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Goodbye Freddie Mercury
Play the game,
everybody play the game . . .
Lahore is burning. General elections are right around the corner. The summer city rages with the drug-fuelled parties of the oblivious, the rich and famous, while campaign posters and rally cries dominate the airwaves.
Bugsy, rock RJ and host of the nation's top English radio show, is young and fabulous. Seeking more than wealth, fame and prestige, he performs a dangerous for old friend that plunges him into the dark recesses of desi politics. Nida, a young student desperate to escape the oppressive atmosphere of her traditional family home and her conservative college, and still mourning the death of her brother, throws herself recklessly into the drug-addled arms of Omer Ali, son of the prime minister's right-hand man. As Nida spirals in decadence and Bugsy descends into darkness, their paths cross and sparks begin to fly.
Nadia Akbar's audacious debut has all the makings of a cult novel-parties, drugs, mysteries, love triangles, political intrigue and power struggles - but its lush, sexy writing has the assuredness and precision of the most acute style of our time. Told in alternating voices and brimming with sharp observation, Goodbye Freddie Mercury hits the rocks and trails atwist.
everybody play the game . . .
Lahore is burning. General elections are right around the corner. The summer city rages with the drug-fuelled parties of the oblivious, the rich and famous, while campaign posters and rally cries dominate the airwaves.
Bugsy, rock RJ and host of the nation's top English radio show, is young and fabulous. Seeking more than wealth, fame and prestige, he performs a dangerous for old friend that plunges him into the dark recesses of desi politics. Nida, a young student desperate to escape the oppressive atmosphere of her traditional family home and her conservative college, and still mourning the death of her brother, throws herself recklessly into the drug-addled arms of Omer Ali, son of the prime minister's right-hand man. As Nida spirals in decadence and Bugsy descends into darkness, their paths cross and sparks begin to fly.
Nadia Akbar's audacious debut has all the makings of a cult novel-parties, drugs, mysteries, love triangles, political intrigue and power struggles - but its lush, sexy writing has the assuredness and precision of the most acute style of our time. Told in alternating voices and brimming with sharp observation, Goodbye Freddie Mercury hits the rocks and trails atwist.
340 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2018
6 people are currently reading
258 people want to read
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October 29, 2021
It’s very hard to figure out how to review a book this pointless when the characters themselves admit that they are, in fact, completely pointless. How do you criticize something for being blah when they are so self-aware of their extreme blahness?
“I’ve been thinking stuff. Things feel different. It’s not normal, the way we live our lives, you know? All the drugs and booze, the endless parties. We don’t do anything worthwhile.”
There are very strong Mohsin-Hamid-Moth-Smoke vibes here: in the slow, steady destruction of our protagonists, in the drug-and-booze obsessed society they live in, in the utter lethargy and worthlessness they exhibit. But unlike Moth Smoke, this story doesn’t manage to get right that feeling of things falling apart spectacularly. Yes, bad things are happening, but that horror and helplessness that prevents Moth Smoke from being utter crap doesn’t exist in this novel. Which is quite sad, since there was so much space to do things right.
An important reason why this book can easily be skipped is because the author has chosen two of the most useless characters ever created to be her protagonists. Nida, a twenty-one year old college student desperate to escape her conservative family, starts a relationship with Omer (the son of a powerful political figure) on her summer vacation. Part of her new boyfriend’s gang of friends is Bugsy, an RJ who gets involved in political turmoil because of an old acquaintance. In theory, they could have been great as the proponents of this narrative, but in execution what we were left with is a pretentious and spoiled hero in Bugsy and a directionless heroine in Nida.
Sure, the story tries to keep it relevant by mentioning drug and alcohol use as well as lots of sexual content, but what you end up with are side characters who feel stereotypical, and protagonists who don’t feel like they exist outside of the stories being told. Nida spends the majority of her time hanging out with Omer, partying and taking drugs and generally having very little to contribute to the story. Supposedly she is falling apart after the death of her brother two years ago, a fact that is tearing her family apart, but because we never spend enough time with her family (the parents barely make an appearance), it’s hard to feel the repercussions through this story. It is implied that it is Nida’s brother’s death that acts as a catalyst for her entry into the word of hedonism and her utter carelessness about what happens to her, but we never discuss the brother or the pain caused by his death enough for it to feel significant. It is the same with Bugsy, who does a favour for a friend who enters the story after almost a quarter of it has already passed by, and whose past with Bugsy is explained within a single rushed scene. It makes no sense why Bugsy would bother doing the favour, and the fact that Bugsy’s instincts tell him not to but he does it anyway makes him less selfless and more stupid.
“What kind of envelope, yaar?” I say, breaking out into an instant sweat. My internal alarm is going off, but I’m trying to ignore it.
I guess the only redeeming quality Bugsy has is that he has at least some semblance of agency, an attribute which Nida seems to be completely lacking. Not only does she exhibit a severe lack of motivation, she also suffers from a too-pure-for-this-world syndrome because nothing she does can convince our hero that she is, in fact, an abominably useless person. When forced to read the conversations trying to pass as banter between them, Bugsy would be swooning, and I would be rolling my eyes. There were horrible flashbacks to the time I read Twilight for the first time, with my rapidly increasing bafflement over what, exactly, Edward found attractive in Bella. In romantic love interests that I read, I don’t want to have to resist the chemistry, much less question why it exists in the first place. And I’ve read too many excellent pairings to bother having any patience for couples whose attraction to each other is based on, well, god knows what.
I snatch a quick look at Nida. She looks hot. She’s holding an empty glass and her face is flushed, her eyes bright and glassy, her lips wet and red. Her black shirt is low-cut and tight, curved cleavage on full display. She gives me a huge hug, tripping a little over her heels.
I wouldn’t even have minded if Bugsy’s sole purpose was to get Nida in bed, because it wouldn’t be lying to the reader about his intentions. But to pretend that he’s so charmed by her, besotted, really, is then tantamount to so many levels of ridiculous. The book ticks all the wrong boxes in trying to explain why these two like each other: most particularly when Bugsy settles on the particulary vomit-inducing statement ‘she’s not like other girls’.
“I appreciate that she doesn't pretend to be shocked or scandalized, something most desi girls feel obligated to do when they hear anything related to sex, balls, dick or pussy… She's nothing like the giggly annoying girls that are endemic to Omer's parties.”
This misogyny on our hero’s part seems to be embedded in the DNA of almost all our characters. As a personality trait in a few odd people here and there, it makes sense for a richly populated world to have sexist people to balance out our hero and heroine and their hopefully mature sensibilities. Unfortunately, in this book Nida and Bugsy are just as bad as the rest of the slut-shaming population that they choose to hang out with.
“You girls have it so easy. No job pressure, no money tension. All you have to worry about is what colour contact lenses you’ll wear at your wedding.”
I could even accept the ridiculous ways in which women are objectified, ogled at or talked about in disparaging terms if the book itself did not take that tone. But because we spend the entirety of our time reading from the point of view of two ridiculously ill-informed, baseline misogynistic characters, it is hard to give the author the benefit of the doubt. Not only are they this hateful towards women, everyone they hang out with seems to suffer from the same germs.
“She’s some paindu ex-model who married him for his money. I’m sure she’s not too pleased with the downshift. If she wanted to travel economy she would have married her pimp.”
In fact, not only are they misogynistic, most of the people in this novel also happen to be pointlessly mean. I understand characters being disdainful and haughty if they are, say, superior in intellect, or very famous, or at least better in some recognizable manner. But our protagonists have no talents, no spark of intelligence, nothing that makes them stand out from a bunch of other equally unremarkable characters. Which makes it mostly insufferable how they look down on everything and everyone.
He points a finger and clicks his tongue like some idiot, like he’s memorized some shitty movie on how to be an investment banker. A chutiya in a shit brown ill-fitting business suit.
They’re spoilt, privileged little brats, almost all of them, even the ones who could have had some space to become something interesting. Omer, the guy Nida is dating, is from a powerful political family but manages to retain all the one-dimensional personality traits that the author seems to be obsessed with; not only is he mostly drunk and horny, he also has all the intelligence of a mollusc. Sometimes, accidentally, the author will give him some colour, but then he will quickly revert to being an atrocious monster.
He fails to mention why his house has steady electricity, why there’s no load-shedding for him. I’ve noticed that Omer never uses the word ‘corrupt’, not when we talk about the government, or the state of our country, and definitely never when discussing his father.
In fact, pretty much the only thing the book seems to get right is the politics of the country. Even though the concept of fictional portraits of real-life political figures has already been tackled before by Omar Shahid Hamid and so reading about a caricature of Imran Khan (Mian Tariq in this title) doesn’t feel very exciting. Still, the reality of politics in Pakistan, that level of euphoria in a rally or helplessness in everyday trivial matters when faced with corruption and laziness, are very well-drawn.
“How do you fix something that everyone wants broken? I’ve come to realize that the real power, the real money, is not in fixing things, but in keeping them broken. On the promise of repair, not on the actual process itself.”
Commentary like this, which focuses primarily on the society, on the culture of the big city and the rich folks, is pretty much the only part of this story that I loved. Unlike Hamid’s tale, which used the social observations as the back drop in which the plot could thrive, with Akbar’s writing it was the city itself that drew me in. I’ve mentioned it before, how Pakistani authors treat cities as characters, and it’s true for this novel as well. I love how Lahore was depicted, with so much personality: the staying up late, the food, the sense of alienation, the demographics, the politics, everything was so well done. For each useless character or scene, there is always a paragraph of smart observations that draw the reader in.
In fact, I could confidently admit that Nadia Akbar writes really well. There is clearly great command over language, a substantial vocabulary, and lots of confidence in the way she handles her narrative. Unfortunately, it was a narrative about characters I didn’t care about, or else I might have loved this book. I obviously have my issues with the random and completely inane italicization: I mean, someone explain to me why phrases like paindu and jaali are left unitalicized? What even is the editorial policy being followed here? As an editor who goes through hell working in a desi country producing books in English, this fight is a daily battle, so I go crazy trying to figure out what other publishers are doing, and frankly this book is a mess from all angles. Still, if you aren’t bothered by formatting, there’s great writing here. About idiotic characters, no doubt, but compliments where they are due should definitely be mentioned.
Recommendation:
I know they say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but the cover for this title is gorgeous. So pretty. So many points to the illustrator and for the publisher for deciding to go with this one. I still wouldn’t recommend you pick this up though. If you feel really inclined to read about things in the same vein, go check out Mohsin Hamid instead.
***
ORIGINAL REVIEW:
Meh. Review to come.
“I’ve been thinking stuff. Things feel different. It’s not normal, the way we live our lives, you know? All the drugs and booze, the endless parties. We don’t do anything worthwhile.”
There are very strong Mohsin-Hamid-Moth-Smoke vibes here: in the slow, steady destruction of our protagonists, in the drug-and-booze obsessed society they live in, in the utter lethargy and worthlessness they exhibit. But unlike Moth Smoke, this story doesn’t manage to get right that feeling of things falling apart spectacularly. Yes, bad things are happening, but that horror and helplessness that prevents Moth Smoke from being utter crap doesn’t exist in this novel. Which is quite sad, since there was so much space to do things right.
