By Nigar Alam

ISBN: 9780593544075

This book was received as an advance review copy from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Under the Tamarind Tree is for people interested in the historical fiction genre that is centered in South Asia. Sadly, the story itself is mediocre and does not deliver what it promises.

Synopsis

Rozeena, a young pediatrician, lives in Karachi with her mother where her family moved after Pakistan’s independence. Struggling financially, Rozee is trying to prove to her family that she can care for herself and her mother. Meanwhile, her childhood friends and neighbors, Zohair, Aalya, and Haaris, are learning about the significance of class and status in 1964’s Karachi where their once innocent friendship is being overshadowed by societal expectations.

One night tragedy strikes at an event in the neighborhood that forever impacts the life of the four friends. In the aftermath, each of them ends up making difficult choices to protect their loved ones.

In present-day Karachi, Rozee finds herself confronted by the past when Haaris’s granddaughter, Zara, arrives at her doorstep. Through conversations about gardening and the past Rozee finds that Zara’s arrival might finally give her the closure that she needs.

What’s to like

South Asian readers may be attracted to this book for reading a story that resonates with them. The author paints a vivid picture of Karachi in the 1960s and the present.

What’s not to like

The book does not hold well against the high expectations of a Pakistani reader. The story is lacking and the drama element of what happens the fateful night is a bit of a letdown. The repeated mention of societal pressure, ‘Log kia kahengay (what will people say?)’ becomes annoying quickly. While the presence of social expectations and pressure is true, the reader wishes that the author offered more about Pakistani life. Zara wanting to become a gardener and landing at Rozee’s house seems strange, making the plot sound a bit forced.

Book Review Rating: 2.5/5 – Okayish