Scan barcode
frankiecully's review
2.0
Bridget Jones in Pakistan. (not read bridget jones but seen the film)
Typical chick lit but in another country.
Cute story but awful awful cheesy film-type ending. Just no.
Typical chick lit but in another country.
Cute story but awful awful cheesy film-type ending. Just no.
nashwa017's review
1.0
Several people, I mean several people told me to stop reading this. They told me I'll be wasting my time but I decided to brave through it. My issue with Pakistani authors is that I can never tell who they write for. I found this book so unrelatable.
I also find it funny that this author referred to some other writer in the story as a "ditz" while her own stories lacked originality and the parts which had potential never lived up to them. Oh well.
I also find it funny that this author referred to some other writer in the story as a "ditz" while her own stories lacked originality and the parts which had potential never lived up to them. Oh well.
mohsints's review
4.0
This isn't a "serious" book, and it's not meant to be, which makes it so charming to read. Imtiaz has written a fun, fast-paced novel that while not exactly "literature", is an enjoyable piece of fiction, rooted in a healthy helping of fact. Many of the "reviews" here seem to be curiously obsessed with the idea that by writing about alcohol (apparently, too much), sex (apparently too little) and other things that "don't happen" in Pakistan, Imtiaz's novel is somehow not good.
The thing though is, that it is rather good. It's greatly entertaining, despite a reasonably predictable plot line, and not because it's a rom-com, but because it does a great job of depicting a very real side of life in Karachi, whether that's boozing it up at restaurants on Zamzama, somehow confusing the length of a hemline with an act of political rebellion, or being forced to fight through hordes of socialites at a clothing exhibition.
If you're not from Karachi (alternatively, if you've never actually left your house and live under the illusion that somehow certain things just don't happen in the Land of the Pure), you may not necessarily be as amused by this book as I was. But the lack of pretence and artifice is what makes this novel so easy to enjoy. It doesn't pretend to be satire (if you've ever worked as a journalist in Karachi, you may have flashbacks); nor does it aspire to cultural criticism. It's just a light-hearted good book...and frankly, those are in short supply.
The thing though is, that it is rather good. It's greatly entertaining, despite a reasonably predictable plot line, and not because it's a rom-com, but because it does a great job of depicting a very real side of life in Karachi, whether that's boozing it up at restaurants on Zamzama, somehow confusing the length of a hemline with an act of political rebellion, or being forced to fight through hordes of socialites at a clothing exhibition.
If you're not from Karachi (alternatively, if you've never actually left your house and live under the illusion that somehow certain things just don't happen in the Land of the Pure), you may not necessarily be as amused by this book as I was. But the lack of pretence and artifice is what makes this novel so easy to enjoy. It doesn't pretend to be satire (if you've ever worked as a journalist in Karachi, you may have flashbacks); nor does it aspire to cultural criticism. It's just a light-hearted good book...and frankly, those are in short supply.
tubakhalid's review
2.0
When the contemporary Pakistani authors scene started buzzing, I was there. This book was recommended by so many people to me. I didn’t read it then. After so many years, I borrowed this from a library thinking that finally let’s give this a read. It also helped me in recalling why I never read it in the first place. The title is misleading. This story is less about Karachi and more about booze. The ending was icing on the already destroyed cake. One piece of advice to all Pakistani authors “KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE”
nyx_who's review
2.0
I wanted to like this book, I really did.
The plot is a classic - single woman who is having an existential crisis due to an unsatisfying job. Ayesha drinks too much and has a wonderful-as-well-as-gorgeous-but-platonic male best friend. And a cat. Although, the cat isn't hers to be fair.
There is nothing objectionable about the plot. But there is nothing amazing either. The book did not make an impression on me. I forgot most of the details once I shut the book. Also, the gratuitous descriptions of violence and crime in Karachi. There isn't enough positivity about the city to convince me the character has a love-hate relationship with it. It comes across as disdain with a quaint nostalgic affection for the city. The romance was predictable and we all knew how it was going to end. But it was simple and sweet, so points for that.