An important reason why this book can easily be skipped is because the author has chosen two of the most useless characters ever created to be her protagonists. Nida, a twenty-one year old college student desperate to escape her conservative family, starts a relationship with Omer (the son of a powerful political figure) on her summer vacation. Part of her new boyfriend’s gang of friends is Bugsy, an RJ who gets involved in political turmoil because of an old acquaintance. In theory, they could have been great as the proponents of this narrative, but in execution what we were left with is a pretentious and spoiled hero in Bugsy and a directionless heroine in Nida.
Sure, the story tries to keep it relevant by mentioning drug and alcohol use as well as lots of sexual content, but what you end up with are side characters who feel stereotypical, and protagonists who don’t feel like they exist outside of the stories being told. Nida spends the majority of her time hanging out with Omer, partying and taking drugs and generally having very little to contribute to the story. Supposedly she is falling apart after the death of her brother two years ago, a fact that is tearing her family apart, but because we never spend enough time with her family (the parents barely make an appearance), it’s hard to feel the repercussions through this story. It is implied that it is Nida’s brother’s death that acts as a catalyst for her entry into the word of hedonism and her utter carelessness about what happens to her, but we never discuss the brother or the pain caused by his death enough for it to feel significant. It is the same with Bugsy, who does a favour for a friend who enters the story after almost a quarter of it has already passed by, and whose past with Bugsy is explained within a single rushed scene. It makes no sense why Bugsy would bother doing the favour, and the fact that Bugsy’s instincts tell him not to but he does it anyway makes him less selfless and more stupid.
“What kind of envelope, yaar?” I say, breaking out into an instant sweat. My internal alarm is going off, but I’m trying to ignore it.
I guess the only redeeming quality Bugsy has is that he has at least some semblance of agency, an attribute which Nida seems to be completely lacking. Not only does she exhibit a severe lack of motivation, she also suffers from a too-pure-for-this-world syndrome because nothing she does can convince our hero that she is, in fact, an abominably useless person. When forced to read the conversations trying to pass as banter between them, Bugsy would be swooning, and I would be rolling my eyes. There were horrible flashbacks to the time I read Twilight for the first time, with my rapidly increasing bafflement over what, exactly, Edward found attractive in Bella. In romantic love interests that I read, I don’t want to have to resist the chemistry, much less question why it exists in the first place. And I’ve read too many excellent pairings to bother having any patience for couples whose attraction to each other is based on, well, god knows what.
I snatch a quick look at Nida. She looks hot. She’s holding an empty glass and her face is flushed, her eyes bright and glassy, her lips wet and red. Her black shirt is low-cut and tight, curved cleavage on full display. She gives me a huge hug, tripping a little over her heels.
I wouldn’t even have minded if Bugsy’s sole purpose was to get Nida in bed, because it wouldn’t be lying to the reader about his intentions. But to pretend that he’s so charmed by her, besotted, really, is then tantamount to so many levels of ridiculous. The book ticks all the wrong boxes in trying to explain why these two like each other: most particularly when Bugsy settles on the particulary vomit-inducing statement ‘she’s not like other girls’.
“I appreciate that she doesn't pretend to be shocked or scandalized, something most desi girls feel obligated to do when they hear anything related to sex, balls, dick or pussy… She's nothing like the giggly annoying girls that are endemic to Omer's parties.”
This misogyny on our hero’s part seems to be embedded in the DNA of almost all our characters. As a personality trait in a few odd people here and there, it makes sense for a richly populated world to have sexist people to balance out our hero and heroine and their hopefully mature sensibilities. Unfortunately, in this book Nida and Bugsy are just as bad as the rest of the slut-shaming population that they choose to hang out with.
“You girls have it so easy. No job pressure, no money tension. All you have to worry about is what colour contact lenses you’ll wear at your wedding.”
I could even accept the ridiculous ways in which women are objectified, ogled at or talked about in disparaging terms if the book itself did not take that tone. But because we spend the entirety of our time reading from the point of view of two ridiculously ill-informed, baseline misogynistic characters, it is hard to give the author the benefit of the doubt. Not only are they this hateful towards women, everyone they hang out with seems to suffer from the same germs.
“She’s some paindu ex-model who married him for his money. I’m sure she’s not too pleased with the downshift. If she wanted to travel economy she would have married her pimp.”
In fact, not only are they misogynistic, most of the people in this novel also happen to be pointlessly mean. I understand characters being disdainful and haughty if they are, say, superior in intellect, or very famous, or at least better in some recognizable manner. But our protagonists have no talents, no spark of intelligence, nothing that makes them stand out from a bunch of other equally unremarkable characters. Which makes it mostly insufferable how they look down on everything and everyone.
He points a finger and clicks his tongue like some idiot, like he’s memorized some shitty movie on how to be an investment banker. A chutiya in a shit brown ill-fitting business suit.
They’re spoilt, privileged little brats, almost all of them, even the ones who could have had some space to become something interesting. Omer, the guy Nida is dating, is from a powerful political family but manages to retain all the one-dimensional personality traits that the author seems to be obsessed with; not only is he mostly drunk and horny, he also has all the intelligence of a mollusc. Sometimes, accidentally, the author will give him some colour, but then he will quickly revert to being an atrocious monster.
He fails to mention why his house has steady electricity, why there’s no load-shedding for him. I’ve noticed that Omer never uses the word ‘corrupt’, not when we talk about the government, or the state of our country, and definitely never when discussing his father.
In fact, pretty much the only thing the book seems to get right is the politics of the country. Even though the concept of fictional portraits of real-life political figures has already been tackled before by Omar Shahid Hamid and so reading about a caricature of Imran Khan (Mian Tariq in this title) doesn’t feel very exciting. Still, the reality of politics in Pakistan, that level of euphoria in a rally or helplessness in everyday trivial matters when faced with corruption and laziness, are very well-drawn.
“How do you fix something that everyone wants broken? I’ve come to realize that the real power, the real money, is not in fixing things, but in keeping them broken. On the promise of repair, not on the actual process itself.”
Commentary like this, which focuses primarily on the society, on the culture of the big city and the rich folks, is pretty much the only part of this story that I loved. Unlike Hamid’s tale, which used the social observations as the back drop in which the plot could thrive, with Akbar’s writing it was the city itself that drew me in. I’ve mentioned it before, how Pakistani authors treat cities as characters, and it’s true for this novel as well. I love how Lahore was depicted, with so much personality: the staying up late, the food, the sense of alienation, the demographics, the politics, everything was so well done. For each useless character or scene, there is always a paragraph of smart observations that draw the reader in.
In fact, I could confidently admit that Nadia Akbar writes really well. There is clearly great command over language, a substantial vocabulary, and lots of confidence in the way she handles her narrative. Unfortunately, it was a narrative about characters I didn’t care about, or else I might have loved this book. I obviously have my issues with the random and completely inane italicization: I mean, someone explain to me why phrases like paindu and jaali are left unitalicized? What even is the editorial policy being followed here? As an editor who goes through hell working in a desi country producing books in English, this fight is a daily battle, so I go crazy trying to figure out what other publishers are doing, and frankly this book is a mess from all angles. Still, if you aren’t bothered by formatting, there’s great writing here. About idiotic characters, no doubt, but compliments where they are due should definitely be mentioned.
Recommendation:
I know they say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but the cover for this title is gorgeous. So pretty. So many points to the illustrator and for the publisher for deciding to go with this one. I still wouldn’t recommend you pick this up though. If you feel really inclined to read about things in the same vein, go check out Mohsin Hamid instead.
***
ORIGINAL REVIEW:
Meh. Review to come.
September 14, 2018
2.5/5
I read Nadia Akbar’s “Goodbye Freddie Mercury” yesterday, and it’s still swirling around in my head, yet to settle. Two big reasons why I wanted to read this are to do with 1) its gorgeous cover by Samya Arif, and 2) 2018 seems to be a great year to read first-time authors of colour (Sanam Maher, Richa Kaul Padte, Aanchal Malhotra, Sujatha Gidla come to mind).
Goodbye Freddie Mercury is about Nida and Bugsy, two twenty-somethings who feel a connection to each other in a time of political change, and when they have to time to breathe from all the drugs they’re taking. The good, first: I love any book about cities, and was pleasantly surprised when this turned out to be one too. I wonder what it is about Pakistani cities that prompts writers to make them as central as any protagonist in their stories. Goodbye Freddie Mercury reminded me of ‘Karachi You’re Killing Me’ and even ‘Reluctant Fundamentalist’, in that it is about Nida and Bugsy, as the blurb will tell you, but its more about Lahore – its old city, its rich parts, the food, the big city alienation, its demographic of frustrated party-goers, its inescapable politics.
There’s so many ‘desi’ moments in the book that make it an enjoyable, relatable read, especially our hilarious subcontinental tendency to adopt all brown achievers in the West as our own. This book could have honestly been set in South Delhi with no discordance whatsoever, maybe titled Goodbye Sundar Pichai. Nadia Akbar knows this world, and the pace of the novel is great – it’s a quick, 2 sitting read, and almost feels like a fun, young adult novel, if it weren’t for some of the extremely confusing turns it takes.
(Spoilers ahead) As for what I didn’t like, for a book with two first-person narratives, I was left feeling like I knew very little of either of their inner lives. The defining points for Nida and Bugsy in the book are their relationships with Omer and Moby, but you are left to imagine why they feel the way they do about those characters. The first time we see Nida and Omer together, they are already on the verge of being boyfriend-girlfriend, and Bugsy gives us only the smallest glimpse into why he is willing to risk so much for an old smoking buddy. In fact, I was also left confused by why we are to take Nida and Bugsy’s connection for granted – given she is a manic pixie dream girl who is not as cool as the author seems to think she is, and he is that familiar boy from your teens who likes you only because you like his music, and you’re ‘not like other girls’. It was also really hard to invest in a relationship(?) that could have gone the way it did with any other mutual friend they party with in the book. The parts that work the most are the social observations – about bar dancers, military uncles, using fashion as a crutch and all things election-related. On a micro level, the book has trouble with introducing relationships, ending them, and even sustaining them, which is the only explanation I can give for the last fifty pages of the book.
But I will say this: it does take a somewhat decent book to unsettle you, and I’m still thinking about Nida 24 hours after I finished this…
I read Nadia Akbar’s “Goodbye Freddie Mercury” yesterday, and it’s still swirling around in my head, yet to settle. Two big reasons why I wanted to read this are to do with 1) its gorgeous cover by Samya Arif, and 2) 2018 seems to be a great year to read first-time authors of colour (Sanam Maher, Richa Kaul Padte, Aanchal Malhotra, Sujatha Gidla come to mind).
Goodbye Freddie Mercury is about Nida and Bugsy, two twenty-somethings who feel a connection to each other in a time of political change, and when they have to time to breathe from all the drugs they’re taking. The good, first: I love any book about cities, and was pleasantly surprised when this turned out to be one too. I wonder what it is about Pakistani cities that prompts writers to make them as central as any protagonist in their stories. Goodbye Freddie Mercury reminded me of ‘Karachi You’re Killing Me’ and even ‘Reluctant Fundamentalist’, in that it is about Nida and Bugsy, as the blurb will tell you, but its more about Lahore – its old city, its rich parts, the food, the big city alienation, its demographic of frustrated party-goers, its inescapable politics.
There’s so many ‘desi’ moments in the book that make it an enjoyable, relatable read, especially our hilarious subcontinental tendency to adopt all brown achievers in the West as our own. This book could have honestly been set in South Delhi with no discordance whatsoever, maybe titled Goodbye Sundar Pichai. Nadia Akbar knows this world, and the pace of the novel is great – it’s a quick, 2 sitting read, and almost feels like a fun, young adult novel, if it weren’t for some of the extremely confusing turns it takes.
