That's perhaps what the novel excels at - upending stereotypes of Pakistan - but not in a preachy way.
In a world that often views Pakistani women one-dimensionally, Imtiaz shows the complexity of women trying to forge careers, find love and be a good friend. Imtiaz uses Pakistani references and Urdu-language words often throughout her novel. But instead of being off-putting to non-Pakistanis, the technique lends an air of authenticity to the book.
The book is also a bit of a love letter to journalism and the sometimes-charming - sometimes-psycho - characters inhabiting the world of Karachi journalism. There's the crime reporter with assassins on speed dial and the newspaper owner who fails to pay his staff for months but still expects them to cover the fashion show where his wife is a model.
She writes with an acid tongue about foreign journalists who come to Karachi to write about fashion shows and one in particular who sleeps with her and then breaks her heart.
According to Imtiaz's website, the author is working on a book about the conflict in Karachi, which likely won't be as funny as Karachi, You're Killing Me! But hopefully we'll read more in the future about Ayesha's adventures.
Raymond Zhou:
Pauline D Loh:
Hot Pot
Eco China
China Dream
China Face
