I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Mainly because I grew up witnessing a lot of this as Pakistan's history, and was perhaps too young to understand most of it. Like a nursery rhyme you finally figure out the meaning of much later. This book is divided into two sections that move along together but aren't really related. Firstly, this is the story of the author's Aunt Amna. Her very odd situation as the first wife of a middle-class man who is trying to balance life. We've watched so many shows and comedies on men with two wives. This book has a very different take on the situation from a woman's perspective. The second aspect of the book is the history. From before partition, Fatima Jinnah's death, elections, the wars, the separation of Bangladesh and all the way to Benazir's assassination. Rafia Zakaria is a columnist in Dawn so her depiction of history is definetly based on her opinion. So it may be debatable, but for most part it is very candid and interesting to read. Very unlike history textbooks. Her hopes for Karachi towards the end of the book weren't much sadly....but this was written sometime back and I am happy to be a part of a better "reality" in 2017. Please do read if you grew up in Karachi or even Pakistan. Highly recommended.

In this book, political history of Pakistan is entwined with the history of author\'s family. It starts with the news of assassination of Benazir Bhutto. In a flash back, author takes reader to pre partition and ordeals of her family. Her grandfather migrated in early 60's from Bombay. Author covers some interesting incidents like formation of APWA after the M Ali Bogra PM of Pakistan contracted 2nd marriage with his secretary. The difficulty in obtaining domicile for her brother as her father and grandfather were born in India. Incidents of running over of a bus on a female student of North Nazimabad college. Incident of police mass killing of women and children in Pacca Qilla Hyderabad. As the story progress, it tells the saga of country's slip into extremism and violence. It covers the journey of Muhajirs ( migrants ) to search for their identity. The book also covers the saga of Karachi as it develops and the sectors of Karachi and its old markets ( empress market, Bohri Bazar and Zainab market) .