Will you wish that you'd read The Wish Maker?
Ali Sethi is the debut author of one of this summer’s IT books and is constantly compared to Khaled Hosseini. Oh, and he’s only 24. Out June 11th, The Wish Maker is the story of a Pakistani boy who, growing up in a home of outspoken women in the 1990s, offers an insider’s look into the country’s political and cultural life. Though set in a different country, the book is being likened to Hosseini’s The Kite Runner in that it “offers a unique perspective on cultures in other parts of the world” (David Shanks, CEO of Penguin Group USA). Hosseini calls The Wish Maker “an illuminating look at one of the world’s most turbulent regions,” noting that Sethi “resists the usual clichés about both Islam and his native country.” Although Hosseini himself gives the stamp of approval, other reviewers haven’t shown as much excitement as they did for The Kite Runner in 2003. Critics note that The Wish Maker occasionally wanders, trying to take on too many themes at once. Still, the feedback is largely positive, praising Sethi as an observant, penetrating voice who effectively brings readers inside modern Pakistan.
See what the critics are saying below, and for Ali Sethi’s perspective, check out his interview on Amazon.
“The political background frames Sethi’s complex narrative [...], providing Western readers with an insider’s atmospheric take on a culture and a country much in the news these days.” – Publishers Weekly
“This timely first novel, told through the eyes of a boy grappling with adolescence, brings to life the tumult of Pakistan.” – People.com
“The author deftly employs the eyes of a journalist to exquisitely detail daily life in Lahore but could have been encouraged to edit extraneous material.” – Sally Bissell, Library Journal
“Commendably ambitious, but this young Pakistani author has bitten off more than he can chew.” – Kirkus Reviews
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