After eleven failed pregnancy when Farhat ul Haq finally gave birth to a healthy son, Mansoor, she also gave birth to a vicious rumor that her newborn was a djinn—fiery, malevolent creatures made of smokeless fire by Allah. Her servant, Kaneez, had long-held, a deep-seated belief that Farhat’s inability to give birth had only one explanation: she had a djinn in her womb who devoured all her eleven children but had now come out in the guise of a child, to torment everyone. To make matters worse, the day of Mansoor birth is also the day when the first Prime Minister of Pakistan is assassinated. Growing up, Mansoor is caught between his devout mother and his British-educated, agnostic father who both try to mold him to their own worldview. The result: a disorienting dissonance. The novel follows Pakistan’s history where modernity clashes with political Islam, and it also follows Mansoor’s family where beliefs are rear-ended by rational thinking. It is a story that boldly questions inherited beliefs, acquired ethos and class conflict. It explores the role of religion in the politics of belonging. It is a story of the struggle for the soul of Pakistan. $2.99 on Kindle.
