Take two cadet officers at the Air Force Academy, both plotting to assassinate the President, General Zia ( each one with his own personal reason). Both were in love with each other. Both were taken in by the Intelligence Agency for interrogation. Add in the Secretary General of the Plantation Workers Union who was also in detention and suspected of plotting against the President. And in the background, Army Generals who had their own ambitions and grudges which made them suspect as well. And not to forget, the American Ambassador and the CIA operatives whose bosses may now think that the President has outlived his usefulness........
These characters made up an interesting fiction revolving around the death of the (in)famous Islamist President of Pakistan, General Zia-ul-Haq.
The writer, Mohamed Hanif, was a Pilot Officer of the Pakistan Air Force. He left this profession to pursue a career in journalism and studied creative writing at the University of East Anglia?
His description of General Zia's eccentricities, the obsessive-compulsive traits with a layer of paranoia to top it all were quite believable. After all he had served in the Pakistan's Air Force, didn't he?
But if General Zia did die from an assassination plot, then then the poor General's suspicions were realistic and not a figment of his paranoia.......
A fast-paced book, easy to read, sometimes very funny, un-put-downable and would make a great thriller movie.
Another good 'first book' which was shortlisted for the 'Guardian First Book Award 2008' and long-listed for the 'Man Booker Prize 2008'.
No comments:
Post a Comment