Red Birds

Red Birds

A powerful novel about war, family and love, from the bestselling, prize-winning author dubbed 'Pakistan's brightest voice' (Guardian)An American pilot crash lands in the desert and takes refuge in the very camp he was supposed to bomb. Hallucinating palm trees and worrying about dehydrating to death isn't what Major Ellie expected from this mission. Still, it's an improvement on the constant squabbles with his wife back home.In the camp, teenager Momo's money-making schemes are failing. His brother left for his first day at work and never returned, his parents are at each other's throats, his dog is having a very bad day, and an aid worker has shown up wanting to research him for her book on the Teenage Muslim Mind. Written with his trademark wit, keen eye for absurdity and telling important truths about the world today, Red Birds reveals master storyteller Mohammed Hanif at the height of his powers.
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Reviews

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Anooshay Abbasi@anushay237
3 stars
Aug 30, 2021

** spoiler alert ** Loved Hanif's sarcasm as usual. But I expected a bit more about the relationship between Ellie and Momo. I felt that the transition from the Camp to the Hangar was too abrupt. I couldn't understand what happened, how it escalated so quickly. I didn't quite understand the ending too. But maybe that was the point? I didn't get the closure I was hoping to get. Having said that, it was an excellent read for those who enjoy Hanif's style. The humanistic aspects of war he describes - I loved it!

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Lis@seagull
4 stars
Mar 16, 2022

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