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A Case of Exploding Mangoes
A Case of Exploding Mangoes | Mohammed Hanif
18 posts | 21 read | 14 to read
Teasing, provocative, and very funny, Mohammed Hanifs debut novel takes one of the subcontinents enduring mysteries and out if it spins a tale as rich and colourful as a beggars dream. Why did a Hercules C130, the worlds sturdiest plane, carrying Pakistans military dictator General Zia ul Haq, go down on 17 August, 1988? Was it because of: 1. Mechanical failure 2. Human error 3. The CIAs impatience 4. A blind womans curse 5. Generals not happy with their pension plans 6. The mango season Or could it be your narrator, Ali Shigri? Here are the facts: A military dictator reads the Quran every morning as if it was his daily horoscope. Under Officer Ali Shigri carries a deadly message on the tip of his sword. His friend Obaid answers all lifes questions with a splash of eau de cologne and a quote from Rilke. A crow has crossed the Pakistani border illegally. As young Shigri moves from a mosque hall to his military barracks before ending up in a Mughal dungeon, there are questions that haunt him: What does it mean to betray someone and still love them? How many names does Allah really have? Who killed his father, Colonel Shigri? Who will kill his killers? And where the hell has Obaid disappeared to? From the Hardcover edition.
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Onioons
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Hanif's magnificent debut investigating possible reasons for the 1988 airplane crash that killed the President of Pakistan, the American Ambassador to Pakistan and some of Pakistan's top military brass. Funny, clever and wonderfully narrated by the unreliable Ali Shigari. We follow the possible threads that may have caused these events....

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shawnmooney
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Jari-chan
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Pickpick

This book comes with a lot of twists and turns, and a portrait of an important time in Pakistans history. Of course, it's still a novel, but I still learned a lot about this country, its politics and its history. Even though it discusses serious topics, Hanif writes with a good sense of humour. His characters are all well written and come with their own querks.

@TheAromaofBooks #BookSpinBingo
@Texreader @Butterfinger #FoodandLit #Pakistan

Texreader Excellent review 3y
Jari-chan @Texreader Thank you 😊 3y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 3y
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Jari-chan
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Yesterday's dinner was an Eggplant Curry from #Pakistan with Roti 😋 Will definitely make more of the latter!

Sadly, there won't be a shopping post about this months #FoodandLit country, since I couldn't find any store selling goods from #Pakistan... But since I'm still eating from my Israeli order, a break won't hurt 😅

@Texreader @Butterfinger

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rakeshpm
Pickpick

Good one.

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rakeshpm

Very interesting!!!

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DGRachel
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Pickpick

A Case of Exploding Mangoes is odd, but entertaining. I had no idea what to expect when I started this, but apparently it‘s a fictional account of the mysterious 1988 plane crash which killed Pakistan president, General Zia-ul-Haq. It‘s satire parading as historical fiction and a scathing critique of Pakistan politics and military during the 1980s. #readingasia2021 #pakistan

rather_be_reading What a title! 4y
EvieBee Sounds fascinating! 4y
rabbitprincess And a blurb by John le Carré! 4y
Librarybelle I have this one on my shelf! 4y
BarbaraBB I liked this one a lot. Good choice! 4y
55 likes5 comments
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DGRachel
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Starting off the March #20in4 readathon with an audiobook for #readingasia2021 #pakistan. I‘m hoping to be able to multitask, listening to this while I finish up my work day. I‘m also hoping the book lives up to its awesome title. 😂

Andrew65 Good luck 😊👍 4y
55 likes1 comment
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moreza
Mehso-so

Fun imaginative story with several interesting characters and story line developments which centres round the imaginative demise of a Pakistani leader.

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mrozzz
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This week‘s used book haul 🤗📚📚📚📚

Kimberlone I have had that same copy of Anywhere But Here for years but still haven‘t read it 🤦🏽‍♀️ 6y
126 likes1 comment
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BookishMe
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Bailedbailed

I understand it's soldiers' way of talking but the swearing seemed to go nowhere. With heavy heart, I had to give up on this title. One I was looking forward to, for #DiverseReads and #Pakistan title.

Happier note - the book exchange corners at #librarysg have new pretty shelves!! 😍 😍

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jenniferheidi
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Mehso-so

An unexpectedly enjoyable book club read. I doubt I'd ever have picked it up in a book shop or library but it was a smart, satirical take on the death of General Zia-ul-Haq in a plane crash in the 1980s. After a slowish start, the last few chapters, as the strands of the plot draw together to its culmination, are great.

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andrew61
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#maybookflowers #fruit
Here is the book i picked for my around the world challenge - Pakistan, and from recollection i enjoyed the read. I was a bit hasty picking 'oranges are not the only fruit ' yesterday. Not sure if i have any other fruit based books on bookshelves at home.

Lindy I really enjoyed this. I remember that I was in Paris when I read it, wide awake in the wee hours, not yet adjusted to the 8-hour time difference. 7y
andrew61 @Lindy its odd how sometimes you can remember where you were when you read a book but not necessarily the contents. 7y
Lindy @andrew61 True. In this case, however, even though it was years ago, I remember the central gay character, and his tribulations. Also the author's inventive solution to a mysterious accident. 7y
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SalmaElmo
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"Discovering books was like a discovering a second adolescence. I discovered new sensations in my body. It was even better. It was guilt-free and I could show off. Not that anyone except my librarian friend was impressed."

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SalmaElmo
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I found my best read from 2016!

HajarRead Lucky you, I think I haven't yet... 8y
SalmaElmo @HajarRead Eagerly waiting for your top 5 of the year! 😄 8y
3 likes2 stack adds2 comments