This is a set of short stories from an author who has published short stories previously in various periodicals. The stories take place in the author's native Pakistan, and portray various lives in different situations. The settings vary from rural to urban, but there is a continuity of characters, tying all the stories together.

For instance, the rich land owner K K Harouni lives in Islamabad, but own land in a rural area. Most of the stories take place in the worker's village on his farm, in the neighbouring villages or in other villages connected to Harouni's workers or other members of their community.

In one story we are with Harouni at his death, learning more of the intrigues and trials of the rich upper strata of Pakistani society. The stories vary in style. Mueenuddin reveals the inner dynamics of Pakistani culture through his characters and the events in their lives.

He reveals the pitiful, exploited poverty of the majority of the people we meet. Likewise he evokes a sympathetic lament from the reader over the entrenched corruption. Everything has a price. No justice is objective. The police and magistrates, and any level of civil administration is open for bribes.

Those with money can make the wheels move in the direction of their favor. Yet he also includes a stream of reaping what you sow. There is even a murder mystery in this collection. This illustrates the injustice of the justice system in Pakistan. This tale involves the police and judges, entailing false accusations, a falsified charge, bribes, counter-bribes, and finally a resolution that might surprise you.

On a couple of these stories, I was left puzzled about just what it was supposed to mean. Overall, though, I think other readers will agree with my general conclusion that these are rich portraits of people and a cultural milieu many would not otherwise see.

This is a collection of deceptively simple and brilliantly written - but all too often heartbreakingly sad - loosely connected short stories. The stories are connected through ties (in some cases quite small) with one wealthy Pakistani family and its great houses and estates.

The stories featuring main characters from the lower servant classes are particularly sad - these people seem to have very few chances or choices in their lives. Women from the lower classes in particular seem to have had a very hard time of it in the stories, and seemed to be treated very often as property rather than as people by their society at large.

While the stories are very well written - and quietly and unobstrusively teach a great deal about Pakistan and its culture and people - I found them to be somewhat depressing (hence the four stars rather than five). It took me about two months to make it through this rather short book, as I could only read a story or two at a sitting.

This was a very interesting book. If you try to compare it to Kite Runner, then you will be disappointed, but still it is worth the read. It is another in what seems to be a flood of Middle Eastern writers, but this time from Pakistan.

I love the concept of the book as a collection of short stories that share location and characters. This gives us a rich background for understanding the culture of the characters, which helps us understand their actions. For anyone not familiar with the culture of the Middle East, or if your only introduction to that culture comes from what you see on television, then this book is a must read. We get such slanted information about Pakistan and its people through our news, so this collection can help readers to understand what is behind the news bites.

The characters lead such complex lives based on the cultural do's and don'ts and how their fears related to classism....so removed from what most of us have to deal with in our lives.

This was really a thought provoking book and has led to some wonderful conversations with friends. I encourage you to pick it up.