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Torn Pages
The protagonist, Saman, is a Pakistani girl living in the slums of Karachi, who gratefully embraces the opportunity of education that arrives at her doorstep. While studying in the library, she meets a young medical student, Aman, whom she eventually promises to marry. Circumstances cause them to separate, but they are unable to forget each other.
Belonging to a family in which no one else can read, Saman becomes a fearless writer, who knows that her words have the power to set paper ablaze. Years later, she picks up her pen, and writes the story of herself and Aman. Titled The Story of Us, her novel reaches Aman’s bedside, when his wife Sasha gives it to him as an anniversary present. Aman is then forced to confront his past, which he has left behind twenty years before, burying it beneath his intense pursuit of a brilliant neurosurgical career.
She spends two decades running after memories of their time together, as he spends the same running away from them. Aman and Saman remain in each other’s eyes—he as the sparkle in hers—cherished and welcomed, and she as the sand in his—gritty and blurring.
The story touches on the spirit of sacrifice, the pursuit of education amidst poverty and social constraint, the toil of surgical training in a foreign country, the devastation of marital discord, the grief of childlessness, and the power of love. Torn Pages is a novel about finding resolution and completing a story that was left unwritten twenty years ago.
Belonging to a family in which no one else can read, Saman becomes a fearless writer, who knows that her words have the power to set paper ablaze. Years later, she picks up her pen, and writes the story of herself and Aman. Titled The Story of Us, her novel reaches Aman’s bedside, when his wife Sasha gives it to him as an anniversary present. Aman is then forced to confront his past, which he has left behind twenty years before, burying it beneath his intense pursuit of a brilliant neurosurgical career.
She spends two decades running after memories of their time together, as he spends the same running away from them. Aman and Saman remain in each other’s eyes—he as the sparkle in hers—cherished and welcomed, and she as the sand in his—gritty and blurring.
The story touches on the spirit of sacrifice, the pursuit of education amidst poverty and social constraint, the toil of surgical training in a foreign country, the devastation of marital discord, the grief of childlessness, and the power of love. Torn Pages is a novel about finding resolution and completing a story that was left unwritten twenty years ago.
318 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2020
About the author
Lara Zuberi
3 books107 followersLara Zuberi is of Pakistani origin. She writes literary fiction which has a multicultural flavor with a strong emphasis on the value of relationships. Her first novel, The Lost Pearl, was published in 2012. Her second novel, Torn Pages, was published on January 1st, 2018. She is currently working on the final draft of her collection of Urdu poetry and has begun writing her third novel, The Ruined Canvas.
She is an Associate Professor in the department of Hematology and Oncology at the University of Florida, and lives her life as mother, daughter, physician, and author, grateful to her family for making it possible for all to coexist.
She is an Associate Professor in the department of Hematology and Oncology at the University of Florida, and lives her life as mother, daughter, physician, and author, grateful to her family for making it possible for all to coexist.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
January 18, 2018
"I think time gets blamed for too many things, when all it really does is watch and witness. It’s the decisions we make with our conscious minds that change a lot of things"This is my third contemporary. And I am glad that I loved it. I loved my first contemporary read very much too. But hated the second one. The coincidence here is that three of them are written by Pakistani authors. :)
This book is about a girl, Saman and a boy, Aman. They were in love but Saman had to finish this relationship because of a reason. Long after the separation, when both had chosen different lives and spouses, Saman got this intense desire to write a novel about them. Which was named as The Story of Us. Now the fun fact is, this novel was presented to Aman by his own wife as a gift. This book affected his life and career tremendously.
-- Saman was a poor girl. Like very poor whose family couldn't afford meal properly. Only she was the one who got this desire for education. I really loved the way she got this desire. She was intrigued by the writing on newspapers which is used to wrap 'roti' (bread).
--Eventually I wasn't interested in Saman and Aman's love story. They met at the library for the first time. It all seemed plain at first to me. But eventually it got improved greatly. I couldn't help liking it then.
--Now this is probably the only thing I didn't like in this novel. Aman's POV was in first person. And Saman's POV was in third person. And whenever Aman read The Story of Us, which was written in first person, I got little problem in sorting out two first person POVs, Aman's and The Story of Us'. Sometime, I couldn't understand, I was reading him or The Story of Us.
--One more thing, his wife Sasha had read that book already which mentioned the name of Aman very clearly. She didn't get that she was reading her husband's story? I can't be sure of this fact as it wasn't cleared out. Maybe she thought it was just a coincidence and all. But the book didn't show it. I didn't mind this fact, by the way.
--Aman was a neurosurgeon. Some of his colleagues called him Dr. Ahmed. I didn't get why? I don't remember reading the explanation on it. I didn't mind this fact either 'cause I loved reading my name. :D
That’s pretty much all. I loved this book. Writing was great. And I DO recommend this book.
Lastly, I am thankful to author for sending me the ebook in exchange of an honest review.
“Abba, why is it that raindrops make music, but tears are silent?” I asked my father, holding his elbow.
To my surprise, he had an answer, though he stated it more like a question, before drifting back into silence. “Beta, how can there be music in pain?”
☆☆4.5 Stars☆☆
16 January, 2018
July 15, 2019
In one of the most awkward things to happen during this review, I stumbled upon a scene in which our protagonist, aspiring writer that she is, receives the following rejection letter:
“Your English is excellent and your writing is fluent. But your descriptions are way too long. Perhaps you can take some courses in novel-writing or short-story writing? I really do admire your brave attempt at writing a book. You have the writer’s itch, which is great, but my dear, you have a long way to go with the craft of writing. Hoping, that one day you develop into a writer.”
