Hoops of Fire: Fifty Years of Fiction by Pakistani Women [Paperback]

Aamer Hussein (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 3, 2000 | ISBN-10: 0863560393 | ISBN-13: 978-0863560392

In this collection of stories by Pakistan’s finest women writers we are introduced to the intricate narrative patterns and compelling cadences of a rich literary culture which deserves to be better known. Spanning the entire fifty years of a new nation’s history, and ranging in style from harsh realism to poetry and parable, these stories (translated from Urdu) provide the unique perspectives on social, political and psychological issues that official histories ignore.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)

Book Description

In this collection of stories by Pakistan’s finest women writers we are introduced to the intricate narrative patterns and compelling cadences of a rich literary culture which deserves to be better known. Spanning the entire fifty years of a new nation’s history, and ranging in style from harsh realism to poetry and parable, these stories (translated from Urdu) provide the unique perspectives on social, political and psychological issues that official histories ignore.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 175 pages
• Publisher: Saqi Books (February 3, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0863560393
• ISBN-13: 978-0863560392
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,623,849 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Insight to Pakistan, October 1, 2001

By 

JessH - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hoops of Fire: Fifty Years of Fiction by Pakistani Women (Paperback)

I received this book for my birthday from my friend. I have a great interest in Pakistani and Indian culture, so this was a great gift. The book contains 12 short stories written by women including Farkhanda Lodhi, Umme Amara, Razia Fasih Ahmed, Khalida Husain, and Mumtaz Shirin. Many of the stories deal with Partition and its aftermath. I enjoyed some stories better than others. My favorites included "Parbati" by Farkhanda Lodhi, which told the story of a woman crossing the border during war. "Godfather" by Khadija Mastoor was also striking. This story was about a woman hardened and living a harsh life. Exile by Jamila Hashmi tells the tale of a woman who is brutally seperated from her family during Partition. I recommend this book to anyone who is curious about what it could be like to be a woman in Pakistan.

6 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful read- a real eye-opener on Women in Pakistan, March 31, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Hoops of Fire: Fifty Years of Fiction by Pakistani Women (Paperback)

I loved Hoops of Fire. The short stories are wonderfully crafted to provide valuable insights into the daily trials and joys of women's lives in South Asian- Sweet slices of Pakistani life for anyone remotely interested in that part of the world.