The Khan - Saima Mir

N

An arresting cover and a brilliantly told story! The buzz around the book was so much that I was worried I would be disappointed once I opened the pages.  I read it within three days, totally immersed in the world and the story.

Synopsis:

Jia Khan had severed her ties with the family. She lived alone, is doing well as a lawyer and would have continued to do so, had it not been for her sister's wedding. But now that she is back at the family home, she finds that the very reason that forced her away is now getting her to stay back.

My review:

• I am a big fan of the Godfather, it is one of my all time favourites. So when this was pitched as a ganglord story, I was superexcited. The image on the cover is of the protagnist Jia Khan and it does build a certain kind of picture in the head. I was keen to get to know but and was not introduced to her till the third chapter. 

• Mir makes her reader work, she does not spoonfeed the reader with the regular dose of conventional storytelling. The reader has to concentrate really hard in order to get a bearing of the story. The first few chapters are difficult as the story feels a bit disjointed as Mir tells the story from a totally different angle. And yet if you carry on, you are rewarded with a beautiful insight of what loyalty means and how respect is earned both in terms of the story and her storytelling.

• I loved the characters and the nuggets of observation that Mir brings to the story. Especially the phrases as she paints Jia's past life and the making of her persona. However, I must warn you that it is not your typical action paced thriller. There is violence and gore and yet it is atmospheric rather than the act that delivers the sinister element. 

• I had an interesting conversation with my book club members who felt that they did not get to know the characters especially some peripheral ones who seemed promising. They also felt that the action was a bit abrupt and many storylines were not allowed to develop. It got me thinking and then I realised that is what made this one special. On one level, it was about mafia culture totally different to what crime readers are used to and on the other hand, it was about a woman breaking a male stereotype. All of this is layered within the conventional parameters of a story. It is definitely ambitious in its range and scope, yes such a trajectory has its shortcomings but in the light of what Mir has achieved, by presenting the crime thriller genre in a completely different light, I can gladly let her off the hook not playing to the gallery.

I can only suggest you to pick it up and decide for yourselves. You may fall in love with it like me or take a strict stance like my book club friends, but you cannot ignore it. Definitely worth the time.