This is uncomfortable to read because while our protagonist’s novel, revised and polished to a shine, wins awards and good reviews and movie adaptation deals and the whole shebang, I doubt this novel is going to get anything of the sort. Basically, the advice our heroine gets is the gist of this review.
Torn Pages isn’t exactly bad writing. I’ve read enough crap literature, and within its sub category of crappier Pakistani writing, to be able to recognize it in an instant. But all the things that quote mentioned are exactly what I would say for Lara Zuberi’s work. The writing might be good, but there’s still something missing. The dialogues are stilted. There are plot holes and lack of depth and worst of all, there’s no flow. There is a clear lack of rhythm, a mark in the pages where a sentence that should have ended didn’t end and a paragraph which should have begun didn’t begin. These are the kind of things you can’t teach, but that one learns over time, through hours and hours of voracious reading, learning without knowing what you are learning.
And while I’m sure Zuberi must have put in the hard work, and it’s condescending to assume an author hasn’t, the review is of the final product and not of the hours of labour. And the final product doesn’t deliver. Told from alternating points of view, the plot skips between present and past in a bizarre ping pong. Saman, the writer, is narrating her past through chapters of a novel she is writing, which break the present narrative to take us back to her days of poverty and a rare chance to study in an elite school. Breaking into Saman’s boring present of cook-write-wallow-sleep is Aman, a successful neurosurgeon unable to get over his past relationship with Saman. As Saman writes her story (named The Story of Us, in a valiant attempt to be as cheesy as possible), we are with Aman in a slightly future time frame, where Aman’s wife has given him a published version of Saman’s novel. Aman, shocked and gratified that his past girlfriend’s dream of becoming a writer have been fulfilled, frankly doesn’t spend enough time being horrified that she has written about his past, including being abandoned as a child, in such intricate detail in her book. I’m just saying, if I fell out with a friend and later discovered they had written all the gory details of my past in a book parading as fiction, I’d have a few words to say.
And while we’re on the topic, the biggest hole in this story comes from Saman’s absent, entirely pointless husband. In a hypothetical scenario where my husband was a writer and wrote a whole novel, I would want to know what it was about, but okay, let’s assume her husband isn’t interested. But then her book is winning awards! She’s been interviewed! Her book has been reviewed multiple times! And she has literally written a story where the protagonist has the same name as her, and she’s talking about how she met the great love of her life Aman and how she lost him, and her husband has nothing to say about all this? This is just verging on the absurd.
Even besides the plot holes and writing deficiencies, there are smaller, more irritating things that dot the book. Like the fact that there’s a quote from writers, philosophers, famous global figures at the beginning of each chapter. Not only is this a move I’ve only seen in very amateurish novels (every proper writer worth their salt will put a quote at best in the epigraph, and no more), it also makes the writer’s job harder, because quoting Lahiri or Gibran or Rumi will only serve to highlight the distance between your own writing and those of the experts.
I also take issue with the italicization of the desi word, a problem I’ve discussed in numerous other reviews. This book doesn’t seem to decide what it wants italicized. What is the style policy being followed by this publisher, I really want to know, because why is pakram pakrai italicized but gullak isn’t? Beta isn’t? Dhobi isn’t? I ask again, as I’ve already asked a million times before. Who is the audience here?
And finally, a major problem in these poor-as-dirt protagonist stories is the depiction of poverty, and more specifically, poor people. There is a certain condescension authors exhibit in these situations that grate the nerves. Our heroine, born a dhobi’s daughter, is the holier-than-thou personality who never thinks twice about her situation and her parents’ reality, being blindly grateful for the chance to study at an ‘elite school’. What I want to see are complex people who also happen to be poor. People who are grateful for the chance to study but also people who are selfish and who blame others for their problems and angry and hateful and more than a one dimensional representation of the cheerful poor who work hard and earnestly and eagerly grab every opportunity to become better. Authors of privilege tackling poverty was something I discussed in Bina Shah’s Slum Child as well, but in a post-review Twitter discussion, she pointed out that she had done her research beforehand. It seems more research is required for Ms. Zuberi, before we can finally progress to a point where those are who poor and those who are rich are more than the stereotypical sum of their economic backgrounds.
Recommendation
With most authors whose books I review and don’t like, my general response is to urge them to bury their pen under a rock in the deepest, darkest well. Lara Zuberi is the exception to this; I foresee good things ahead, because she does have control over the language. It’s just that she is too aware of her control, and tries too hard. My advice: relax a little. And for all the readers: keep an eye out for future novels written by this name.
Disclaimer: I got a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review
I review Pakistani Fiction, and talk about Pakistani fiction, and want to talk to people who like to talk about fiction (Pakistani and otherwise, take your pick.) To read more reviews or just contact me so you can talk about books, check out my Blog or follow me on Twitter!
UPDATE:
The author (in a very nice, polite mail) pointed out that one part of my review she got confused about, since Saman wrote the story after her husband had left. Valid enough. I must have gotten confused with the back and forth in the storyline. I've left the text there for record's sake.
“Your English is excellent and your writing is fluent. But your descriptions are way too long. Perhaps you can take some courses in novel-writing or short-story writing? I really do admire your brave attempt at writing a book. You have the writer’s itch, which is great, but my dear, you have a long way to go with the craft of writing. Hoping, that one day you develop into a writer.”
