Received this review copy from Writers Melon.
I was very confused about this book in the last 24 hours, so much so that I couldn't commit to giving it 4 stars, but 3 seemed too less and hence I have decided to stick to 4.
The story, set in 2050, is of a 30 year old Ismael, a Pakistani-American doing his thesis on Hell and Paradise (or rather aiming to refute the existence of both through his study). In a chance meeting with a girl named Petra, Ismael is convinced to try the hallucinogen Ayahuasca, which will set him on the path to discover the secrets unknown to the real world.
What follows is a divine intervention in a drug-induced state that further convinces Ismael to take an unplanned trip to Pakistan, reunite with his estranged father and convince him that he is a 'firm believer', and help the 'higher beings' in their 'mission'. Unknown to the level of his mission, Ismael lands in Pakistan and finds it in a condition that shocks the soul out of his living body. The entire country is in a frenzied state to attain 'paradise'!
Isamel's journey through heaven and hell is painted so vividly by the author that one can almost, almost, imagine actually being there, experiencing everything first-hand. A series of ups and downs finally leads to the revealing of the mission to Ismael, who is already so much in shock with what all is happening that the extent of the mission doesn't surprise him anymore. The climax is detailed and leaves the reader satisfied (even though the end did not come as a big surprise to me).
The characters of Chacha Khidr and Pir are well etched and are bound to make a space for themselves in your head. The language is flowy, without being too full of jargon. The book is sprinkled with Urdu words but the author has done a good job of explaining the same in simple lucid language, making one feel in sync with the story-line at all times. The satire and mockery and the interpretation of the Quran were the highlights for me.
Definitely recommended.
Read it in a couple of sittings, preferably on a weekend when you have time to spare. The book will be far more enjoyable then.
P.S. The cover is one of the most beautiful I have seen and own. The texture, the print, the quality, everything is spot on!
*****
Find out more about this book here.
Follow my reviews here.
Follow my bookstagram here.
I was very confused about this book in the last 24 hours, so much so that I couldn't commit to giving it 4 stars, but 3 seemed too less and hence I have decided to stick to 4.
The story, set in 2050, is of a 30 year old Ismael, a Pakistani-American doing his thesis on Hell and Paradise (or rather aiming to refute the existence of both through his study). In a chance meeting with a girl named Petra, Ismael is convinced to try the hallucinogen Ayahuasca, which will set him on the path to discover the secrets unknown to the real world.What follows is a divine intervention in a drug-induced state that further convinces Ismael to take an unplanned trip to Pakistan, reunite with his estranged father and convince him that he is a 'firm believer', and help the 'higher beings' in their 'mission'. Unknown to the level of his mission, Ismael lands in Pakistan and finds it in a condition that shocks the soul out of his living body. The entire country is in a frenzied state to attain 'paradise'!
Isamel's journey through heaven and hell is painted so vividly by the author that one can almost, almost, imagine actually being there, experiencing everything first-hand. A series of ups and downs finally leads to the revealing of the mission to Ismael, who is already so much in shock with what all is happening that the extent of the mission doesn't surprise him anymore. The climax is detailed and leaves the reader satisfied (even though the end did not come as a big surprise to me).
The characters of Chacha Khidr and Pir are well etched and are bound to make a space for themselves in your head. The language is flowy, without being too full of jargon. The book is sprinkled with Urdu words but the author has done a good job of explaining the same in simple lucid language, making one feel in sync with the story-line at all times. The satire and mockery and the interpretation of the Quran were the highlights for me.
Definitely recommended.
Read it in a couple of sittings, preferably on a weekend when you have time to spare. The book will be far more enjoyable then.
P.S. The cover is one of the most beautiful I have seen and own. The texture, the print, the quality, everything is spot on!
*****
Find out more about this book here.
Follow my reviews here.
Follow my bookstagram here.
2 comments:
Nice review. Very professionally done, with a short gist of the storyline and the relevant links, et al.
I actually feel like going ahead and reading the book now.
Looking forward to more from you.
Cheers,
CRD
Scripted In Sanity
So lovely to know that! :)
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