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Skyfall
Born In Heera Mandi, Lahore's famous red-light district, Rania is a tour guide by day and a classical singer by night. Despite the worst of humanity every day – her madrassa running father selling her mother's body and beating her sister – Rania remains the 'Troublemaker', unable to give up on her dreams.
When an Indian filmmaker encourages her to enrol in a music contest that can take her to New York, her dreams take flight. But even as she wins the hearts of her listeners, a family secret threatens to bring her life in Heera Mandi back in sharp relief, upending the new life she has built for herself.
From the oppressive walls of religious hypocrisy to the orange jumpsuits of American prisons, Skyfall is a tender, piercing debut that teaches us the strength of human endeavour and our desire for love in a time of hate.
When an Indian filmmaker encourages her to enrol in a music contest that can take her to New York, her dreams take flight. But even as she wins the hearts of her listeners, a family secret threatens to bring her life in Heera Mandi back in sharp relief, upending the new life she has built for herself.
From the oppressive walls of religious hypocrisy to the orange jumpsuits of American prisons, Skyfall is a tender, piercing debut that teaches us the strength of human endeavour and our desire for love in a time of hate.
- GenresFiction
Hardcover
Published January 1, 2020
8 people are currently reading
186 people want to read
About the author
Saba Karim Khan
3 books18 followersSaba Karim Khan is an author, award winning filmmaker and educator, whose writing has appeared in The Guardian, The Independent, Wasafiri, Huff Post, EN Fuego, Verso, DAWN, Express Tribune, Think Progress. She has read Social Anthropology at the University of Oxford and works at NYU Abu Dhabi. Her debut novel – Skyfall – was published by Bloomsbury in Dec 2020. Her doc-film, Concrete Dreams: Some Roads Lead Home is now on Amazon Prime Video. Before joining the Academy, she worked as Country Marketing and Public Affairs Head at Citigroup. Born in Karachi, she now lives in Abu Dhabi with her husband and two daughters.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews
July 16, 2021
Skyfall by Saba Karim Khan is a very powerful and timely debut which takes us through time in Lahore and then in New York. Rania who is born in Heera Mandi, the red light district of Lahore has been the troublemaker and is unable to give up on her dreams.
Rania's character teaches us so many things through her story, like courage, the will to never give up, inner strength and the ability to find the brightness even in the darkest of the times. I love how Rania's rebel nature gets her to New York.
Ashar, the Indian filmmaker encourages her to take past in a singing contest and fulfill her dream to finally move out of the rabbit hole she lives in and fly to New York in order to fulfill her dreams. The book deals with strong topics of homosexuality, inter-caste marriage, rape, prostitution.
The book is definitely the one which will leave you thinking even after you have finished reading it. The atrocities we face in the name of religion and societal norms are addressed in a very strong manner in this book. Definitely pick it up!
Rania's character teaches us so many things through her story, like courage, the will to never give up, inner strength and the ability to find the brightness even in the darkest of the times. I love how Rania's rebel nature gets her to New York.
Ashar, the Indian filmmaker encourages her to take past in a singing contest and fulfill her dream to finally move out of the rabbit hole she lives in and fly to New York in order to fulfill her dreams. The book deals with strong topics of homosexuality, inter-caste marriage, rape, prostitution.
The book is definitely the one which will leave you thinking even after you have finished reading it. The atrocities we face in the name of religion and societal norms are addressed in a very strong manner in this book. Definitely pick it up!
February 15, 2021
No matter how hard life is, there is always light at the end of the tunnel. I picked up this book only because of its cover and I am glad i did. I can surely say that this is going to be one of my favorite reads of 2021.
Skyfall is the story of a 17 year old girl Rania Mirza Kasturi who is from Lahore, Pakistan. Her mother is a sex worker and father a pimp who not only forces his wife and daughter into selling sex but also trades many young boys and girls.
India and Pakistan have had strained relations ever since their Independence, and marriages between these two nations have been named jihad. This book not only explores bold topics like prostitution, religion, homosexuality, rape, murder but also terrorism. Rania finds her light when she meets Ashar, an Indian Hindu filmmaker who is making a documentary on Lahore.
Their love helps her fights all odds and get justice for her sister. I particularly loved Ashar's character. His perspective on live and live are inspiring. Though there are so many characters in the book, each character had its own depth and leaves an impression on the reader.
The language is so lucid you feel like you are watching a movie while reading.
Definitely recommended!
Skyfall is the story of a 17 year old girl Rania Mirza Kasturi who is from Lahore, Pakistan. Her mother is a sex worker and father a pimp who not only forces his wife and daughter into selling sex but also trades many young boys and girls.
India and Pakistan have had strained relations ever since their Independence, and marriages between these two nations have been named jihad. This book not only explores bold topics like prostitution, religion, homosexuality, rape, murder but also terrorism. Rania finds her light when she meets Ashar, an Indian Hindu filmmaker who is making a documentary on Lahore.
Their love helps her fights all odds and get justice for her sister. I particularly loved Ashar's character. His perspective on live and live are inspiring. Though there are so many characters in the book, each character had its own depth and leaves an impression on the reader.
The language is so lucid you feel like you are watching a movie while reading.
Definitely recommended!
February 13, 2021
Though it's the 21st century and we say we have developed so much the situation of women is still the same.
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The story takes you on a journey of Raina's life who live in Heera Mandi. She works as a tour guide and in the night as a classical singer. Her mother, Jahaan-e-Rumi, and her sister are also very much supportive to help Raina achieve her dreams but her father who works in a Madarsa and treats his wife and daughters very brutally.
.
One day, Raina decides to run away from her cruel father, and luckily she meets a filmmaker who encourages her to take part in a singing competition which is going to happen in New York. The filmmaker believes in Raina's voice and passion and supports him up to the fullest.
.
From here Raina starts her journey and she gets success chasing her but Do you think things would be this easy for Raina?
.
No! Her past and family secrets are dragging her down and trying to take her back to Heera Mandi.
.
This book is very interesting. The author has done an exceptional job by portraying every character with such beautiful style, by putting forward this sensitive issue. I loved the story and the character of Raina is inspiring.
.
All I can say is irrespective of your genre you must read this beauty. And I am sure you'll love it.
.
The story takes you on a journey of Raina's life who live in Heera Mandi. She works as a tour guide and in the night as a classical singer. Her mother, Jahaan-e-Rumi, and her sister are also very much supportive to help Raina achieve her dreams but her father who works in a Madarsa and treats his wife and daughters very brutally.
.
One day, Raina decides to run away from her cruel father, and luckily she meets a filmmaker who encourages her to take part in a singing competition which is going to happen in New York. The filmmaker believes in Raina's voice and passion and supports him up to the fullest.
.
From here Raina starts her journey and she gets success chasing her but Do you think things would be this easy for Raina?
.
No! Her past and family secrets are dragging her down and trying to take her back to Heera Mandi.
.
This book is very interesting. The author has done an exceptional job by portraying every character with such beautiful style, by putting forward this sensitive issue. I loved the story and the character of Raina is inspiring.
.
All I can say is irrespective of your genre you must read this beauty. And I am sure you'll love it.
February 17, 2021
Part mystery and part thriller, Skyfall by Saba Karim Khan is a bold and impactful debut that exemplifies being courageous, having inner strength and teaches us to find light in times of darkness and despair.
Divided into three parts, the story follows a teenage girl named Rania who works as a tour guide by day and classical singer by night. Born in Heera Mandi, Lahore's famous red-light district, her mother being a sex worker and having a really abusive household and childhood, she's seen and experienced cruelty and inhumanity everyday. Seeing her talent an Indian filmmaker encourages her to enrol in a music contest, her dreams take flight.
We follow along her incredible and inspiring journey from the slums of Heera Mandi all the way to New York while chasing her dream of becoming a singer and bringing justice to her sister from their abusive father. The book also sheds light on the intolerance and injustice inflicted by people towards homosexuals.
It's a story that you can't help but think about for days after finishing it. What initially drew me in then captivated me was the author's poetic writing style. It's beautiful! The pacing was good, honestly I freaking loved this book. Definitely check it out! It's the kind of story that stays with you forever.💕
Divided into three parts, the story follows a teenage girl named Rania who works as a tour guide by day and classical singer by night. Born in Heera Mandi, Lahore's famous red-light district, her mother being a sex worker and having a really abusive household and childhood, she's seen and experienced cruelty and inhumanity everyday. Seeing her talent an Indian filmmaker encourages her to enrol in a music contest, her dreams take flight.
We follow along her incredible and inspiring journey from the slums of Heera Mandi all the way to New York while chasing her dream of becoming a singer and bringing justice to her sister from their abusive father. The book also sheds light on the intolerance and injustice inflicted by people towards homosexuals.
It's a story that you can't help but think about for days after finishing it. What initially drew me in then captivated me was the author's poetic writing style. It's beautiful! The pacing was good, honestly I freaking loved this book. Definitely check it out! It's the kind of story that stays with you forever.💕
August 16, 2021
Skyfall by Saba Karim Khan is an alluring read that pulls you in with a very commanding and intriguing monologue from the protagonist Rania, who is at the time imprisoned in America. We then delve into the story as Rania's journey from Lahore to a prison in America, unravels bit by bit.
