Description
About The Book
“Budhoo and other short stories” is an anthology of short stories by Nauman Afzal. It is not centered around a single theme, rather the treatise is very varied. The stories depict the Pakistani society in a unique way. You are sure to find satire, one odd love story, stories on domestic issues, social injustice, harassment of women, a little bit of fantasy and one odd story about personal acts of bravery. Tinged with a smattering of Urdu words, the stories are basically meant for Pakistani readers. And it would not be out of place to say that they are equally good for the Desi readers, regardless of their current habitation.
Fiction is always inspired by real life and so while reading the book you may find instances where you might have heard or experienced similar events. Events and instances which we tend to ignore and abhor but are either forced to acquiesce to or accept. And in that sense readers will be able to relate to it and understand the message.
George Herbert wrote, “He that lives in hope dances without music”. It is only when we accept our shortcomings that we can move towards betterment. And in that sense the book is a small effort towards betterment. The stories are purposeful and each one of them conveys a strong message.
About The Author
Nauman Afzal is a telecom engineer by profession, a bibliophile by choice and a traveler by compulsion. He has never restricted himself to a particular genre (in reading books), the choice of books and his personal collection are very varied. But mostly it is fiction that inspires him. Some of his favorite authors are Khushwant Singh, Paulo Coelho, Garcia, William Dalrymple, Shafiq ur Rehman, Krishan Chander, Manto, Shaukat Siddiqui, Khalid Hosseini, Fredrick Backman, Harold Robbins, Sidney Sheldon, Mohsin Hamid, Omar Shahid Hamid and a few more. He has been writing technical articles for a long time and has published articles, travelogues and essays in print media as well online forums. Besides this he runs his own blog, writing about the things that inspire him. Being a bibliophile he wanted to pursue fiction writing and one of his stories “Running water” was published by Oxford University Press during the 2015 Karachi Literature Festival in a book titled “I’ll find my way”. “Mudslinging and other short stories” was his first serious attempt at fiction writing. “Budhoo and Other short stories”, is his second book. Both published with Auraq Publications in Pakistan and also available over Amazon KDP.
UF –
Book review on book title “Budhoo” authored by Mr. Nauman Afzal. Published by Auraq Publications. Year of publication September 2023. Comprises 13 short stories,printed on paper back comprising 198 pages.
Budhoo is the second book authored by Nauman Munir, the first one being “Mudslinging and other Short Stories”. Most of the stories in this book are about young people and their lives and societal issues faced by them and others around them. Often these revolve around discrimination against women and biases they face in a male dominated society.
Some stories are about every day work place experiences reflecting the red tape, beauracratic wranglings and corruption rampant in our Public sector. These give insightful observations of the real shenanigans that abound in babu populated ministries. Nauman’s keen eye sees through the apparent and brings to fore the hidden that ordinary folk can neither see or make out. It’s in these stories like, NOC, Sifar batta Sifar, The back Stabber and Extension Cable where he shows his real writing prowess. Those who made their journey of public service or had the misfortune of dealing with GoP departments are amused on the deep understanding that the author has but also get dismayed when reading about the ordeal most people have to go through.
Stories written in Budhoo about socail issues can be classified as “معاشرتی افسانے” and not really a work of fiction. While writing these stories his fantasies about high living, Rolex watches, female constitution and luxury cars can not escape notice. His remorse on the bad treatment meted out to the daughters of eve shows his softer human side. Written in simple langauge and about relatable topics make them intresting.
His future writings focused on his gifted skills that those close to him know about will be even more beautiful and enjoyable to read.
Ayesha Noor –
Budhoo and other Stories” by Nauman Afzal offers a captivating exploration of human experiences through a collection of diverse narratives.
The power of narratives resides in their capacity to portray a genuine reflection of our flawed society, showcasing domestic violence, dishonesty, unethical conduct, harassment, backbiting, corruption, politics at workplace and injustice. The very deep truth in his stories put me in a world that felt incredibly real. The simplicity and ordinariness of these stories elevate this book to excellence.
The best of all I like, the narratives of “Tania” and “The tragic tale of Rudaba” delves into the harrowing dynamics of toxic families where author boldly addresses the painful realities of domestic abuse and disrespect within the confines of marriage, eliciting in me a profound sense of resilience for these women. These stories serves as a poignant reminder of the need for societal awareness and advocacy against domestic violence.
“Budhoo and Other Short Stories” stands as a commendable work, inviting readers into a world of diverse experiences. Nauman Afzal’s exceptional ability to craft compelling narratives makes this collection a must-read for those in search of thought-provoking and emotionally resonant short stories❤❤