Love in Chakiwara and Other Misadventures

Love in Chakiwara and Other Misadventures is a collection of short stories set in Chakiwara in Karachi (in post-independence Pakistan).

These short stories are narrated by Iqbal Hussain Changezi, owner of Allah Tawakkul Bakery and collector of writers and geniuses.

We learn about that extraordinary invention through his eyes – the Love Meter. Through his eyes, we view suspiciously out-of-work comedian Chakori, apprentice to a Chinese dentist, meet quack cum genius Muhammad Gharib, and the lovestruck and out-of-luck author Qattar.

Love in Chakiwara and Other Misadventures: Review

I generally love mid-century/post-independence era books set in the Indian subcontinent. I guess I like the throwback to a simpler, quieter way of life, so I was predisposed to like this book.

The narrator, Changezi, is likable, kind, and a little gullible, meaning interesting people are always sponging off on him. He gets involved in their lives and can tell us some fascinating stories.

I loved pretty much all the stories universally. A couple of favorites are The Love Meter – which is extremely funny. If you wonder what on earth is a love meter, take a look at the cover. No, it’s not a weird clock, as I initially thought. It’s a love meter that tells the user if the person approaching them is in love with the user or not.

A handy invention, no?

Another favorite was the first story in the book about a mysterious Chinese dentist and his comedian assistant. This short story is the best, in my opinion. It introduces the characters and the place very pleasantly, but slowly, the tension is ratcheted up. What is going to happen? Is the dentist all that he seems to be? What about his assistant? This short story was note-perfect and set the tone for the rest of the stories in this series.

The title story – Love in Chakiwara and Other Misadventures, is the last one and is a bit overlong and baggy. However, the ending is hilarious, and I ended the book with a hearty laugh.

Overall, I thought this was a pleasant and humorous book that provides a nice insight into what living in the 1950s in Pakistan must have been like. The translation is also pretty good, retaining the quaintness of the writing without losing out on readability.

Thanks to Pan MacMillan India for sending out this book for review consideration.