(Spoilers ahead) As for what I didn’t like, for a book with two first-person narratives, I was left feeling like I knew very little of either of their inner lives. The defining points for Nida and Bugsy in the book are their relationships with Omer and Moby, but you are left to imagine why they feel the way they do about those characters. The first time we see Nida and Omer together, they are already on the verge of being boyfriend-girlfriend, and Bugsy gives us only the smallest glimpse into why he is willing to risk so much for an old smoking buddy. In fact, I was also left confused by why we are to take Nida and Bugsy’s connection for granted – given she is a manic pixie dream girl who is not as cool as the author seems to think she is, and he is that familiar boy from your teens who likes you only because you like his music, and you’re ‘not like other girls’. It was also really hard to invest in a relationship(?) that could have gone the way it did with any other mutual friend they party with in the book. The parts that work the most are the social observations – about bar dancers, military uncles, using fashion as a crutch and all things election-related. On a micro level, the book has trouble with introducing relationships, ending them, and even sustaining them, which is the only explanation I can give for the last fifty pages of the book.
But I will say this: it does take a somewhat decent book to unsettle you, and I’m still thinking about Nida 24 hours after I finished this…
August 5, 2018
Goodbye Freddie Mercury was heart-wrenching and eye-opening. It was the best kind of unexpected. Nadia Akbar nailed it her first novel. Every sentence was artfully written. The dialogue was fresh, and it was so engaging to experience Lahore from Nida and Bugsy’s perspectives. The excess. The system. The brokenness. The numbness. The humanity. The ending was so, so powerful. Its social critique of class, power, and gender politics sticks with you. It had. a brilliant cult classic feel. I was blown away by the plot and the edgy voice. Akbar writes fearlessly. I’m hoping this novel becomes a film...it was a cinematic read...especially the ending. Damn. The ending. Read it!!
June 23, 2018
Nadia Akbar’s debut novel, set in Pakistan, narrates the stories of the youth, as they grow up in a society ripe with corruption, volatile politics and gender bias. Nida and Bugsy are two such teenagers whose lives get entangled when they meet at a party. After her brother’s death, Nida has grown estranged from her family and chooses to spend her days smoking one joint after another. Bugsy is an RJ trying to harmonize rock music into the music scene in Lahore, a place that is still clinging to the tunes from years gone by.
Other than its hypnotic cover, the title and the premise of Goodbye Freddie Mercury were what drew me to the book. As I kept reading, I began to realize that there wasn’t a specific plot governing the storytelling. There was no discernible start, mid and end to the narrative; no conflict or climax driving the novel forward. Instead, it flowed with the ease of a story gradually unraveling at the touch of a reader. The author’s writing style is very poised and at the same time, makes frequent use of Hindi and Punjabi slang; thus catering to the readers of our subcontinent. It is also observant in its descriptions and fills in necessary details of the surroundings during a scene.
On the surface, this is a typical youth drama fiction. There’s a whole lot of drug and alcohol use, sexual content, petty rivalry, stereotypical characters. The extent to which the characters in this book are shown to be inebriated is quite alarming, considering the fact that they are barely young adults. Nida is your quintessential new girl, who quickly gets assimilated into this group of friends when she starts dating Omer, the supposed leader of the pack. The impression I got from her character depiction is that she is often not mindful of her actions, she doesn’t really stop to think what’s good for her and make choices based on sound judgement. Omer is a rather distasteful spoilt character, objectifying others and paying no heed to consequences. I had placed all of my faith on Bugsy to be somewhat more mature than the others. He is a lot more approachable and considerate.
All throughout, I was wondering how the title connects to the novel. Towards the end, you begin to understand the deeper meaning and I was super impressed. I wished there weren’t as many stereotypes in the book. On the whole, I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to everyone solely on the basis of how different the style is. It is more realistic and raw than you’d expect it to be.
Ratings – 3.5 out of 5 stars
What do you get out of it? A novel about teenagers from the upper echelons of Lahori society, where insobriety and abuse of power are the norm of the day.
Thank you Penguin India for sending me a copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.
Other than its hypnotic cover, the title and the premise of Goodbye Freddie Mercury were what drew me to the book. As I kept reading, I began to realize that there wasn’t a specific plot governing the storytelling. There was no discernible start, mid and end to the narrative; no conflict or climax driving the novel forward. Instead, it flowed with the ease of a story gradually unraveling at the touch of a reader. The author’s writing style is very poised and at the same time, makes frequent use of Hindi and Punjabi slang; thus catering to the readers of our subcontinent. It is also observant in its descriptions and fills in necessary details of the surroundings during a scene.
On the surface, this is a typical youth drama fiction. There’s a whole lot of drug and alcohol use, sexual content, petty rivalry, stereotypical characters. The extent to which the characters in this book are shown to be inebriated is quite alarming, considering the fact that they are barely young adults. Nida is your quintessential new girl, who quickly gets assimilated into this group of friends when she starts dating Omer, the supposed leader of the pack. The impression I got from her character depiction is that she is often not mindful of her actions, she doesn’t really stop to think what’s good for her and make choices based on sound judgement. Omer is a rather distasteful spoilt character, objectifying others and paying no heed to consequences. I had placed all of my faith on Bugsy to be somewhat more mature than the others. He is a lot more approachable and considerate.
All throughout, I was wondering how the title connects to the novel. Towards the end, you begin to understand the deeper meaning and I was super impressed. I wished there weren’t as many stereotypes in the book. On the whole, I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to everyone solely on the basis of how different the style is. It is more realistic and raw than you’d expect it to be.
Ratings – 3.5 out of 5 stars
What do you get out of it? A novel about teenagers from the upper echelons of Lahori society, where insobriety and abuse of power are the norm of the day.
Thank you Penguin India for sending me a copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.
July 13, 2018
Wow.
Like wordless fucking wow.
1) I didn't think am entire book could be written in such a funny sarcastic banter.
2) I didn't think you'd want to punch so many characters in their fucking balls at the same time.
Bugsy. Nida. Ali. Alfie. I like them. I love them. I want to protect them from their own shit. I want to get high with them and listen to their music and talk to them and share food and ride. I want to comfort them and live their world.
Moby. Omer. Ifti. Aliya. I want to hit them so hard. Maybe strangle them and see the air choke out of them as slowly die.
Just when I thought this was heading towards a happily ever after cliché, the book devastated me.
What the fuck happened to Nida? What the hell?
Bugsy? A banker? Fuckkkk.
This book has seriously given me a hangover that I don't want to get out of.
Like wordless fucking wow.
1) I didn't think am entire book could be written in such a funny sarcastic banter.
2) I didn't think you'd want to punch so many characters in their fucking balls at the same time.
Bugsy. Nida. Ali. Alfie. I like them. I love them. I want to protect them from their own shit. I want to get high with them and listen to their music and talk to them and share food and ride. I want to comfort them and live their world.
Moby. Omer. Ifti. Aliya. I want to hit them so hard. Maybe strangle them and see the air choke out of them as slowly die.
Just when I thought this was heading towards a happily ever after cliché, the book devastated me.
What the fuck happened to Nida? What the hell?
Bugsy? A banker? Fuckkkk.
This book has seriously given me a hangover that I don't want to get out of.
September 18, 2018
Originally posted on my blog.
Playing the Desi Game: Goodbye Freddie Mercury by Nadia Akbar
Goodbye Freddie Mercury by Nadia Akbar is set in the city of Lahore, Pakistan and spans one long summer in the lives of a bunch of characters (mostly) in their early twenties.
It is told in two alternating voices—that of Nida, a twenty-one-year-old student desperate to escape the claustrophobic atmosphere of her conservative home; and that of Bugsy, a radio jockey and lover of rock music, who is severely disillusioned by State politics.
Nida says,
"After twenty-one years of living in this city, I think I'd know if there was a cooler, alternative Lahore hiding behind some smelly chinar trees."
But the characters in Akbar's novel do occupy an alternative Lahore, a Lahore which is alternative to readers who have never lived in the city, a younger Lahore made of (as the blurb on the book suggests) "parties, drugs, mysteries, love triangles, political intrigue, and power struggles."
A Desi Fairytale* (*Terms and Conditions Apply)
In the early part of the novel, you enter a party at Iftikhar 'Ifti' Ali's grand mansion. Ifti is the right-hand man to the current Prime Minister of Pakistan (in the novel), Salim Chaudhry. At this party are gathered those who represent "the most influential and dishonoured families in Lahore."
In Akbar's novel, you're cruising the streets in expensive cars owned by the malai or, if you prefer the less desi version, the crème de la crème of Lahore, living their lifestyle, attending their parties, all the while aware that this version of the Pakistani fairytale is a "giant middle-finger to the impoverished masses. . . and, even worse, an open asshole to the feudal rich."
That's exactly what the political game is about. Everyone knows that "corruption is in our blood" and that "the masses vote for tangibles not ideas." The two opposing parties—led by Salim Chaudhry and Mian Tariq, respectively—do not offer any real choice.
The most important thing is the spectacle and, as anyone living in India today can tell you, spectacles have the power to inspire patriotism even in the most disillusioned of citizens. At Tariq's political rally, Bugsy says,
"A simple symbol—a flag, cheap two-rupee fabric, a splintering piece of wood, and all the weight of a nation's history waving precariously in the wind."
The Limits of 'Sexy Writing'
The entire book is written in dry but observant humour, such that you might not laugh out loud reading the lines, but you do end up wondering why you never made that joke. Bugsy says,
"The truth—I'm asking for trouble. Trouble is too damn interesting. Trouble is an integral part of the desi lifestyle. It's what we do. We see a sticky situation, sniff the danger and plunge headfirst with eyes open and thumbs up."
However, there are definitely idioms, phrases, and invective in the book that only desis might get and which may not have an exact translation in English. Phrases like 'khusar-phusar', 'paindu', 'jaali', 'dungars', and 'golmol' add a distinct desi flavour to the language in Akbar's novel.
That said, I don't like the fact that the blurb defines Akbar's writing style as "sexy writing"; it almost takes away from Akbar's sharp sarcasm and the effort that goes into writing the way she does, in my opinion.
"Not That Kind of a Girl"
While Bugsy's narrative is peppered with Akbar's wit, it is Nida who has some of the best lines in the novel. For instance, about shopping in Pakistan, she says,
"In Pakistan we shop to survive. To survive miserable marriages, inconsiderate in-laws and ungrateful offspring. . . The Ultimate Survival Guide for the Desi Woman begins with kapra. We salivate over salwar-kameez like famished at a feast."
The masculine and feminine worlds in the novel are sharply divided and this divide is seamlessly embedded in desi culture.
If the feminine world is about Lollywood dramas and speaking the language of changing fashion, the masculine world is about military rankings and hierarchies, about ego battles and inside jokes. If you belong to the former 'club', as Nida tells you, you're worse off.
"Desi boys—Omer and his friends, college boys, schoolboys—are merciless critics, dissecting every female that crosses their path with the ruthless precision of a forensic pathologist."
Despite Nida's feminist takes in the novel, it is disappointing that she is reduced to "not that kind of a girl", the stereotype becoming her personality, alienating her from the 'other girls' such that there is no possibility of a shared sisterhood. Bugsy says,
"I appreciate that she doesn't pretend to be shocked or scandalized, something most desi girls feel obligated to do when they hear anything related to sex, balls, dick or pussy[. . .] She's nothing like the giggly annoying girls that are endemic to Omer's parties."
