Chowk forums: South Asian views, reviews, opinion

Maps for Lost Lovers

Topic started by Bina_Shah on Nov 27, 2004 8:59:14 am

So, has anyone read it yet? I just finished it today. On the one hand it’s beautifully written. He has a sensuality with language that I haven’t seen anywhere else. On the other hand it’s as if he took every bad incident that ever happened with Pakistani immigrants and wrote a novel which could be alternatively titled ’’These Pakistanis Need Prozac’’.

The story as you know is about a small town in England somewhere with a high number of Pakistani immigrants who have settled in a ghetto-like neighborhood. They are poor and uneducated and have brought all their customs and supserstitions and antiquated ways with them from the home country. In the midst of this two lovers decide to live together and are subsequently murdered by the woman’s brothers. The novel is about the brother and sister-in-law of the man, and how this crime affects their lives for the one year following the murders.

I am still trying to debate whether he has simply written what he has seen in his lifetime or if he puts his own twist on things. One thing I noticed is that he has written very cynically about religion, writing things in a way that sound incredibly sarcastic whereas there could be a more positive way of portraying them in many cases. Deliberately, I’m sure.

flag objectionable content

Posts 1-6 of 6

Post by lallu on Jan 2, 2005 3:25:39 pm
There is a great discussion of this book over here: http://www.anothersubcontinent.com/forums/index.php?showtopi c=739 flag objectionable content

Post by Raw_Dust on Dec 18, 2004 11:29:23 am
this maps for lover’s author got shortlisted for some bad sex writing prize... his luck saved him from getting the actual prize... it went to Tom Wolfe... (source: cnn.com) actually the excerpt that got him the nomination was definitely worthy... had to do something with ’’the smell of his armpits on her shoulders’’ .. i mean flag objectionable content

Post by Saminasha on Nov 29, 2004 11:55:55 am
A Fond Kiss flag objectionable content

Post by Saminasha on Nov 29, 2004 6:09:39 am
I second Raw Dust. Lets not try and make everything ’’nice’’, shall we? Ken Loach has a movie covering somewhat similar territory, bi racial relationship. flag objectionable content

Post by Bina_Shah on Nov 28, 2004 12:25:55 am
Sure, of course he has the right to say whatever he wants. I don’t mind at all. It was just an observation. In fact what I liked was the fact that it made me think a lot on each issue that he brought up, be it cousin-marriages, female fetus abortions, the law of remarriage after one has divorced one’s wife, and so on. It showed how religion can be used to oppress generations, without proper education, literacy, or open-mindedness. I thought it was very eye-opening. flag objectionable content

Post by Raw_Dust on Nov 27, 2004 3:00:12 pm
’’One thing I noticed is that he has written very cynically about religion, writing things in a way that sound incredibly sarcastic whereas there could be a more positive way of portraying them in many cases.’’ Well you had it coming. Afterall it is his gig isnt it? so might as well give him some space instead of guessing his agenda. If you dont like his take on religion thats a different matter. flag objectionable content

Posts 1-6 of 6

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