2018
This book is a collection of ten short stories with female protagonists. Initially, when I read the blurb and looked at the cover, I did not know what to expect from this book; but the title of the book hinted at the theme of liberation. The index of this book is unique – the name of the story is followed by a short phrase in italics which captures the essence of the story. Moreover, all the stories are named after their central characters. The first story ‘Farida’ is about the India-Pakistan partition which was followed by bloodshed, grief and loss to both the countries. ‘Reema’ is the heart-breaking story of childhood sexual abuse and trauma. ‘Maria’ is the story of a prostitute with whom Asif, a Persian rug trader falls in love. ‘Summi’ is the wife of a soldier and an act of bravery she shows leaves the soldier in awe. ‘Habiba’ is a complicated love story of a girl with topaz eyes, set in the desert filled with dangers. ‘Nazia’ is a divorced woman who finally gains the courage to break free from the confines of the society. ‘Saima’ is an interesting crime thriller in which two policewomen investigate a complex case. ‘Beena’ is the story of a couple who try to rekindle the lost spark in their relationship. ‘Meera’ is a political science professor who discovers her passion and makes her dreams come true. ‘Eeman’ is the story of how a mother discovers that her daughter is a blessing in disguise. Each story has a unique theme and the narration is heart touching. The book has a lot of powerful female characters which is rarely observed in books. This book is a refreshing collection of short stories that will inspire and motivate you to discover your hidden strength.
April 2, 2019
Unfettered Wings by Sana Munir is a collection of stories each titled after a woman proceeded with the theme of the story from beyond the border in Pakistan .
It is astounding how much similarities the common people have across the border. Starting off with Farida's story during partition when she and family leave from Patiala to Lahore and the premise of the departure. This was one of my most favorite stories with the gory details during the partition riots that just broke my heart.
There are 10 stories in total ranging wide variety of topics from sexual abuse from a family member, single mother, honor killing to some strong independent women like Saima ,the inspector and Meera that professor.
All in all Farida, Reema, Maria, Summi, Habiba, Nazia, Saima, Beena, Meera and Eeman were all relatable and written very well. The only story that I felt could have ended well was Beena's, I kind of felt the story was incomplete.
If you love short stories and looking for a good read I highly recommend this book. It was power packed and had all the right emotions.
Rating:4.25/5
It is astounding how much similarities the common people have across the border. Starting off with Farida's story during partition when she and family leave from Patiala to Lahore and the premise of the departure. This was one of my most favorite stories with the gory details during the partition riots that just broke my heart.
There are 10 stories in total ranging wide variety of topics from sexual abuse from a family member, single mother, honor killing to some strong independent women like Saima ,the inspector and Meera that professor.
All in all Farida, Reema, Maria, Summi, Habiba, Nazia, Saima, Beena, Meera and Eeman were all relatable and written very well. The only story that I felt could have ended well was Beena's, I kind of felt the story was incomplete.
If you love short stories and looking for a good read I highly recommend this book. It was power packed and had all the right emotions.
Rating:4.25/5
January 24, 2019
"Unfettered Wings" by Sana Munir is a compilation of ten different short stories, each story having a unique essence to it.
The author highlights the everyday problems and the battles that all women, in general, have to face and fight. Whether it is Reema, who has to go through such a terrible time at a very young age, or Farida, whose family is taken away from her, or the unforgettable story of Eman, which revolves around a mother's unconditional love for her child and ways in which faith tests you - these are real- life situations involving real-life characters.
Every page of the book, it's every story, engulfs one in a completely different manner, a goal that few writers achieve.
The author highlights the everyday problems and the battles that all women, in general, have to face and fight. Whether it is Reema, who has to go through such a terrible time at a very young age, or Farida, whose family is taken away from her, or the unforgettable story of Eman, which revolves around a mother's unconditional love for her child and ways in which faith tests you - these are real- life situations involving real-life characters.
Every page of the book, it's every story, engulfs one in a completely different manner, a goal that few writers achieve.
April 5, 2019
Book:Unfettered Wings
Author: Sana Munir
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The title and the cover were enough reasons for me to pick up this beautiful book by Sana Munir. Unfettered Wings is a collection of stories portraying lives of Pakistani women from diverse strata of society. However, one thing, that threads together all the characters is the grit. Be it the young Farida's story who witnesses the barbarous murder of her family during partition or the old professor and writer, Meera's story who stands strong against the narrow conventions and boundary limitations of the world, or the story of Zainab's love and perseverance towards her children, to name a few, the woman character of each story is strong and unforgettable Each story is a gem.
Author: Sana Munir
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The title and the cover were enough reasons for me to pick up this beautiful book by Sana Munir. Unfettered Wings is a collection of stories portraying lives of Pakistani women from diverse strata of society. However, one thing, that threads together all the characters is the grit. Be it the young Farida's story who witnesses the barbarous murder of her family during partition or the old professor and writer, Meera's story who stands strong against the narrow conventions and boundary limitations of the world, or the story of Zainab's love and perseverance towards her children, to name a few, the woman character of each story is strong and unforgettable Each story is a gem.
