Our Lady of Alice Bhatti

Our Lady Of Alice Bhatti has the quintessential Mohd Hanif and more. It has some wonderful word sketches, black humour and to top it all, a style that it almost lyrical.
From the ghettos of French Colony to the riot-ridden Sacred Heart hospital - the journey of Alice Bhatti, nurse and her romance with small-time gun-totting police aide Teddy Butt - is anything but a love story. It is a statement from a writer who could look write with poise on the shams of the society which ill-treats its women and is suspended in perpetual chaos. It will be shallow to tag him as a Pakistani writer. He is a writer who reflects to the world what he sees. The chaos at the Sacred Heart hospital, the matronly Senior Sister Alvi, the love stuck Teddy, the worldly wise Inspector, the know-all do-all adopted son of the hospital Noor - it is a kaleidoscopic insight into a world, which is so common in this part of the world. All the best Hanif! I'm sure the book will find many many readers!

Well put together ideas by Mohammed Hanif. I am only NOW ordering his much raved about first book. In this book, he has nicely balanced the documentary style of reporting Alice Bhatti's life through her own eyes and others with bits and pieces of some great classic humour thrown into every second page. The style of humour can be called predictable but the manner in which it is presented is truly unique(as is the case with most good authors). That being said, Hanif throws in some intensely hardcore emotionally moving chapters in the midst just so that you dont lose your grip on the story. Good Read!!!!!!

When it comes to storytelling in a the most dark and humorous way, there is hardly any writer better than Hanif in today's generation. The story is fast and gripping and brings out the humor in the apathy of its characters. It is a story about humans, there insecurities, happiness, and vanity based on the backdrop of one of the most chaotic cities in the world Karachi. The city it seems has a mind of its own and plays a character in the story. Great read, highly recommended

It was an interesting read. The analogies, the metaphores writer has used made me hook to the story till the end. But I felt the writer was in hurry to finish at some places.

*SPOILERS* The married life of Alice and Teddy is not portrayed so well. Why Teddy developes so much hatred for Alice that he is ready to throw acid on her, is slightly unclear.

ALL IN ALL, A good read. Not comparable to 'A case of Exploding Mangoes'

First of all I placed an order on Sunday afternoon and recv this book on Monday afternoon (24 hrs), superb delivery by Flipkat...m really happy!

I completed the first chapter (10 pages) and I am already hooked to this book. Hanif's way to satire is unmatched and awesome.. :)

His first book was also worth reading.