So, Why Freddie Mercury?
Nida must escape the conservative strains of her home where the loss of her brother—the only son in the family—is still mourned, but she must also equally escape this stereotype. That's where Freddie Mercury comes in.
Freddie Mercury is a metaphor for desi kids, each of whom wants to be a star, to somehow escape their desi roots and become someone else, something else—a "personal and historical reinvention".
It is this reinvention that Bugsy too hopes for in refusing to join the forces (unlike his father, who is a retired Brigadier) and becoming a radio jockey, but he is all too aware of the futility of his aspirations.
"It's crazy, Farrokh [who later changed his name to Freddie Mercury], leaving behind a desi life, becoming something new, someone so wholly one-off and inimitable, and now heard by people back in Pakistan dreaming the same dream but who can't share the same reality."
There is no escape from this reality, of course, and "Lahore has a way of wearing everything out." Not a far cry from what, many of us, think of our own cities; I definitely think this of Delhi quite often.
___________________
Goodbye Freddie Mercury by Nadia Akbar, published by Hamish Hamilton/Penguin Random House, 2018.
* This book was sent to me for review by the publisher. The views expressed, however, are entirely my own.
Playing the Desi Game: Goodbye Freddie Mercury by Nadia Akbar
Goodbye Freddie Mercury by Nadia Akbar is set in the city of Lahore, Pakistan and spans one long summer in the lives of a bunch of characters (mostly) in their early twenties.
It is told in two alternating voices—that of Nida, a twenty-one-year-old student desperate to escape the claustrophobic atmosphere of her conservative home; and that of Bugsy, a radio jockey and lover of rock music, who is severely disillusioned by State politics.
Nida says,
"After twenty-one years of living in this city, I think I'd know if there was a cooler, alternative Lahore hiding behind some smelly chinar trees."
But the characters in Akbar's novel do occupy an alternative Lahore, a Lahore which is alternative to readers who have never lived in the city, a younger Lahore made of (as the blurb on the book suggests) "parties, drugs, mysteries, love triangles, political intrigue, and power struggles."
A Desi Fairytale* (*Terms and Conditions Apply)
In the early part of the novel, you enter a party at Iftikhar 'Ifti' Ali's grand mansion. Ifti is the right-hand man to the current Prime Minister of Pakistan (in the novel), Salim Chaudhry. At this party are gathered those who represent "the most influential and dishonoured families in Lahore."
In Akbar's novel, you're cruising the streets in expensive cars owned by the malai or, if you prefer the less desi version, the crème de la crème of Lahore, living their lifestyle, attending their parties, all the while aware that this version of the Pakistani fairytale is a "giant middle-finger to the impoverished masses. . . and, even worse, an open asshole to the feudal rich."
That's exactly what the political game is about. Everyone knows that "corruption is in our blood" and that "the masses vote for tangibles not ideas." The two opposing parties—led by Salim Chaudhry and Mian Tariq, respectively—do not offer any real choice.
The most important thing is the spectacle and, as anyone living in India today can tell you, spectacles have the power to inspire patriotism even in the most disillusioned of citizens. At Tariq's political rally, Bugsy says,
"A simple symbol—a flag, cheap two-rupee fabric, a splintering piece of wood, and all the weight of a nation's history waving precariously in the wind."
The Limits of 'Sexy Writing'
The entire book is written in dry but observant humour, such that you might not laugh out loud reading the lines, but you do end up wondering why you never made that joke. Bugsy says,
"The truth—I'm asking for trouble. Trouble is too damn interesting. Trouble is an integral part of the desi lifestyle. It's what we do. We see a sticky situation, sniff the danger and plunge headfirst with eyes open and thumbs up."
However, there are definitely idioms, phrases, and invective in the book that only desis might get and which may not have an exact translation in English. Phrases like 'khusar-phusar', 'paindu', 'jaali', 'dungars', and 'golmol' add a distinct desi flavour to the language in Akbar's novel.
That said, I don't like the fact that the blurb defines Akbar's writing style as "sexy writing"; it almost takes away from Akbar's sharp sarcasm and the effort that goes into writing the way she does, in my opinion.
"Not That Kind of a Girl"
While Bugsy's narrative is peppered with Akbar's wit, it is Nida who has some of the best lines in the novel. For instance, about shopping in Pakistan, she says,
"In Pakistan we shop to survive. To survive miserable marriages, inconsiderate in-laws and ungrateful offspring. . . The Ultimate Survival Guide for the Desi Woman begins with kapra. We salivate over salwar-kameez like famished at a feast."
The masculine and feminine worlds in the novel are sharply divided and this divide is seamlessly embedded in desi culture.
If the feminine world is about Lollywood dramas and speaking the language of changing fashion, the masculine world is about military rankings and hierarchies, about ego battles and inside jokes. If you belong to the former 'club', as Nida tells you, you're worse off.
"Desi boys—Omer and his friends, college boys, schoolboys—are merciless critics, dissecting every female that crosses their path with the ruthless precision of a forensic pathologist."
Despite Nida's feminist takes in the novel, it is disappointing that she is reduced to "not that kind of a girl", the stereotype becoming her personality, alienating her from the 'other girls' such that there is no possibility of a shared sisterhood. Bugsy says,
"I appreciate that she doesn't pretend to be shocked or scandalized, something most desi girls feel obligated to do when they hear anything related to sex, balls, dick or pussy[. . .] She's nothing like the giggly annoying girls that are endemic to Omer's parties."
So, Why Freddie Mercury?
Nida must escape the conservative strains of her home where the loss of her brother—the only son in the family—is still mourned, but she must also equally escape this stereotype. That's where Freddie Mercury comes in.
Freddie Mercury is a metaphor for desi kids, each of whom wants to be a star, to somehow escape their desi roots and become someone else, something else—a "personal and historical reinvention".
It is this reinvention that Bugsy too hopes for in refusing to join the forces (unlike his father, who is a retired Brigadier) and becoming a radio jockey, but he is all too aware of the futility of his aspirations.
"It's crazy, Farrokh [who later changed his name to Freddie Mercury], leaving behind a desi life, becoming something new, someone so wholly one-off and inimitable, and now heard by people back in Pakistan dreaming the same dream but who can't share the same reality."
There is no escape from this reality, of course, and "Lahore has a way of wearing everything out." Not a far cry from what, many of us, think of our own cities; I definitely think this of Delhi quite often.
___________________
Goodbye Freddie Mercury by Nadia Akbar, published by Hamish Hamilton/Penguin Random House, 2018.
* This book was sent to me for review by the publisher. The views expressed, however, are entirely my own.
September 20, 2018
Lahore is a character in Nadia Akbar's Goodbye Freddie Mercury and what a well-described, lovable character it is. The descriptions of the Old City, late night drives, food stalls and the summer keep me hooked to the book, till the end.
The book, narrated from the perspective of 2 characters, Nida and Bugsy is a breezy 350 odd page novel. Set in Lahore, just before a historic general election, the book is a hugely political but manages to hide it, in its exploration of relationships and drugs and upper class Lahore society. Nida is a student of Economics in Lahore College, Bugsy is an RJ at a radio station (obsessed with rock music) and they meet through Omer (extremely popular and influential, his father is the right-hand man, financier and advisor to the current Prime Minister). What follows is several alcohol and drug-filled parties, weddings and festivities, intercut with political rallies, a sinister political conspiracy and a bomb blast.
Does it do it well? Politically, it sets up the characters and the plot really well, but the climax is too dull and vague... It leaves too many unanswered questions, and no closure. When it comes to the Lahore society, it is extremely detailed and very real. That really is the best part of the novel.
The characters could have been explore in more details. Nida especially just seems to be going from one party to another, smoking up and having sex. Her world is essentially shallow, and almost pretentious. In her attempt to run away from a distraught home and family life, she seems to be a confused and listless girl but unfortunately the confusion and listlessness is their in the writing too. We hardly see Nida through her own eyes, in her own world, and that's why my favourite scenes are one where she's actually talking. Her conversation with her sister, Fatima, is hands down my favourite scene in the book. It's a scene of female bonding, of heartbreak, of growing up, of being yourself and this honesty and rawness is missing from most of the scenes in the novel.
The confusion is seen in Bugsy too. He seems to just flow along, with no strong presence or persona. He's not really doing anything, things seem to happen to him all the time. He doesn't challenge these happenings, everything seems to be out of his control.
Is this a comment on today's youth and the meaninglessness of existence in a society like Pakistan, today? Maybe. But if so, it is not convincing.
What upsets me is that the book could have been so much more. The politics could have been explored more, the climax deserved to be so much better than it was.
And Nida and Bugsy could have been so much more, as characters. As people.
The book, narrated from the perspective of 2 characters, Nida and Bugsy is a breezy 350 odd page novel. Set in Lahore, just before a historic general election, the book is a hugely political but manages to hide it, in its exploration of relationships and drugs and upper class Lahore society. Nida is a student of Economics in Lahore College, Bugsy is an RJ at a radio station (obsessed with rock music) and they meet through Omer (extremely popular and influential, his father is the right-hand man, financier and advisor to the current Prime Minister). What follows is several alcohol and drug-filled parties, weddings and festivities, intercut with political rallies, a sinister political conspiracy and a bomb blast.
Does it do it well? Politically, it sets up the characters and the plot really well, but the climax is too dull and vague... It leaves too many unanswered questions, and no closure. When it comes to the Lahore society, it is extremely detailed and very real. That really is the best part of the novel.
The characters could have been explore in more details. Nida especially just seems to be going from one party to another, smoking up and having sex. Her world is essentially shallow, and almost pretentious. In her attempt to run away from a distraught home and family life, she seems to be a confused and listless girl but unfortunately the confusion and listlessness is their in the writing too. We hardly see Nida through her own eyes, in her own world, and that's why my favourite scenes are one where she's actually talking. Her conversation with her sister, Fatima, is hands down my favourite scene in the book. It's a scene of female bonding, of heartbreak, of growing up, of being yourself and this honesty and rawness is missing from most of the scenes in the novel.
The confusion is seen in Bugsy too. He seems to just flow along, with no strong presence or persona. He's not really doing anything, things seem to happen to him all the time. He doesn't challenge these happenings, everything seems to be out of his control.
Is this a comment on today's youth and the meaninglessness of existence in a society like Pakistan, today? Maybe. But if so, it is not convincing.
What upsets me is that the book could have been so much more. The politics could have been explored more, the climax deserved to be so much better than it was.
And Nida and Bugsy could have been so much more, as characters. As people.
November 12, 2019
It was a beautiful contemporary but it felt rushed at times and dragged at certain points. I loved the characters and the whole aura of Lahore. The end was bizarre and bland. Only if there was something extra. Something else to hold on to; it would have been a perfect read.
January 2, 2021
2
Ali Azmat's "accolade" of the book on the back cover reads " Wow! This book is so rock 'n' roll. F***ing kaboom! It changes everything. Read it." (I really don't think he actually read the book)
Ironically, as generic as it is, there could not have been a better description for 'Goodbye Freddie Mercury'. Because the book itself is as shallow as Ali Azmat's review of it.
The two narrators of the book - Nida and Bugsy - are full of teen/YA angst. The kind where everything is painful and shitty. But it's familiar, nostalgic shit so it smells of roses anyway.
