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Fidali's Way: A Novel
 
 
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Fidali's Way: A Novel [Hardcover]

George Mastras (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews) |
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Book Description

Publication Date: January 6, 2009
Disillusioned with American life, Nick Sunder has spent the past several months backpacking through the Middle East and Southeast Asia, most recently in the company of a beautiful, French woman he met in India. When the woman is found brutally murdered in the tribal lands of Pakistan, Nick is soon arrested and tortured by the Pakistani police. Amazingly, he escapes their custody, and heads off on foot through the steep mountains of Kashmir, the highest warzone on earth. With the help of an eccentric Kashmiri smuggler-philosopher and Fidali, his mysterious companion, Nick reaches the idyllic mountain village of Gilkamosh in Indian-occupied Kashmir. There he meets Aysha, a defiant and beautiful doctor whose own life is disrupted when her teenage love, Kazim, returns to the village as a seasoned muhajideen in charge of a violent band of separatists. When Gilkomosh is struck by a horrific act of terrorism, Nick's search for meaning becomes more complicated and he finds himself immersed in Aysha's struggle to resist the competing forces threatening to tear the village apart. Fidali's Way is an ambitious literary novel of colliding cultures, love and sacrifice, the ruthlessness of fanatical religion and the redemptive power of pure faith.

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Nick Sunder, a disillusioned Boston lawyer, has been backpacking in Asia for more than a year when disaster strikes at the start of Mastras's stirring first novel: the police in Peshawar, Pakistan, arrest him for cutting his French girlfriend's throat. Innocent of the crime, Sunder escapes custody by killing a cop. He heads into the Himalayas on foot, and after several weeks arrives at a remote medical clinic in the Indian-controlled part of Kashmir, where he gets a job as an aid worker, falls in love with a female Muslim doctor and witnesses horrifying acts of terrorism. Mastras, a TV writer (Breaking Bad) who's trekked through Asia himself, delivers a winding, character-rich plot full of authentic detail and regional history. While sentimentality mars some passages, the odysseylike story grips. Though Sunder's naïveté can be distracting at times, readers will cheer him along his path toward spiritual renewal, guided by the wisdom and advice of the titular Fidali, whom he meets on his journey. (Jan.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

"Just when you think it's not possible to read a debut novel that offers something fresh, a book comes along that catches you off-guard.... Fidali's Way is a lushly written, panoramic view of the hills of Pakistan, the violent conflicts nestled within this far-flung locale and the damaged souls of its main characters - especially Nick Sunder, an American traveler looking for a sliver of meaning after a life chasing materialistic dreams. That simple goal seems to crash down with the brutal murder of his current lover and his escape to the village of Gilkamosh after police suspicion prompts a horrifying interrogation. Nick is the story's linchpin, but its soul is Aysha, a beautiful young woman whose quest to study and practice medicine puts her at odds with her deeply fundamentalist community. The caldron stirs its ingredients to a boiling point, producing climaxes of violence that leave impact lasting like a brand placed on unwelcoming skin." -- The Baltimore Sun --The Baltimore Sun, January 4th, 2009
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Product Details

  • Hardcover: 400 pages
  • Publisher: Scribner; 1 edition (January 6, 2009)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 1416556184
  • ISBN-13: 978-1416556183
  • Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.3 x 1.3 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,461,645 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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More About the Author

› Visit Amazon's George Mastras Page
George Mastras
George Mastras is a novelist, an award winning screenwriter, and a travel fanatic.

His acclaimed debut novel, "Fidali's Way," about an American wrongfully arrested for murder in the Tribal Areas of Pakistan who escapes the police on foot over the treacherous Himalayas, has been lauded by critics as a "brilliantly told" and "stirring first novel" with an "odyssey-like story [that] grips" (Publisher's Weekly and Toronto Sun). Published by Scribner in 2009 and released in translation internationally, "Fidali's Way" was inspired by Mastras's extensive travels through the remote regions comprising the epicenter of today's War on Terror.

Mastras also writes and produces for the Emmy-award winning drama "Breaking Bad." He was nominated for an Emmy in 2010, won the PEN USA Literary Award for Best Teleplay in 2009, was nominated for an Edgar Allen Poe Award and two Writer's Guild Awards, and was awarded the competitive ABC/Disney Writing Fellowship in 2005. Before writing professionally, he was a trial lawyer for ten years in Los Angeles and New York, a criminal investigator for the public defender's office, and worked as a counselor at a maximum-security juvenile correctional facility.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By M. Kuo
Format:Hardcover
Be prepared to stay up late into the night, as this novel is a page-turner that you cannot put down. At the same time, however, this is no potboiler thriller you'll soon forget a few days after you're done. "Fidali's Way" is exceptional -- a story that combines a murder mystery, adventure, and romance, all interwoven into a thrilling plot that also examines some of the big questions of the human condition: redemption and forgiveness, faith versus dogma, obsession, fate, and the true meaning of freedom. Mastras not only draws the reader in with his suspenseful plot, like any best-seller would, he does so with vivid imagery of the vast mountains and glaciers of perhaps the most rugged region on earth, powerful scenes of tragic violence and emotion, and true insight into the conflicting cultures, religions, and philosophies of the diverse people of South Asia, as well as between East and West.