Rania, daughter of Jahaan-e-Rumi, who claimed that her daughter is born to move mountains and stir things up aka The Troublemaker, is a character that makes you persistently root for her throughout the book.
As we follow Rania's journey Lahore's famous redlight district, Heera Mandi to New York where she moves to follow her passion for music, one thing remain consistent is her grit and her perseverance. The struggles she faces in the name of religion and the unspoken norms of the society that holds aspiring women in an ugly light are a reality of what it is to be a woman.
Although, Rania as a character has clung to me for a while, ever since I finished the book, the story did feel languidly slow and the other characters didn't leave a mark on me. An extraordinary story and Rania's ingenious character takes the crown for 'Skyfall'!
Rania, daughter of Jahaan-e-Rumi, who claimed that her daughter is born to move mountains and stir things up aka The Troublemaker, is a character that makes you persistently root for her throughout the book.
As we follow Rania's journey Lahore's famous redlight district, Heera Mandi to New York where she moves to follow her passion for music, one thing remain consistent is her grit and her perseverance. The struggles she faces in the name of religion and the unspoken norms of the society that holds aspiring women in an ugly light are a reality of what it is to be a woman.
Although, Rania as a character has clung to me for a while, ever since I finished the book, the story did feel languidly slow and the other characters didn't leave a mark on me. An extraordinary story and Rania's ingenious character takes the crown for 'Skyfall'!
February 1, 2021
Most men and women lead lives of quiet desperation and go to the grave with the song still in them. What’s your song?
Skyfall by Saba Karim Khan is deeply haunting yet powerful enough to bring about a change in a world where humanity is in increasing demand every single day. This story of Rania, her life in Heera Mandi with her mother Jahan-e-Rumi and her sister Ujala as well as her life with Asher will take you on an adventure into the reality of the harsh world we have been living in.
This book also gives us a glimpse into Lahore and New York City and as thrilling as this cities are, both of them hold some hidden stories which when revealed can shatter the bars of inhumanity and let humanity prevail over.
Every character in this book was at it’s own unique strength and carried it’s own personality very fluently. I have not only loved Rania for standing tall and choosing what her heart wants, but I have also loved Jahaan-e-Rumi for being such a beautiful mother and Ujala for never giving up even after being treated poorly as well as I love Asher the most for bringing out the light in Rania and for always pushing her towards light.
The book holds so many emotions and deep lessons that my words fall short to express them in here.
Definitely recommended and my first best read of 2021.
Skyfall by Saba Karim Khan is deeply haunting yet powerful enough to bring about a change in a world where humanity is in increasing demand every single day. This story of Rania, her life in Heera Mandi with her mother Jahan-e-Rumi and her sister Ujala as well as her life with Asher will take you on an adventure into the reality of the harsh world we have been living in.
This book also gives us a glimpse into Lahore and New York City and as thrilling as this cities are, both of them hold some hidden stories which when revealed can shatter the bars of inhumanity and let humanity prevail over.
Every character in this book was at it’s own unique strength and carried it’s own personality very fluently. I have not only loved Rania for standing tall and choosing what her heart wants, but I have also loved Jahaan-e-Rumi for being such a beautiful mother and Ujala for never giving up even after being treated poorly as well as I love Asher the most for bringing out the light in Rania and for always pushing her towards light.
The book holds so many emotions and deep lessons that my words fall short to express them in here.
Definitely recommended and my first best read of 2021.
February 15, 2021
FAB - BOOK REVIEW OF FAB - BOOK REVIEW OF "Skyfall" by Saba Karim Khan
Genre: Fiction (Contemporary)
Rating - 4.8/5
QOTD: A book that made you cry so much and made you feel that being a reader is the best thing you've did?
"Skyfall," a book that made me cry so much to a considerable extent and made me feel that adopting the habit of reading is the best thing I did in my life. I clearly have no idea from where I should start the review because I am clearly clueless about what I have just read, which made me feel connected. It is nearly impossible to write a long review, but I will try to put my thoughts for you all out there to make sure you read this book and message me that "you're right" many of you message me about I have read this book and that book on my recommendation I just want you to don't skip my advice this time no don't do it. This book is a cult masterpiece. I imagined everything from the start to the end.
.
This book is about the protagonist Rania. She is from a place called Heera Mandi, an area in Lahore, a red-light district situated in Pakistan. She is from a very middle-class family where her father is a cruel fellow who sells Rania's mother and Rania's sister for money. He is so bloody brutal with no humanity and concern towards his family. Back to Rania, she is sailing on two boats, one being a tourist guide in the morning and a classical singer at nighttime. So she sings so well. We all know that all the opportunities will fall in place where there is talent, so one day an Indian filmmaker has given her a chance to sing in a singing competition going to be held in New York. To know more about what happened next, you should read this book for sure.
.
This book made me feel so happy that the author is trying to portray real-life incidents, not just those contemporary love stories though I love them somewhere, I thought we should get more and more excellent works by the authors, and I am amazed by this book. This book is a classic which came in the modern eras. The language is not so quite beginner-friendly. Because of the language, I don't want you to miss this book now, so please grab this baby and read it with a cup of hot chocolate. Sounds excellent., right? So just do it, no.
Follow @priyaraosaladi for
-Reviews under a minute
-Detailed written reviews
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Genre: Fiction (Contemporary)
Rating - 4.8/5
QOTD: A book that made you cry so much and made you feel that being a reader is the best thing you've did?
"Skyfall," a book that made me cry so much to a considerable extent and made me feel that adopting the habit of reading is the best thing I did in my life. I clearly have no idea from where I should start the review because I am clearly clueless about what I have just read, which made me feel connected. It is nearly impossible to write a long review, but I will try to put my thoughts for you all out there to make sure you read this book and message me that "you're right" many of you message me about I have read this book and that book on my recommendation I just want you to don't skip my advice this time no don't do it. This book is a cult masterpiece. I imagined everything from the start to the end.
.
This book is about the protagonist Rania. She is from a place called Heera Mandi, an area in Lahore, a red-light district situated in Pakistan. She is from a very middle-class family where her father is a cruel fellow who sells Rania's mother and Rania's sister for money. He is so bloody brutal with no humanity and concern towards his family. Back to Rania, she is sailing on two boats, one being a tourist guide in the morning and a classical singer at nighttime. So she sings so well. We all know that all the opportunities will fall in place where there is talent, so one day an Indian filmmaker has given her a chance to sing in a singing competition going to be held in New York. To know more about what happened next, you should read this book for sure.
.
This book made me feel so happy that the author is trying to portray real-life incidents, not just those contemporary love stories though I love them somewhere, I thought we should get more and more excellent works by the authors, and I am amazed by this book. This book is a classic which came in the modern eras. The language is not so quite beginner-friendly. Because of the language, I don't want you to miss this book now, so please grab this baby and read it with a cup of hot chocolate. Sounds excellent., right? So just do it, no.
Follow @priyaraosaladi for
-Reviews under a minute
-Detailed written reviews
-Book sales updates
-For motivational and inspirational posts with an element of fun into them.
February 20, 2021
How often do we come across stories of people going against the social norms and living life as they desired?
Haven't we all been judged and stopped whenever we try to do something that goes against the definition of society's "normal".
We, under family or peer pressure, are forced to choose something that doesn't make us happy but makes us eligible to fit in the society.
'Skyfall' is one such story about Raina, a girl from Lahore's famous Red light area Heera Mandi, who is a tourist guide by the day but deep down Music is her Passion. Born and raised in a prostitution den, where her father is a cruel beast who doesn't even hesitate to sell the bodies of his own wife and daughter(Ujala, Raina's sister) every night to a stranger for some mere amount of money, Raina has to face the harsh side of Humanity almost every day. Asher, a flimmaker from India with whom she falls in love with, encourages her to take her love for music to next level by contesting in a competition that can take her to New York.
With dreams in her eyes, goals in her mind and hope in her heart, to make her mother's and sister's life a bit better, Raina leaves for New York. But, life doesn't seem to be so easy for Raina as a series of Tragic moments are about to hit her which she unaware of.
With the blend of beautiful words and pieces of poems written in between, Skyfall is a journey filled with tragic yet reality of the society we live in today. The author has thrown light on many sensitive yet important issues of the world.
The thing I loved the most was the character development in the book. Characters that will leave an impact on you while reading. The boding between the Two sisters Raina and Ujala was beautifully depicted. Asher, being the most understanding, supportive and loving partner to Raina, will win your heart with his simplicity and charm. The 1st half of the book deals with the life of people majorly women of Heera Mandi who are treated only as a thing to quench the thirst of their lust. The rest of the book contains Raina's relationship with Asher and other significant characters, her life in New York and her struggle to fight against the wrong.
This isn't a book to be read for fun. The language wasn't beginner friendly I felt. But recommending. I must appreciate the author for such a wonderful debut.
Haven't we all been judged and stopped whenever we try to do something that goes against the definition of society's "normal".
We, under family or peer pressure, are forced to choose something that doesn't make us happy but makes us eligible to fit in the society.
'Skyfall' is one such story about Raina, a girl from Lahore's famous Red light area Heera Mandi, who is a tourist guide by the day but deep down Music is her Passion. Born and raised in a prostitution den, where her father is a cruel beast who doesn't even hesitate to sell the bodies of his own wife and daughter(Ujala, Raina's sister) every night to a stranger for some mere amount of money, Raina has to face the harsh side of Humanity almost every day. Asher, a flimmaker from India with whom she falls in love with, encourages her to take her love for music to next level by contesting in a competition that can take her to New York.
