Bought this book for my Halloween partner as it was on her wishlist, hope you enjoy the book ApoloniaX

You sent me Saffron in chocolate form, now I'm sending you Saffron in literature! Hope you enjoy, and that the book gets to you in time for Halloween!

Happy Halloween!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just had a great time opening my Halloween package... did consider waiting till the 31st for a moment, but couldn't resist! I'm absolutely delighted, more and more lovely, spooky little goodies appeared... and this wishlist book - part of our personal Saffron exchange programme :-) Thank you so much!!!
I read Kamila shamise's latest novel, Burnt Shadows, a few months ago and loved it - one of my best reads in 2010, and just last week I read her first - so this comes at the perfect time.

First the novel didn't really grip me, but then I got more and more drawn into it. I liked the elaborate, meandering style, the jumping from present to past and back. Sometimes it's a bit confusing, rather complex, but written with a lot of skill, at times close to stream of consciousness. The plot is about a family divided by the separation of India and Pakistan, their family myth about the "not-quite twins", it's about progressiveness vs. tradition, culture clashes and and class differences - and Aliya, the protagonist, who's trying to find her way through her family's history. I didn't find it as good as "Burnt Shadows", but it shows how Shamise is getting there, how her writing developed. I'll definitely read her other books too.

South Asian novel for you.
Happy reading!

Wow, I came back from a holiday to find a big parcel of books to enjoy. Thank you so much for the surprise ApoloniaX.

This book looks really interesting. I'm really enjoying reading books from non UK/USA cultures so this is right up my street!

Picked by soffitta1 from the East Asian VBB. To be sent to them once I've read it.

I couldn't get into this book. First of all it was confusing with all the people mentioned, both living and long dead relatives (even the family tree wasn't helpful when people in the book were described by their relationship but the family tree shows the actual name of the person, ie the grandmother was referred to as Dadi).

When it looked like a story line was about to emerge the author launched into one of many family stories about long dead relatives...which are probably interesting if they are your own relatives. But when they are about someone elses, and a created character's at that, it was tedious.

And strangely there was very little sense of where the book took place. The story is set in London and Pakistan but it could really have been set anywhere.

Posted to soffitta1 as part of the Asian VBB.

Thanks so much for sending this, it looks really interesting.

Aliya is on summer holiday from uni in the States. On the flight home, she entertains fellow passengers with her family history, interwoven tales which span India, Pakistan, from before the British Raj, through independence and partition to the modern day. The Dard-e-Dils are a colourful family, upperclass, influential, a complicated family tree. Aliya meets some of the Indian branch in London, making her think back on the stories she has told and been told.

Some of the stories tell of the 'not-quite' twins, the relations that are linked closely, although not directly by blood. There are brothers born of different mothers, triplets born either side of midnight, and Aliya and her aunt, Mariam. The stories of the 'not'quite' twins cover the most difficult times in the family's history, like partition. Mariam's story is given to us piecemeal, as it is the one which affects the family most, indeed it seems that Aliya, after many years of burying the past, wants to know what happens. On the flight, Aliya meets Cal, also from a Karachi family, but from the poor side of town. Despite her attraction to him, Aliya is not sure what to do, surprised and dismayed by her own snobbishness at times.

The writing style is captivating, I read almost the whole book in one sitting! Aliya is a good narrator, but also a worthy main character, you really want to see how her own story will play out, as well as more about her family.

Sent to the winner of ApoloniaX's sweepstake. Sorry for the delay.

Received with thanks :) I've read two other books by Shamsie and loved them.

Not my favourite Shamsie, but an enjoyable, intriguing, engaging read nevertheless. In fact, I could copy ApoloniaX's journal entry word for word :) Thanks for sharing, everyone!

Tuittupeppi has this on her wishlist so I'll pass it on to her when I meet her in August at the Finnish summer convention.

Oh my, what a surprise, thank you very much! I look forward to reading this one as I really really liked Shamsie's Burnt Shadows (which I read in Finnish, though). I've also read Kartography but my favourite so far is Burnt shadows.