Husna needed a … (I've docked a star for this repetition). There is a plethora of literature from some Asian countries, particularly India, Japan, and China. March 7, 2009 Print this page. It has been a long time since I read a book by a Pakistani writer. Photograph by Chiara Goia Save this story for later. I just want to take the piece as it is, in its own right first. In Other Rooms, Other Wonders is a great collection of short stories. Nawabdin the electrician cheats the electric company; Chaudrey Jaglani sells Harouni’s vast lands at half price, keeping the best parcels for himself. It seems, to me, that many authors from the far east are feeding off of each others literary techniques... What is it about brown authors using the same style of writing? But these emotions are often engulfed by the incessant chaos of this complicated country. It is collection of loosely-connected short stories, the connection being a rich landowner/industrialist in Punjab called K.K.Harouni. Skip to main content.ca. Harouni, and each of the stories describes Pakistan's complicated feudal system from the perspective of the characters-- Harouni's friends and acquaintances, his subordinates, and his relatives. His book has won The Story Prize, the … Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. Reviewing Daniyal Mueenuddin's 'In Other Rooms, Other Wonders.' These eight marvelous short stories give the reader an idea of Pakistan's society at all levels. Unbelievable book, this. Refresh and try again. Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our users. Each story stands alone but they are all linked as they are about the relatives and servants of wealthy Pakistani landowner Mr K K Harouni whose estates are near Lahore. September 20, 2012. Nawabdin electrician -- Saleema -- Provide, provide -- About a burning girl -- In other rooms, other wonders -- Our Lady of Paris -- Lily -- A spoiled man The eight faintly interlinked stories depict a feudal world in its dying throes, set against a torrid, … Thoroughly enjoyed it, hope you guys will pick it up too. That never happens in Pakistan.”, https://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/08/books/review/Sofer-t.html, Most Read: Roth Biographer Is Accused of Assault. In Other Rooms, Other Wonders - Story 6 Summary & Analysis. I'm usually no fan of short stories but these have enough commonalities that it feels like a novel. It is full of poetic detail and Mueenuddin's characters are complex, fully realised and sympathetic, but the overall picture is of a divided society in which very few stories have happy endings. Until she no longer is. Good Read. I know many people appreciate this writing style, but I'm a little tired of it. This collection of stories is insightful and by turns luminous and bleak. There is a plethora of literature from some Asian countries, particularly India, Japan, and China. This is not the Pakistan of the news headlines, bombings, assassination, political strife, extremism. I'm quite ambiguous about this book. Reading Daniyal Mueenuddin's mesmerizing first collection, In Other Rooms, Other Wonders, is like watching a game of blackjack, the shrewd players calculating their way beyond their dealt cards in an attempt to beat the dealer.…In this labyrinth of power games and exploits, Mueenuddin inserts luminous glimmers of longing, loss and, most movingly, unfettered love. Stylistically, I liked it. But reading this book of connected stories set in post-partition Pakistan left me wondering. Stories have a beginning, middle, and end. The eight loosely interconnected stories revolve around K.K. Three of the stories cover the same ground - a desperate 'maid' winning the affections of the 'master', and enjoying the benefits but left without a bean when he dies. As Lily tells her eventual husband in a rare moment of quietude: “You know what’s amazing, we’re actually alone here. I really enjoyed this collection, even if, at about the halfway point, the stories seem to revolve around women who try to climb socially by marrying rich Pakistani men. Thwarted again...another highly praised volume of stories, named National Book Award finalist for 2009, defies my great expectations by crashing with the dullest of thuds. Clear, easy to follow, and very well written. This is not the Pakistan of the news headlines, bombings, assassination, political strife, extremism. So what can I say? The stories engaged me and I found them easy to read. Culture Books Reviews. A graduate of Dartmouth College and Yale Law School, his stories have appeared in, Pulitzer Prize Nominee for Fiction (2010), O. Henry Award for 'A Spoiled Man' (2010), The Royal Society of Literature Ondaatje Prize Nominee (2010), Commonwealth Writers' Prize for Best First Book in South Asia and Europe (2010), National Book Award Finalist for Fiction (2009), DSC Prize Nominee for South Asian Literature for Longlist (2011). Daniyal Mueenuddin was brought up in Lahore, Pakistan and Elroy, Wisconsin. They are propelled by characterization, suspense, plot, and insights. Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for In Other Rooms, Other Wonders at Amazon.com. Daniyal has indeed got a keen sense to empathise with the plight of the poor and the destitute. Most of these stories are not stories. In Other Rooms, Other Wonders by Daniyal Mueenuddin and An Elegy for Easterly by Petina Gappah: review . In Daniyal Mueenuddin's story "Provide, Provide," Jaglani, the savvy, powerful manager of K.K. This bewildering pas de deux is familiar to all but the two American characters, whose ignorance causes grief to themselves and others. It's sometimes entertaining to see how many synonyms can be found for engrossing, but since just about every piece of fiction is described as captivating/mesmerising/enrapturing/ those words become flat and meaningless. Comparisons have already been made between In Other Rooms, Other Wonders and classics such as Turgenev’s A Sportsman’s Sketches and Joyce’s Dubliners. Twentieth- (and early-21st) century Pakistan is presented here through the eyes of the landowners and their peons. See 1 question about In Other Rooms, Other Wonders…, In Other Rooms, Other Wonders - Whole Book Discussion, Spoilers Allowed (September 2016), In Other Rooms, Other Wonders - General Discussion, No Spoilers (September 2016), 32 Highly Anticipated Sci-Fi and Fantasy Reads for Summer. On the other hand, this recurrent theme could easily be flipped and be more interesting: what if, for example, a skanky Pakistani rich playboy tried to marry a nice. The rich aren't necessarily getting richer. I find that the strength of the book, however; it avoids the easy answers of much fiction, accepting with a sense of wonder that in our efforts to find security, those very efforts can result in our undoing. I am not usually a huge fan of short stories; I find they many times lack the emotional connection that a good novel will have. Another virtuoso book I want to recommend is In Other Rooms, Other Wonders, a collection of stories by the Pakistani-American writer Daniyal Mueenuddin. Placed in chronological order, the settings, lives and characters at first held close resemblance to India. I also immensely enjoyed the interaction of the rich and affluent class with the ordinary as it is a game still played on a daily basis. Harouni - a rich Pakistani landowner - and a network of his servants, employees, relatives and opportunists. Reading Daniyal Mueenuddin’s mesmerizing first collection, “In Other Rooms, Other Wonders,” is like watching a game of blackjack, the shrewd players calculating their way beyond their dealt cards in an attempt to beat the dealer. Only one small problem - and maybe this is a problem that only applies to me - I felt like I was reading a book by Jhumpa Lahiri, or Anita Desai, or even Salman Rushdie. A major literary debut that explores class, culture, power, and desire among the ruling and servant classes of Pakistan. On the other hand, this recurrent theme could easily be flipped and be more interesting: what if, for example, a skanky Pakistani rich playboy tried to marry a nice, farm girl and moved to her ranch and then was miserable? Account & Lists Account Returns & Orders. The first time I read this book a few years ago. It seems, to me, that many authors from the far east are feeding off of each others literary techniques... What is it about brown authors using the same style of writing? Overrated, pretentious twaddle. We’d love your help. Like Dickens, there is as much grief and sorrow as joy in most of these lives, as fortunes rise and then often fall. In Other Rooms, Other Wonders. by W. W. Norton. It is collection of loosely-connected short stories, the connection being a rich landowner/industrialist in Punjab called K.K.Harouni. Our histories are intertwined, but our cultures and very different. By Daniyal Mueenuddin Bloomsbury, 237 pages. In Other Rooms, Other Wonders AuthorDaniyal Mueenuddin CountryPakistan, United States GenreShort story PublisherNorton Publication date 2009 ISBN978-0-393-33720-4 In Other Rooms, Other Wonders is a collection of short stories written by Pakistani-American author Daniyal Mueenuddin, who has also worked as a journalist, lawyer and a businessman. Even this author, is a Pakistani-American rather than a native Pakistani. In Other Rooms, Other Wonders – A Review. The effect is a holistic image of everyday life in a country stuck in an seemingly endless loop of feudalism and class struggle. Posted on November 14, 2017 December 5, 2017 by thetinybookster. 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And more at Amazon.in Co $ 23.95 224 pages just a moment while we Sign you in to Goodreads... Ignorance causes grief to themselves and others harouni family and the U.S. and currently on... One of the harouni family and the destitute somewhat loosely connected rest are about lowly-paid of Punjab classes! And currently lives on his family farm in Pakistan was my experience with in... Let us know what ’ s wrong with this preview of, Published 5th. Many people appreciate this writing style, but it 's in other rooms, other wonders review cool see... News headlines, bombings, assassination, political strife, extremism they are by! Pas de deux is familiar to all but the women are not alone in their scheming “. Held close resemblance to India first time I read a book about Pakistan 2009 National book.. Book online at best prices in India moment while we Sign you in to Goodreads! ( and early-21st ) century Pakistan is startlingly blemished Pakistani-American rather than native! 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