Pakistani Readers discussion

Alright People, Book of the month goes like this, Book of the month will selected from the suggested books either by simple consensus or voting. Once selected,we'll read n discuss it in the BOTM section.

This thread will be used for the suggestion and selection of the books. Usually the book is selected before the start of that month but since this time we have to select it in the same month.

So i'll would like to invite you guys to suggest some books, so that we can start it asap. :)

Because I am reading this one right now, I suggest Sexual Ethics And Islam: Feminist Reflections on Qur'an, Hadith, and Jurisprudence

I would recommend Game of thorn series. Book 1. Every one is reading it these days and those who haven't read it can have a chance of reading it and discussing it too. :P

Faheem, should we not be deciding on a genre first? So that people could suggest accordingly?
And then in the next month, we choose from another genre?

Hina wrote: "Faheem, should we not be deciding on a genre first? So that people could suggest accordingly?
And then in the next month, we choose from another genre?"

i agree with Hina

Maira wrote: "I would recommend Game of thorn series. Book 1. Every one is reading it these days and those who haven't read it can have a chance of reading it and discussing it too. :P"

i would love to read that .. but the paperback is at home in Pakistan and i am currently in UAE :/

Hina wrote: "Faheem, should we not be deciding on a genre first? So that people could suggest accordingly?
And then in the next month, we choose from another genre?"

we are a little short on time, since 6 days have already passed. so i think we should pick some thing short n sweet for this month.

for the coming months we can do that.

Maira wrote: "I would recommend Game of thorn series. Book 1. Every one is reading it these days and those who haven't read it can have a chance of reading it and discussing it too. :P"

i can do that, i actually started GOT from the second book :P, i have partially read the first one. :)

I have GOT's first book too. I am happy with Maira's suggestion as well.

Hina wrote: "Faheem, should we not be deciding on a genre first? So that people could suggest accordingly?
And then in the next month, we choose from another genre?"

we used to start the selection for the next BOTM roughly 2 weeks b4 the start of the next month, people do take time. :)

Faheem wrote: "Hina wrote: "Faheem, should we not be deciding on a genre first? So that people could suggest accordingly?
And then in the next month, we choose from another genre?"

we used to start the selection..."

We can welcome February in this fashion.

Short and sweet ? How about Animal Farm or The Picture of Dorian Gray ?

@Hina: Sexual Ethics: how have you found it to be ? I am usually more inclined to reading non-fiction although I usually try not to get into religion.

Hasan wrote: "Short and sweet ? How about Animal Farm or The Picture of Dorian Gray ?

@Hina: Sexual Ethics: how have you found it to be ? I am usually more inclined to reading non-fiction although I usually tr..."

I hated Animal Farm when I had> to read it in school.

Sexual Ethics and Islam? Honestly speaking, I haven't read more than a couple of pages yet. Thus, no opinion. But yeah, it has references of Quran and Hadith so that is what I am looking forward to when I am in the right frame of mind.

@ Hina: From a modern feminist's perspective one can find a number of discussion points when it comes to traditional Islamic sexual ethics, so it might be interesting on that count. I haven't read any serious "feminist" works but I can claim that with impunity.

Animal Farm was worth it even if only for its statement of equality as it manifested in Soviet Russia.

Might I suggest "The Namesake" ? When I look for fiction I find it hard to find anything I have "really" enjoyed in the last few months.

Maybe we can give "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" a try. It is a deeply divisive book though. People usually either like it or find it silly.

Let's read The Kill Artist

If you guys agree on Jhampa Lahiri's The Namesake, then consider me in. It's been sitting there on my bookshelf (real one) for ages and it's about time I got some motivational nudge to pick it up and give it a go.

Hina: Animal Farm is a wonderful allegory. I know friends who disliked it at school but they enjoyed its scope and depth when they read it many years later. Folks who set high school syllabus have included it just because the story features talking animals and uses humour. Which is not a good reason to teach it to young students, because the book is essentially very political and an allegorical satire on power politics of the 20th century.

I have never read Jhumpa Lahiri. What and how does she write?

Kartography by Kamila Shamsie..the book I enjoyed most in recent times..it's a must read for anyone looking for a well-constructed/nonsappy love story, and specially for Pakistani readers who can relate to a lot of the characters.
I'm up for Namesake or Dorian gray too. I've seen the movie for namesake which may spoil my book experience a bit, but I like jhumpas style so I wouldn't mind reading it.