The two mostly come across as male and female versions of the same person. They hate their lives but we're never given an in-depth reason why. We're just supposed to assume it's because they live in Pakistan and have brains that think more than the common man's. Therefore, they are depressed and hopeless by default - because Lahore.
At least in Nida's case we're told that it's (SPOILER!) the death of a brother that causes her to be the way she is. But we're never given an inside look into her relationship with her brother to make us FEEL bad for her. Bugsy, on the other hand, comes across as an entitled, good-for-nothing brat who hates everyone and thinks they're beneath him since they don't share his appreciation of culture and music.
I think somewhere, the author might have been attempting to use this apparent shallowness as a trick. As if she's saying, 'you think this is meaningless? Wait for the end when I prove you wrong.' As if we're meant to take Nida and Bugsy's privileged problems at face value so we can eventually be told that they were right all along because they had some premonitory, psychic abilities that can only come from living in Lahore and KNOWING that they'd end up leading shitty lives. So their whiny teen/YA years were actually foreshadowing something *shrugs*
This is not to say that this is a badly written book. As far as books by Pakistani authors go, this is a much superior piece of writing than anything else out there. With Paki authors, the biggest problem is the flow. But Nadia Akbar's text is seamless. It never feels as if a paragraph doesn't belong or that a s sentence emerges out of nowhere. When it comes to language, structure, smoothness and coherency, this book stands much above its peers. And the last 20 pages are pretty well-written.
Nadia also beautifully uses Lahore as a sort of motif for struggle and identity throughout the book. We're meant to see that the messiness, dirt, darkness, nostalgia and inherent goodness of the city is reflected in those who inhabit it - including Nida and Bugsy.
I just wish they shared Lahore's intricacies and complexity, too
Ali Azmat's "accolade" of the book on the back cover reads " Wow! This book is so rock 'n' roll. F***ing kaboom! It changes everything. Read it." (I really don't think he actually read the book)
Ironically, as generic as it is, there could not have been a better description for 'Goodbye Freddie Mercury'. Because the book itself is as shallow as Ali Azmat's review of it.
The two narrators of the book - Nida and Bugsy - are full of teen/YA angst. The kind where everything is painful and shitty. But it's familiar, nostalgic shit so it smells of roses anyway.
The two mostly come across as male and female versions of the same person. They hate their lives but we're never given an in-depth reason why. We're just supposed to assume it's because they live in Pakistan and have brains that think more than the common man's. Therefore, they are depressed and hopeless by default - because Lahore.
At least in Nida's case we're told that it's (SPOILER!) the death of a brother that causes her to be the way she is. But we're never given an inside look into her relationship with her brother to make us FEEL bad for her. Bugsy, on the other hand, comes across as an entitled, good-for-nothing brat who hates everyone and thinks they're beneath him since they don't share his appreciation of culture and music.
I think somewhere, the author might have been attempting to use this apparent shallowness as a trick. As if she's saying, 'you think this is meaningless? Wait for the end when I prove you wrong.' As if we're meant to take Nida and Bugsy's privileged problems at face value so we can eventually be told that they were right all along because they had some premonitory, psychic abilities that can only come from living in Lahore and KNOWING that they'd end up leading shitty lives. So their whiny teen/YA years were actually foreshadowing something *shrugs*
This is not to say that this is a badly written book. As far as books by Pakistani authors go, this is a much superior piece of writing than anything else out there. With Paki authors, the biggest problem is the flow. But Nadia Akbar's text is seamless. It never feels as if a paragraph doesn't belong or that a s sentence emerges out of nowhere. When it comes to language, structure, smoothness and coherency, this book stands much above its peers. And the last 20 pages are pretty well-written.
Nadia also beautifully uses Lahore as a sort of motif for struggle and identity throughout the book. We're meant to see that the messiness, dirt, darkness, nostalgia and inherent goodness of the city is reflected in those who inhabit it - including Nida and Bugsy.
I just wish they shared Lahore's intricacies and complexity, too
September 26, 2018
Review first published on my blog here:
https://bit.ly/2NKy19v
Excerpt below:
As an Indian, I have been curious about the life and lifestyle of the average Pakistani and always wondered what it's like, on the other side of the "BORDER".
This was my first literary experience and it was an interesting read. The commonalities, the similar interests, the hopeless situation, the inevitable political corruption. One wonders how different things would have been if it wasn't for the partition.
In both countries the situation seems equally dire, with a level of hopelessness that is mirrored on both sides.
Lahore is burning is the first line in the description, and its not just the weather they are referring to.
Terror attacks, Suicide Bombers, Political & Business Corruption is just as normal and ordinary as the sun rising by day, the moon by night or the rain during monsoons. it just seems to be an accepted way of life.
And that is where Nida Akbars writing skills come to the fore. In Goodbye Freddie Mercury, she has handled a very delicate story line, among a highly sensitive set of situations and comes out with a very good book.
She has a very easy writing style, that keeps the story flowing and in the case of Goodbye Freddie Mercury, Nida doesn't let it slow down which is commendable for a first time writer.
She has alternated view points between Bugsy and Nida, keeping an element of freshness and suspense throughout the story. As a reader, one really wants to know what is going to happen next to each of them and whether they survive the various situations they experience in life. The biggest fear being what if any of them gets caught?
Every character, and there are numerous ones along the way, finds a way to connect with the readers and for that Nida deserves high praise. The testosterone heavy situations are deftly balanced with sufficient details and yet enough left to the imagination.
The story line revolves around the quagmire situations that Nida and Bugsy respectively find themselves in and how they have to deal with the problems and find a way to extricate themselves safely.
Do they manage to do so unscathed? What body blows do they have to face? Does the book have a happy ending, or will you have a sense of inevitability when it concludes, an "I Told you so" feeling?
Irrespective of your perspective, you wont be able to deny the emotional feeling that will overcome you one knowing the ending. It definitely left me hurting and am sure a lot more people to.
Go read it to, experience their lives.
P.S. - It has one of the most artistic and Gorgeous covers ever seen :)
https://bit.ly/2NKy19v
Excerpt below:
As an Indian, I have been curious about the life and lifestyle of the average Pakistani and always wondered what it's like, on the other side of the "BORDER".
This was my first literary experience and it was an interesting read. The commonalities, the similar interests, the hopeless situation, the inevitable political corruption. One wonders how different things would have been if it wasn't for the partition.
In both countries the situation seems equally dire, with a level of hopelessness that is mirrored on both sides.
Lahore is burning is the first line in the description, and its not just the weather they are referring to.
Terror attacks, Suicide Bombers, Political & Business Corruption is just as normal and ordinary as the sun rising by day, the moon by night or the rain during monsoons. it just seems to be an accepted way of life.
And that is where Nida Akbars writing skills come to the fore. In Goodbye Freddie Mercury, she has handled a very delicate story line, among a highly sensitive set of situations and comes out with a very good book.
She has a very easy writing style, that keeps the story flowing and in the case of Goodbye Freddie Mercury, Nida doesn't let it slow down which is commendable for a first time writer.
She has alternated view points between Bugsy and Nida, keeping an element of freshness and suspense throughout the story. As a reader, one really wants to know what is going to happen next to each of them and whether they survive the various situations they experience in life. The biggest fear being what if any of them gets caught?
Every character, and there are numerous ones along the way, finds a way to connect with the readers and for that Nida deserves high praise. The testosterone heavy situations are deftly balanced with sufficient details and yet enough left to the imagination.
The story line revolves around the quagmire situations that Nida and Bugsy respectively find themselves in and how they have to deal with the problems and find a way to extricate themselves safely.
Do they manage to do so unscathed? What body blows do they have to face? Does the book have a happy ending, or will you have a sense of inevitability when it concludes, an "I Told you so" feeling?
Irrespective of your perspective, you wont be able to deny the emotional feeling that will overcome you one knowing the ending. It definitely left me hurting and am sure a lot more people to.
Go read it to, experience their lives.
P.S. - It has one of the most artistic and Gorgeous covers ever seen :)
August 11, 2018
There is no doubt that Nadia wrote the book beautifully. The minute details and artistically articulated proses are a pleasure to read.
But the problems with the book overshadow the plus points. The writer failed to present a compelling storyline. The book could have dwelled into the description of Pakistan, its culture, politics and much more. But instead of that, Nadia prefers to endlessly write about drugs, booze, and sex.
The book seems to come off as an ostentatious act by the writer, showing off her writing skills that she learned during her creative writing classes at the University of Arizona. The ending was predictable, gasping for a logical conclusion.
Nadia did describe the characters of her story in great detail. Their existential crisis strikes a chord with the urban youth of our times.
Overall, one can skip reading this book and feel no regrets in her life.
But the problems with the book overshadow the plus points. The writer failed to present a compelling storyline. The book could have dwelled into the description of Pakistan, its culture, politics and much more. But instead of that, Nadia prefers to endlessly write about drugs, booze, and sex.
The book seems to come off as an ostentatious act by the writer, showing off her writing skills that she learned during her creative writing classes at the University of Arizona. The ending was predictable, gasping for a logical conclusion.
Nadia did describe the characters of her story in great detail. Their existential crisis strikes a chord with the urban youth of our times.
Overall, one can skip reading this book and feel no regrets in her life.
May 29, 2021
A disclaimer, I know the author, Nadia Akbar, personally.
The book is not for everyone: lot's of cursing, references to sex, abuse, cultural references which some might not easily follow, and really a deep dive into the truths of a culture many have no idea about.
However, Nadia Akbar's storytelling, imagery and overall style is not only completely immersive, it's refreshing.
Not to be missed.
Subject matter which may usually be taboo or off limits in Goodbye Freddie Mercury, are exposed, raw, in your face. Truths laid bare for us to process and wrestle with.
It's a book which does require a second reading to understand it more completely.
It's a great first book from Nadia Akbar and I look forward to more of the same irreverence and raw storytelling in her next novel.
The book is not for everyone: lot's of cursing, references to sex, abuse, cultural references which some might not easily follow, and really a deep dive into the truths of a culture many have no idea about.
However, Nadia Akbar's storytelling, imagery and overall style is not only completely immersive, it's refreshing.
Not to be missed.
Subject matter which may usually be taboo or off limits in Goodbye Freddie Mercury, are exposed, raw, in your face. Truths laid bare for us to process and wrestle with.
It's a book which does require a second reading to understand it more completely.
It's a great first book from Nadia Akbar and I look forward to more of the same irreverence and raw storytelling in her next novel.
September 7, 2021
So I picked up this book from the airport bookshop, during transit, on a trip in 2018. The cover art was auspiciously striking to the eye which instantly grabbed my attention at first sight and what held it would be the title, 'Goodbye Freddie Mercury'. Being the huge Freddie fan that I am, I instantly grabbed the book for a closer inspection. From the brief summary at the back, I gathered that it wasn't really about Freddie or Queen per se, but a story set in Lahore, Pakistan, about young adults.
Wanting to read something 'different' and having a preference of late, for subcontinental writers, I made the purchase.
Little did I expect the fun ride I'd find myself on through the pages of this book, with it's dry humor and witty language. Parties, drugs, social disparity, politics, corruption, rock n roll and more, portrayed through the eyes of two vantage points, a privileged boy of Lahore's elite society, and a socio-economically middle class girl exposed to a 'new world' within the city she grew up in. The third world problems and charms were all but relatable, having lived in Dhaka for the past ten years.
I found myself unexpectedly glued to this book through my holiday and rather perplexed when I finally had to say, Goodbye Freddie Mercury.
