Books from Pakistan
Writing from Pakistan moves between English and Urdu and draws on a long tradition of poetry, reportage and fiction. The books here include a memoir, a novel set in a Lahore cafe, and a novel that follows two migrants. Together they show some of the forms and concerns of Pakistani writing.
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Contemporary Fiction
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Exit West by Mohsin Hamid
A contemporary novel that follows two young people who leave a city in conflict and travel through doors that open onto other parts of the world.
Mystery & Thriller
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A Case of Exploding Mangoes by Mohammed Hanif
A satirical thriller set in Pakistan and built around an air force officer and the death of a military ruler.
Sci-Fi & Fantasy
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The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid
A novel in which a Pakistani man speaks to an American visitor over the course of one evening in a cafe in Lahore.
Poetry
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The Rebel's Silhouette by Faiz Ahmed Faiz
A collection of poems in English translation on love, loss and political life.
Memoir & Nonfiction
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I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai
A memoir, written with Christina Lamb, about growing up in Pakistan and her support for girls education.
How we choose
These lists start from books Atlas Unread readers can stamp for Pakistan. Each title and author is confirmed against Wikidata, Wikipedia or library records before it is listed.