With dreams in her eyes, goals in her mind and hope in her heart, to make her mother's and sister's life a bit better, Raina leaves for New York. But, life doesn't seem to be so easy for Raina as a series of Tragic moments are about to hit her which she unaware of.
With the blend of beautiful words and pieces of poems written in between, Skyfall is a journey filled with tragic yet reality of the society we live in today. The author has thrown light on many sensitive yet important issues of the world.
The thing I loved the most was the character development in the book. Characters that will leave an impact on you while reading. The boding between the Two sisters Raina and Ujala was beautifully depicted. Asher, being the most understanding, supportive and loving partner to Raina, will win your heart with his simplicity and charm. The 1st half of the book deals with the life of people majorly women of Heera Mandi who are treated only as a thing to quench the thirst of their lust. The rest of the book contains Raina's relationship with Asher and other significant characters, her life in New York and her struggle to fight against the wrong.
This isn't a book to be read for fun. The language wasn't beginner friendly I felt. But recommending. I must appreciate the author for such a wonderful debut.
February 15, 2021
Book review – Skyfall
Author – Saba Karim Khan
Publisher – Bloomsbury
.
What a debut and what a story! Beautifully crafted, the author pens a riveting tale of pathos with sheer finesse. The seamless writing exudes lucidity in its purest form. From the word go, this heart wrenching tale makes the reader explore various expressions of life with a stoic representation of exquisite harangue of unadulterated emotions that spew a cornucopia of issues plaguing our society today. It is a heroic endeavor to canvass and loudly proclaim a desire for hope and light.
.
The book Skyfall is a poignant song of a bird (metaphor) that cries for peace, justice and freedom. It beautifully encapsulates the story of three lives; Rania, Ujala and Jahaan-e-Rumi embroiled in a series of incomprehensible situations that unnervingly obscures their ability to intercede for their beliefs and throws them in a labyrinth of void, darkness and pain.
.
Welcome to Heera Mandi, a notorious red light district in Lahore. Rania, our protagonist is born to Jahaan-e-Rumi, a prostitute by profession, though not by choice. Jahaan-e-Rumi is forced into this trade by her uncompromising and vicious husband Sherji who leads a dual life. He runs a madrasa during the day and pompously deals as a pimp at night. Sherji mercilessly beats and tortures her sister Ujala. On the other hand, Rania’s life is nothing short of a dichotomy laced with a scheming cacophony of unbridled hypocrisy. Bound by fanatic religious societal beliefs & values harbored by her father, Sherji makes the lives of these three women replete with duress and torture.
.
Rania’s pain seeks solace in singing. Music becomes a panacea and gives her wings to fly. A window of opportunity and escape to New York becomes a possibility when Rania participates and gets shortlisted in a musical contest in her area. To bear expenses of her family, Rania works as a tourist guide during the day. A chance meeting with Asher, a Hindu boy from India, changes her perspective towards life.
.
What happens next is unfathomable! The story unfolds in unpredictable ways and will take you by surprise. What will be the fate of these three women? Will Rania be a harbinger of change in their lives? What would be the outcome of Rania and Asher’s relationship? Will their relationship survive the test of time? If these questions intrigue you, you might want to read this book to find out! I thoroughly enjoyed reading Skyfall and would definitely recommend this amazing piece of fiction to everyone.
Author – Saba Karim Khan
Publisher – Bloomsbury
.
What a debut and what a story! Beautifully crafted, the author pens a riveting tale of pathos with sheer finesse. The seamless writing exudes lucidity in its purest form. From the word go, this heart wrenching tale makes the reader explore various expressions of life with a stoic representation of exquisite harangue of unadulterated emotions that spew a cornucopia of issues plaguing our society today. It is a heroic endeavor to canvass and loudly proclaim a desire for hope and light.
.
The book Skyfall is a poignant song of a bird (metaphor) that cries for peace, justice and freedom. It beautifully encapsulates the story of three lives; Rania, Ujala and Jahaan-e-Rumi embroiled in a series of incomprehensible situations that unnervingly obscures their ability to intercede for their beliefs and throws them in a labyrinth of void, darkness and pain.
.
Welcome to Heera Mandi, a notorious red light district in Lahore. Rania, our protagonist is born to Jahaan-e-Rumi, a prostitute by profession, though not by choice. Jahaan-e-Rumi is forced into this trade by her uncompromising and vicious husband Sherji who leads a dual life. He runs a madrasa during the day and pompously deals as a pimp at night. Sherji mercilessly beats and tortures her sister Ujala. On the other hand, Rania’s life is nothing short of a dichotomy laced with a scheming cacophony of unbridled hypocrisy. Bound by fanatic religious societal beliefs & values harbored by her father, Sherji makes the lives of these three women replete with duress and torture.
.
Rania’s pain seeks solace in singing. Music becomes a panacea and gives her wings to fly. A window of opportunity and escape to New York becomes a possibility when Rania participates and gets shortlisted in a musical contest in her area. To bear expenses of her family, Rania works as a tourist guide during the day. A chance meeting with Asher, a Hindu boy from India, changes her perspective towards life.
.
What happens next is unfathomable! The story unfolds in unpredictable ways and will take you by surprise. What will be the fate of these three women? Will Rania be a harbinger of change in their lives? What would be the outcome of Rania and Asher’s relationship? Will their relationship survive the test of time? If these questions intrigue you, you might want to read this book to find out! I thoroughly enjoyed reading Skyfall and would definitely recommend this amazing piece of fiction to everyone.
February 7, 2021
I picked up this book due to catchy cover and I am glad that I went after my instinct because it turned out so good. I will briefly summarise the blurb. Rania is the protagonist of the story. The story starts in Lahore. Heera Mandi is the red light district of Lahore. She was born and brought up there. Rania Mirza Kasturi is the daughter of sex prop Jaahan-e-Rumi. She and her family grew up in struggles. She would get second hand books. As the years passed, her mother got busier, especially at nights and she developed taste for Ghazals. She attempted to write that too. Marzi was her friend and she was Christian. Her father was working in Madrassa and I liked the mention of old scooter Vespa. It’s like symbolic representation to their economic conditions plus during 90s era, probably majority of children have seen it in their middle class family. Rania is a tour guide by day and at night she is a classical singer. She is always trouble maker for Sherji. Ujala and Marzi shared few of her secrets. Rania always believed and wanted to follow her dreams. An Indian filmmaker encouraged her to enrol in a music contest. That helped her to go to New York. But will she ever be successful? Or her past will haunt her forever? Will struggles ever be eliminated from her life? Read to know further about her. I loved the plot. It’s unique and classic. It’s filled with numerous twists and drama that makes it a perfect movie plot too. The narration style of the author is captivating. All the descriptions are too realistic like watching a movie. I liked the vocabulary and language used by the author. Especially initial meaning and definition of those words. I always like the story of strong female protagonist struggling to overcome her fate. And the orange jumpsuit took the story to different level. Overall good one. Recommended from my side.
February 16, 2021
"𝚆𝚑𝚘 𝚐𝚎𝚝𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚍𝚎𝚌𝚒𝚍𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚒𝚌𝚞𝚕𝚊𝚛 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚋𝚒𝚗𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚛𝚢 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚛𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚐𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚒𝚗𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚙𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚋𝚕𝚎? 𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚜𝚎𝚡𝚞𝚊𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚢 𝚘𝚗𝚕𝚢 𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚘𝚗𝚎 𝚙𝚊𝚌𝚔𝚊𝚐𝚎 𝚠𝚑𝚒𝚌𝚑 𝚠𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚋𝚎𝚎𝚗 𝚝𝚊𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚕𝚊𝚞𝚍? 𝚆𝚑𝚘 𝚌𝚘𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚒𝚣𝚎𝚍 𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚖𝚒𝚗𝚍𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚍𝚎𝚌𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚍 𝚙𝚎𝚘𝚙𝚕𝚎 𝚖𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝚍𝚘𝚠𝚗𝚜𝚒𝚣𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚒𝚛 𝚍𝚎𝚜𝚒𝚛𝚎𝚜 𝚝𝚘 𝚏𝚒𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚒𝚛 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚒𝚎𝚜, 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚞𝚗𝚜𝚌𝚑𝚘𝚘𝚕𝚎𝚍 𝚐𝚒𝚛𝚕𝚜 𝚌𝚊𝚗𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚒𝚛 𝚘𝚠𝚗 𝚍𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚖𝚜? "
Rania, born in Heera Mandi, Lahore - a red light area where murders and sex workers are very common. Rania's father is a day time preacher and a night time criminal who supports prostitution. Rania struggles to save herself, her mom and sister from her own father. She grown up to be a lover of Ghazals and sings at night. Eventually she participates in a global contest and get a chance to join college in New York. On the day of her departure, when she was in airport she was startled by her sister's murder and returns back to her home. She pledges to bring everyone who is involved in her sister's murder into light.