A few stereotypes aside, I thoroughly enjoyed this book as a refreshingly fun (for a change), light yet loaded read.
Wanting to read something 'different' and having a preference of late, for subcontinental writers, I made the purchase.
Little did I expect the fun ride I'd find myself on through the pages of this book, with it's dry humor and witty language. Parties, drugs, social disparity, politics, corruption, rock n roll and more, portrayed through the eyes of two vantage points, a privileged boy of Lahore's elite society, and a socio-economically middle class girl exposed to a 'new world' within the city she grew up in. The third world problems and charms were all but relatable, having lived in Dhaka for the past ten years.
I found myself unexpectedly glued to this book through my holiday and rather perplexed when I finally had to say, Goodbye Freddie Mercury.
A few stereotypes aside, I thoroughly enjoyed this book as a refreshingly fun (for a change), light yet loaded read.
December 14, 2018
Name - Goodbye Freddie Mercury
Author - Nadia Akbar
Publication - Penguin
Type - HardCover
Rating - 2/5
I had watched the author’s interview when she was live on Penguin’s facebook page & was really looking forward to reading the book.
The book cover had my attention when I saw it for the 1st time, absolutely quirky & probably the best part about the book. Since the author spoke about the youth, way of living in Pakistan, etc I was curious to read. But, this one was a let down.
Nida, Bugzy, Faisal, Omer, Aliya - the current youth of the country are living the most priveliged life (except Nida) thanks to their respective fathers. Alcohol, drugs is the only thing in their life.
Character description is detailed & the writing is smooth but the story line is just direction-less. Just when you start thinking its heading somewhere, it will lose its track.
Honestly, this left me wondering why did I read this book.
Author - Nadia Akbar
Publication - Penguin
Type - HardCover
Rating - 2/5
I had watched the author’s interview when she was live on Penguin’s facebook page & was really looking forward to reading the book.
The book cover had my attention when I saw it for the 1st time, absolutely quirky & probably the best part about the book. Since the author spoke about the youth, way of living in Pakistan, etc I was curious to read. But, this one was a let down.
Nida, Bugzy, Faisal, Omer, Aliya - the current youth of the country are living the most priveliged life (except Nida) thanks to their respective fathers. Alcohol, drugs is the only thing in their life.
Character description is detailed & the writing is smooth but the story line is just direction-less. Just when you start thinking its heading somewhere, it will lose its track.
Honestly, this left me wondering why did I read this book.
September 16, 2018
When Nida loses her brother in an army helicopter crash, her life spirals in every direction, making her sink deeper into the dark-hole she's trying to escape. A student of Economics at Lahore College, she desperately tries to piece together her life, and as her family tries to recover from the tragedy, Nida struggles to find a place she could finally be at peace. Belonging to a middle class family, and searching for a different kind of 'high' she finds herself being drawn to the life of the elite. Slowly, her dull-boring middle class life sees a new light where partying, drinking, smoking in AC bathrooms, and often passing out till the next morning seem to be the order of the day.
She starts hanging out with Omer, son of Iftikhar Ali, the right-hand man of the current PM of Pakistan, Salim Chaudhary. Omer with his sense of entitlement, power, and inability to form stable relationships is highly impressed by Nida, and her joint rolling skills, and immediately latches onto her, happy to have a new project he could work on till he gets bored. He introduces Nida to the his friends, his posh life, and of course to all kinds of nasha.
RJ Bugsy, our second protagonist, through which we see Lahore in a new light, develops feelings for Nida but keeps it to himself. He is the son of a retired Army officer, but does not conform to the standards set upon him by his father. He hosts one of the nation's top radio shows, and is obsessed with Freddie Mercury. However, his association with a long lost friend, Moby, puts him in a compromising situation. What seemed like a small favour ultimately leads him to the dark alleys of Pakistani politics.
Nadia's descriptions and her unconventional and rather bold writing style is truly refreshing and unheard of. Her satire into the lives of the rich, the middle class, and general day-to day issues are remarkable. Set in the time when general elections in Pakistan are in full force, and the spirits are high, the author, creates her own little world through Nida and Bugsy, trying to fit into the society, often failing.
Despite the writing, there was something very unsettling about our main protagonist, Nida. She was being dragged from one place to the other by her pompous bf Omer, who treated her no less than a toy he'd discard. Nida tried very hard to 'not be like other girls' but it was pretty cliche, and boring.
However, as the story progressed, I could feel something missing in terms of plot development. There was a moment of nothingness, and then BAM. The ending had me shook. I didn't anticipate such a dramatic climax. I don't think I was mentally prepared for it, and I still don't think I am over it. But looking at it closely, I realize why it was important. I wish there was more to the story; it somehow seemed too rushed and incomplete.
All in all, Goodbye Freddie Mercury is energetic, refreshing and a bold account of fiction that's going to make you laugh, and also revel at the reality of it all.
She starts hanging out with Omer, son of Iftikhar Ali, the right-hand man of the current PM of Pakistan, Salim Chaudhary. Omer with his sense of entitlement, power, and inability to form stable relationships is highly impressed by Nida, and her joint rolling skills, and immediately latches onto her, happy to have a new project he could work on till he gets bored. He introduces Nida to the his friends, his posh life, and of course to all kinds of nasha.
RJ Bugsy, our second protagonist, through which we see Lahore in a new light, develops feelings for Nida but keeps it to himself. He is the son of a retired Army officer, but does not conform to the standards set upon him by his father. He hosts one of the nation's top radio shows, and is obsessed with Freddie Mercury. However, his association with a long lost friend, Moby, puts him in a compromising situation. What seemed like a small favour ultimately leads him to the dark alleys of Pakistani politics.
Nadia's descriptions and her unconventional and rather bold writing style is truly refreshing and unheard of. Her satire into the lives of the rich, the middle class, and general day-to day issues are remarkable. Set in the time when general elections in Pakistan are in full force, and the spirits are high, the author, creates her own little world through Nida and Bugsy, trying to fit into the society, often failing.
Despite the writing, there was something very unsettling about our main protagonist, Nida. She was being dragged from one place to the other by her pompous bf Omer, who treated her no less than a toy he'd discard. Nida tried very hard to 'not be like other girls' but it was pretty cliche, and boring.
However, as the story progressed, I could feel something missing in terms of plot development. There was a moment of nothingness, and then BAM. The ending had me shook. I didn't anticipate such a dramatic climax. I don't think I was mentally prepared for it, and I still don't think I am over it. But looking at it closely, I realize why it was important. I wish there was more to the story; it somehow seemed too rushed and incomplete.
All in all, Goodbye Freddie Mercury is energetic, refreshing and a bold account of fiction that's going to make you laugh, and also revel at the reality of it all.
August 10, 2021
Goodbye Freddie Mercury
I was really excited to read this book because a) The cover is awesome! kudos to the artist Samia Arif and b) my love for Pakistani female writers.
Synopsis: GFM is told from the perspectives of two young adults- RJ Bugsy and Nida. Its based in Lahore and centred around the ‘elite’ class and how Bugsy and Nida along with their friends navigate their lives through their post teen existential crises.
For those of you who have read Mohsin Hamid’s Moth Smoke, this book has a similar kind of vibe to it, i.e. mainly the drugs and over the top kind of partying which dominates the Lahori social scene. The writing is witty and the dialogue delivery between characters is so engaging it left me reminiscing over the vibrant and cultural side of Lahore for many days after I was done reading.
Bugsy and his clan of ‘lost boys’ were amusing, their banter was a lot of fun to read but they were also very problematic. They highlight the huge societal and class divide in Pakistan, which leads to this continuous struggle of identity and isolation. Bugsy (we don’t ever find out his real name) starts off as a likeable person, obsessed with Freddy Mercury- the symbol of hope for any young RJ who wants to break free from societal restraints - yet ultimately ends up with the life he abhors. Bugsy’s outcome leads me to ask what was the entire point of his existential struggle? Will there be no growth? Was it actually the authors intent to display that Pakistan will continue to breed a depraved, corrupt society with no hope for the future? I appreciated the fact that while painting a morbid picture the author subtly highlights the resilience of Pakistanis- where in the face of corruption, terrorism and poverty, the yearning for a better Pakistan will always prevail.
I also felt that the book was too Bugsy focused and the female characters were less nuanced. Almost all of the women were portrayed in a stereotypical manner and in fact rings true for all the characters-either as the; ‘social materialistic aunties’, ‘the rich party boys’ or then the for lack of a better term- the ‘slutty girls’. I assume the author was commenting on the deep-rooted Patriarchy which penetrates the huge class divide, however when characters are based on loose stereotypes, at least for me, they become un-relatable, leaving you disinterested in their outcome. Another let down was the portrayal of Nida. I empathized with her plight- a naive young girl escaping from her own grief-but then that was it. And to top it all of off (spoiler alert) she suffers a tragic fate in the end. I would’ve liked to see more there. Perhaps to give the writer more credit, Nida represents the bottom of the food chain in Pakistan- young middle class girls that are taken advantage of by spoilt rich men.
I would recommend this novel for bookclubs as there are a lot of themes to discuss. However it was deeply disturbing given the current climate of trying to come to terms with the heinous murder of Noor Mukaddam in the capital, so I would definitely caution readers to consider this before picking up a copy of this novel for now.
I was really excited to read this book because a) The cover is awesome! kudos to the artist Samia Arif and b) my love for Pakistani female writers.
Synopsis: GFM is told from the perspectives of two young adults- RJ Bugsy and Nida. Its based in Lahore and centred around the ‘elite’ class and how Bugsy and Nida along with their friends navigate their lives through their post teen existential crises.
For those of you who have read Mohsin Hamid’s Moth Smoke, this book has a similar kind of vibe to it, i.e. mainly the drugs and over the top kind of partying which dominates the Lahori social scene. The writing is witty and the dialogue delivery between characters is so engaging it left me reminiscing over the vibrant and cultural side of Lahore for many days after I was done reading.
Bugsy and his clan of ‘lost boys’ were amusing, their banter was a lot of fun to read but they were also very problematic. They highlight the huge societal and class divide in Pakistan, which leads to this continuous struggle of identity and isolation. Bugsy (we don’t ever find out his real name) starts off as a likeable person, obsessed with Freddy Mercury- the symbol of hope for any young RJ who wants to break free from societal restraints - yet ultimately ends up with the life he abhors. Bugsy’s outcome leads me to ask what was the entire point of his existential struggle? Will there be no growth? Was it actually the authors intent to display that Pakistan will continue to breed a depraved, corrupt society with no hope for the future? I appreciated the fact that while painting a morbid picture the author subtly highlights the resilience of Pakistanis- where in the face of corruption, terrorism and poverty, the yearning for a better Pakistan will always prevail.
I also felt that the book was too Bugsy focused and the female characters were less nuanced. Almost all of the women were portrayed in a stereotypical manner and in fact rings true for all the characters-either as the; ‘social materialistic aunties’, ‘the rich party boys’ or then the for lack of a better term- the ‘slutty girls’. I assume the author was commenting on the deep-rooted Patriarchy which penetrates the huge class divide, however when characters are based on loose stereotypes, at least for me, they become un-relatable, leaving you disinterested in their outcome. Another let down was the portrayal of Nida. I empathized with her plight- a naive young girl escaping from her own grief-but then that was it. And to top it all of off (spoiler alert) she suffers a tragic fate in the end. I would’ve liked to see more there. Perhaps to give the writer more credit, Nida represents the bottom of the food chain in Pakistan- young middle class girls that are taken advantage of by spoilt rich men.
