Rated of 5
by Miriam A Case of Exploding Mangoes
In the final analysis, I enjoyed A Case of Exploding Mangoes. This may seem a strange way to open a book review, but I really was "iffy" about the book while I was reading it because I wasn't sure if it was supposed to be entirely a farce or historical fiction leading up to the plane crash which killed General Zia-ul-Haq. The ending certainly clarifies which one it is.
The many characters were well integrated into the novel. The juxtaposition of characters and scenes kept the book interesting, if at times, confusing. In particular, the party scene with Saudi guest, OBL was amusing.
I look forward to future novels from Mohammed Hanif.
Rated of 5
by Barbara An interesting read!
I enjoyed this book. I thought it was well-written. I liked the main character, Under Officer Ali Shigiri, and I think that he really held the book together. As an American, I found it interesting to get a (fictional) look at the Pakistani military and political structure in the late 80s. I think the book, however, (and I could be totally wrong and am not trying to offend anyone) will mainly appeal to people like myself - post-graduate education, lived and traveled abroad, well-read, liberal. I wouldn't recommend it to my larger neighborhood bookclub, but I would recommend it to my smaller bookclub that reads extensively across all genres.
Rated of 5
by Vicky Uneven
I laughed at parts of this book but I also considered not finishing it. I did enjoy it at the end although I did find it confusing at times - possibly because I wasn't paying as much attention in the middle. I did like the variety of characters and would have liked to have read more about the female characters.
Rated of 5
by Karen Started off great, then....
I loved the beginning, found my self thinking of the main character, wondering what would happen, etc. Then, I lost interest. I stuck with the book, because I wanted to give it a fair review. Finally I just read the end, skipping about the last third. I don't know enough about Pakistani culture to know what was real and what was merely comedy. There were so many interesting characters, but not much character development. I will be interested to see what other readers felt about this book. I will also be interested in the next book Mohammed Hanif writes. I think this novel tries to introduce too many characters, but does not develop any of them enough.
Rated of 5
by Cathy Grace Something for everyone
If you like dark humor or if you just like a good adventure then this is the book for you. An adventure involving a crow, a curse, some mangoes and some very interesting characters on a very interesting escapade. I loved this book, it was a great read. To those of you who have ever had anything to do with the military...you will recognize some very typical characters that you can find in any army. For those of you who just love to read a good adventure....have fun reading!
Rated of 5
by Gwendolyn Not to be missed!
This whirlwind of a book follows Junior Officer Ali Shigri of the Pakistan Air Force as he entangles himself in the complicated world of national politics. A host of colorful characters all seem to be working against each other, seeking revenge, glory, power, and sometimes love. Throughout the mayhem, Mohammed Hanif sprinkles a generous amount of satire. Although the action unfolds far from the U.S., many of this book’s themes will resonate with U.S. readers, I think.
This is a political thriller told on a very personal level. I connected with many of the characters, and this connection is what kept me quickly turning the pages even though I don’t typically enjoy political books. Despite the complicated, interwoven plot lines and the many characters, this is not a messy, sprawling book but rather a tightly controlled performance. I had no difficulty following the action, and I enjoyed every minute of it. Highly recommended.
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