This is uncomfortable to read because while our protagonist’s novel, revised and polished to a shine, wins awards and good reviews and movie adaptation deals and the whole shebang, I doubt this novel is going to get anything of the sort. Basically, the advice our heroine gets is the gist of this review.
Torn Pages isn’t exactly bad writing. I’ve read enough crap literature, and within its sub category of crappier Pakistani writing, to be able to recognize it in an instant. But all the things that quote mentioned are exactly what I would say for Lara Zuberi’s work. The writing might be good, but there’s still something missing. The dialogues are stilted. There are plot holes and lack of depth and worst of all, there’s no flow. There is a clear lack of rhythm, a mark in the pages where a sentence that should have ended didn’t end and a paragraph which should have begun didn’t begin. These are the kind of things you can’t teach, but that one learns over time, through hours and hours of voracious reading, learning without knowing what you are learning.
And while I’m sure Zuberi must have put in the hard work, and it’s condescending to assume an author hasn’t, the review is of the final product and not of the hours of labour. And the final product doesn’t deliver. Told from alternating points of view, the plot skips between present and past in a bizarre ping pong. Saman, the writer, is narrating her past through chapters of a novel she is writing, which break the present narrative to take us back to her days of poverty and a rare chance to study in an elite school. Breaking into Saman’s boring present of cook-write-wallow-sleep is Aman, a successful neurosurgeon unable to get over his past relationship with Saman. As Saman writes her story (named The Story of Us, in a valiant attempt to be as cheesy as possible), we are with Aman in a slightly future time frame, where Aman’s wife has given him a published version of Saman’s novel. Aman, shocked and gratified that his past girlfriend’s dream of becoming a writer have been fulfilled, frankly doesn’t spend enough time being horrified that she has written about his past, including being abandoned as a child, in such intricate detail in her book. I’m just saying, if I fell out with a friend and later discovered they had written all the gory details of my past in a book parading as fiction, I’d have a few words to say.
Even besides the plot holes and writing deficiencies, there are smaller, more irritating things that dot the book. Like the fact that there’s a quote from writers, philosophers, famous global figures at the beginning of each chapter. Not only is this a move I’ve only seen in very amateurish novels (every proper writer worth their salt will put a quote at best in the epigraph, and no more), it also makes the writer’s job harder, because quoting Lahiri or Gibran or Rumi will only serve to highlight the distance between your own writing and those of the experts.
I also take issue with the italicization of the desi word, a problem I’ve discussed in numerous other reviews. This book doesn’t seem to decide what it wants italicized. What is the style policy being followed by this publisher, I really want to know, because why is pakram pakrai italicized but gullak isn’t? Beta isn’t? Dhobi isn’t? I ask again, as I’ve already asked a million times before. Who is the audience here?
And finally, a major problem in these poor-as-dirt protagonist stories is the depiction of poverty, and more specifically, poor people. There is a certain condescension authors exhibit in these situations that grate the nerves. Our heroine, born a dhobi’s daughter, is the holier-than-thou personality who never thinks twice about her situation and her parents’ reality, being blindly grateful for the chance to study at an ‘elite school’. What I want to see are complex people who also happen to be poor. People who are grateful for the chance to study but also people who are selfish and who blame others for their problems and angry and hateful and more than a one dimensional representation of the cheerful poor who work hard and earnestly and eagerly grab every opportunity to become better. Authors of privilege tackling poverty was something I discussed in Bina Shah’s Slum Child as well, but in a post-review Twitter discussion, she pointed out that she had done her research beforehand. It seems more research is required for Ms. Zuberi, before we can finally progress to a point where those are who poor and those who are rich are more than the stereotypical sum of their economic backgrounds.
Recommendation
With most authors whose books I review and don’t like, my general response is to urge them to bury their pen under a rock in the deepest, darkest well. Lara Zuberi is the exception to this; I foresee good things ahead, because she does have control over the language. It’s just that she is too aware of her control, and tries too hard. My advice: relax a little. And for all the readers: keep an eye out for future novels written by this name.
Disclaimer: I got a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review
I review Pakistani Fiction, and talk about Pakistani fiction, and want to talk to people who like to talk about fiction (Pakistani and otherwise, take your pick.) To read more reviews or just contact me so you can talk about books, check out my Blog or follow me on Twitter!
UPDATE:
The author (in a very nice, polite mail) pointed out that one part of my review she got confused about, since Saman wrote the story after her husband had left. Valid enough. I must have gotten confused with the back and forth in the storyline. I've left the text there for record's sake.
March 28, 2020
“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”
It’s hard to describe how I feel about this book. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I connected with it on a very deep personal level. Even though this book is supposed to be fictional, and I may be wrong here, but I find it really difficult to believe that this book is written by someone who has not actually gone through all the emotions, pain and suffering the characters did and is just a figment of her imagination.
I would never have chosen this book in a bookstore or a library because that’s just how I am when it comes to contemporary romance, especially one that’s set in Pakistan. But I’m really glad, and thankful, that the author shared this beautiful piece of writing with me. It has a few setbacks which don’t allow me to give it a five-star rating, nevertheless, I would strongly recommend it to those looking for a heartbreaking yet satisfying story.
You cannot know love without having fallen for someone. Just like you cannot know the agony that comes with losing a loved one without actually having lost someone. As a reader you might know what the characters are going through, but you won’t feel it unless you’ve experienced the same situations. That’s one of the reasons why every reader comprehends a story differently, because he judges it based on his own experiences.