I would recommend this novel for bookclubs as there are a lot of themes to discuss. However it was deeply disturbing given the current climate of trying to come to terms with the heinous murder of Noor Mukaddam in the capital, so I would definitely caution readers to consider this before picking up a copy of this novel for now.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 19, 2018
When I read the synopsis of 'Goodbye Freddie Mercury', it intrigued me. I haven't read many (maybe not any) book based in Pakistan. Afghanistan and other countries yes, there are authors like Khalid Hosseini to thank for that. This book took me by surprise, and how!
Let's talk about the cover illustration first - it's eye-catchy! A hard bound version in striking pink and yellow - anyone who saw the book in my hand or at my desk stops to see the name and admire the cover. Showing both the lead characters - Nida & Bugsy along with a lot of trippiness going on, I guess that's how it is for the druggies in the story. The book itself is written very interestingly - in a dual narration. Half from Nida's point of view and the other half from Bugsy's point of view. I think it's a challenge to change the thought process and style of narration within the same book - but the author has done that well.
Upon reading the book, I feel like a new-comer, unknown person looking into the neighbouring country for the very first time. Whatever I have known till now is from the news, or the cricket team or whatever social media feeds to my ears or eyes. But the life of the people - the stark difference between the rich and not so rich, the language, the lifestyle - is so fascinating.
There is this part where the author talks about how everyone in Lahore shops. Shops to forget their pain, shops to feel happy for some time, shops to forget they are poor or oppressed and so on. It's beautifully written and I somehow feel a lot of us in India are like that too. Maybe, just maybe, we're not all that different?
I personally haven't had a youth like this - with partying, drinking, going out all the time, smoking and so on. Infact didn't even have friends who had such a lifestyle. So it's all mysterious for me - and I guess common for today's generation and youth, unfortunately. I do hope noone tries to adapt such a culture - it shouldn't be promoted and made to look so easily accessible and fun - I personally feel.
Though it's 330+ pages, it doesn't get boring at all - right from the beginning till the end - you just want to keep turning the pages and knowing what happens next. Would definitely read other books by the author in the future.
Let's talk about the cover illustration first - it's eye-catchy! A hard bound version in striking pink and yellow - anyone who saw the book in my hand or at my desk stops to see the name and admire the cover. Showing both the lead characters - Nida & Bugsy along with a lot of trippiness going on, I guess that's how it is for the druggies in the story. The book itself is written very interestingly - in a dual narration. Half from Nida's point of view and the other half from Bugsy's point of view. I think it's a challenge to change the thought process and style of narration within the same book - but the author has done that well.
Upon reading the book, I feel like a new-comer, unknown person looking into the neighbouring country for the very first time. Whatever I have known till now is from the news, or the cricket team or whatever social media feeds to my ears or eyes. But the life of the people - the stark difference between the rich and not so rich, the language, the lifestyle - is so fascinating.
There is this part where the author talks about how everyone in Lahore shops. Shops to forget their pain, shops to feel happy for some time, shops to forget they are poor or oppressed and so on. It's beautifully written and I somehow feel a lot of us in India are like that too. Maybe, just maybe, we're not all that different?
I personally haven't had a youth like this - with partying, drinking, going out all the time, smoking and so on. Infact didn't even have friends who had such a lifestyle. So it's all mysterious for me - and I guess common for today's generation and youth, unfortunately. I do hope noone tries to adapt such a culture - it shouldn't be promoted and made to look so easily accessible and fun - I personally feel.
Though it's 330+ pages, it doesn't get boring at all - right from the beginning till the end - you just want to keep turning the pages and knowing what happens next. Would definitely read other books by the author in the future.
June 9, 2019
“Look at this place, this city. I mean, if there’s an example why we’re broken, it’s Lahore. Poor beautiful fucked-up Lahore. Load-shedding for twelve hours a day, sometimes fourteen, and no one to pay the city’s electricity bill. Politicians would rather pocket the money and buy apartments in London….This place will never get fixed, and you know why? Because no one wants to fix it. It’s broken and people like that.” (303)
Our very own Pakistani pulp fiction with Lahore as a protagonist Goodbye Freddie Mercury is a book about the characters that I want to know and write more about. Sexy language, bold enough to make godly puritans cringe. Furthering the tradition of painting free, forward looking, fearless female in contemporary women’s writings, the lead lady Nida is a powerful realization of a postfeminist power-puff girl.
“I appreciate that she doesn't pretend to be shocked or scandalized, something most desi girls feel obligated to do when they hear anything related to sex, balls, dick or pussy… She's nothing like the giggly annoying girls that are endemic to Omer's parties.”
The plot of the novel is very loose ended with no closure at the end. It appears as if we might get a sequel of the novel to see where has Nida disappeared? How does Bugsy settle down? Who wins the election? Where is Moby?
Nida Akbar’s profound reading of pop culture gets reflected in her youthful portrayal of the characters throughout. I feel like having the desire to party with them occasionally or be an extra in the novel to enjoy all the booze, the novel is entrenched in. You should like it or I’ll judge you for being conservative.
“I’ve been thinking stuff. Things feel different. It’s not normal, the way we live our lives, you know? All the drugs and booze, the endless parties. We don’t do anything worthwhile.”
Some sub-themes that get space during the course of novel include: excessive sensuality, party, girlfriend-boyfriend culture, marriage, politics, objectification of women, rock music, feminism, social media, youth of Lahore, drugs, shagging, roads of Lahore, old Lahore, Lahori/desi culture, consumer culture, elite ethos, army & DHA, insect, intimacy, and sexuality.
On the whole a refreshing alternative to misery around us.
Our very own Pakistani pulp fiction with Lahore as a protagonist Goodbye Freddie Mercury is a book about the characters that I want to know and write more about. Sexy language, bold enough to make godly puritans cringe. Furthering the tradition of painting free, forward looking, fearless female in contemporary women’s writings, the lead lady Nida is a powerful realization of a postfeminist power-puff girl.
“I appreciate that she doesn't pretend to be shocked or scandalized, something most desi girls feel obligated to do when they hear anything related to sex, balls, dick or pussy… She's nothing like the giggly annoying girls that are endemic to Omer's parties.”
The plot of the novel is very loose ended with no closure at the end. It appears as if we might get a sequel of the novel to see where has Nida disappeared? How does Bugsy settle down? Who wins the election? Where is Moby?
Nida Akbar’s profound reading of pop culture gets reflected in her youthful portrayal of the characters throughout. I feel like having the desire to party with them occasionally or be an extra in the novel to enjoy all the booze, the novel is entrenched in. You should like it or I’ll judge you for being conservative.
“I’ve been thinking stuff. Things feel different. It’s not normal, the way we live our lives, you know? All the drugs and booze, the endless parties. We don’t do anything worthwhile.”
Some sub-themes that get space during the course of novel include: excessive sensuality, party, girlfriend-boyfriend culture, marriage, politics, objectification of women, rock music, feminism, social media, youth of Lahore, drugs, shagging, roads of Lahore, old Lahore, Lahori/desi culture, consumer culture, elite ethos, army & DHA, insect, intimacy, and sexuality.
On the whole a refreshing alternative to misery around us.
September 17, 2018
3.5 ⭐️
'Goodbye Freddie Mercury' is a book that shows the life of Urban youths and how the challenges in society - societal , economic , political and security ( terrorism ) has the effect on their lives. The book tells the tale of Nida and Bugs, in first person with almost alternate chapters.
characters - The characters are deeply built. specially, The two we are going to see a lot of . They are careless and undaunting. sometimes you feel that they honestly don't care about the society and are happy being in the bubble that they are in. Yet, couple of pages down , you see that they really do care and they do what they do to just survive , and as Sinatra would have said , they do it their way.
The book mentions lots of rock band ( along with Jazz maestro Miles Davis ) and lots of songs, few of them my favourites, so reading experience was fun as I was listening to all the bands mentioned while reading. The plot is nice, some minor ripples here and there - nothing all that serious. Or maybe its not serious to us because they somehow survive the so called ripples in the way they do. The plot also calls out the hypocrisy and the stereotypes of the society so golden points on that end. Coming to what I found missing. The characters were deep(ish) but we don't get to see a depth in their interactions. meaning, that though we think we know the characters, we understand how they see each other, we don't see a depth in their relationships. Maybe , Faisal and Bugs stand as an exception xD The second miss, in my humble opinion, was the ending of the book. we are practically made to gulp it down. I'm sure we'd have loved to know how Bugs struggled to 'get to know', 'tried until he practically gave up ' ; I know I am speaking Morse code here but then that's only to save you from the heaviest spoiler one can give you about this book. Again, more or less, the problem was depth in relationship among characters. But I guess that's life, you get something and no matter how many questions you may have from life, life just simply goes on . Hope this review helps.
'Goodbye Freddie Mercury' is a book that shows the life of Urban youths and how the challenges in society - societal , economic , political and security ( terrorism ) has the effect on their lives. The book tells the tale of Nida and Bugs, in first person with almost alternate chapters.
characters - The characters are deeply built. specially, The two we are going to see a lot of . They are careless and undaunting. sometimes you feel that they honestly don't care about the society and are happy being in the bubble that they are in. Yet, couple of pages down , you see that they really do care and they do what they do to just survive , and as Sinatra would have said , they do it their way.
The book mentions lots of rock band ( along with Jazz maestro Miles Davis ) and lots of songs, few of them my favourites, so reading experience was fun as I was listening to all the bands mentioned while reading. The plot is nice, some minor ripples here and there - nothing all that serious. Or maybe its not serious to us because they somehow survive the so called ripples in the way they do. The plot also calls out the hypocrisy and the stereotypes of the society so golden points on that end. Coming to what I found missing. The characters were deep(ish) but we don't get to see a depth in their interactions. meaning, that though we think we know the characters, we understand how they see each other, we don't see a depth in their relationships. Maybe , Faisal and Bugs stand as an exception xD The second miss, in my humble opinion, was the ending of the book. we are practically made to gulp it down. I'm sure we'd have loved to know how Bugs struggled to 'get to know', 'tried until he practically gave up ' ; I know I am speaking Morse code here but then that's only to save you from the heaviest spoiler one can give you about this book. Again, more or less, the problem was depth in relationship among characters. But I guess that's life, you get something and no matter how many questions you may have from life, life just simply goes on . Hope this review helps.
March 2, 2022
- Book Review: "Goodbye Freddie Mercury" by Nadia Akbar - 📚🇵🇰
In her debut novel, writer @nadiaakbar_novelist takes the reader on a thrilling tour through the lives of the people that make up the very fabric of Lahore's elite.
The book is written through two POV characters: Nida and RJ Bugsy.
Nida is a middle class Lahori girl that gets entangled in a romance with Omer, a rich and entitled young man and the son of a powerful politician. Nida is also a potential love interest for Bugsy, who happens to be best friends with Omer and is hence unable to act upon his feelings.
The title of the book stems from Bugsy's admiration and idolization of Queen frontman Freddie Mercury.
The book was clearly written for a "desi" audience, with the giveaway being the generous use of Urdu vernacular within what is essentially an English language novel.
Such is the incredible control Akbar has over her pen that one cannot help but admire this seamless melange between the two languages.
The ending of the book is grounded in harsh reality. Although some may find it to be anticlimactic or leaving a bitter aftertaste, it nevertheless does not digress from the fact that Akbar is undoubtedly one of the most promising young English writers to come out of the subcontinent.