Kartography by Kamila Shamsie is an awesome book. As well as her salt and saffron. they are although very hard to read.

Dorian Gray is also a very very good book. I am up for any of these books. I haven't read namesake..

n thats why we start selection two weeks earlier, :)

since we have to be little hasty this time, so i m going to pick few books n put it to votes, after two days we start.

here are the ones i picked.

Game of thorn series. Book 1

The Picture of Dorian Gray

The Namesake

The Kill Artist

we can add more to voting list, if it is suggested by two or more people. :)

sorry for cutting it short, no worries BOTM selection would start soon.

The Namesake: 1 vote

the namesake 2 votes

Here is the link of the poll, VOTE here :)

BOTM, JAN 2015

Polling is over and the winner is The Namesake.

so the namesake is BOTM for jan 2015, :)

n here is link to discussion thread

Click me for the link

for next BOTM, how about books dealing with current geo-political issues of Pakistan. Two books which I have recently read:
1. The Scriptwriter : terrorism, electoral fraud in Pakistan, US attack on ISIS, and CIA conspiracy
2. Bullets and Train : nuclear terrorism, War on Terror
Any thoughts....

My father read Bullets and Train. I will vote for it becasue he says it is an awesome book.

more suggestions for February please.

Kite Runner by Khalid Hosseini
Burnt Shadows by Kamila Shamsie

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...

I'm in for Burnt Shadows.

book of secrets by M.G. VassanjiThe Book of Secrets

Shouldn't mods set some criteria to select the book of the month?

Like, if it was an Indian novelist in January, we may choose a novel from a Pakistani writer? Or something from far away. Say, a translation of one of the novels from Latin American. Or some classic from 19th century. If we're in the mood to read some non-fiction, we can specify of which category, etc.

It will help narrow down nominations.

actually i bought the copy last week so, that way i can move this book from 'To read" to "READ"..... :)

another one:
Bastard Of Istanbul by Elif Shafak
The Bastard of Istanbul

Salman wrote: "another one:
Bastard Of Istanbul by Elif Shafak
The Bastard of Istanbul"

i 2nd that book it is also on my shelf...

Just suggest and vote from tha

I suggest Les Misérables by Victor Hugo. The English translation, of course.

Salman I am in for burnt shadows although i have read it already.
I would 2nd Les Misérables by Victor Hugo too.

yeah! da bastard ov istanbul. by elif shafak. recently explored that one.

Jibran wrote: "Shouldn't mods set some criteria to select the book of the month?

Like, if it was an Indian novelist in January, we may choose a novel from a Pakistani writer? Or something from far away. Say, a ..."

Hmm, we don't set criteria cos we kind of avoid imposing stuff on members. So we kind of leave it to people; shortlist few titles and then put it to vote.

but We can add criteria, simply post your suggest criteria & get some supporters, we'll have input from other members and apply it. :)

Following are suggestions, relavtively popular

Burnt Shadows by Kamila Shamsie
Bastard Of Istanbul by Elif Shafak
Les Misérables by Victor Hugo
Bullets and Train by Adeerus Ghayan

I think I'll back burnt shadows, :)

If you want to add you suggested title in the voting candidates, you'll need atleast two supporters. You have one more day.

The name of the rose by Umberto Eco

when will voting start

Burnt Shadows is my vote :)

I guess we have enough votes for Burnt Shadows to make it the BOTM. I'd have voted for it If I hadn't already read it.

Also add Undying Affinity . Promote emerging Pakistani authors in this group please. :)

i am reading emma by jane austen right now so i suggest it... or Bastard Of Istanbul by Elif Shafak

voting starts today, we'll finish voting over the weekend, n start book from Monday.

Click here to vote for Feb BOTM

I want to read BOI because I love Shafak's writing based on her other book. Burnt Shadows for me was disappointing--mostly because Shamsie is one of my favorite authors and I have high expectations. I would be curious to see what others think of it though, so I could participate in the discussion if that becomes the chosen one. Feb is a crazy month for me at work, but I will try my best to participate.

Divergent.

I would like to read Burnt Shadows.