The characters were amazing, and complete. They had their dreams and inspirations, as well as the tendency to make errors and bad decisions. The conversation between Saman and Aman seemed a bit unnatural at places. It just didn’t feel right. The scenes where they were together needed more detail. Like when during one of their philosophical discussions, Saman cleans Aman’s glasses for him with the corner of her dupatta when he can’t find a tissue. Not many since the heroine is supposed to be reserved and bashful, and certainly not overly romantic ones but just a few subtle scenes would do.
The plot and story was quite strong. It was interesting and had its share of twists and turns to keep the reader turning pages. The reveal at the end was a pleasant surprise. Transition of scenes had some problems. At places you keep on reading feeling the scene was still going on when it just ends suddenly.
Apart from this, it was a nice read. The ending was amazing, acceptable. The struggles of Saman while writing her book were so relatable. Aman’s way of dealing with the pain of losing Saman so heartbreaking but understandable.
The story was really enjoyable and interesting. Quite engrossing. I would recommend.
It’s hard to describe how I feel about this book. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I connected with it on a very deep personal level. Even though this book is supposed to be fictional, and I may be wrong here, but I find it really difficult to believe that this book is written by someone who has not actually gone through all the emotions, pain and suffering the characters did and is just a figment of her imagination.
I would never have chosen this book in a bookstore or a library because that’s just how I am when it comes to contemporary romance, especially one that’s set in Pakistan. But I’m really glad, and thankful, that the author shared this beautiful piece of writing with me. It has a few setbacks which don’t allow me to give it a five-star rating, nevertheless, I would strongly recommend it to those looking for a heartbreaking yet satisfying story.
You cannot know love without having fallen for someone. Just like you cannot know the agony that comes with losing a loved one without actually having lost someone. As a reader you might know what the characters are going through, but you won’t feel it unless you’ve experienced the same situations. That’s one of the reasons why every reader comprehends a story differently, because he judges it based on his own experiences.
The characters were amazing, and complete. They had their dreams and inspirations, as well as the tendency to make errors and bad decisions. The conversation between Saman and Aman seemed a bit unnatural at places. It just didn’t feel right. The scenes where they were together needed more detail. Like when during one of their philosophical discussions, Saman cleans Aman’s glasses for him with the corner of her dupatta when he can’t find a tissue. Not many since the heroine is supposed to be reserved and bashful, and certainly not overly romantic ones but just a few subtle scenes would do.
The plot and story was quite strong. It was interesting and had its share of twists and turns to keep the reader turning pages. The reveal at the end was a pleasant surprise. Transition of scenes had some problems. At places you keep on reading feeling the scene was still going on when it just ends suddenly.
Apart from this, it was a nice read. The ending was amazing, acceptable. The struggles of Saman while writing her book were so relatable. Aman’s way of dealing with the pain of losing Saman so heartbreaking but understandable.
The story was really enjoyable and interesting. Quite engrossing. I would recommend.
June 20, 2020
Saman is the only intelligent daughter of a dhobi who miraculously gets the opportunity to receive education, starts dreaming of living a better life, falls in love with a Dr-to-be-orphan Aman. While she's planning to run away with him, usko apne maa baap ki izaat bachana yaad ajati hai and she dumps aman on the altar. Phir wo dunno pyar ko daffan kr k kisi aur se shaadi kr laite hain aur zindagi mai kamiyab hojatay hain. Saman becomes a renowned author while Aman becomes a top tier neurologist. Lakin, pyar Zinda rehta hai, pyar kabhi marta nahi hai. Agay ki story mai nahi batao ge.
_______________
However, This book tells us, a happy ending doesn't always requires a guy & a girl getting back together, but, in finding joys & true happiness without them. It also highlights the pursuit of education amidst poverty, grief of being infertile, struggles of adoption, martial discords and power of love.
_______________
However, This book tells us, a happy ending doesn't always requires a guy & a girl getting back together, but, in finding joys & true happiness without them. It also highlights the pursuit of education amidst poverty, grief of being infertile, struggles of adoption, martial discords and power of love.
December 10, 2020
It is the mark of a great book that it stirs in you a mix of emotions that isn't quite possible to put into words. And that's exactly what I'm feeling right now, having just finished this beautifully written novel, the memory of which will stay with me for years to come.
March 6, 2018
I was sent a digital copy of the book by the author in exchange for an honest review
I have read a Pakistani(?) contemporary after ages and this review might be all over the place, so apologies for that. So the book is a very simply a love story between these two characters, Saman and Aman, who coincidentally have similar names. Throughout the first 60% of the book we follow Saman as she writes her autobiographical book and also drop in to see how Aman is struggling 20-ish years later with Saman's betrayal, an unhappy marriage and a very demanding job as a neurosurgeon.
Let's talk about what stood out to me in the book. I did like Saman's character arc, Aman fluctuated between annoying me and being somewhat unremarkable throughout. I loved how the book ended and how several loose threads were tied up nicely. Since the start I was fearing a very typical ending but I was pleasantly surprised and happy with how the author handled that. The book also heavily features the process of writing a book, the tedious process of drafts and editing and facing criticism. I think it was nice how it was included but it felt as if most of the process was simply copied from book writing guides. I don't know how to describe it. I used to look up writing and drafting tips and the description felt very textbook, to the point of being boring instead of intriguing. (And the book suffered through moments of telling versus showing, which was unfortunate.) I really liked the reveal that happened at the end, I did not see that coming.
Things I did not like was the actual romance between our two characters. They meet in a library and connect almost instantly. There were lots of conversations and bonding moments but none of them made me want to root for them or think that, "Yeah, these two were made for each other." And some of the dialogues felt somewhat unnatural and way too much philosophical when it was just supposed to be banter between two friends. Maybe it's just me, but that's how I felt. Which was a shame because otherwise I would've rated this book 4 stars.
