Brick Walls written by Saadia Faruqi is a collection of short stories that talks about the everyday struggles a Pakistani goes through and yet remains hopeful about a better tomorrow. The stories in this book highlight those emotions that no media ever attempts to show to the world that exist outside Pakistan.
You might have seen a lot of terrifying news on the media about the various tragic events that take place on a daily basis in Pakistan but there is always something missing in there, that is the hope each Pakistani has of a brighter future, the courage to fight with the difficulties in their life and the hidden love for their blood ties.
The first story begins the usual tale told by every news channel, a widow with a child struggling to make the ends meet in this cruel society but as I read further the unfolding twist brought a big smile to my face. Another story that I really enjoyed from this book was of a young guy who wasn’t able to find a job because of which his girlfriend left him and then he finds himself brainwashed amidst the terrorists. The constant thrill kept me hooked to the book in between my classes. There are many more stories that I enjoyed but I will end it here with the last story that won my heart. It was the story of a poor girl working as a chef in a big house, she is happy and content with her life until some filthy rich man comes back with a revenge and a set of torturous events take place in her life. It just made me ponder with ‘do I even deserve to whine?’
All in all, Brick Walls is packed with emotional heart touching stories and is a must read, not just for Pakistanis but those who would like to see beyond what the news really depicts. As I finished reading some of the stories in this book I was actually close to tears, and with that I mean the tears of joy!
Disclaimer: I had received this book from FB Publishing House to read and review.
You might have seen a lot of terrifying news on the media about the various tragic events that take place on a daily basis in Pakistan but there is always something missing in there, that is the hope each Pakistani has of a brighter future, the courage to fight with the difficulties in their life and the hidden love for their blood ties.
The first story begins the usual tale told by every news channel, a widow with a child struggling to make the ends meet in this cruel society but as I read further the unfolding twist brought a big smile to my face. Another story that I really enjoyed from this book was of a young guy who wasn’t able to find a job because of which his girlfriend left him and then he finds himself brainwashed amidst the terrorists. The constant thrill kept me hooked to the book in between my classes. There are many more stories that I enjoyed but I will end it here with the last story that won my heart. It was the story of a poor girl working as a chef in a big house, she is happy and content with her life until some filthy rich man comes back with a revenge and a set of torturous events take place in her life. It just made me ponder with ‘do I even deserve to whine?’
All in all, Brick Walls is packed with emotional heart touching stories and is a must read, not just for Pakistanis but those who would like to see beyond what the news really depicts. As I finished reading some of the stories in this book I was actually close to tears, and with that I mean the tears of joy!
Disclaimer: I had received this book from FB Publishing House to read and review.
Tags: book review, Brick Walls, Saadia Faruqi, short stories, books, stories about Pakistan