5 Must-Read Novels By Pakistani Authors

When it comes to Pakistani novels there are some unique novels in terms of story and theme through which some very well known Pakistani authors have paved the way for young writers to be inspired by their style.

Following are some such Pakistani novels:

1. The Crow Eaters by Bapsi Sidhwa:

At the dawn of the 20th century, Freddy Junglewalla moves to Lahore, Pakistan from his ancestral home, with his wife, daughter, and mother-in-law. He opens a store and, as he grows his fortune, simultaneously grows the animosity between him and his mother-in-law. While Freddie thrives in the British Empire, life with his mother-in-law, Jerbanoo, isn’t as easy. The novel is a humorous and vividly accurate portrayal of life in the Parsi community.

2. Smoke Moth by Mohsin Hamid:

In his fiction Hamid is known for discussing urgent global problems. But his debut novel, Moth Smoke is rooted in his ancestral soil and focuses on ordinary Pakistanis. Dara and Ozi are old friends, although separated by a gulf of wealth and privilege. His life spirals out of control when Dara loses his job, experiments with hard drugs and disastrously betrays his friend, Ozi.

It’s a book that tells the story of the criminally unequal culture, where friendship and betrayal are carried out in which the wealthy feel entitled to extort the poor.

3. Burnt Shadows by Kamila Shamsie:

In this vast novel which spans continents, generations and two disastrous crises that have dominated modern history. The novel follows the mutual history of two families from the final days of second world war in Japan and India on the verge of partition in 1947, to Pakistan in the early 1980s, New York in the context of 11th September, and Afghanistan in the context of the subsequent bombing campaign, in four parts.

It was shortlisted for the Orange Prize for Fiction and won the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award for fiction.

4. A Case of Exploding Mangoes by Mohammed Hanif:

Mohammad Hanif is the author of A Case of Exploding Mangoes, a critically acclaimed novel which was long-listed for award nomination. The book’s core theme is a fictional tale behind the real-life plane crash that killed General Zia, Pakistan’s former president.

The book has detailed information that mirror the many theories of conspiracy associated with the actual incident. A Case of Exploding Mangoes has dark comedy elements, but it manages to hold the attention of the readers throughout.

5. Duty Free by Moni Mohsin:

This novel is written by Pakistani author Moni Mohsin. Duty free is a delightful romance through Pakistani high society. It is the Pakistani version of Lahore-based Jane Austin.

These are a few of the most intriguing books written by Pakistani authors, involving a fictional story set around realistic settings and situations. They can be a good inspiration for anyone aspiring to become a writer.