Granta 112: Pakistan (Granta: The Magazine of New Writing) [Paperback]

John Freeman (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 27, 2010 | Series: Granta: The Magazine of New Writing (Book 112)

Packed with almost 200 million people speaking nearly sixty languages, brought into nationhood under the auspices of a single religion, but wracked with deep separatist fissures and the destabilizing forces of ongoing conflicts in Iran, Afghanistan and Kashmir, Pakistan is one of the most dynamic places in the world today. From the writers who are living outside the country - Daniyal Mueenuddin, Kamila Shamsie and Nadeem Aslam - to those going back - Mohsin Hamid and Mohammed Hanif - to those who are living there and writing in Urdu, Punjabi, Sindhi, Baluchi and English, there is a startling opportunity to draw together an exciting collection of voices at the forefront of a literary renaissance. Granta 112: Pakistan will seize this moment, bringing to life the landscape and culture of the country in fiction, reportage, memoir, travelogue and poetry. Like the magazine's issues on India and Australia, its release will be a watershed moment critically and a chance to celebrate the corona of talent which has burst onto the English language publishing world in recent years.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

John Freeman's criticism has appeared in the Guardian, The New York Times, and The Sydney Morning Herald. Between 2006 and 2008, he served as president of the National Book Critics Circle. His first book, The Tyranny of E-Mail, was published in 2009.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Grove Press, Granta (September 27, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1905881215
• ISBN-13: 978-1905881215
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.7 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #238,325 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Thought provoking insight into troubled country, October 28, 2010

By 

Ripple (uk) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Granta 112: Pakistan (Granta: The Magazine of New Writing) (Paperback)

Pakistan is a rich source for this collection, being as it is a cauldron of culture, history, religion, politics and beliefs. There is a striking difference here between the beauty of some of the fiction and the brutality of the non-fiction pieces.

This edition of Granta kicks off with a cracking piece of short fiction from Nadeem Aslam about the tragedy of a young Muslim girl who is fated to only produce female heirs for her rich husband. It's shocking, moving and beautiful. Initially, Uzma Aslam Kahn's Ice Mating story didn't grab me, but as it switched between California and Pakistan, it unfolded to another interesting piece. Mohammed Hanif's shocking story of how not to woo a young nurse is both funny and sad. There are shocking moments of brutality in the non-fiction too - not least the short piece by Mohsin Hamid - A Beheading. More ancient tribal brutality is evident to Western eyes at least in Jamil Ahmad's The Sins of the Mother.

Jane Perlez presents a brief but thoughtful piece on the intentions of Pakistan-founder Jinnah and wonders what he would have made of the ongoing Islamist movement that there is little evidence that he intended for the country. Basharat Peer's piece on the problems in Kashmir is also deeply moving, particularly emphasising the impact is has had on the youth that have never known any different. Intizar Hussain's short piece entitled The House of Gallows is enlightening while Declan Walsh, borrowing his title from Kippling, in Arithmetic on the Frontier explores the threat of the Taliban in the Northern frontier. Physical distance clearly helps analysis as there is equally insightful contribution from London-based Kamila Shamsie in Pop Idol.

Of course it's hardly news that most if not all of Pakistan's problems stem from initially British imperialism attempting to create unity amongst disparate tribes, exacerbated by unforseen side effects of Western and particularly US foreign policy, not least of which the support of the Afghani resistance to the Russian invasion and the support of fundamental Islamist military power in the form of General Zia ul-Haq. What is equally clear though is that understanding the causes do little to identify the solution. There's a stark reminder of the impact of this on the West in Lorraine Adams' investigation of The Trials of Faisal Shahzad.

There's poetry from, amongst others, Daniyal Mueenuddin although given the quality of his superb collection of short stories, In Other Rooms, Other Wonders, I was sorry not to see a short story from this highly talented writer. On the other hand, it is a reflection of the quality of writing that is coming out of this troubled country. Instead of Granta's traditional photographs, the edition is illustrated with sometimes interesting Pakistani art, much of it modern.

13 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing!, October 16, 2010

By 

Maria N. (USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Granta 112: Pakistan (Granta: The Magazine of New Writing) (Paperback)

First of all, I cannot believe this is categorized under "Middle East". Pakistan is in South Asia, bordering India and China.

Second, this is the best of the best of Pakistan. Showcasing its rich history, culture and of course its best writing. Pakistan is the beating heart of South Asian culture. The entire Indian-Pakistani subcontinent basically consists of mini-countries because each region varies so much. Some parts of India/Pakistan, you'll find Islam, some Hinduism. This edition, being Granta's bestselling issue yet, is just a beautiful collection of amazing stories of Pakistan. Pakistan is often portrayed poorly in the press and media but this brings the TRUE essence and beauty of Pakistan. It also features some of the most critically acclaimed Pakistani writers (lets admit one thing: Pakistan does produce some world-class writers) and let's not forget the amazing truck art that was painted just for this issue.

Thank you, Granta! You truly helped capture the best of Pakistan. I definitely see Pakistan moving past the current turmoil its in. This edition is a must-have for every Pakistani, anyone interested in South Asian culture or anyone curious about the glorious and often misinterpreted Pakistan.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thank you..., February 7, 2011

By 

D. Krstulovich (Oak Park, IL) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Granta 112: Pakistan (Granta: The Magazine of New Writing) (Paperback)

An extraordinary glimpse into a world we do not know and almost never see.

Touching and beautiful and but too often, heartbreaking. (beautiful artwork, too)

The writing is top-notch. But I couldn't make it past my first 5 or 6 selections. Too much incomprehensible brutality. It can seem so pointless and wasteful and sad.

I keep thinking, 'anger management' but I can only thank these writers and hope and pray for the very best for these special people and their treasured places.

Sorry, just too sad to continue.