The story follows the main character, Nick, an American lawyer who chose to give up his successful career to travel through Asia. Immediately, the reader is drawn into his story within the first chapter, as Nick is arrested in Pakistan for the murder of his lover and travel companion, a sensual and impulsive French girl named Yvette. The plot evolves as Nick escapes capture by the Pakistani police on foot through the Himalayas, and along the way we are introduced to different characters before ending up in conflict-riven Kashmir. These characters include Ghulam and Fidali, two impoverished Kashmiri smugglers who befriend Nick, and serve as Nick's guide through the treacherous Karakoram and Himalayas. As the danger of the journey escalates, they also become Nick's mentor by way of example, showing him their capacity for selflessness, the power of their humanity, and their ability to surrender their suffering to fate -- all derived from their
unquestioning faith -- traits that are at first misunderstood, and very alien to Nick, a product of the egoism and secularism of the West.

As Nick's dangerous journey unfolds, the author also tells the story of Aysha, a village girl who grows up to be the village healer and inspirational leader; and Kazim, Aysha's childhood lover. Kazim comes under the influence of the fiery mullah of a newly-built, radical madrassa, and becomes torn between his love for Aysha and his devotion to the ideal of Kashmiri freedom. He eventually becomes a revered leader of the regional Mujahideen rebels, pitting the two former lovers against each other. As Nick's and Aysha's two stories are organically woven together, Mastras skillfully develops the interplay among all these diverse characters, hooking the reader with scenes that range from the sensual and erotic, to the comical, to the tragically violent and horrifying.

As I read the novel, I found myself frequently assuming the thoughts of Nick in my own mind, contemplating in self-introspection for an answer to the many ideological questions that are subtly posed within the drama. This thoughtful, philosophical and spiritual level to the novel, along with the moving descriptions and violent climax, is perhaps one of the reasons why the book has stayed with me, and I suspect will continue to affect me for a long time to come.

There is no question that Mastras is an exceptional writer who is not only skillful in developing a dramatic plot that is original, complex, and engaging. He is also a writer who delves deeply into human nature and controversial cultural issues in search of truth, and who is not afraid to describe the intense emotions and passions of life with frank honesty that is both beautiful to read and powerful.

On top of all these qualities, Fidali's Way is certainly timely given the current events in Mumbai, Afghanistan, the Gaza strip, and even here at home where many are questioning the ideal balance between materialism and quality of life, and between the pursuit of egoistic goals and humanity. I highly recommend "Fidali's Way" to anyone who enjoys murder mysteries, thrillers, romance novels, and travel stories, and to those readers who are interested in issues of faith, philosophy, and who desire to perhaps better understand the major world conflict of our time -- particularly, the confrontation between Islam and the West. Then again, to put it more simply, I recommend Fidali's Way to anyone who loves great literature. A request out to the author for future writings as this novel left me with a void craving for more!
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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)
Fidali's Way is a mixed bag. It is a book I immensely enjoyed, as Mastras is a rich storyteller and paces the events well to keep the pages turning and the tension taut and ripe. However, it is also uneven in significant ways that undermine some of its strengths.

Two narrative threads converge. First we meet Nick Sunder, a disillusioned American lawyer who has been backpacking in perilous areas of Central Asia for several years. Encountering a couple along the way--a brazen French woman and her British boyfriend--the three travel together and evolve into a passionate love triangle. After separating under mysterious circumstances (which unfold gradually and non-linearly), Nick is later arrested in Pakistan at his hotel room just moments before boarding a train to India. The police torture him in a filthy prison cell and later negotiate a dicey deal for his release, which is unacceptable to Nick. After managing to escape, Nick subsequently has to trek for many weeks through the Himalayas on the other side of the Tribal Line of Control. He ends up traveling with two very spiritual, noble men (Ghulam and Fidali) from these mountainous regions who invite Nick to accompany them under their aegis and experience with the harsh domain.

Introduced next are Aysha and Kazim, the stunning and brilliant Muslim star-crossed lovers from the small, primitive village of Indian-controlled Gilkamosh in the Kashmir mountains. They separate when Kazim leaves to train as a Mujahid in the rural mountains and Aysha goes to medical school in New Delhi. The question is whether they will reunite when she returns to Gilkamosh to open a clinic. This is also where Nick ends up after his long trek with Ghulam and Fidali.

