- Hardcover: 343 pages
- Publisher: Oxford University Press (Jan 2002)
- ISBN-10: 0195798333
- ISBN-13: 978-0195798333
- Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
Kartography
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Kartography is Kamila Shamsie's impressive third novel. At its heart is rather a traditional love story-cum-family saga. Karim and Raheen are anagram swapping "fated friends". Until the age of 13, when Karim moved to London, they were virtually raised as brother and sister. Their parents had once been engaged to each other. The unravelling of quite why this matrimonial square dance occurred is juxtaposed with Karim and Raheen's own, and decidedly more protracted, romance.
As the title suggests, mapping--geographical, political and emotional-- is central to the book. The "comic" spelling is a wry allusion to its setting: the troubled Pakistani city of Karachi, a place that, as Karim observes, worships "at the altar of K". Karim, Raheen and their friends Sonia and Zia all belong to the privileged Karachi elite. Born on the right "side of the Clifton Bridge" they seem immune from Karachi's endemic corruption, violence and religious and ethnic intolerance but they and their families, like the rest of the city's inhabitants, have all been horrifically scarred by events of the 1971 civil war.
Like Austen, or perhaps more accurately Forster, Shamsie is wonderfully adept at capturing the petty rivalries and social games of Pakistan's highly stratified bourgeoisie society--Zia's house is sagely described as "always full of people worth cultivating, rather than people worth having in your home." There are a few (well-acknowledged) nods to Italo Calvino's Invisible Cities and even Homer's Odyssey gets a look in but Shamsie wears her learning lightly. She manages to make Karim and Raheen's journey to toward engagement, both with the realities of Karachi and with each other, into a profound meditation on the nature of love, storytelling and politics. --Travis Elborough --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Daily Mail, 28th June 2002
"This is a touching and frequently funny love story, with the city of Karachi beating at its heart."
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I am not going to try and write a clever review - I am lost for words. This is one of the most, if not THE most beautiful books I have ever read, and I read at least 10 books a month. I lost a weekend because I couldn't put it down. Such honest characters and such a fantastic story. I can't believe this is not a true life account - maybe it is? If not, then what a talented writer! I was lost in this story, and continued to think about it for long afterwards. Sad, funny, hopeful and inspiring.
You must read this book, and you must share it with others.
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I bought this book whilst browsing through a bookstore trying to kill some time and as I began reading I was immediately hooked. I bought the book there and then and didn't stop reading it (more or less) until I had finished it. I found it a beautiful meditation on love and friendship and also a wry and penetrating analysis of the lives of Pakistani high society and also a poignant discussion of the role of the past in our lives in general and of Pakistan's troubled recent history (especially the secession of East Pakistan) in particular.
The main characters were all very realistically portrayed and interesting and the only qualm I would have is that no major character represented Pakistan's poor masses and burdened middle-classes although brief mentions of the effects of the violence in Karachi on these social classes occured but this was not explored sufficiently.
Still overall an excellent book and a great read. Ms. Shamsie is very gifted as a story teller and has a great command over words. The constant interjections of word-play were delightful.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I admit I was sceptical when I recieved this book from my sister, but I was amazed at how complex and descriptive the writing was.
The author has the rare talent of being able to conjour up images of the places she describes with minimum effort.
The decisions of the past haunting those in the present.. a great book for everyone to read, regardless of their background.
The author has the rare talent of being able to conjour up images of the places she describes with minimum effort.
The decisions of the past haunting those in the present.. a great book for everyone to read, regardless of their background.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Mapping the boundaries of the human heart.
In this warm and complex study of friendship, love, and roots, Kamila Shamsie focuses on the interrelationships of a group of vividly realized, upper-class residents of Karachi,... Read more
Published on 5 Nov 2003 by Mary Whipple
Excellent
One of the best books I've ever read. Specially because I could relate to the setting i.e. Karachi. A must read for all.
Published on 1 Oct 2003
The Meaning of Friendship!!!!
Although the book starts off a bit slow, it makes up for it later on. One of my favourite reads and I would recommend it to anyone!!! Read more
Published on 1 July 2003 by A Kamila Shamsie fan from now!
a must read for everyone
fantastic reading - abit slow in places but defintely worth the time and effort.
Published on 13 April 2003
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