This is a heart wrenching story. I haven't read or watched anything like this. The entire story was so disturbing. I even thought of stopping it in between but I am glad that I didn't. The MC's struggle to pursue her small dream and her attempt to prove her sister's innocence to this world affected me greatly. I cried with the protagonist and applauded for her victory over cruel people. She is not just a random girl in a fiction world but can be any girl out there who struggles hard to prove to their own family. The author's narrative style was fantastic. Only thing I felt difficult to understand is more Hindi words and phrases in the beginning. Nevertheless, the moral of the story is said boldly and beautifully. She literally opened my eyes in so many problems of today's society.
Disclaimer: There is blood, brutal murders and sexual contents. If you are comfortable with it and is looking for a great message do pick this book. I feel everyone should read this to change their perspective on the most pressing global issues of our time.
Rania, born in Heera Mandi, Lahore - a red light area where murders and sex workers are very common. Rania's father is a day time preacher and a night time criminal who supports prostitution. Rania struggles to save herself, her mom and sister from her own father. She grown up to be a lover of Ghazals and sings at night. Eventually she participates in a global contest and get a chance to join college in New York. On the day of her departure, when she was in airport she was startled by her sister's murder and returns back to her home. She pledges to bring everyone who is involved in her sister's murder into light.
This is a heart wrenching story. I haven't read or watched anything like this. The entire story was so disturbing. I even thought of stopping it in between but I am glad that I didn't. The MC's struggle to pursue her small dream and her attempt to prove her sister's innocence to this world affected me greatly. I cried with the protagonist and applauded for her victory over cruel people. She is not just a random girl in a fiction world but can be any girl out there who struggles hard to prove to their own family. The author's narrative style was fantastic. Only thing I felt difficult to understand is more Hindi words and phrases in the beginning. Nevertheless, the moral of the story is said boldly and beautifully. She literally opened my eyes in so many problems of today's society.
Disclaimer: There is blood, brutal murders and sexual contents. If you are comfortable with it and is looking for a great message do pick this book. I feel everyone should read this to change their perspective on the most pressing global issues of our time.
February 20, 2021
Skyfall
by Saba Karim Khan
It is a distinctive, lyrical novel about power, responsibility, and struggles from the point of view of this hardworking girl - Rania who lives in the red light district and is in a turmoil of circumstances. "Skyfall" sneaks upon you like a slash of intimidating shadow on a badly lit street.
Saba has crafted a totally original, spellbinding societal issues so quirky, so unique that it should have its own genre. It can be read in two nights and still be savoured with luscious word and every startling twist. The pages will burn with friction from your hands turning them.
The writing of the book is lovely, the tone assured and the touch just right. The twist come as hard and fast as a slap accross the face and yet it's so shimmering that it's difficult to keep the book down. It is utterly captivating, exquisitely designed story of an ordinary and extraordinary woman's life.
by Saba Karim Khan
It is a distinctive, lyrical novel about power, responsibility, and struggles from the point of view of this hardworking girl - Rania who lives in the red light district and is in a turmoil of circumstances. "Skyfall" sneaks upon you like a slash of intimidating shadow on a badly lit street.
Saba has crafted a totally original, spellbinding societal issues so quirky, so unique that it should have its own genre. It can be read in two nights and still be savoured with luscious word and every startling twist. The pages will burn with friction from your hands turning them.
The writing of the book is lovely, the tone assured and the touch just right. The twist come as hard and fast as a slap accross the face and yet it's so shimmering that it's difficult to keep the book down. It is utterly captivating, exquisitely designed story of an ordinary and extraordinary woman's life.
February 22, 2021
Skyfall by Saba Karim Khan is an intensely powerful story of a teenage girl who overcomes difficulties from a red light area in Lahore. Raina runs away from her abusive father and meets an Indian filmmaker, who encourages her to enroll in a singing contest in America.
This story is about Raina, a tour guide by day and singer by night. Now, what awaits her in the US is the main content of the story. You have to read the book to know how it ends.
The protagonists and other female characters are portrayed in strong light, even though the plot can be edited and dialogues and conversations can be reduced a little which does not help in a succession of the story. I would recommend this book to beginners.
The narration is better than the plot and I love the language used by the author which is apprehensible.
This story is about Raina, a tour guide by day and singer by night. Now, what awaits her in the US is the main content of the story. You have to read the book to know how it ends.
The protagonists and other female characters are portrayed in strong light, even though the plot can be edited and dialogues and conversations can be reduced a little which does not help in a succession of the story. I would recommend this book to beginners.
The narration is better than the plot and I love the language used by the author which is apprehensible.
February 13, 2021
Book Review
Title: Skyfall
Author: Saba Karim Khan
Publisher:
Length: 283 pages
Edition: Paperback/Kindle
it's really hard to believe that it is author's debut book, But it is. An award winning filmmaker and a educator Saba karim khan poured her heart out while writing this book and while reading you can feel the efforts she put into the book.
Story is set up in Pakistan and NY, it is based on a girl Rania, Born in Heera mandi a famous red light district of Lahore. She is a fighter, by profession she is a tour-guide and a marvelous singer by night. Rania's father is a pimp, he sells her mother's body and also forcing his daughter to do the same.
But Rania is not the one who suffers silently, She decided to speak up and she did. on a normal day while serving as a tour-guide , She met with Asher, A indian filmmaker. Asher encourage her to pursue her dream, but how? What are the consequences when her father got to know about them? What will happen with her ?Will she able to survive? to know about all these things go and grab the book .
its not just an ordinary story , it is the story of Struggle for an individual's freedom, It is the story of harassment, Terrorism , love and the pain of suffering, the story of seeking justice for the lost loved ones.
The book is divided into three parts: Nightfall, Day and Dawn. Language is comprehensible . Writing style is perfect. i would highly recommend this book to everyone, Do give it a read please.
Title: Skyfall
Author: Saba Karim Khan
Publisher:
Length: 283 pages
Edition: Paperback/Kindle
it's really hard to believe that it is author's debut book, But it is. An award winning filmmaker and a educator Saba karim khan poured her heart out while writing this book and while reading you can feel the efforts she put into the book.
Story is set up in Pakistan and NY, it is based on a girl Rania, Born in Heera mandi a famous red light district of Lahore. She is a fighter, by profession she is a tour-guide and a marvelous singer by night. Rania's father is a pimp, he sells her mother's body and also forcing his daughter to do the same.
But Rania is not the one who suffers silently, She decided to speak up and she did. on a normal day while serving as a tour-guide , She met with Asher, A indian filmmaker. Asher encourage her to pursue her dream, but how? What are the consequences when her father got to know about them? What will happen with her ?Will she able to survive? to know about all these things go and grab the book .
its not just an ordinary story , it is the story of Struggle for an individual's freedom, It is the story of harassment, Terrorism , love and the pain of suffering, the story of seeking justice for the lost loved ones.
The book is divided into three parts: Nightfall, Day and Dawn. Language is comprehensible . Writing style is perfect. i would highly recommend this book to everyone, Do give it a read please.
February 10, 2021
"Your thought lingered all night long,
My wet eyes kept smiling all night
Blazing at times, smouldering at others
This sorrowful flame flickers, all night long..."
I must say after a long time I read a book like this, such strong and intense characters and so many problematic things of the society narrated here in this book with so much care!
It makes us think again the condition of woman of our society even in 21st century.
It's the story of Rania who is a tour guide by day and a classical singer-in-secret by night. Born in Heera Mandi, Lahore's most famous red-light district.
Her life become a rollercoaster ride when she met with She meets Asher, an Indian filmmaker, who encourages her to enrol in a singing contest that can take her to the US.
The story will lead the readers towards the journey of love, hatred and miseries.
The book talks about so many complex topics like Love- Jihad, crime against woman and so on...
This book also make us think even now the condition of woman in our society and the kind of struggle they face everyday for living a life full of freedom!
The characters are so lively and the readers can easily connect with them.
The way the author narrated all things with proper descriptions and all the small things even portrayed so beautifully and it made the book even more beautiful!
The title is just amazing and I just loved the cover, it's so beautiful and eye-catching.
Overall, it's a book, you just can't miss!
My wet eyes kept smiling all night
Blazing at times, smouldering at others
This sorrowful flame flickers, all night long..."
I must say after a long time I read a book like this, such strong and intense characters and so many problematic things of the society narrated here in this book with so much care!
It makes us think again the condition of woman of our society even in 21st century.
It's the story of Rania who is a tour guide by day and a classical singer-in-secret by night. Born in Heera Mandi, Lahore's most famous red-light district.
Her life become a rollercoaster ride when she met with She meets Asher, an Indian filmmaker, who encourages her to enrol in a singing contest that can take her to the US.
The story will lead the readers towards the journey of love, hatred and miseries.
The book talks about so many complex topics like Love- Jihad, crime against woman and so on...
This book also make us think even now the condition of woman in our society and the kind of struggle they face everyday for living a life full of freedom!
The characters are so lively and the readers can easily connect with them.
The way the author narrated all things with proper descriptions and all the small things even portrayed so beautifully and it made the book even more beautiful!
The title is just amazing and I just loved the cover, it's so beautiful and eye-catching.
Overall, it's a book, you just can't miss!