In short, the book definitely has shining moments and I did like how it ended. A short and simple, old-fashioned love story, which is bound to leave you feeling gut-wrenched yet satisfied by the end. 2.5 stars out of 5.
I have read a Pakistani(?) contemporary after ages and this review might be all over the place, so apologies for that. So the book is a very simply a love story between these two characters, Saman and Aman, who coincidentally have similar names. Throughout the first 60% of the book we follow Saman as she writes her autobiographical book and also drop in to see how Aman is struggling 20-ish years later with Saman's betrayal, an unhappy marriage and a very demanding job as a neurosurgeon.
Let's talk about what stood out to me in the book. I did like Saman's character arc, Aman fluctuated between annoying me and being somewhat unremarkable throughout. I loved how the book ended and how several loose threads were tied up nicely. Since the start I was fearing a very typical ending but I was pleasantly surprised and happy with how the author handled that. The book also heavily features the process of writing a book, the tedious process of drafts and editing and facing criticism. I think it was nice how it was included but it felt as if most of the process was simply copied from book writing guides. I don't know how to describe it. I used to look up writing and drafting tips and the description felt very textbook, to the point of being boring instead of intriguing. (And the book suffered through moments of telling versus showing, which was unfortunate.) I really liked the reveal that happened at the end, I did not see that coming.
Things I did not like was the actual romance between our two characters. They meet in a library and connect almost instantly. There were lots of conversations and bonding moments but none of them made me want to root for them or think that, "Yeah, these two were made for each other." And some of the dialogues felt somewhat unnatural and way too much philosophical when it was just supposed to be banter between two friends. Maybe it's just me, but that's how I felt. Which was a shame because otherwise I would've rated this book 4 stars.
In short, the book definitely has shining moments and I did like how it ended. A short and simple, old-fashioned love story, which is bound to leave you feeling gut-wrenched yet satisfied by the end. 2.5 stars out of 5.
February 8, 2018
Words have the power to make you dwell deep in your past or to make you feel joyous in present.
I like how they merged all words to keep it going, without the break, beautifully tale told. Saman Sajjad is about to write a novel, titled 'THE STORY OF US' to untie her own mystery.
Saman's father is a dhobi (washer man) and her mother is a maasi (housekeeper), despite being a dhobi s daughter, Saman considers her father the king of the house. Poverty is being well defined at the age of five.
She has merged both novels beautifully...A novel in a novel. It is a double treat.
It has brought tears to my eyes, a dish made of many ingredients sprinkle with the past memories. Very emotional novel.
"Don't judge an injury by the scar it leaves".
We all think about our past no matter if it was sad or happy. We are compelled to think about it at some point in our life.
Lara Zuberi's novels are hard to hold down. She fills her novels with wise words, joy and every other emotion.
"Life is tough, and often requires escape, even if it's temporary and imaginary"
On the other hand, Aman has been given a gift 'THE STORY OF US ' When he got to know the author name, he eagerly opened that novel and started reading and falling back on those beautiful days spent with Saman and couldn't resist himself from seeing the author of 'THE STORY OF US'.
How she became a writer in the family where no one can read and how she writes her own story, it will untie different and unpredictable situations.
Every chapter followed by a beautiful quote.
How she has merged both POV and Saman's novel is impeccable.
"A song has no melody unless it’s heard. Words have no meaning without being read" and I think you can't know this novel's worth unless you give it a read.
I like how they merged all words to keep it going, without the break, beautifully tale told. Saman Sajjad is about to write a novel, titled 'THE STORY OF US' to untie her own mystery.
Saman's father is a dhobi (washer man) and her mother is a maasi (housekeeper), despite being a dhobi s daughter, Saman considers her father the king of the house. Poverty is being well defined at the age of five.
She has merged both novels beautifully...A novel in a novel. It is a double treat.
It has brought tears to my eyes, a dish made of many ingredients sprinkle with the past memories. Very emotional novel.
"Don't judge an injury by the scar it leaves".
We all think about our past no matter if it was sad or happy. We are compelled to think about it at some point in our life.
Lara Zuberi's novels are hard to hold down. She fills her novels with wise words, joy and every other emotion.
"Life is tough, and often requires escape, even if it's temporary and imaginary"
On the other hand, Aman has been given a gift 'THE STORY OF US ' When he got to know the author name, he eagerly opened that novel and started reading and falling back on those beautiful days spent with Saman and couldn't resist himself from seeing the author of 'THE STORY OF US'.
How she became a writer in the family where no one can read and how she writes her own story, it will untie different and unpredictable situations.
Every chapter followed by a beautiful quote.
How she has merged both POV and Saman's novel is impeccable.
"A song has no melody unless it’s heard. Words have no meaning without being read" and I think you can't know this novel's worth unless you give it a read.
March 18, 2020
This book contains plenty of beautuful phrases piercing my heart. I stopped multiple times to memorise them. Well done writer!
May 23, 2022
So I’m writing a review after like a month of finishing this book but I think it deserves a review and shouldn’t be left just like that.
Okay so during the course of this novel, I was quite certain that it is going to be my favourite book. I had picked it up randomly from a bookshelf and the blurb had me sure that I wanted to buy the book immediately. You can say it was somewhat of a love at first sight particularly because of the way the blurb made the story sound so painful and yet so nostalgic Yk. Anyway, I absolutely loved the interaction bw Aman and Saman. They had a familiarity to real life characters and it made it all the time better. The plot twist of sorts at the end was something that I had not seen coming at all and it made me put the book aside for a good minute to process it all in lol.
