[.ca] Hoops of Fire: Fifty Years of Fiction by Pakistani Women (ISBN 0863560393)

Insight to Pakistan:
I received this book for my birthday from my friend. I have a great interest in Pakistani and Indian culture, so this was a great gift. The book contains 12 short stories written by women including Farkhanda Lodhi, Umme Amara, Razia Fasih Ahmed, Khalida Husain, and Mumtaz Shirin. Many of the stories deal with Partition and its aftermath. I enjoyed some stories better than others. My favorites included "Parbati" by Farkhanda Lodhi, which told the story of a woman crossing the border during war. "Godfather" by Khadija Mastoor was also striking. This story was about a woman hardened and living a harsh life. Exile by Jamila Hashmi tells the tale of a woman who is brutally seperated from her family during Partition. I recommend this book to anyone who is curious about what it could be like to be a woman in Pakistan.

A wonderful read- a real eye-opener on Women in Pakistan:
I loved Hoops of Fire. The short stories are wonderfully crafted to provide valuable insights into the daily trials and joys of women's lives in South Asian- Sweet slices of Pakistani life for anyone remotely interested in that part of the world.