February 15, 2021
The book is a very nicely written fictional thriller. It is about a girl from the infamous red light area, Heera Mandi and about how she is discovered by an Indian filmmaker from where her flight starts. The story beautifully captures the dichotomy between the values and lifestyle of the east and the west and it is really insightful to read the authors viewpoints on it. The book is very good in terms of the writing and the choice of themes. Considering that this is a debut novel it was very bold of the author to choose different unconventional themes like homosexuality, life of prostitutes and those close to them, and religion. The topics were handled maturely and weren’t just used in the book for adding drama. The author has also touched upon different emotions like love, pain, shame, ambition and all of these are blended so beautifully that the reading is drawn in the story right away. This is one of those books that has the potential to be your best read of 2021.
February 1, 2021
This book is the true face behind the organized mask of the society at large. The simple yet devilish scenario of the Indian modern woman.
Reading this book forced me to say that I’m ashamed, angry, and frustrated. But what I am not about to do, is give up on our rights.
We must remember that Feminism for us is not a hobby, it is a survival instinct.
It is our human rights. Our path to change something for the generations of women to come.
Let’s not let the “fear” of what people will say stop us from using our voices for things we care about.
Let’s not stop talking when it matters the most. Shake the system, Be a threat, Demand your rights, Start a conversation and remember, they don’t matter - they, who are constantly trying to curb our rights and control us - are also actively NOT protecting us.
This book will open your eyes to society and societal norms. A must-read
Reading this book forced me to say that I’m ashamed, angry, and frustrated. But what I am not about to do, is give up on our rights.
We must remember that Feminism for us is not a hobby, it is a survival instinct.
It is our human rights. Our path to change something for the generations of women to come.
Let’s not let the “fear” of what people will say stop us from using our voices for things we care about.
Let’s not stop talking when it matters the most. Shake the system, Be a threat, Demand your rights, Start a conversation and remember, they don’t matter - they, who are constantly trying to curb our rights and control us - are also actively NOT protecting us.
This book will open your eyes to society and societal norms. A must-read
August 13, 2021
Mixed feelings about this. I don't know, plot is fantastical and dramatic- I mean yet it's believable but the thing is I found it distracting from the heavier subjects of the book- sex work, abuse, puritanical and dogmatic religious fervour, South Asia, etc. The author of entices with these but ultimately does not develop them sufficiently.
December 23, 2024
Saba Karim Khan's novel, Skyfall, is the powerful story of a Pakistani girl who wanted to fly high in the infinite sky, but at the same time, she was afraid of falling into an abyss created by none other than her own father. It's a tale that tells us that rebellion begins at home. Whether your near and dear ones like it or not, once decided, no one can stop a person whose aim is to fly high. A novel that didn't shy away from calling a spade a spade. A must-read book.
Mahatma Gandhi used to say, "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." But how many of us are willing to try to use these words in our lives in letter and spirit? The answer is a minuscule number of people, isn't it? Because the majority of us remain silent about the crimes that we see happening in and around our morally bankrupt society and even country.
And ironically, we are also a part of that society that sees life in black-and-white terms. Where the most necessary, the gray area remains not only neglected but also forgotten by the multitudes. That's the reason for our silence: our ability to pass judgments on others without knowing anything about them, to label a country with demeaning terms, to make fun of a human because he or she doesn't subscribe to our views of narrow ideology, to rejoice in jingoism, and to force people to accept whatever we feel better about.
That's why we see people rebelling within society. They not only raise their voice against oppression and injustice. But they also fight without thinking about the consequences. And the book Skyfall is about a rebel who saw and experienced the worst of humanity. But, like a brave warrior, she not only overcame those but also ensured justice, for which she rebelled at first.
What is Skyfall by Saba Karim Khan?
Skyfall by Saba Karim Khan is the story of Rania Mirza Kasturi, the girl who grew up in Lahore's famous Red-Light district, Heera Mandi. But, instead of accepting the life of pain and misery, Rania decided to pursue her dream of singing. And while pursuing that dream, she discovered some unpleasant truths about her father and what he did to her beloved mother and sister.
It's a tale that not only talks about some unpleasant truths about our society. But it's also about hope and human resilience, i.e., if there's a will, there's a way too. And the protagonist of the novel finds her way while exposing the double standards of not only the country where she was born, Pakistan. But also about our world.
In fact, it's the story where the protagonist realizes that you don't need to search for Satan. If you observe carefully, then you'll find Satan (s) in your family, society, and friends too. It's a novel where you don't need to look for "read between the lines" moments. Because the author, through her words, spoke bluntly. And she needs to be lauded for this.
The language of the book is not that tough to read. It's the debut novel of the author. And she did a commendable job. Though, if you are a jingoistic person, especially from India or Pakistan, then there are high chances that the words of the author might hurt you. For sane readers, I strongly recommend this book, especially to the women of the Indian subcontinent.
Mahatma Gandhi used to say, "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." But how many of us are willing to try to use these words in our lives in letter and spirit? The answer is a minuscule number of people, isn't it? Because the majority of us remain silent about the crimes that we see happening in and around our morally bankrupt society and even country.
And ironically, we are also a part of that society that sees life in black-and-white terms. Where the most necessary, the gray area remains not only neglected but also forgotten by the multitudes. That's the reason for our silence: our ability to pass judgments on others without knowing anything about them, to label a country with demeaning terms, to make fun of a human because he or she doesn't subscribe to our views of narrow ideology, to rejoice in jingoism, and to force people to accept whatever we feel better about.
That's why we see people rebelling within society. They not only raise their voice against oppression and injustice. But they also fight without thinking about the consequences. And the book Skyfall is about a rebel who saw and experienced the worst of humanity. But, like a brave warrior, she not only overcame those but also ensured justice, for which she rebelled at first.
What is Skyfall by Saba Karim Khan?
Skyfall by Saba Karim Khan is the story of Rania Mirza Kasturi, the girl who grew up in Lahore's famous Red-Light district, Heera Mandi. But, instead of accepting the life of pain and misery, Rania decided to pursue her dream of singing. And while pursuing that dream, she discovered some unpleasant truths about her father and what he did to her beloved mother and sister.
It's a tale that not only talks about some unpleasant truths about our society. But it's also about hope and human resilience, i.e., if there's a will, there's a way too. And the protagonist of the novel finds her way while exposing the double standards of not only the country where she was born, Pakistan. But also about our world.
In fact, it's the story where the protagonist realizes that you don't need to search for Satan. If you observe carefully, then you'll find Satan (s) in your family, society, and friends too. It's a novel where you don't need to look for "read between the lines" moments. Because the author, through her words, spoke bluntly. And she needs to be lauded for this.
The language of the book is not that tough to read. It's the debut novel of the author. And she did a commendable job. Though, if you are a jingoistic person, especially from India or Pakistan, then there are high chances that the words of the author might hurt you. For sane readers, I strongly recommend this book, especially to the women of the Indian subcontinent.
April 7, 2021
Title - Skyfall
Author - Saba Karim Khan
Genre - Historical Fiction
I had pretty much zero knowledge about the author and this book when I picked it up. All I was intrigued about it while picking it up was that it was a book set in Pakistan and how it talks about a love story set across the borders.
Rania was born in one of the famous red light areas of Lahore where she grew up under the shadow of her mother and her abusive father. The oppression though did not stop her from learning music and thus enroll in a music contest that will take her out of this hell. As her luck would have it, she comes across a prince charming of her own who would help her gain that fame and make her believe in the world all over again.
The book starts off on a pretty interesting note where we see Rania being led in jail. This though did remind me of Against the Loveless World but the comparison ends here. The book deals with quite a lot of touching subjects from Women Freedom to acceptance of homosexuality to persecution of religious minorities in other country and I was glad that the book did handle each subject well.
Unfortunately the book had quite a few flaws that could have been avoided. The story was filled with quite a lot of clichés which did make it predictable by the time one reaches that plot. Also, a lot of loose ends could have been closed easily but those can be forgiven at times. The book will surely touch your heart and I would say pick this up for a book that is just different.
My Ratings - 🌟🌟🌟💫 (3.5 out of 5 stars)
Author - Saba Karim Khan
Genre - Historical Fiction
I had pretty much zero knowledge about the author and this book when I picked it up. All I was intrigued about it while picking it up was that it was a book set in Pakistan and how it talks about a love story set across the borders.
Rania was born in one of the famous red light areas of Lahore where she grew up under the shadow of her mother and her abusive father. The oppression though did not stop her from learning music and thus enroll in a music contest that will take her out of this hell. As her luck would have it, she comes across a prince charming of her own who would help her gain that fame and make her believe in the world all over again.
The book starts off on a pretty interesting note where we see Rania being led in jail. This though did remind me of Against the Loveless World but the comparison ends here. The book deals with quite a lot of touching subjects from Women Freedom to acceptance of homosexuality to persecution of religious minorities in other country and I was glad that the book did handle each subject well.
Unfortunately the book had quite a few flaws that could have been avoided. The story was filled with quite a lot of clichés which did make it predictable by the time one reaches that plot. Also, a lot of loose ends could have been closed easily but those can be forgiven at times. The book will surely touch your heart and I would say pick this up for a book that is just different.
My Ratings - 🌟🌟🌟💫 (3.5 out of 5 stars)
February 20, 2021
Raina a "troublemaker" born in Heera Mandi (a famous red light area of Pakistan) she is a tour guide but has a deep love for music. Daughter of Sherji( a pimp who is selling his wife and daughter's body for money)
Raina gets to know about her family's dark secret later but when she did its turn her life upside down.