The things I didn’t enjoy about the novel. Okay so as I mentioned i this book was a love at first sight and it did a pretty good job at keeping that position however I must say that the ending of the book was pretty rushed. I understand that the story has uncovered and there wasn’t much left to say but it still would’ve been better if the story had played out a little more and didn’t seem so rushed by the end. The second thing that didn’t sit quite right with me was Amans reaction at the end when he was ready to leave everything for Saman. This wasn’t something you would’ve expected from him and he had already raised the standards way too high for me that this was a buzzkill. Now we do understand that Aman did not exactly have a great childhood which meant that he had an insecure personality and saman was the one person who made him the happiest but still it felt quite wrong on his part. I liked how Saman handled the situation both times (in their younger days and then later on too) she was the mature one in the relationship but I like how he himself didn’t push anything. By the end it was quite clear that Aman hadn’t exactly been faithful to his wife given the fact that he was willing to give her up just like in an instance. And then he went back to her without any repercussion to his actions. Argh whatever.
Okay so during the course of this novel, I was quite certain that it is going to be my favourite book. I had picked it up randomly from a bookshelf and the blurb had me sure that I wanted to buy the book immediately. You can say it was somewhat of a love at first sight particularly because of the way the blurb made the story sound so painful and yet so nostalgic Yk. Anyway, I absolutely loved the interaction bw Aman and Saman. They had a familiarity to real life characters and it made it all the time better. The plot twist of sorts at the end was something that I had not seen coming at all and it made me put the book aside for a good minute to process it all in lol.
The things I didn’t enjoy about the novel. Okay so as I mentioned i this book was a love at first sight and it did a pretty good job at keeping that position however I must say that the ending of the book was pretty rushed. I understand that the story has uncovered and there wasn’t much left to say but it still would’ve been better if the story had played out a little more and didn’t seem so rushed by the end. The second thing that didn’t sit quite right with me was Amans reaction at the end when he was ready to leave everything for Saman. This wasn’t something you would’ve expected from him and he had already raised the standards way too high for me that this was a buzzkill. Now we do understand that Aman did not exactly have a great childhood which meant that he had an insecure personality and saman was the one person who made him the happiest but still it felt quite wrong on his part. I liked how Saman handled the situation both times (in their younger days and then later on too) she was the mature one in the relationship but I like how he himself didn’t push anything. By the end it was quite clear that Aman hadn’t exactly been faithful to his wife given the fact that he was willing to give her up just like in an instance. And then he went back to her without any repercussion to his actions. Argh whatever.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 8, 2024
Pages: 316
Genre: Fiction
🖊️: Lara Zuberi
———
This book revolves around protagonist Saman, a girl from slums with profound quest of knowledge. A girl born in a family where people take turns for having meals. Destiny planned otherwise and she was financed by an elite family where her mother used to work. She wanted to become a known writer.
Aman: A guy her mother left in a cradle outside a foundation raised by Mr. Baig ( inspired by Abdul Sattar Edhi) . Aman with a longing to meet her mother and dream to become a neurosurgeon.
——
Destiny brought them together where Aman saw her in library invested in studies and that’s where a cute love story began. Saman knew her family will never accept the guy from adoption centre irrespective of his brilliance and an acceptance letter from USA in neurosurgery. They both planned to elope to USA together.
—
Now was the time where saman need to decide either to elope and restrict the educational wellbeing of girls from slums? Or to go after her love? She made a tough decision to stay back leaving a letter for Aman.
—
Aman moved, they both got married with other people. But this book is so beautifully written in short chapters where I found myself relatable to many characters.
—
To find out how they ended up together for closure, how Aman found about Saman, how she rose above poverty, how she made tough decaions and how she got married and moved to USA despite having belonged to slums. The twists and beautiful written storyline is captivating enough.
—
The first half is enjoyable but in second half things and details became too much philosophical seems like Lara was trying to put all philosophical aspects and metaphors to fit in every chapter. At times writers forget: “keeping it simple is the key of excellent writing.”
-
Well I must say as there is time to read a book and i found it at right time.
Genre: Fiction
🖊️: Lara Zuberi
———
This book revolves around protagonist Saman, a girl from slums with profound quest of knowledge. A girl born in a family where people take turns for having meals. Destiny planned otherwise and she was financed by an elite family where her mother used to work. She wanted to become a known writer.
Aman: A guy her mother left in a cradle outside a foundation raised by Mr. Baig ( inspired by Abdul Sattar Edhi) . Aman with a longing to meet her mother and dream to become a neurosurgeon.
——
Destiny brought them together where Aman saw her in library invested in studies and that’s where a cute love story began. Saman knew her family will never accept the guy from adoption centre irrespective of his brilliance and an acceptance letter from USA in neurosurgery. They both planned to elope to USA together.
—
Now was the time where saman need to decide either to elope and restrict the educational wellbeing of girls from slums? Or to go after her love? She made a tough decision to stay back leaving a letter for Aman.
—
Aman moved, they both got married with other people. But this book is so beautifully written in short chapters where I found myself relatable to many characters.
—
To find out how they ended up together for closure, how Aman found about Saman, how she rose above poverty, how she made tough decaions and how she got married and moved to USA despite having belonged to slums. The twists and beautiful written storyline is captivating enough.
—
The first half is enjoyable but in second half things and details became too much philosophical seems like Lara was trying to put all philosophical aspects and metaphors to fit in every chapter. At times writers forget: “keeping it simple is the key of excellent writing.”
