In ITCOS, Awais Sophisticatedly Paints Secretly Flourishing Affair amidst Terrorism

    

"In ITCOS, Awais Sophisticatedly Paints an Awkwardly Blooming Love Life of a Woman Caught amidst the Irony of the Elites, Collapsing Marriage and Terrorism"

Book Review by Dhiraj Sindhi

In the Company of Strangers by Awais Khan

In the Company of Strangers by Awais Khan

Author: Awais Khan

ISBN: 978-9386797759

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Length: 271 Pages

Publication Date: 10^th December 2019

Publisher: Simon & Schuster India

Cover Designer: Mridu Agarwal | Instagram: @storypals

Order your copy right now: https://amzn.to/3Gypy2V

About the author:

Awais Khan was born in Lahore, Pakistan. 'In the Company of Strangers' is his first novel published by Simon & Schuster, Hera Books and Isis Audio. His second novel 'No Honour' is published by Orenda Books and Isis Audio. He is a graduate of The University of Western Ontario and Durham University. He studied Creative Writing at Faber Academy. His work has appeared in numerous publications and he was longlisted for the Short Story Dagger in 2022. He has appeared for Interviews on BBC World Service, Dubai Eye, Voice of America, Cambridge Radio, Samaa TV, City42, Maverix Media and PTV Home to name a few. He has been on the judging panels for Gwyl Crime Cymru Prize and the Cheshire Novel Prize. He is represented by Annette Crossland (A for Authors Agency Ltd, London).

In his free time, he likes to read all types of fiction, especially historical fiction and crime/psychological thrillers. He is hard at work on his forthcoming novels.

Awais Khan

Instagram: @awaiskhanauthor

Twitter: @AwaisKhanAuthor

Website: www.awaiskhanauthor.com

The Writing Institute: thewritinginstitute.online

SYNOPSIS:

The emotionally gripping story of love and loss in Pakistan. In the glittering world of Pakistan's elite, all is not what it seems… Mona has almost everything: money, friends, social status... Everything except for freedom. Languishing in her Golden cage, she craves a sense of belonging… desperate for emotional release, she turns to a friend who introduces her to a world of glitter, glamour, covert affairs and drugs. There she meets Ali, a physically and emotionally wounded man, years younger than her. Heady with love, she begins a delicate game of deceit that spirals out of control and threatens to shatter the deceptive facade of conservatism erected by Lahori society, and potentially destroy everything that Mona has ever held dear.

Disclaimer: This is not a review, it is only intended for initiating discussions. The opinions and views presented in this article are my own and do not reflect anything about the book's author. 

REVIEW

In the Company of Strangers by Awais Khan is an unputdownable contemporary fiction novel set in Lahore that is witnessing frequent terrorist attacks; told from the perspectives of an overnight sensation in the modelling world—Ali and a woman from Lahore’s elite class—Mona. Ali’s life is shaken to its roots when he finds out that his brother is one of the victims and survivors of the latest terrorist attack in the city. On the other hand, Mona’s college best friend Meera’s glamourous comeback to Lahore’s elite group proves to be a catalyst for her life bound with the shackles of her doomed marriage. The novel has you hooked from its very first page as it elegantly explores the lives of its characters, divulging their struggles and secrets, one at a time.

The novel goes on to talk about some serious issues at length as Mona and Ali come closer and subplots overlap to create a complex web of sharp contrasts threaded with irony. The irony is like the main character in the novel, a literary device that could be discussed extensively in a research paper. The novel sheds light on the position of women in society and also raises voice against the oppression and humiliation they face through Mona’s mother-in-law—Nighat’s epic monologue, which goes like, “They’d wipe that bright red lipstick from your lips, probably slice your lips off in the process. Then they’d shroud you in a burqa and so many layers of clothing that you’d be unrecognisable…that’s the way they like their women.” Grab your copy to read the full monologue, it’s one of my favourite parts.

Another thing that I adore about this book is the ending. Despite so many layers of internal and external conflicts that plunge this book so deep and far, Awais Khan has aced the denouement game and overall wrapping up of the novel with a mind-blowing climax. On the whole, ITCOS is an extremely easy-to-read book that also carries the sheer intensity of terror production and women’s oppression.

Highly recommended!

Happy Reading!

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It Must Have Been Love by Jigar Prajapati | Book Review

 

It Must Have Been Love by Jigar Prajapati

Book Review by Dhiraj Sindhi

It Must Have Been Love by Jigar Prajapati

Author: Jigar Prajapati

ISBN: 978-9390441068

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Length: 168 Pages

Publication Date: 8th December 2020

Publisher: Srishti Publishers & Distributors

Order your copy right now: https://amzn.to/3y8WHM0

About the author:

Jigar Prajapati holds a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering. Having finished his schooling in regional language, writing a book in English seemed like a distant dream. But writing became his passion during his post-graduation in Construction Management. Now, along with being a well-known builder in Ahmedabad, he is also writing to his heart’s content.

Jigar Prajapati

Instagram: @jigar_author

Facebook: @JigarMPrajapati

REVIEW

It Must Have Been Love, as the title and cover suggest, is a contemporary romance book written with the plainest of words that stirs up a storm of thoughts, questions, opinions, and judgments regarding the characters’ actions; whether they are right or wrong, appropriate or inappropriate, good or bad. While some dramatic fragments seem to be inspired by Bollywood and daily soap operas, other segments are creative, fun, and cleverly plotted that keep you rooted in the story being told. 

The book starts with chapter zero called ‘The Beginning’ where Jigar has used author surrogate to narrate the chapter with humour. However, that doesn’t last long as he finds one of the lead characters Maan crying at the airport. The rest of the chapters are narrated by Maan, telling his story until the last chapter, which is again narrated by the author surrogate.

Maan’s story starts with his first day at college followed by the making of friends and their hostel adventures. Here, he becomes best friends with Naaz, who is a brilliant character. While they are still not sure about their feelings for each other, Maan decides to marry the girl he met in the process of matchmaking upon his parents’ insistence. This results in subsequent imprudent choices that they both are going to regret later. Maan and Naaz are pretty decent characters but confused AF nonetheless. This makes them classically tragic hero and heroine. 

What I liked:

My most favourite part of this book is the ending that starts shortly before the author surrogate takes over the narration once again. The end makes it up for the mess that has been created by these two. Again, Jigar and his wife, Mona steal the show with their humour-filled venture. 

Secondly, I liked many scenes that could be viewed independently of the storyline, character arcs, etc. These are mostly witty situations sprinkled throughout the book. For instance, Hostel Diaries, College Fun Moments, Attending Marriage and Other Functions, Friendship Goals, etc.

Lastly, I admire the fact that this book is balanced in every way. For instance, I think there is the presence of karma, which serves the characters well. There is also a balance of misery and pleasure, love and deceit, f-ups created by Maan and Naaz, etc. 

What I disliked: 

The book is written in plain language that obviously goes to follow ‘tell, don’t show’, which is quite understandable, although it leaves the onus on readers to wholly interpret and comprehend the storyline, scenes, character arcs, and most importantly, relationship dynamics with the text constrained by limited creativity and exposition.

Another thing that I didn’t like about this book is that I found Maan to be an unreliable narrator. 

Lastly, the typical dramatic stuff, particularly, the ones that went to an extent to make you believe that it’s not the choices of a person but the destiny that is to be blamed.

Happy Reading!

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Will see you in the next post. Till then buh-bye. Take Care. Peace. ☮