Asher an Indian Hindu guy from Delhi on tour in Lahore for his future filmmaking project. Raina was his Tour guide and they felt connected in certain ways, Asher motivates Raina for participating in a music competition.
Ujala (Raina's sister) was a lesbian, Raina wants to be a singer and in love with an Indian that also Hindu. A combination of sins Sherji didn't gulp in, after all, Raina wins the competition and start her new journey in NY with a gigantic secret of her sister Ujala. Somehow Sherji got to know about her, Ujala got raped then killed by 5 men in Dilbar cafe.
New York a city of dreams seems fairyland but like Lahore and Delhi, it has it's a dark side too.
Now Raina's purpose of life is to get justice for her sister and be with Asher.
This is the debut novel by Saba Karim Khan and she picks sensitive topics like Religion, LGBTQ+, Indo-Pak, Bigotry, harlotry, etc.
There are other characters as well, all are competently developed and narrated, the author tries to show us the other side of life in which things are not fairytales, life is cruel.
It's a fictional Non-fiction journey of a girl born in the wrong place, fighting for her life and justice for her Sister. Who society treats horribly just because she was in love with a girl and it's Haram/unacceptable by Orthodox society.
Saba write about cruelty and patriarch of society, I read a book last year "Daughter of Char Chinar" and it has the same theme where females treated as object/property.
The language is not beginner-friendly but still, I suggest you, pick this book if you want to read about life in Pakistan, red light and many more.
And my take on this book in Nutshell is "people in India or Pakistan are same having the same civic issues, vulnerable, there are few difference only and one major issue on both sides of the fencing is the patriarchy.
It's an overall 4.4🌟 read for me.
Raina gets to know about her family's dark secret later but when she did its turn her life upside down.
Asher an Indian Hindu guy from Delhi on tour in Lahore for his future filmmaking project. Raina was his Tour guide and they felt connected in certain ways, Asher motivates Raina for participating in a music competition.
Ujala (Raina's sister) was a lesbian, Raina wants to be a singer and in love with an Indian that also Hindu. A combination of sins Sherji didn't gulp in, after all, Raina wins the competition and start her new journey in NY with a gigantic secret of her sister Ujala. Somehow Sherji got to know about her, Ujala got raped then killed by 5 men in Dilbar cafe.
New York a city of dreams seems fairyland but like Lahore and Delhi, it has it's a dark side too.
Now Raina's purpose of life is to get justice for her sister and be with Asher.
This is the debut novel by Saba Karim Khan and she picks sensitive topics like Religion, LGBTQ+, Indo-Pak, Bigotry, harlotry, etc.
There are other characters as well, all are competently developed and narrated, the author tries to show us the other side of life in which things are not fairytales, life is cruel.
It's a fictional Non-fiction journey of a girl born in the wrong place, fighting for her life and justice for her Sister. Who society treats horribly just because she was in love with a girl and it's Haram/unacceptable by Orthodox society.
Saba write about cruelty and patriarch of society, I read a book last year "Daughter of Char Chinar" and it has the same theme where females treated as object/property.
The language is not beginner-friendly but still, I suggest you, pick this book if you want to read about life in Pakistan, red light and many more.
And my take on this book in Nutshell is "people in India or Pakistan are same having the same civic issues, vulnerable, there are few difference only and one major issue on both sides of the fencing is the patriarchy.
It's an overall 4.4🌟 read for me.
February 15, 2021
Skyfall is a poignant and striking tale of a girl Rania, who despite witnessing the worst of humanity everyday refused to give up on her dreams even for a day. Born in the famous red light district of Lahore, her life had never been a bed of roses until she meets Asher who encourages her to enroll in a music contest that could open a zillion of opportunities for her. As her dreams take flight and she starts winning the heart of her listeners, her dark- forgotten past threatens to shadow her newly built present.
Will she ever be able to escape the streets of Heera Mandi? Will love be able to sustain in the times of hate?
- The plot of the story here has been beautifully crafted and very well told.
- It is fast paced, filled with unpredictable ups and downs that never let's the reader down and keeps them intrigued till the end.
- Laced with deep and heartfelt emotions the story searches for the prospect of harmony and personal freedom in midst of inter border tensions, vengeful politics and narrow mindedness of society.
- Everything here has been vividly described and beautifully depicted. From the historic beauty of Old Lahore City to the vibrant yet hollow colours of New York everything seems lively and real.
- Not only this the author has also powerfully broken all prejudices of blood, caste, religion, class and country in the course of her storytelling.
- The lyrical pieces of work that have featured in between further adds to the beauty and magic of the narrative.
- The characters here have been very well developed too especially that of the female ones. Every female character be it of Rania or Roohi or Ujala seems a fighter in herself.
- Simple yet lucid language has been used throughout it's writting.
- Delicate social issues such as forced prostitution, LGBTQ+ rights, domestic violence, immigrant experience etc have also been very well dealt in the course of this adventurous journey.
- The cover of the book looks majestic and the title too seems totally appropriate wrt the plotline.
Overall for me it was an engaging and riveting read! Highly recommeded for all!
Will she ever be able to escape the streets of Heera Mandi? Will love be able to sustain in the times of hate?
- The plot of the story here has been beautifully crafted and very well told.
- It is fast paced, filled with unpredictable ups and downs that never let's the reader down and keeps them intrigued till the end.
- Laced with deep and heartfelt emotions the story searches for the prospect of harmony and personal freedom in midst of inter border tensions, vengeful politics and narrow mindedness of society.
- Everything here has been vividly described and beautifully depicted. From the historic beauty of Old Lahore City to the vibrant yet hollow colours of New York everything seems lively and real.
- Not only this the author has also powerfully broken all prejudices of blood, caste, religion, class and country in the course of her storytelling.
- The lyrical pieces of work that have featured in between further adds to the beauty and magic of the narrative.
- The characters here have been very well developed too especially that of the female ones. Every female character be it of Rania or Roohi or Ujala seems a fighter in herself.
- Simple yet lucid language has been used throughout it's writting.
- Delicate social issues such as forced prostitution, LGBTQ+ rights, domestic violence, immigrant experience etc have also been very well dealt in the course of this adventurous journey.
- The cover of the book looks majestic and the title too seems totally appropriate wrt the plotline.
Overall for me it was an engaging and riveting read! Highly recommeded for all!
February 20, 2021
REVIEW:- SKYFALL
AUTHOR:- SABA KARIM KHAN
Story of this book revolves around the protagonist named "Rania Mirza Kasturi" who belongs from Lahore, Pakistan.
She is a young girl but from the young age she started working as a tour guide and apart of that she was an phenomenal classical singer too. After doing her work in morning she always sings at night.
But everything is not as good and simple in her life as it seems...
She grown up in heera mandi which is a red light area of lahore although her mother "Jaahan-e-rumi" s also a sex prop there. She grew there and all because of that her childhood is filled with lots of struggle from the start.
But one day everything is changed when she meets a filmmaker who encourage her to enroll in a music competition whis was going to be held in new york. And from here everything is changed in her life.
She decided to pursue her dreams and joined that music competition But....
Fate has decided something else for her in future which gonna be very hard and effective for her and her family too.
Does she be able to participate in that contest? What happened next? Does she ever be able to be happy in her life or her struggle go through out the life? For knowing the answers of all these questions you guys have to dive into this book by yourself
Narration of this book is on the point and one thing i can surely say that the way how author portrayed the charaterestics of protagonist in this book is surely well explained. Because the protagonist is the main part of every story and the way how author described everything about her life is just astonishing to read.
Plot of the book is well crafted and also the language of the book is simple so even a beginner can easily be able to gasp everything from this book.
Writing style of the author is bit crispy but it all compansated with the strong storyline
Book cover is beautiful and the title is totally makes sense when we completed the story.
Overall i loved reading this book and surely reccomend it to all.
Rating:- 9/10
AUTHOR:- SABA KARIM KHAN
Story of this book revolves around the protagonist named "Rania Mirza Kasturi" who belongs from Lahore, Pakistan.
She is a young girl but from the young age she started working as a tour guide and apart of that she was an phenomenal classical singer too. After doing her work in morning she always sings at night.
But everything is not as good and simple in her life as it seems...
She grown up in heera mandi which is a red light area of lahore although her mother "Jaahan-e-rumi" s also a sex prop there. She grew there and all because of that her childhood is filled with lots of struggle from the start.
But one day everything is changed when she meets a filmmaker who encourage her to enroll in a music competition whis was going to be held in new york. And from here everything is changed in her life.
She decided to pursue her dreams and joined that music competition But....
Fate has decided something else for her in future which gonna be very hard and effective for her and her family too.
Does she be able to participate in that contest? What happened next? Does she ever be able to be happy in her life or her struggle go through out the life? For knowing the answers of all these questions you guys have to dive into this book by yourself
Narration of this book is on the point and one thing i can surely say that the way how author portrayed the charaterestics of protagonist in this book is surely well explained. Because the protagonist is the main part of every story and the way how author described everything about her life is just astonishing to read.
Plot of the book is well crafted and also the language of the book is simple so even a beginner can easily be able to gasp everything from this book.
Writing style of the author is bit crispy but it all compansated with the strong storyline
Book cover is beautiful and the title is totally makes sense when we completed the story.
Overall i loved reading this book and surely reccomend it to all.
