In Other Rooms, Other Wonders
Ratings4
Average rating3.5
15
Ratings4
Average rating3.5
In Other Rooms, Other Wonders illuminates a place and people as it describes the overlapping worlds of an extended Pakistani landowning family. Servants, masters, peasants and socialites, all inextricably bound to each other, confront the advantages and constraints of their station, the dissolution of old ways, and the shock of change. These richly textured stories reveal the complexities of Pakistani class and culture, as they describe the loves, triumphs, misunderstandings and tragedies of everyday life.
Reviews with the most likes.
Stole this from my mother, and then didn't get around to it until she'd already needed to get another copy for one of her two book clubs. Oops! Anyway, I was suitably entertained by this collection of short stories, but feel as if I somehow missed whatever got the book to be a finalist for the National Book Award. I could possibly attribute it to the weird pace of winter break reading? It was certainly enjoyable, however, and I'd guess that a more careful read could uncover some real treasures in Mueenuddin's storytelling.
Add this to your list of wonderful don't-miss-them books. This is a collection of short stories that are loosely linked together and that all take place in Pakistan. Brilliant, all.
read up until the last story, but it took me months to get through the book; not because the writing is difficult or the subject matter is uniquely disturbing, but just because of the irritation I felt every time I read it. the only positive thought I have on this book is that I liked how the stories were loosely interconnected. theoretically, also, the idea of these stories as brief windows into various people's lives is interesting, but I'm sure it's been done before, and much better.
this book felt... not pretentious, but something along those lines. it's one of those things you read not particularly for your interest in its contents but for the impression it gives other people. I found myself barely invested in most stories, and my enjoyment of those I found interesting was dampened by unimpactful and unsatisfying endings that I feel contributed nothing good.
