One of my favorite book types is short story collections. This, too, is of that class with eight different tales. The stories were loosely connected through K.K. Harouni - a wealthy Pakistani landowner, his relatives and those who work for him or are connected to his life in some way. This book exposes Pakistani culture, life of the rich and the poor, how gender rules life, and how the wealthy connect or not to those who serve them. Pakistan is shown both from the view of landowners and from that of those who work for them. Nearly everyone tries to get ahead as best they can, often padding bills, putting on appropriate face and hiding emotions.
The Pakistani female characters use beauty and sexual favors as a way to live a life to avoid starvation, drugs and physical abuse. They use men of wealth and, for a time, at least, live well. Since the wealthy are frequently older, life with them ends, often in predictable ways with the women tossed aside to fend for themselves by the families. Dominance of the male characters threads throughout the stories even in 'Lily' who realizes that her life is determined by her husband she knows will become wealthy and controlling. Only the older male characters experience diminishing lives. Their wishes may be tossed aside by those who inherit and divide the wealth they left behind.
Mueenuddin has lived both in America and Pakistan. His writing stems from his experiences in both cultures. Perhaps he is part of both cultures but he states that he may as well be of neither. This book is important because it imparts a real sense of life in Pakistan. Further, it details how the wealthy live and treat their workers as well as how foreigners affect the lives of those around them and visa versa. It's a fascinating portrait of cultural impact, change and interaction of those involved.
The Pakistani female characters use beauty and sexual favors as a way to live a life to avoid starvation, drugs and physical abuse. They use men of wealth and, for a time, at least, live well. Since the wealthy are frequently older, life with them ends, often in predictable ways with the women tossed aside to fend for themselves by the families. Dominance of the male characters threads throughout the stories even in 'Lily' who realizes that her life is determined by her husband she knows will become wealthy and controlling. Only the older male characters experience diminishing lives. Their wishes may be tossed aside by those who inherit and divide the wealth they left behind.
Mueenuddin has lived both in America and Pakistan. His writing stems from his experiences in both cultures. Perhaps he is part of both cultures but he states that he may as well be of neither. This book is important because it imparts a real sense of life in Pakistan. Further, it details how the wealthy live and treat their workers as well as how foreigners affect the lives of those around them and visa versa. It's a fascinating portrait of cultural impact, change and interaction of those involved.