-
Well I must say as there is time to read a book and i found it at right time.
March 11, 2020
This book shapes lives of poverty, resilience after adversities, a crave for education, separation, loss, achieving the fulfilled profession and a fulfilled farewell. I hope not to spoil the crisp of this book it has left me with. The crisp of love, wonder, consuming powerful writing and a consistent astonishment at the sheer audacity of painting words that could join the parts of poignant past in the living moment.
Saman, a girl who is nourished in an impoverished home, has a fortune to avail education, when no one in her family or community had received. Mrs. affendi, who finances her school fee, her clothes and books, see the spark in her to become someone nobody saw in her; a writer in future.
In a library, where she borrows books and prepare for her exams got to meet Aman who later becomes her daring love and they vow to marry each other by running far away from their indigenous land. But, that one letter breaks heart of Aman, when his love betrays him. The place of FALAK (an orphanage NGO) he receives the letter which tear him apart, from Baig Sahab his second parent, where his own mother left him when he was a toddler.
After several years, Aman becomes a passionate neurosurgeon in America, gets married to Sasha and introduces two little flowers, a son and a daughter in his alienated life.
Saman gets married with the wish of their parents and her facilitator Mrs Affendi's nephew Zeshan. She becomes a famous writer of the book THE STORY OF US.
The book Saman wrote, presented to Aman as an anniversary gift by his wife Sasha. And from there, past becomes his present. There are details I am leaving them to you to explore the heartache you alone have to face.
This book has shown the delicacy of words one would taste and stay within it. Every chapter begins with a prominent quote written by the prominent writers of all time.
Saman, a girl who is nourished in an impoverished home, has a fortune to avail education, when no one in her family or community had received. Mrs. affendi, who finances her school fee, her clothes and books, see the spark in her to become someone nobody saw in her; a writer in future.
In a library, where she borrows books and prepare for her exams got to meet Aman who later becomes her daring love and they vow to marry each other by running far away from their indigenous land. But, that one letter breaks heart of Aman, when his love betrays him. The place of FALAK (an orphanage NGO) he receives the letter which tear him apart, from Baig Sahab his second parent, where his own mother left him when he was a toddler.
After several years, Aman becomes a passionate neurosurgeon in America, gets married to Sasha and introduces two little flowers, a son and a daughter in his alienated life.
Saman gets married with the wish of their parents and her facilitator Mrs Affendi's nephew Zeshan. She becomes a famous writer of the book THE STORY OF US.
The book Saman wrote, presented to Aman as an anniversary gift by his wife Sasha. And from there, past becomes his present. There are details I am leaving them to you to explore the heartache you alone have to face.
This book has shown the delicacy of words one would taste and stay within it. Every chapter begins with a prominent quote written by the prominent writers of all time.
August 27, 2020
This was a beautiful story of love in all its forms, love of parents for their kids, love for your companion, love for your passion, love for change and yet it was a story about pain and scars and hurt. I loved it very much, the fact that the female protagonist was Pakistani, from a poor background and had gone through so much but throughout it she was strong and kept standing. I related to her voice so much with the way her heart felt when she talks about the injustices in our world, country, community, culture, society. I really appreciated how it also involved infertility and adoption which is such an important topic and needs to be talked about so much more in our country. For the male protagonist, I feel like more should've been done for him, like a stronger realtionship with his wife and kid because his ending was a little rushed for me. Reading about the poverty and abandonment of kids was a really important part of this book for me, it made the experience a lot more better because I learnt about the struggles of these people and I think it was a really impactful and significant part of the book that I really needed to read about. Overall I really enjoyed this book I literally finished it in like 5-6 hours and it made me happy and sad at the same time and I'm not complaining at all.
January 28, 2018
Original Post: http://booknauthors.blogspot.com/2018...
This beautiful story revolves around Saman & Aman. Saman is from a very poor and uneducated family. Aman is an orphan and a medical student. When Aman sees Saman for the first time in the library, their love story starts... but will they ever be together?
THIS IS OFFICIALLY MY FAVOURITE BOOK. It's so intense and emotional and beautiful and oh my lord, how many times I have cried while reading it. As both were Pakistani characters, the book felt more relatable. Zuberi's writing style is EXTREMELY AMAZING LIKE CRAZY GOOD. I was hooked. It felt so great to see how Saman's life changes after getting education. Due to some circumstances, when Saman & Aman part their ways, Saman writes a novel about their story, The Story Of Us which ultimately becomes a hit. Wish I could talk more, but then spoilers spoilers.
Overall, A BEAUTIFUL, EMOTIONAL AND HEART WARMING READ. UNPUTDOWNABLE. You all need this book in your life :)
This beautiful story revolves around Saman & Aman. Saman is from a very poor and uneducated family. Aman is an orphan and a medical student. When Aman sees Saman for the first time in the library, their love story starts... but will they ever be together?
THIS IS OFFICIALLY MY FAVOURITE BOOK. It's so intense and emotional and beautiful and oh my lord, how many times I have cried while reading it. As both were Pakistani characters, the book felt more relatable. Zuberi's writing style is EXTREMELY AMAZING LIKE CRAZY GOOD. I was hooked. It felt so great to see how Saman's life changes after getting education. Due to some circumstances, when Saman & Aman part their ways, Saman writes a novel about their story, The Story Of Us which ultimately becomes a hit. Wish I could talk more, but then spoilers spoilers.
