This House of Clay and Water Paperback – May 21, 2018

It’s not everyday that you come across a book that’s so articulately written. Where religion, spirituality and love transcend the opinions of right and wrong. Characters so bold that they make you want to dive into their world no matter how sordid. No matter how sad. This is one of those books. And I’m sure, it’ll stay with me for years to come. Thank you for such a masterpiece Faiqa!

Pakistani literature has so much more to offer than stories of carnage and assault, something Faiqa Mansab proves in her debut novel ‘This House of Clay and Water’. There was tremendous buzz surrounding the release of this book, how it traversed boundaries that no other writer had dared approach in the past, how it painted a vivid, eye-opening picture of modern Pakistan. Naturally, I was very curious to read this, and therefore, as soon as word got out that it had arrived in bookstores, I was one of the first people in line to get my copy. As Mansab’s Lahore pulled me in, the Lahore around me sort of blurred for a few days, making me lose myself in Mansab’s delightful world of forbidden love, deceit, betrayal and loss.The novel is told from multiple points of view. Starting with Nida, a bored housewife, who spends her days hidden from the elite circle in a famous dargah of Lahore, watching life move on without her. Overweight and exhausted, she has given up on life – almost. The dargah is the last place she expects to find friendship and yet it is in this place that she encounters bold and reckless Sasha and the eccentric Bhanggi, a hijra in modern Lahore. Thus begins a story of friendship and loss where these characters are tested to their very limits.Mansab paints a distressing picture of Lahore, drawing attention to issues that are all around us, but to which we turn a blind eye everyday. She tells of the plight of the hijras in Lahore, a hated and repressed part of Lahori society, beaten and shamed their entire lives. She explores themes of abuse and forbidden love, both of which are taboo subjects in Lahore, and which naturally makes the book all the more interesting to read.It was such a treat to read about a world that I could strongly relate to, characters I felt deeply for and a storyline that reaches in to grab the heart and refuses to let go. If you’re looking to be shocked, entertained and shaken in equal measure, head over to your nearest bookstore now and pick up this stunning debut. High recommended!

The book I was eagerly looking forward to reading this year since I found out about it on Twitter. Definitely it was worth all the anticipation and wait. Pakistani literature has so much to offer and now with Faiqa we have a great new addition. I have read all of Faiqa's previous books which she has written using a pseudonym and have been a huge fan of her writing style and stories but that said this story was beyond my expectations. It literally floored me away and left me speechless. It's a reverberating benediction of the multifaceted angles that love brings into life, with all its complications and artificial social prejudices. The story is not merely about forbidden love but it's also about the mystification that bind us together as human beings.From the beautiful cover to the enchanting proses and spell bounding narratives this book has it all. A thought provoking story , an eye opener that makes us reflects upon our deeds without having biased attitude towards life , it leaves a prick in your heart , surely is a roller coaster of emotions . Faiqa has done absolute justice in sculpting the interlocking of ambition and failure of relationships while keeping the backdrop authentic and non-intrusive. I was totally engrossed with Faiqa's lyrical words, I felt as if I was reading Rumi . It was totally a different experience reading this beautiful story and I honestly have no words for Faiqa's creativity and absolute brilliance. Kudos for giving us readers such a wonderful and exuberant reading experience. Can't wait for what you will come up with next . Anxiously awaiting for your next book .

Faiqa Mansab tells a brave story that brilliantly explores the interwoven themes of belief, betrayal and belonging. It is an incredibly emotional roller coaster that does not let go from start to finish. Aspects that clearly impressed me were the immense depth of character development, nuanced portrayal of dicey situations and profound understanding of what it must mean to be ostracized. I applaud Faiqa for her bold and successful attempt at conveying distinctly different styles for each character, not just with the crisp and witty dialogue but also in her narration, ji. At one point roughly three quarters of the way through at around 2 am, I found myself debating whether it would turn out better as a play or a movie. Then I thought to myself, why not both? Bravo!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. It was my last for 2018 and one of the best I read this year. It left me with so many mixed feelings of frustration, sadness and joy and sometimes how harsh and difficult life can be. Small references to things like Enid Blyton’s books took me back to my childhood. Overall it was a very fulfilling experience for me and already looking forward to the author’s next work