Naima > Recent Status Updates

Even in a book analysing the British colonial rule, an Indian author cannot pass up the opportunity to disparage Pakistan and spotlight India's "flourishing" democracy, while completely ignoring India's own treatment of minorities. Unbelievably frustrating

Dead Lovers on Each Blade, Hung: I found this more confusing than anything.

The Fortune of Sparrows: Another gripping and haunting short story that's so resonant. I can say, myself, that cats have a connection to the unseen and unknown.

Resurrection points: This was actually good. The gothic and supernatural elements were relevant to the Pakistani context and seamlessly integrated; and comments on the treatment of Christian communities.

The Wandering City: I can see what the author is trying to critique but it feels shallow. Perhaps if it were a longer story it can properly explore it's themes.

It's always so painfully obvious when something is written by an overseas Pakistani and this collection is no exception. The first short story "Ishq" has that signature impulse to step out of the story and overexplain cultural heritage and overly curate descriptions of henna. However, I did not hate this story. There were elements of gothic and supernatural that I really liked which fit in a Pakistani setting