The book is well worth a read. And one can only hold out hope that the characters may resurface in a not too distant sequel.
My rating: 4.5/5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐🌙
In her debut novel, writer @nadiaakbar_novelist takes the reader on a thrilling tour through the lives of the people that make up the very fabric of Lahore's elite.
The book is written through two POV characters: Nida and RJ Bugsy.
Nida is a middle class Lahori girl that gets entangled in a romance with Omer, a rich and entitled young man and the son of a powerful politician. Nida is also a potential love interest for Bugsy, who happens to be best friends with Omer and is hence unable to act upon his feelings.
The title of the book stems from Bugsy's admiration and idolization of Queen frontman Freddie Mercury.
The book was clearly written for a "desi" audience, with the giveaway being the generous use of Urdu vernacular within what is essentially an English language novel.
Such is the incredible control Akbar has over her pen that one cannot help but admire this seamless melange between the two languages.
The ending of the book is grounded in harsh reality. Although some may find it to be anticlimactic or leaving a bitter aftertaste, it nevertheless does not digress from the fact that Akbar is undoubtedly one of the most promising young English writers to come out of the subcontinent.
The book is well worth a read. And one can only hold out hope that the characters may resurface in a not too distant sequel.
My rating: 4.5/5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐🌙
September 18, 2018
Enter the world of Nida, Omer, Bugsy. Their young lives are ruled by rave parties, love, politics and life in Lahore. Author Nadia Akbar pens beautifully the story of urban lahore and narrates the lives of protaganists in alternative voices of Bugsy & Nida.
Bugsy is a well known RJ, fan of Freddie Mercury and Music, while Nida has newly joined college and is looking for ways to escape her boring life, her traditional parents. In one such party, she meets Omer, son of a politically & poweful influential banker. Their affair starts and stops , stumbles and stutters. During this all this thanks to a favor done by Bugsy for his friend Omer turns his life and indirectly everybody's lives upside down.
There is throughout this book, a very understated yet heart rendering love story between Nida & Bugsy. The ending of this book, keeps longing to the reader for more.
I was and still am looking forward to read more about Bugsy & Nida. In her first novel, Nadia Akbar had done a brilliant job in potraying Lahore, be its weather, its urban yet rural touch, language, the chemistry between the characters. I felt as if I was travelling with the readers in the book.
Certainly there are some questions to be answered, which i believe will be best answered by the author herself. As for now, this book definitely makes an interesting read.
Bugsy is a well known RJ, fan of Freddie Mercury and Music, while Nida has newly joined college and is looking for ways to escape her boring life, her traditional parents. In one such party, she meets Omer, son of a politically & poweful influential banker. Their affair starts and stops , stumbles and stutters. During this all this thanks to a favor done by Bugsy for his friend Omer turns his life and indirectly everybody's lives upside down.
There is throughout this book, a very understated yet heart rendering love story between Nida & Bugsy. The ending of this book, keeps longing to the reader for more.
I was and still am looking forward to read more about Bugsy & Nida. In her first novel, Nadia Akbar had done a brilliant job in potraying Lahore, be its weather, its urban yet rural touch, language, the chemistry between the characters. I felt as if I was travelling with the readers in the book.
Certainly there are some questions to be answered, which i believe will be best answered by the author herself. As for now, this book definitely makes an interesting read.
August 19, 2023
The writing style is phenomenal, the material not so much.
What's frustrating about this book is that it has so much potential, there are certain parts, genuinely profound ones with depth, that have stuck with me for a long time (pages 217 and 218) so I know that Akbar is more than capable of it.
However, that same depth is completely lacking the rest of the time, replaced by shallow drug parties and sex.
Both the female and male leads come across as extremely pretentious, self-aggrandizing, and very, very privileged, (which would be completely fine if it was addressed in the book in some form, or used as a plot or talking point, but it was not) and you're left wondering if the protagonists are really 21, or 17 year old drug addicted, elite kids who simultaneously hate themselves and think they're better than everyone and everything around them.
Yet I still don't regret reading it because of those two pages alone and I find myself giving people the very same advice that was given to Nida, even exactly quoting the book.
I keep thinking about how incredible this book could have been if the same emotional depth and attention to detail was present throughout the whole book instead of just those two pages
What's frustrating about this book is that it has so much potential, there are certain parts, genuinely profound ones with depth, that have stuck with me for a long time (pages 217 and 218) so I know that Akbar is more than capable of it.
However, that same depth is completely lacking the rest of the time, replaced by shallow drug parties and sex.
Both the female and male leads come across as extremely pretentious, self-aggrandizing, and very, very privileged, (which would be completely fine if it was addressed in the book in some form, or used as a plot or talking point, but it was not) and you're left wondering if the protagonists are really 21, or 17 year old drug addicted, elite kids who simultaneously hate themselves and think they're better than everyone and everything around them.
Yet I still don't regret reading it because of those two pages alone and I find myself giving people the very same advice that was given to Nida, even exactly quoting the book.
I keep thinking about how incredible this book could have been if the same emotional depth and attention to detail was present throughout the whole book instead of just those two pages
August 5, 2020
What I like most about the international authors of Pakistan is that their writing style is quite gripping and interesting; no matter how pointless the book is you would not want to put it down.
Nida Akbar's Goodbye Freddie Mercury has made me fall in love with Lahore more and more. I loved it how Lahore was the central character of her book. The political scene, the night life, the social scene, the parties and the heat all makes me want to move there.
The book is very raw, you just have to go with the flow. I liked reading it. Especially how the author has described the political scene, the corruption and our unwillingness to change anything. Our constant batters. Her own observations are on point.
But when it comes to the story, I am disappointed. There are so many missing links, like for starters how did Nida meet Omer, how much close Bugsy was to Mobby, and espcially WHY did Nida leave Omer. There are so many unanswered things. I am a sucker for open ended stories but you have to connect the dots at least. There should have been something about Nida's family and Bugsy's family.
Even though I liked reading it but I won't recommend it.
Nida Akbar's Goodbye Freddie Mercury has made me fall in love with Lahore more and more. I loved it how Lahore was the central character of her book. The political scene, the night life, the social scene, the parties and the heat all makes me want to move there.
The book is very raw, you just have to go with the flow. I liked reading it. Especially how the author has described the political scene, the corruption and our unwillingness to change anything. Our constant batters. Her own observations are on point.
But when it comes to the story, I am disappointed. There are so many missing links, like for starters how did Nida meet Omer, how much close Bugsy was to Mobby, and espcially WHY did Nida leave Omer. There are so many unanswered things. I am a sucker for open ended stories but you have to connect the dots at least. There should have been something about Nida's family and Bugsy's family.
Even though I liked reading it but I won't recommend it.
January 16, 2019
This book was tweeted about by Sherry Rehman, so I picked it up when visiting in Islamabad. For people who never knew much about Pakistan... and Lahore in particular, this will show a side of the city few could imagine. But it’s a side that definitely exists (many young Lahoris I’ve met don’t realize the extent of poverty in the nation or that theirs is a developing country - while others work tirelessly to try to improve conditions). The writing is decent and propels the reader along. Yet for most of the book, the characters are shallow and vapid, and it is difficult to vest much interest in their lives. The book doesn’t really get to the point until page 302 out of 340 pages, and those first 300 pages would have benefited from extensive editing down. Then there’s the ending, which leads me to think the author must have a sequel in mind. Otherwise it makes no sense and just leaves the reader hanging.
October 10, 2018
A rare book about the youth of Pakistan. The booze parties, drugs, lack of morals in the Rich strata of the country is exposed with a first hand honesty.
The story includes the elections and the role of a new nominee on his plank of anti corruption---its a character like imran Khan.
It was nice to learn about the country. However, there is too much of depravity, exaggerations aplenty and the worst is that the end leaves us with more questions about what happened to the female protagonist. Wish it ended with clarity
The story includes the elections and the role of a new nominee on his plank of anti corruption---its a character like imran Khan.
It was nice to learn about the country. However, there is too much of depravity, exaggerations aplenty and the worst is that the end leaves us with more questions about what happened to the female protagonist. Wish it ended with clarity
July 19, 2019
CRINGE! CRINGE! CRINGE!
Colourful cover. Ali Azmat’s review threw me off a bit but till then I had already paid for it. The book was filled with internalised socially acceptable and commonplace misogyny especially with the blatant and covert “not like other girl” remarks about the protagonist. There were myriads of moments with cheap classist and racist remarks which makes me wonder when will the author be victimized by the ‘cancel’ culture because honestly, NOT cool. Also, I think the whole characters-inspired-by-real-life-personalities is extremely overdone in this epoch.
September 12, 2019
Its like re-reading Saba Imtiaz’s Karachi youre killing me, except with more posh drugs and more booze.
I was so excited about reading this book because I thought it might be a teeny bit relevant to Freddie Mercury but there is nothing of that sort except feigning an interest in rock music while high on drugs.
There are a few realistic parts where you realise how screwed up the political scene in Pakistan is along with the difference in class and you kind of relate to it.
Else, its best to skip reading the book.
I was so excited about reading this book because I thought it might be a teeny bit relevant to Freddie Mercury but there is nothing of that sort except feigning an interest in rock music while high on drugs.
There are a few realistic parts where you realise how screwed up the political scene in Pakistan is along with the difference in class and you kind of relate to it.
Else, its best to skip reading the book.
March 19, 2019
Sometimes, you see a cover so stunning, you can't but pick up the book and this was one such. It stayed unread for a bit, till I wanted to read a book by a Pakistani author, and this begged to be picked up.
The characters were likable, some of the situations relateable, but the plot seemed non existent.
As a commentary on the political situation in the country, it was spot on. And some of the passages, unfortunately, applied to India too.
But it is as a portrait of the city that I most liked about the book. Lahore is part Delhi, part Hyderabad, part Bombay, entirely itself. It is easy to fall in love with Lahore, but as a visitor. If I had to live there, I would go hopelessly crazy.
If you want a light read, this is your book. If you are expecting great literature or some revelation, stay away.
The characters were likable, some of the situations relateable, but the plot seemed non existent.
As a commentary on the political situation in the country, it was spot on. And some of the passages, unfortunately, applied to India too.
But it is as a portrait of the city that I most liked about the book. Lahore is part Delhi, part Hyderabad, part Bombay, entirely itself. It is easy to fall in love with Lahore, but as a visitor. If I had to live there, I would go hopelessly crazy.
If you want a light read, this is your book. If you are expecting great literature or some revelation, stay away.
December 27, 2022
Cheap, Chetan Bhagat-level writing. Waste of time and paper. Makes me wanna gag. I would have said "Read and throw". But save yourselves and do not read this trash. Misleading title, pointless plot, filthy cuss words sprinkled all over to give it an "aUthEntIC" flavor I guess. Epic fail. Hated it so bad that I need to delete it from my memory. Desperately seeking a palate cleanse. Probably, I would return to the classics to get over the trauma of reading this crap.
September 29, 2023
Abandoned at page 56. This book is BORING!! The protagonists are bland and at times the city and they country is depicted to be so horrendous and abhorrent. When in reality, despite all the pre-existing problems of Pakistan, Lahore (and in extension Pakistan itself) is a pretty beautiful place with very kind people. So the fact that the author turns Lahore into an actual character in the book, is the only redeeming factor of Goodbye Freddie Mercury.
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