Rating:- 9/10
February 22, 2021
‘Rishte barose chahat yakeein
Unn sab ka daaman ab chaak hai,
Samjhe the haathon mein hai zameen
Muthi jo khole bas haath hai’
Book Review: Skyfall
Genre: Fiction (Thriller and Mystery)
Author: Saba Sarim Khan
Publisher: Blooms Bury
My Ratings: 5/5⭐️
My Review: This book revolves around Prostitution, Religion, Homosexuality, Rape, Murder and Terrorism. Skyfall by Saba Karim Khan is deeply haunting yet powerful enough to bring about a change in a world where humanity is in increasing demand every single day. This story of Rania, her life in Heera Mandi with her mother Jahan-e-Rumi and her sister Ujala as well as her life with Asher will take you on an adventure into the reality of the harsh world we have been living in. This book is the true face behind the organized mask of the society at large. We, under family or peer pressure, are forced to choose something that doesn't make us happy but makes us eligible to fit in the society. Skyfall is one such story about Rania, a girl from Lahore's famous Red light area Heera Mandi, who is a tourist guide by the day but deep down Music is her Passion. The author has thrown light on many sensitive yet important issues of the world with beautiful words and pieces of poems written in between. The plot of the story here has been beautifully crafted and very well told. The author has done a commendable job in bringing up the issues which many are afraid to talk about. It has been an emotional roller coaster ride for me while reading. The characters here have been very well developed too especially that of the female ones. Every female character be it of Rania or Roohi or Ujala seems a fighter in herself. The title goes well with the plot. Also, the cover is really appealing. The author has both the boldness and right choice of words to convey the story of any girl from that background who wants to break free and run away to pursue her dreams. This is a heart wrenching story and if you are comfortable with this then it is surely a must read.
Unn sab ka daaman ab chaak hai,
Samjhe the haathon mein hai zameen
Muthi jo khole bas haath hai’
Book Review: Skyfall
Genre: Fiction (Thriller and Mystery)
Author: Saba Sarim Khan
Publisher: Blooms Bury
My Ratings: 5/5⭐️
My Review: This book revolves around Prostitution, Religion, Homosexuality, Rape, Murder and Terrorism. Skyfall by Saba Karim Khan is deeply haunting yet powerful enough to bring about a change in a world where humanity is in increasing demand every single day. This story of Rania, her life in Heera Mandi with her mother Jahan-e-Rumi and her sister Ujala as well as her life with Asher will take you on an adventure into the reality of the harsh world we have been living in. This book is the true face behind the organized mask of the society at large. We, under family or peer pressure, are forced to choose something that doesn't make us happy but makes us eligible to fit in the society. Skyfall is one such story about Rania, a girl from Lahore's famous Red light area Heera Mandi, who is a tourist guide by the day but deep down Music is her Passion. The author has thrown light on many sensitive yet important issues of the world with beautiful words and pieces of poems written in between. The plot of the story here has been beautifully crafted and very well told. The author has done a commendable job in bringing up the issues which many are afraid to talk about. It has been an emotional roller coaster ride for me while reading. The characters here have been very well developed too especially that of the female ones. Every female character be it of Rania or Roohi or Ujala seems a fighter in herself. The title goes well with the plot. Also, the cover is really appealing. The author has both the boldness and right choice of words to convey the story of any girl from that background who wants to break free and run away to pursue her dreams. This is a heart wrenching story and if you are comfortable with this then it is surely a must read.
February 12, 2021
The unlawful use of violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims is still found at present time.
Over the past decades, terrorists killed an average of 21,000 people worldwide each year.
The book is centered around the female protagonist Rania Mirza Kasturi of Heera Mandi, Lahore. Rania's mother, Jahaan-e-Rumi, was a tawaif in Hira Mandi and her father, commonly known as, Sherji, used to run a madrasa. Her father used to treat Rania and his wife brutally.
Besides spending a difficult life, she develops a desire for Ghazals and Writing. During her daytime, she is a tour guide and at night she is a classical singer with such a melodious voice.
She constantly works hard for her dream. Even after fighting through so many problems every day, she used to push herself to full fill her desire. This innocent, kind, and Charming girl decided to run away from her abusive father.
Fortunately one day she meets a filmmaker who suggests her to take part in a singing competition in New York. Filled with a lot of potential and strength, she made her journey to New York providing justice to her sister and her struggles. A new turn comes in the story when Rania was sent to bars in New-York.
What do you think, what will happen next?
What happened to her sister?
What about her dream?
The story talks about the brutality and social injustice that is still found in many countries. Even after talking about women empowerment, rights for women, etc, still there are so many problems or struggles faced by a woman due to male chauvinism.
The author has mentioned the whole story in a detail. There are completely no brags in the whole story. Not even a single point in the book made me feel that it is turning towards a boring side.
The narration is good and the cover is so appealing. If you are looking out for an inspiring story then this book will be the best pick for you.
Over the past decades, terrorists killed an average of 21,000 people worldwide each year.
The book is centered around the female protagonist Rania Mirza Kasturi of Heera Mandi, Lahore. Rania's mother, Jahaan-e-Rumi, was a tawaif in Hira Mandi and her father, commonly known as, Sherji, used to run a madrasa. Her father used to treat Rania and his wife brutally.
Besides spending a difficult life, she develops a desire for Ghazals and Writing. During her daytime, she is a tour guide and at night she is a classical singer with such a melodious voice.
She constantly works hard for her dream. Even after fighting through so many problems every day, she used to push herself to full fill her desire. This innocent, kind, and Charming girl decided to run away from her abusive father.
Fortunately one day she meets a filmmaker who suggests her to take part in a singing competition in New York. Filled with a lot of potential and strength, she made her journey to New York providing justice to her sister and her struggles. A new turn comes in the story when Rania was sent to bars in New-York.
What do you think, what will happen next?
What happened to her sister?
What about her dream?
The story talks about the brutality and social injustice that is still found in many countries. Even after talking about women empowerment, rights for women, etc, still there are so many problems or struggles faced by a woman due to male chauvinism.
The author has mentioned the whole story in a detail. There are completely no brags in the whole story. Not even a single point in the book made me feel that it is turning towards a boring side.
The narration is good and the cover is so appealing. If you are looking out for an inspiring story then this book will be the best pick for you.
February 14, 2021
🍺#bookreview 141👇
.
Book - Skyfall
Author - Saba Karim Khan @saba.karim.khan
Publication - Bloomsbury Publishing @bloomsburypublishing
Genre - Contemporary Fiction
.
🍺The story revolves around "Rania", a tour guide and a daughter of a sex worker, and "Heera Mandi" of Lahore, a red light area in Pakistan.
.
🍺Rania is beautiful, vibrant and a well known "troublemaker" who wants to run away from her neighbourhood and cross the seven oceans to fulfil her dreams. She has seen horrifying scenes of Sherji, her father, selling out her mother and sister's body regularly at night to his clients. She hates him. She wants to stand up for her mother and sister buy just couldn't.
.
🍺Encouraged by a tour client and later her fallen love, she enrolls for a singing competition which can take her to New York, far away from the shot she has been living in and fulfil her dreams. Will she even win it? Will she ever break through? Will she leave behind her mother and sister? To know more, get your copies from your nearest stores.
.
🍺#My_views - Starting from the cover and title, this is one of the strongest, catchy and waiting to be read for book I have ever read. The author has both the boldness and right choice of words to convey the story of any girl from that background who wants to break free and run away to pursue her dreams. The story, the characters, the plot and the writings were absolutely strong and well constructed. Though a few parts were over written but it didn't leave a dent on the story. It was a long book with a bit slow pace. Homosexuality has been one of the heated topics in our society and it was well put up. The characters were portrayed super strong and illusive. The narration fitted well with the story. Ill just basically stand and applaud and appreciate the author for putting down one of the major and wonderful book with absolutely appropriate use of words. I know you have a long way to go.
.
🍺For me, it was a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 read.
.
Book - Skyfall
Author - Saba Karim Khan @saba.karim.khan
Publication - Bloomsbury Publishing @bloomsburypublishing
Genre - Contemporary Fiction
.
🍺The story revolves around "Rania", a tour guide and a daughter of a sex worker, and "Heera Mandi" of Lahore, a red light area in Pakistan.
.
🍺Rania is beautiful, vibrant and a well known "troublemaker" who wants to run away from her neighbourhood and cross the seven oceans to fulfil her dreams. She has seen horrifying scenes of Sherji, her father, selling out her mother and sister's body regularly at night to his clients. She hates him. She wants to stand up for her mother and sister buy just couldn't.
.
🍺Encouraged by a tour client and later her fallen love, she enrolls for a singing competition which can take her to New York, far away from the shot she has been living in and fulfil her dreams. Will she even win it? Will she ever break through? Will she leave behind her mother and sister? To know more, get your copies from your nearest stores.
.
🍺#My_views - Starting from the cover and title, this is one of the strongest, catchy and waiting to be read for book I have ever read. The author has both the boldness and right choice of words to convey the story of any girl from that background who wants to break free and run away to pursue her dreams. The story, the characters, the plot and the writings were absolutely strong and well constructed. Though a few parts were over written but it didn't leave a dent on the story. It was a long book with a bit slow pace. Homosexuality has been one of the heated topics in our society and it was well put up. The characters were portrayed super strong and illusive. The narration fitted well with the story. Ill just basically stand and applaud and appreciate the author for putting down one of the major and wonderful book with absolutely appropriate use of words. I know you have a long way to go.