Overall, A BEAUTIFUL, EMOTIONAL AND HEART WARMING READ. UNPUTDOWNABLE. You all need this book in your life :)
January 17, 2024
Torn pages a very compelling novel which bounds its reader to finish it as akin as possible and narrates a story of love. As I finished the novel I was overjoyed by the life journey of the protagonist Saman; who was born in slums of karachi and then became a good novelist. Secondly, Aman's life is also inspiring in a way that being an orphan is an agony which cannot be shared in words but it is felt by the bearer of this agony, he bears this agony while suffers in incomplete love relationship. Despite each and every pain he becomes a renowned neurosurgeon in America. Story has many folds as in one aspect is the story love but on the other hand it narrates the situation of poor lives living in third world countries. Saman's mother and father's situation tells us how people living in slums deals with life. Through the character of Aman we are encountered with some great man of Pakistan like Edhi sb the great.
Torn pages and "the story of Us" both are incomplete without each other and this amalgamation makes it more lively and everlasting.
Torn pages and "the story of Us" both are incomplete without each other and this amalgamation makes it more lively and everlasting.
July 3, 2020
This book is sure to take you on a journey.
In the beginning, I felt like I wasn't going to like it probably as the pace felt a little slower and didn't seem like the kind of book I would read.
It was recommended to me by a friend of mine so I had to read it in any case.
Anyways, I started and by about the tenth chapter I actually had a growing curiosity. That familiar urge to know more. To know what would happen next.
This book is pure fiction. But it felt like an actual account of someone. The truth and reality is written so beautifully that you're bound to be pulled under.
And I have got to talk about the cover. Beautiful! Absolutely beautiful! I did a full fledge photography shoot of the book. 😂
Anyways. Back to the book. Truly capturing. One of the best books I've read. And this has definitely become a favourite.
In the beginning, I felt like I wasn't going to like it probably as the pace felt a little slower and didn't seem like the kind of book I would read.
It was recommended to me by a friend of mine so I had to read it in any case.
Anyways, I started and by about the tenth chapter I actually had a growing curiosity. That familiar urge to know more. To know what would happen next.
This book is pure fiction. But it felt like an actual account of someone. The truth and reality is written so beautifully that you're bound to be pulled under.
And I have got to talk about the cover. Beautiful! Absolutely beautiful! I did a full fledge photography shoot of the book. 😂
Anyways. Back to the book. Truly capturing. One of the best books I've read. And this has definitely become a favourite.
January 17, 2018
Torn pages by lara Zuberi
Torn pages by lara Zuberian inspirational story of Saman and Aman born in poverty with big dreams.saman was daughter of a Dhobi who did not belief in girls education.she was able to get educations because of her mother persistance and courage.aman was raised in an orphanage and was anle to become a neurosurgeon.both of them met in a library and fell in love.But due to unexpected twist they were not able to meet.Beautifully written by lara zuberi as always.
Torn pages by lara Zuberian inspirational story of Saman and Aman born in poverty with big dreams.saman was daughter of a Dhobi who did not belief in girls education.she was able to get educations because of her mother persistance and courage.aman was raised in an orphanage and was anle to become a neurosurgeon.both of them met in a library and fell in love.But due to unexpected twist they were not able to meet.Beautifully written by lara zuberi as always.
May 28, 2020
When you are reading something set in your own country, small loopholes and details keep bugging you and this story has a few (albeit less than some other Pakistani novels I have read).
I have been saying it again and again that Pakistani writers need a good truthful and insightful editor-and this novel is a prime example. It gets ridiculously tacky in some places and different timelines are only there as a desperate attempt to turn a painfully ordinary and dull story into something someone would read.
I gave two stars only because I actually did finish it.
I have been saying it again and again that Pakistani writers need a good truthful and insightful editor-and this novel is a prime example. It gets ridiculously tacky in some places and different timelines are only there as a desperate attempt to turn a painfully ordinary and dull story into something someone would read.
I gave two stars only because I actually did finish it.
May 9, 2023
I was moved, confused, touched and amused. I was unable to finish a book for almost a year. This is the first one that I did. The first one I felt gripping enough for me to actually put in the effort. I fold the pages in books where I like a sentence. Almost half the book has been folded. I stumbled on this book at a store and I'm glad.
February 2, 2020
This is Lara’s second book and she does not disappoint ! Gripping storyline and a relaxed style of writing that engaged me from page 1. The poignant characters and situations tug at your heart . I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book!
September 4, 2024
3.5
Lara Zuberi’s writing is truly beautiful. However, this particular novel fell slightly short of expectations due to its slow pace and tendency towards repetition. Despite these drawbacks, i really enjoyed the book and felt the message deep within me.
Lara Zuberi’s writing is truly beautiful. However, this particular novel fell slightly short of expectations due to its slow pace and tendency towards repetition. Despite these drawbacks, i really enjoyed the book and felt the message deep within me.
January 4, 2018
Love the theme. Lots of eastern cultural nuances that I can relate to. The author should write more!
February 1, 2020
A few chapters in, engrossing read so far. Will post a full review after I finish up
January 20, 2023
Aman's perspective is more interestingly written than saman's even though she's leading the story.
Saman's perspective gets too boring and monotonous very often especially her book writing process.
Saman's perspective gets too boring and monotonous very often especially her book writing process.
May 25, 2023
I loved reading this book as it is near to my culture and I was able to relate.
June 11, 2023
Not even one star, this was a mess
July 14, 2023
One of the best books I have ever read. Beautifully written, made me cry.
January 1, 2018
its an interesting and unique theme, good writing, cant wait to read the rest.
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