Book Review 66
Name Of The Book : Unfettered Wings - Extraordinary Stories of Ordinary Women
Author : Sana Munir
Publisher : Rupa Publications
Year : 2018
Category : Fiction
Review :
From the barren dust bowl of Nushki, a small town in Balochistan, to the posh white marble bungalows and magnificent mansions of Lahore, this book captures vignettes of the lives of Pakistani women who brave battles, big or small, every day. These women compare with their Indian counterparts as much as they contrast. Whether it is little Farida, through whose innocent eyes we see the drawing of political borders and the destruction of many families, or Meera, whose attempt at reaching out across these very borders is met with ridicule by her own countrymen; Summi, who shares the painful burden of her husband’s past; or the wanton Maria for whom love and relationships matter naught—these are real-life characters grappling with issues that are as timeless as they are contemporary. Unfettered Wings is about strength and fortitude; of relationships in ordinary settings that unfold into extraordinary situations.
This book is a collection of ten short stories with female protagonists. Initially, when I read the blurb and looked at the cover, I did not know what to expect from this book; but the title of the book hinted at the theme of liberation. The index of this book is unique – the name of the story is followed by a short phrase in italics which captures the essence of the story. Moreover, all the stories are named after their central characters. The first story ‘Farida’ is about the India-Pakistan partition which was followed by bloodshed, grief and loss to both the countries. ‘Reema’ is the heart-breaking story of childhood sexual abuse and trauma. ‘Maria’ is the story of a prostitute with whom Asif, a Persian rug trader falls in love. ‘Summi’ is the wife of a soldier and an act of bravery she shows leaves the soldier in awe. ‘Habiba’ is a complicated love story of a girl with topaz eyes, set in the desert filled with dangers. ‘Nazia’ is a divorced woman who finally gains the courage to break free from the confines of the society. ‘Saima’ is an interesting crime thriller in which two policewomen investigate a complex case. ‘Beena’ is the story of a couple who try to rekindle the lost spark in their relationship. ‘Meera’ is a political science professor who discovers her passion and makes her dreams come true. ‘Eeman’ is the story of how a mother discovers that her daughter is a blessing in disguise. Each story has a unique theme and the narration is heart touching. The book has a lot of powerful female characters which is rarely observed in books. This book is a refreshing collection of short stories that will inspire and motivate you to discover your hidden strength.
Rating : 4.2/5
Name Of The Book : Unfettered Wings - Extraordinary Stories of Ordinary Women
Author : Sana Munir
Publisher : Rupa Publications
Year : 2018
Category : Fiction
Review :
From the barren dust bowl of Nushki, a small town in Balochistan, to the posh white marble bungalows and magnificent mansions of Lahore, this book captures vignettes of the lives of Pakistani women who brave battles, big or small, every day. These women compare with their Indian counterparts as much as they contrast. Whether it is little Farida, through whose innocent eyes we see the drawing of political borders and the destruction of many families, or Meera, whose attempt at reaching out across these very borders is met with ridicule by her own countrymen; Summi, who shares the painful burden of her husband’s past; or the wanton Maria for whom love and relationships matter naught—these are real-life characters grappling with issues that are as timeless as they are contemporary. Unfettered Wings is about strength and fortitude; of relationships in ordinary settings that unfold into extraordinary situations.
This book is a collection of ten short stories with female protagonists. Initially, when I read the blurb and looked at the cover, I did not know what to expect from this book; but the title of the book hinted at the theme of liberation. The index of this book is unique – the name of the story is followed by a short phrase in italics which captures the essence of the story. Moreover, all the stories are named after their central characters. The first story ‘Farida’ is about the India-Pakistan partition which was followed by bloodshed, grief and loss to both the countries. ‘Reema’ is the heart-breaking story of childhood sexual abuse and trauma. ‘Maria’ is the story of a prostitute with whom Asif, a Persian rug trader falls in love. ‘Summi’ is the wife of a soldier and an act of bravery she shows leaves the soldier in awe. ‘Habiba’ is a complicated love story of a girl with topaz eyes, set in the desert filled with dangers. ‘Nazia’ is a divorced woman who finally gains the courage to break free from the confines of the society. ‘Saima’ is an interesting crime thriller in which two policewomen investigate a complex case. ‘Beena’ is the story of a couple who try to rekindle the lost spark in their relationship. ‘Meera’ is a political science professor who discovers her passion and makes her dreams come true. ‘Eeman’ is the story of how a mother discovers that her daughter is a blessing in disguise. Each story has a unique theme and the narration is heart touching. The book has a lot of powerful female characters which is rarely observed in books. This book is a refreshing collection of short stories that will inspire and motivate you to discover your hidden strength.
Rating : 4.2/5