We were all very glad to have read this book even though it was a difficult and in parts uncomfortable experience due to both content and style.

Maps for Lost Lovers is an extraordinary novel, based upon the author's life experiences as a Pakistani refugee, fleeing General Zia's radical regime in 1980 to settle in Yorkshire into a tightly knit Pakistani community; which still exists today.

We thought that the novel, which the author states is based upon truth and facts, was wonderfully written, evocative, poetic and visually descriptive, fully resonant of the Indian subcontinent. We concurred that the descriptive passages were at times excessive, over-worked and almost too verbose but as floral and richly patterned as an exotic Persian carpet. 

The main characters in the family were central to the story, around which numerous others made an appearance, but the culture, faith, traditions and beliefs were the main focus as the various family members struggled to survive in the alien land within which they found themselves.  Dealing with the honour killing of a family member, and their neighbour's daughter - who lived together, unmarried - is the central challenge for them all. Each member of the family reacted differently to their circumstances and Kaukab, the mother, was not an easy character to like even though her life as a semi-literate, non English speaking immigrant female must have been enormously difficult. 

There is no 'happy ending' but we all felt that this book conveys the extreme challenges faced by the Pakistani diaspora living in England in an accessible, readable format, cushioned by the visual beauty of nature, whilst communicating the harsh realities of Islam and Pakistani culture.