Topi is a refreshing compilation of stories by a master story-teller, Shah Naz Hayat Khan. Life in Pakistan, spanning over a century, is chronicled with spice and joy de vivre. Are the Pathans really the lost tribe of Israel? What trouble will the young Khan get into next? What is it like to grow up in a frontier village? With gusto, flavor, and humor, Topi answers these questions and more.
Spotlight customer reviews:
Customer Rating: Summary: An Author of the Highest Integrity Comment: I am a personal friend of the author, and enjoyed her book very much. She is a medical doctor, and would never engineer good reviews as the next reviewer you will read suggests. To accuse without proof is folly. As far as I am concerned, Dr. Khan is a great story-teller and talented writer, whose point of view may not always agree with everyones, but is enlighteningly humorous. Her view of Pakistan lacks prejudice and I have many reports that it is an accurate picture of life in that country. Dr. Philip Petersen Customer Rating: Summary: Don't waste your time and money Comment: Poor plot. Author should have written some short stories for periodicals before writing a book.
Authors should stop jacking up rating of stars by writing reviews themselves....
Please stop this practice
Customer Rating: Summary: Along the Khyber Pass Comment: This book has the seeds of something exceptional to come in the future. But bring a history of Pakistan before you read it. The stories are beautifully told, the black humor sounds like an American influence. It all weaves back and forth, needs some serious organizing. The author feels very strongly about his family and his country, and I appreciate that. And I hope to hear from him again before long. Customer Rating: Summary: Tragic & hilarious, at the same time. Couldn't put it down! Comment: This author does not waste words. Written with an infectious enthusiasm, it's just as well that the book was large in substance not size, because I had to read it cover to cover, in one sitting. The characters are vibrant and alive, some of their escapades left me rolling with laughter. Some incidents are poignantly tragic, making it a skillfully woven and balanced compilation.The backdrop is a tumultous time in India's history but fortunately, this book is not a history lesson. At a swift pace we are transferred from camel plodding, horse chargeing days to the present and some familiar figures are dealt with rather irreverently. I strongly recommend Topi . However, even though the content was great, I would have to deduct a point for the skimpy spiral bound cover. At the end of the book, I almost wished my plane was flying to Topi, Pakistan! Customer Rating: Summary: A not-too-bad effort from an amateur writer Comment: I received several emails from an unknown person, who evidently got my email address from customer reviews at amazon.com. A mild sort of spamming, all the emails recommended this book very highly. So, out of curiosity I ordered it. This is a very small book, paperback with a plastic comb binding. It looks self-published, which is no dishonor. It is a collection of memories, many very violent. The ending is very poignant, as the author relates the sudden, violent death of his beloved mother. What is interesting to me is that the author considers this account of the incredible violence that occurred when Pakistan was partitioned from India humorous.