.
🍺For me, it was a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 read.
February 22, 2021
QOTD : Have you heard Amir Khusroo’s Chaap Tilak sasb cheeni ?
Book: Skyfall
Author: Saba Karim Khan
Publisher: Bloomsbury India
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Format: Paperback
Pages: 264
Rating: 5/5
The protagonist, Rania, is born in the red light area of Lahore. Her father, who follows his religion in letter and spirit, has a grey side to him. He was a pimp for Rania’s Mother and her sister. Rania develops love for singing and sings so well. She goes to New York for the same. But due to some family issues, she ends up being in prison. What was the reason for the same? Who will save her? What will be the outcome?
The Sky, It Stutters, tumbles on to the earth
A thousand miles collapse,collide
The ’otherworld’ invades this air
…………………………………………………
The smell of survival burgeons in the air
It’s time for skyfall
The language and writing style are so good. Glossary is highly enriched. The way book is structured in three parts : Nightfall, Day and Dawn. The Narrations are so vivid that I felt I was present at the very place where the scene belonged to. Characters are beautifully sketched. I feel in love with Asher. Dialogues were so real that I felt myself engrossed in the book.
‘Forgiving what I can’t forget, however, will give me an unfamiliar way to remember it.’
The cover page is so attractive and captivating that I couldn’t take off my eyes from it .Special appreciations for the designing of cover page. The embossed name of the book and author was something I cherish touching several times. The title initially flabbergasted me, but as I read the book from cover to cover I loved it. The quality of pages is really good. The printing, font size and style, spacing make the read easy and interesting. Packaging was also good.
If you are looking for a nice and detailed read, go for this, but make sure that you are not faint-hearted. I look forward to read more from the author.
Book: Skyfall
Author: Saba Karim Khan
Publisher: Bloomsbury India
Genre: Contemporary Fiction
Format: Paperback
Pages: 264
Rating: 5/5
The protagonist, Rania, is born in the red light area of Lahore. Her father, who follows his religion in letter and spirit, has a grey side to him. He was a pimp for Rania’s Mother and her sister. Rania develops love for singing and sings so well. She goes to New York for the same. But due to some family issues, she ends up being in prison. What was the reason for the same? Who will save her? What will be the outcome?
The Sky, It Stutters, tumbles on to the earth
A thousand miles collapse,collide
The ’otherworld’ invades this air
…………………………………………………
The smell of survival burgeons in the air
It’s time for skyfall
The language and writing style are so good. Glossary is highly enriched. The way book is structured in three parts : Nightfall, Day and Dawn. The Narrations are so vivid that I felt I was present at the very place where the scene belonged to. Characters are beautifully sketched. I feel in love with Asher. Dialogues were so real that I felt myself engrossed in the book.
‘Forgiving what I can’t forget, however, will give me an unfamiliar way to remember it.’
The cover page is so attractive and captivating that I couldn’t take off my eyes from it .Special appreciations for the designing of cover page. The embossed name of the book and author was something I cherish touching several times. The title initially flabbergasted me, but as I read the book from cover to cover I loved it. The quality of pages is really good. The printing, font size and style, spacing make the read easy and interesting. Packaging was also good.
If you are looking for a nice and detailed read, go for this, but make sure that you are not faint-hearted. I look forward to read more from the author.
February 12, 2021
This book is about the struggle of Rania to bring justice to her sister, Ujala. It is about the sheer courage and dedication towards the cause of ending the life of dominance, force and power.
Rania and Ujala are the daughters of Sherji and Jaahan-e-Rumi who live in the red-light district of Lahore. Rania is a tour-guide and loves to sing whenever time permits. She is strong-headed and a dreamer. Sherji runs a madrassa. He sells Jaahan-e-Rumi’s body, beats Ujala as she was born of one of his clients and he hated her.
Asher, an Indian filmmaker visits Lahore with his friends to work on a project later revealed in the book. Rania being a tour guide, shows them around Lahore and its life. Slowly and gradually, Asher develops a liking towards her and is reciprocated in the same manner. Their bond strengthens over time. A music contest is announced in Heera Mandi and Asher encourages her to enroll and participate in it as he was sure that she would win and grab the chance to be taught music in New York.
The book also throws light over the inhuman tendencies and feelings of people towards homosexuals. Ujala loved a girl and she hid this from the entire world but confided in Rania who promised to keep her secret. Later it so happens that her reality is out and everything changes for once.
The book exemplifies being bold and to fight with what happens after and not to succumb to ones circumstances. It truly encourages us to be one with them and to feel what they endure.
The writing style is beautiful with poetry in between but the vocabulary is sure set to make you stick with a dictionary throughout.
I encourage each and everyone to pick up this book at least once in their lives and to experience what I experienced and I congratulate the author for penning this down and bringing this book to life.
Rania and Ujala are the daughters of Sherji and Jaahan-e-Rumi who live in the red-light district of Lahore. Rania is a tour-guide and loves to sing whenever time permits. She is strong-headed and a dreamer. Sherji runs a madrassa. He sells Jaahan-e-Rumi’s body, beats Ujala as she was born of one of his clients and he hated her.
Asher, an Indian filmmaker visits Lahore with his friends to work on a project later revealed in the book. Rania being a tour guide, shows them around Lahore and its life. Slowly and gradually, Asher develops a liking towards her and is reciprocated in the same manner. Their bond strengthens over time. A music contest is announced in Heera Mandi and Asher encourages her to enroll and participate in it as he was sure that she would win and grab the chance to be taught music in New York.
The book also throws light over the inhuman tendencies and feelings of people towards homosexuals. Ujala loved a girl and she hid this from the entire world but confided in Rania who promised to keep her secret. Later it so happens that her reality is out and everything changes for once.
The book exemplifies being bold and to fight with what happens after and not to succumb to ones circumstances. It truly encourages us to be one with them and to feel what they endure.
The writing style is beautiful with poetry in between but the vocabulary is sure set to make you stick with a dictionary throughout.
I encourage each and everyone to pick up this book at least once in their lives and to experience what I experienced and I congratulate the author for penning this down and bringing this book to life.
February 17, 2021
Full review on my blog:
https://blog.medhaapps.com/2021/02/bo...
Rania Mirza Kasturi, born and brought up in the infamous Heera Mandi of Lahore, is the daughter of Jahan-e-Rumi, a tawaif. Her father Sherji ran a Madrasa and at a very young age Rania accidentally comes across the activities carried out by her father. Coupled with her father’s abuse towards the family, Rania slowly turns into a rebel, and hence referred to as a ‘trouble’.
Being a tour guide by day and a singer by night, Rania’s world only had her sister Ujala and best friend Marzi, until one fine day she came across a filmmaker. As she is encouraged to pursue a career in music by taking part in a musical concert happening in New York, Rania embarks with hope for a new life. What destiny has in store for Rania and how she faces the challenges forms the rest of the story.
The author deserves appreciation for choosing a realistic, hard-hitting story which is used as a backdrop to touch a numerous current day issues, that are universally relevant. Through Rania’s character, author delivers the message for a never-die-attitude, especially when the going gets tough. The story moves across places and cities, taking the reader on a whirlwind tour across the globe.
The cover is beautiful and aptly captures the essence of the story. The story is very emotional at places; it is gutsy of the author to start the story in a flashback mode, as the reader is already aware of where Rania has reached in her life but would be intrigued to read about her journey. All the characters supporting the protagonist are given equal footage.
For a debut, the author does a fabulous job in holding the reader’s interest; if you are looking for an interesting read pick this one to read the story of a strong, determined woman, crossing life’s hurdles one at a time.
https://blog.medhaapps.com/2021/02/bo...
Rania Mirza Kasturi, born and brought up in the infamous Heera Mandi of Lahore, is the daughter of Jahan-e-Rumi, a tawaif. Her father Sherji ran a Madrasa and at a very young age Rania accidentally comes across the activities carried out by her father. Coupled with her father’s abuse towards the family, Rania slowly turns into a rebel, and hence referred to as a ‘trouble’.
Being a tour guide by day and a singer by night, Rania’s world only had her sister Ujala and best friend Marzi, until one fine day she came across a filmmaker. As she is encouraged to pursue a career in music by taking part in a musical concert happening in New York, Rania embarks with hope for a new life. What destiny has in store for Rania and how she faces the challenges forms the rest of the story.
The author deserves appreciation for choosing a realistic, hard-hitting story which is used as a backdrop to touch a numerous current day issues, that are universally relevant. Through Rania’s character, author delivers the message for a never-die-attitude, especially when the going gets tough. The story moves across places and cities, taking the reader on a whirlwind tour across the globe.
The cover is beautiful and aptly captures the essence of the story. The story is very emotional at places; it is gutsy of the author to start the story in a flashback mode, as the reader is already aware of where Rania has reached in her life but would be intrigued to read about her journey. All the characters supporting the protagonist are given equal footage.
For a debut, the author does a fabulous job in holding the reader’s interest; if you are looking for an interesting read pick this one to read the story of a strong, determined woman, crossing life’s hurdles one at a time.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 117 reviews