What kept me turning the page and finishing the book in one sitting is the writing style. Witty, sharp and acerbic. Gave me a few good laughs. If nothing else, this book makes me want to read more from Saba Imtiaz.
The plot is a classic - single woman who is having an existential crisis due to an unsatisfying job. Ayesha drinks too much and has a wonderful-as-well-as-gorgeous-but-platonic male best friend. And a cat. Although, the cat isn't hers to be fair.
There is nothing objectionable about the plot. But there is nothing amazing either. The book did not make an impression on me. I forgot most of the details once I shut the book. Also, the gratuitous descriptions of violence and crime in Karachi. There isn't enough positivity about the city to convince me the character has a love-hate relationship with it. It comes across as disdain with a quaint nostalgic affection for the city. The romance was predictable and we all knew how it was going to end. But it was simple and sweet, so points for that.
What kept me turning the page and finishing the book in one sitting is the writing style. Witty, sharp and acerbic. Gave me a few good laughs. If nothing else, this book makes me want to read more from Saba Imtiaz.
singh_reads_kanwar2's review
4.0
Story told us that we should have to be responsible for our mistakes and decision we make because then only we can learn from it... And be a wise man than a fool
"As an famous saying say, if you correct a fool he hate you, but correcting a wise man he will appreciate you..."
.
It's start with the dramatic death of a girl and only Crystal can see it , finding out that how it is being a Psychic, she have cool pair of friends who stand by her in every way, then she have cool mom , and her also would be dad, who have known this all along, her ability and her passion to help others turn this novel into a high voltage drama towards end , but it can be more interesting as story lacks villiany in the part of it... ...
"As an famous saying say, if you correct a fool he hate you, but correcting a wise man he will appreciate you..."
.
It's start with the dramatic death of a girl and only Crystal can see it , finding out that how it is being a Psychic, she have cool pair of friends who stand by her in every way, then she have cool mom , and her also would be dad, who have known this all along, her ability and her passion to help others turn this novel into a high voltage drama towards end , but it can be more interesting as story lacks villiany in the part of it... ...
limrika's review
2.0
I wanted to like this book but it just couldn't grab my attention? It was definitely not what expected. Maybe this chicklit type of genre is not a good fit for me. If you like authors like durjay dutta (??) maybe you'll like it because it has a similar theme of young adults in a glamorized corporate setting type of thing.
msmisal's review
2.0
I really need to stop expecting things from books. They almost always end up disappointing me. I was expecting this to be satire akin to Moni Mohsin's 'Social Butterfly' books or Shazaf Haider's 'How it Happened', but it doesn't carry the same charm or layers of meaning those stories have.
Saba Imtiaz delivers one or two memorable one liners, the prose is easy to follow and amidst the blur of hangovers and frenzied rickshaw rides, she does manage to subtly address the general apathy all Karachi citizens seem to posses. But that's about it. The characters are not instantly likable (or really, likable at all) and the plot is mediocre. There were moments I felt so detached from the narrative that I forgot I was reading about my own city.
If you're looking for a fun, mindless read - give this book a shot. But if you're looking for meaningful satire, this isn't the one for you.
Saba Imtiaz delivers one or two memorable one liners, the prose is easy to follow and amidst the blur of hangovers and frenzied rickshaw rides, she does manage to subtly address the general apathy all Karachi citizens seem to posses. But that's about it. The characters are not instantly likable (or really, likable at all) and the plot is mediocre. There were moments I felt so detached from the narrative that I forgot I was reading about my own city.
If you're looking for a fun, mindless read - give this book a shot. But if you're looking for meaningful satire, this isn't the one for you.
hibaazhar_9's review
1.0
This was quite a boring book.It was fast paced no doubt but there was no storyline.It felt more like a blog than an actual novel.Its disappointing that the book didn’t live up to its expectations considering there was so much hype about it.