October 26, 2018
Sana Munir puts her heart and soul into this heart wrenching and memorable tales of struggles. She evokes emotions and makes us question about the human spirit unlike few others can. She is a true master and deserves all the accolades that will be coming her way. As a fellow writer I admire her ability to keep a reader constantly engaged in her tales.
Take a bow Ma'am.
Take a bow Ma'am.
January 24, 2019
With narratives that are both moving and engaging, each story takes us through lives and settings that may be vastly different from our own; but the author maintains a fine balance with well-etched characters and emotions that one can relate to. Loved each story immensely to the point that I couldn’t pick a favourite! This is one of those rare gems wthat deserves a place on every bookshelf!
April 1, 2019
Extraordinary in its focus and narration, Munir's book is a useful addition to literature from Pakistan
July 18, 2018
Unfettered Wings by Sana Munir is an Anthology of short stories about the Women of Pakistan.
The Author has flawlessly woven 10 short Stories into a beautiful book. Each short story will keep you hooked up to the very last word. Each story greets you with manifold emotions and the instant connection you form with the characters are longlasting, even after you have long finished reading the book.
Sana has Depicted the women across the Subcontinent. Providing us insight into the lives of the women, whose culture is both similar and strange to us. A collection of 10 engrossing short stories, recounts the life of ordinary yet extraordinary women, that will melt your heart.
While reading the book I felt that some of the stories in this book were part of me and my life. The connection was so potent and real. Written in a very simple language yet artistically told.
Selecting My three favorite Short stories from this beautiful bouquet of stories kind of proved difficult, but I had to give you all a glimpse of the book.
These are the 3 stories that moved me and shook me from the very core of my heart:
1. Farida: A story of a 12yrs old girl, who is very excited for her very 1st train ride to Lahore. Farida, who had never imagined, that the hours between her very 1st train ride, will wreak havoc in her life.
2. Summi: This is a story of a wife of a Soldier. Summi like a brave Soldier, bore the guilt of her husband’s past and plowed on in life.
3. Beena: Beena so like me, is a fan of Shahrukh Khan. Plans her Wedding Anniversary, but only to get disappointed.
Thank you Rupa Publication for giving me the review copy of the Book.
Recommendation:
A light read you can read it in a go…
The Author has flawlessly woven 10 short Stories into a beautiful book. Each short story will keep you hooked up to the very last word. Each story greets you with manifold emotions and the instant connection you form with the characters are longlasting, even after you have long finished reading the book.
Sana has Depicted the women across the Subcontinent. Providing us insight into the lives of the women, whose culture is both similar and strange to us. A collection of 10 engrossing short stories, recounts the life of ordinary yet extraordinary women, that will melt your heart.
While reading the book I felt that some of the stories in this book were part of me and my life. The connection was so potent and real. Written in a very simple language yet artistically told.
Selecting My three favorite Short stories from this beautiful bouquet of stories kind of proved difficult, but I had to give you all a glimpse of the book.
These are the 3 stories that moved me and shook me from the very core of my heart:
1. Farida: A story of a 12yrs old girl, who is very excited for her very 1st train ride to Lahore. Farida, who had never imagined, that the hours between her very 1st train ride, will wreak havoc in her life.
2. Summi: This is a story of a wife of a Soldier. Summi like a brave Soldier, bore the guilt of her husband’s past and plowed on in life.
3. Beena: Beena so like me, is a fan of Shahrukh Khan. Plans her Wedding Anniversary, but only to get disappointed.
Thank you Rupa Publication for giving me the review copy of the Book.
Recommendation:
A light read you can read it in a go…
February 25, 2019
Sana Munir's short stories offer rare insights into the lives of ordinary women as they tackle extraordinary circumstances in a society that doesn't always account for their needs and preferences. 'Unfettered Wings' builds on this motif by taking readers on a journey into the lives of 10 unforgettable protagonists. Each character endures turbulence and inspires courage. By the end of the book, the author manages to provide a realistic and sensitive glimpse into the lives of women across the country. A simple, evocative collection that makes readers think about some of the searing realities that surround us.
March 11, 2019
It's a lovely collection of realistic short stories by Sana Munir. She has written these stories very niftily and using simple language. Stories are named after the female protagonists, they are heart breaking, sensitive and thought provoking. (Total 10 stories)
One story which just – stuck in my mind after reading was of Habiba, she was a simple girl who was killed by her brother and was blamed after her death of dishonoring his family. The story felt so common yet so thought provoking that I was lost for a while and was wondering is it that easy to lose self-control and take a human life like that. Khai,r it was a mix of different emotions I might not be able to put them into words here.
Buttt.. I would definitely recommend this book, it worth your Attention, Money & Time.
One story which just – stuck in my mind after reading was of Habiba, she was a simple girl who was killed by her brother and was blamed after her death of dishonoring his family. The story felt so common yet so thought provoking that I was lost for a while and was wondering is it that easy to lose self-control and take a human life like that. Khai,r it was a mix of different emotions I might not be able to put them into words here.
