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There are currently 17 member reviews
for A Case of Exploding Mangoes
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Diane (Gainesville FL)
Funny but long
Here's a treat for fans of political satire, and for once the subject is not the United States government. Hanif has a great time with the political, cultural, and religious underpinnings of Pakistan. For the first half of the book I was entranced. But after a while it's like a joke that's maybe gone on a bit long. Still recommended for the right reader, however.
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William (Russellville AR)
Death to a Dictator
Interesting cast of characters. Strong plot line provides imaginary circumstances and conspiracies that lead to the killing of a dictator in Pakistan. Hanif's characterizations of martinets and over-the-top intelligence officers are comedic and also deadly serious. There is an uneven quality in this debut novel but the story becomes stronger near the end of the book. Read as dark comedy, political thriller, and as a fable for our contemporary world.
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Deanna (GAINESVILLE FL)
Exploding Mangoes, Indeed!
Mohammed Hanif has written an extremely seductive yet disturbing tale of love and revenge that takes place in Pakistan about the time that the Russians are leaving, the government is in turmoil, and a young, Pakistani pilot has found his father hanging from a fan-an apparent suicide.
Ali Shigri's quest for vengeance is both horrific and darkly humorous. Read carefully - the plot is very convoluted! The characters seem so "Americanized" that you almost forget this is set in a war torn Pakistan. This is definitely not a Kite Runner type of novel that will leave you feeling you have learned about a culture distinct from your own. But in the end, aren't we all the same? This first novel is highly entertaining, fast paced, and definitely worth reading!
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Barbara (Roswell GA)
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.
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Cathy Grace (Shelton CT)
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!
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Brenda (boise ID)
Too many mangoes, not enough jam
I had a hard time getting into this book. I'm not sure exactly why, I can't criticize the writing, but I felt like I was always trying to catch up with the author. There were so many characters and plots, I had a hard time keeping everyone straight. I felt like things were happening that had hidden meanings that should be obvious to me, but weren't really. I think someone with a military background and more familiarity with Pakistani culture and history may get more out of it. It wasn't a bad read after I got past the first 100 pages and started getting a feel for the "voice" of the author, but I wouldn't put it on my "must read" list for anyone.
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Theresa (Seattle WA)
strong beginning
I found this book very engaging and interesting at the start. The main character drew me in initially with his direct, seemingly naive approach to his circumstances. But, as the story progressed, I found myself less and less interested in him or the other characters. I found the story interesting, but not strong enough to carry the many characters.
