PUBLICITY FOR
THOSE CHILDREN
‘MATURITY AND HUMANITY’: THE DSC PRIZE FOR SOUTH ASIAN LITERATURE’S LONGLIST
Dennis Abrams, Publishingperspectives.com,
August 15th, 2017
"The list features a mix of established writers and debut novelists, and includes seven Indian writers, three Pakistani writers, two Sri Lankan writers, and one American writer based in India."
INSIDE THE LONGLIST OF THE DSC PRIZE FOR SOUTH ASIAN LITERATURE
Arnav Adikari, The Wire,
August 13th, 2017
"Pakistani writer Shahbhano Bilgrami’s Those Children also deals with the psychology of migrant children in the aftermath of loss, but moves in the opposite direction – from the suburbs of Chicago to their father’s native Karachi."
HOME TRUTHS
by Amaara Khan in Books & Authors, Dawn.
July 16th, 2017
"Ranging across multiple themes and harnessing ideas from the dual perspectives of a child as well as an adult, Bilgrami’s Those Children is an engaging read that has more to offer than meets the eye. With smooth prose, relatable characters and beautiful descriptions of people as well as places, it is emotionally moving and at the end it all comes 'together like the pieces of an elaborate Sindhi rilly [sic], whose dizzying geometric sequences, when looked at as a whole, formed an intricate, multi-layered pattern that told the entire story of the past.'"
LIFE THROUGH THE PRISM OF CHILDHOOD
Geetu Vaid in The Tribune (India),
May 28th, 2017
"Simplicity and innocence is maintained in the narrative all through as Shahbano successfully keeps the language true to a 10-year-old’s sensibilities and experience. Glimpses of life in Karachi as well as blending of humour in complex situations make the novel a riveting read. The story has a natural flow as the author seems to be moving with the narrative rather than binding it in the limits of chapters and timelines. The twist at the end gives an interesting climax to the story and life moves on with Ferzana and her siblings as they finally find home in Karachi."
AS THE KIDS SEE IT
Review of Those Children in the Deccan Herald by Monideepa Sahu
April 16th, 2017
"This is a delightful and sensitive tale about the innocence of childhood and growing up, of family ties, loss and love. Imaginative and poetic, with touches of humour and childlike innocence, this novel presents unique and engaging characters seeking their roots."
YOU CAN'T CATEGORIZE PEOPLE BY BORDERS
Interview in Frontline, The Hindu, by Ziya Us Salam, April 14th, 2017
"Like her first novel, her latest work of fiction, Those Children, came to India without a gala launch. Soon, though, it got people talking about Ferzana, the central character, a 10-year-old girl who comes to Karachi from Chicago following the death of her mother. Some wondered whether her work was that of an outsider looking in. Others argued that it was all about going back to one’s roots. Either way, Shahbano Bilgrami could smile some more. She was not destined to be a one-book wonder."
HOMECOMING IN A MORPHING PAKISTAN
Review of Those Children, in The Statesman, New Delhi, by Madhusree Chatterjee
"Nebulous often, the narrative holds a mirror to a changing Pakistan in the last four decades..."
OF CHILDREN AND FANTASY
Interview inYoulin Magazine by Samar F. Zia,
March 1, 2017
"Those Children revolves around the lives of four siblings, and is told from the perspective of the youngest child, Ferzana. It sheds light on the emotional development and fantastic escapist tendencies adopted by children. But to only say this much is unjust, as the book offers much more with multiple layers of information and creativity, forming an enchanting imaginary narrative. Without giving too much away, it is safe to say that it ties together fiction and actual events in a captivating manner."
GROWING PAINS: AN INTERVIEW WITH SHAHBANO BILGRAMI
Pooja Pande of the Desi Writers' Lounge DWL, September 15th, 2017
"Shahbano Bilgrami, whose book Without Dreams was longlisted for the Man Asian Prize in 2007, and who has penned children’s books, marked a new milestone in fiction for adults – a successful foray at that, having earned her a prestigious nomination for the DSC Prize for South Asian Literature 2017 – with her novel, Those Children."
THREE PAKISTANI AUTHORS ON DSC PRIZE LONGLIST
Newsweek, Pakistan,
August 16th, 2017
"Three Pakistani authors have made the longlist for the 2017 DSC Prize for South Asian Literature. Unveiled in New Delhi on Aug. 10, the works up for this year’s prize includes The Party Worker by Omar Shahid Hamid, This Wide Night by Sarvat Hasin, and Those Children by Shahbano Bilgrami."