Buttt.. I would definitely recommend this book, it worth your Attention, Money & Time.
January 13, 2020
Full review here https://www.banosaazi.com/2020/01/unf...
The book begins with Farida and her journey from childhood to puberty during one of the bloodiest migrations of 1947. After Farida, the reader will meet several other women such as Maria, Beena, Habiba, and many more. My personal favorites are Summi and Nazia!
Sana Munir has an uncomplicated way to tell her stories.
She gives you a punch in the beginning and will maintain the momentum except on a few occasions. Sana’s way of storytelling will compel you to reflect around and realize these women are not limited to plain stories but walking & talking around us.
The book begins with Farida and her journey from childhood to puberty during one of the bloodiest migrations of 1947. After Farida, the reader will meet several other women such as Maria, Beena, Habiba, and many more. My personal favorites are Summi and Nazia!
Sana Munir has an uncomplicated way to tell her stories.
She gives you a punch in the beginning and will maintain the momentum except on a few occasions. Sana’s way of storytelling will compel you to reflect around and realize these women are not limited to plain stories but walking & talking around us.
April 25, 2020
Unfettered Wings by Sana Munir is a powerful collection of ten short stories about women from different walks of life. With strong and relatable characters, the stories are profound and poignant. In her inimitable style, Sana highlights the day-to-day struggles of women for existence. Their stories tug your heart and leave you thinking. Rising, falling and rising again, these stories are 'unfettered' truly. A must read!
April 26, 2019
Inexplicable panoramas of emotions envelop our soul as we read through this book. Stories of gutsy women subtly depict determination though often overwhelmed by an underlying sense of helplessness in situations gifted to them by Destiny.
This book stirs our heart through the articulately written stories that depict women in diverse situations of life. The unmitigated violence that is seemingly acceptable in the name of honour killing stuns you – The girl with topaz eyes.
A commendable book that will inspire every reader!
This book stirs our heart through the articulately written stories that depict women in diverse situations of life. The unmitigated violence that is seemingly acceptable in the name of honour killing stuns you – The girl with topaz eyes.
A commendable book that will inspire every reader!
July 20, 2019
Excellent book. Sana Munir is a remarkable writer and she does a great job of bringing out the extraordinary in the ordinary. Unfettered Wings is a brilliant debut.
May 12, 2020
To begin with, I must say that words would not sufficient to describe what I felt while reading this book.
Although the ten stories are pure fiction as per the author, but the context and the emotions of the ten women displayed in the book are not only original but hard hitting in examples from every day life.
Be it Farida's story, that re-lives the horror of partition; Reema's story, that speaks of sexual abuse of the innocent mind; Maria's tale, that touches the unsatisfied mind of a women who has satisfied hundreds of men in her lifetime; Summi's story, that shows the desperation of an average woman whose husband stays on the border; Habiba's story, that shows the explorative and caring attitude of a teenager towards the destitute even when it can harm her badly; Nazia's tale, that tells about the courage of a divorcee to stand up against the society; Saima's story, that shows a woman making her mark in the men's world of crime investigation; Beena's story, that shows how small things are enough to make a woman happy or sad; Meera' story, that is an inspiration for every woman writer across the globe and Eeman's tale, that show the never give up attitude of a mother.
Each of the story is very well written, to the point, brings out the necessary emotion of the woman concerned and simple to read.
This tells the mark of a great story teller who just keeps the narrative simple, does justice to your time and leaves you in the nostalgia for many days after.
Although, I liked all the women in the book but without being diplomatic, I must say that the story of Habiba, Nazia, Eeman and Beena are my top picks.
While finishing the book, felt sad as the journey was over. Shall be eagerly awaiting the next one from her. Hope that the wait is not much long.
Although the ten stories are pure fiction as per the author, but the context and the emotions of the ten women displayed in the book are not only original but hard hitting in examples from every day life.
Be it Farida's story, that re-lives the horror of partition; Reema's story, that speaks of sexual abuse of the innocent mind; Maria's tale, that touches the unsatisfied mind of a women who has satisfied hundreds of men in her lifetime; Summi's story, that shows the desperation of an average woman whose husband stays on the border; Habiba's story, that shows the explorative and caring attitude of a teenager towards the destitute even when it can harm her badly; Nazia's tale, that tells about the courage of a divorcee to stand up against the society; Saima's story, that shows a woman making her mark in the men's world of crime investigation; Beena's story, that shows how small things are enough to make a woman happy or sad; Meera' story, that is an inspiration for every woman writer across the globe and Eeman's tale, that show the never give up attitude of a mother.
Each of the story is very well written, to the point, brings out the necessary emotion of the woman concerned and simple to read.
This tells the mark of a great story teller who just keeps the narrative simple, does justice to your time and leaves you in the nostalgia for many days after.
Although, I liked all the women in the book but without being diplomatic, I must say that the story of Habiba, Nazia, Eeman and Beena are my top picks.
While finishing the book, felt sad as the journey was over. Shall be eagerly awaiting the next one from her. Hope that the wait is not much long.
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