1. Which Pakistani author’s debut novel, Other Names for Love, delves into themes of masculinity, repression, and the complex relationships between fathers and sons in a hot-and-humid Pakistan?

a) Muhammad Hanif

b) Taymour Soomro

c) Bilal Tanweer

d) Omar Shahid Hamid

3. Who is the celebrated Pakistani writer and translator whose novel, This House of Clay and Water, explores the intricacies of gender, spirituality, and class in modern-day Lahore?

a) Nadeem Aslam

b) Uzma Aslam Khan

c) Bina Shah

d) Faiqa Mansab

2. Who is the Pakistani
journalist and novelist well-known for her first fiction novel, Karachi, You're Killing Me? She also co-authored a non-fictional novel that
investigates the death of poet Mustafa Zaidi, bringing new insights into the
scandal and its social
impact in 1970s Pakistan.

a) Moni Mohsin

b) Tehmina Durrani

c) Saba Imtiaz

d) Muneeza Shamsie

4. Which Pakistani author caused a splash with her debut novel, Tunnel Vision, a darkly comedic and emotionally charged stream-of-consciousness novel
narrated by a Karachi-based woman as she navigates love, isolation, and the pressures placed on women in society?

a) Shandana Minhas

b) Sara Naveed

c) Khaled Hosseini

d) Naheed Phiroze Patel

Answers

1. The correct answer is b.

Taymour Soomro’s debut book, Other Names for Love, published in July 2022, made its mark quietly yet powerfully on the literary scene. Beautiful prose and disquieting tension blend together in the story of Fahad, a 16-year-old boy. Instead of spending his summer vacation with his mother in London, he finds himself suddenly sent to Pakistan by his overbearing father, who believes this will toughen him. What ensues is a very personal journey that explores themes of desire, masculinity, and the suffocating silence that tends to linger in Pakistani families. The true power of the novel does not reside merely in the words that are spoken, but in the silences that speak most loudly.

Soomro, who shifted from studying law at Cambridge to writing, has quickly emerged as one of the most compelling voices in contemporary fiction from Pakistan. British Pakistani author Kamila Shamsie praised the book, stating, “Such a deftly told and evocative story of duty, masculinity, and desire.”

2. The correct answer is c.

Saba Imtiaz, who rose to fame with her debut novel Karachi, You’re Killing Me, has ventured into nonfiction with her latest work, Society Girl: A Tale of Sex, Lies, and Scandal. Co-authored with journalist Tooba Masood-Khan, the book explored the mysterious and controversial death of poet Mustafa Zaidi in 1970s Pakistan. Zaidi, a renowned poet and government official, was discovered dead under suspicious circumstances, with socialite Shahnaz Gul found unconscious next to him.

The incident caused a media storm filled with speculation and intrigue. Imtiaz and Masood-Khan delve deeply into the circumstances surrounding the poet’s death, examining the social and cultural dynamics of Pakistan’s elite during that period.

The book weaves a compelling narrative of historical details and investigative journalism, illustrating how media hype, class, and politics influenced public attitude. Society Girl is both a gripping true crime account and an introspective portrayal of the complexities of life in 1970s Pakistan.

3. The correct answer is d.

Faiqa Mansab is quickly carving out her place as a fresh voice in Pakistani literature, enchanting readers with her debut novel, This House of Clay and Water, published in 2022. This cleverly woven tale provides a heartfelt look into the often overlooked and underappreciated aspects of life in Pakistan.

Set against the pulsating life of Lahore, we meet three strong characters: Nida, a woman from high society closed off emotionally; Sasha, a confident and ambitious young woman; and Bhanggi, a trans person living on the periphery of society. This novel stands apart for its focus on people seldom represented fairly in mainstream culture, especially intersex and transgender individuals. Mansab approaches class, gender, and spiritual longing with a subtle intensity that lingers long after the final page. With her background as a writer and translator, she brings a richness to her work that few new writers can match. Mansab is an example of the new generation of Pakistani writers who are changing the narrative around controversial topics through deeply human stories.

4. The correct answer is a.

Shandana Minhas made a splash on the literary scene with her debut novel, Tunnel Vision, published in 2007. But this isn’t your typical book; it willingly subverts conventions in an enchanting way.

Told from the perspective of Ayesha, a middle-class woman in Karachi who finds herself at a hospital, suspended between consciousness and oblivion. The novel offers an interesting mix of insightful social observations and deep introspection. Ayesha’s reflections take readers on an emotional ride—raw, unflinching, passionate, and at times joyful. Minhas courageously challenges the implicit limits placed on femininity in urban Pakistan, grappling with issues such as the search for happiness, suffocating marriages, scrutiny of personal desires, and the emotional burdens women bear simply to be considered “normal.”

What separates Tunnel Vision isn’t just its themes but its distinctive narrative style. You won’t find neat conclusions or preachy lessons here—nor any easy answers to trauma. Instead, Minhas plunges into the absurdities of daily life and the challenges faced by modern Pakistani women. The story captures the vibrant, chaotic spirit of Karachi itself, which is what makes it so engaging.­