After a short, lyrical, and haunting prologue, the story begins with muscular, crisp, and thrilling prose. The descriptions of landscape and the difficulties of survival from prison to the Himalayas and the crossing of the Tribal Line of Control are breathtaking. The author writes riveting details of these hardships, and a sense of immediacy and urgency lures the reader on. Additionally, the sensuous, enchanting coming-of-age story of Kazim and Aysha is very moving and compelling.

Unfortunately, as the novel deepens, the tone becomes inconsistent. From a brutal and sharp and often laconic tone at the beginning, the prose turns sentimental. And the parts written to reveal spiritual contemplation and reflection are conveyed through heavy-handed and expository writing. These cogitations tend to be synthetic and cloying. Instead of offering visionary and invigorating argument and thought into spiritual and religious debate, it offers up overused and simplistic notions.

The characters of Nick, Kazim, and Aysha are arch and three-dimensional, with realistic and textured lives and complex inner conflicts. However, they are often thwarted by the uneven tone and style, which lead us into convenient (and sometimes predictable) plot contrivances at various points in the story. And Ghulam, who starts out as enigmatic and formidable, narrows into a background caricature that emerges ceremoniously as a disposable vehicle for other characters or events.

The author has a cinematic talent to his writing, and I frequently envisioned a potent film version of the novel while reading. Mastras has a keen eye for visual appeal and sensuality when he isn't being derivative. Some of the dialogue and scenes could potentially be improved and heightened to correspond to this otherwise lush and exciting story. I was annoyed with one scene between Nick and Aysha that was all but airlifted from the movie Witness (with a few altered details); however, if you are not familiar with the movie, it could stir you with its intoxicating sensuality.

The climax of the story is powerful, and I had to tear my eyes away from the pages to digest and accept some of the bracing and harrowing scenes. I did feel largely satisfied by story's end, and I would recommend it with the caveat that it suffers from the pitfalls that impede many first-time novelists. I look forward to more from this author.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Great Fiction January 9, 2009
Format:Hardcover
In Fidali's Way, a young and reckless American takes an incredible journey through a land plagued by violence and unrest, and surprisingly discovers beauty, love and redemption. It's a rare gem of a novel with characters that stay with you long after you've put the book down. George Mastras is a great new literary voice that deserves to be noticed. For those who enjoy travel and adventure off the beaten path, this one is highly recommended.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Wonderfully intricate tale
First, a disclosure: although I honestly did not pay attention to the author's name when I ordered this book (based solely on a summary of the story), I realized after I received... Read more
Published 18 months ago by M. Desoer
Thrilling, profound story
Well-written first novel about an American fugitive who finds redemption through people who already "know", during his experiences in wartorn Kashmir. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Christine
Unbelievable!!!!
Just finished reading it! Absolutely shocked and loved it. I thought you did an excellent job of bringing together Nick, Yvette and Simon's whole saga w/ what was going on... Read more
Published on June 10, 2009 by John E. Graham
ACTION PACKED!!!
This book combines drama with action and adventure, mixed in with some mystery. This book will keep you guessing until the very end as it takes numerous twists and turns in the... Read more
Published on May 4, 2009 by slim
Exciting and interesting all the way through
Everything is exaggerated in the rarified air, impossible terrain and endless cultural variations of Pakistan and the surrounding territories. Read more
Published on April 24, 2009 by Carlgo
Terror at Length
Mr. Mastras certainly knows his territory. It is a pleasure to read a novelist who seems to have such intimate knowledge of the locations he writes about. Read more
Published on April 21, 2009 by Zoeeagleeye
An American on the Run
I have been immersed in "Fidali's Way," the debut novel of George Mastras, for almost a week because of the strong sense of place that Mastras gives his story of an American... Read more
Published on April 17, 2009 by Sam Sattler
Excellet read.
This book is exciting, educational and well-written. I could not put it down and was sad when it was over. Hope to see more of its kind, from this author.
Published on April 13, 2009 by Jen
Great informative adventure novel
I couldn't put this book down. I felt as though I was on the fantastic journey with Nick and his two companions. Read more
Published on April 10, 2009 by Charles W. Long
A great story of love, faith, sacrifice, and redemption!
Upon finishing Fidali's Way by George Mastras I sat back thinking how this may be one of the best books I've read over the past couple of years. Read more
Published on March 28, 2009 by Archie Mercer
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Line of Control, Mullah Yusuf, Tribal Areas, Madam Doctor, Hindu Kush, Sergeant Ravindra, Advani Sharma, Gilkamosh Valley, New Delhi, Vale of Kashmir, Nicholas Sunder, Sub-Inspector Shiraz, Inspector Akhtar, Karakoram Highway, Indian-occupied Kashmir, Darkot Pass, Hindu India, The Bedford
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