Title: Haveli
Author: Zeenat Mahal
Publisher: Indireads Inc.
ISBN: 978-1-927826-02-7
Number of Pages: 93 (Estimated)
Price [INR] : 250
Genre: Fiction, Romance, Contemporary
Type : eBook
It’s the 1970′s in Jalalabad, an erstwhile princely state in Pakistan. Chandni is a self-proclaimed cynic and prefers to be called C. An orphan brought up by her domineering grandmother, a.k.a. The Broad, C is rebellious, quick-witted and stunningly beautiful.
When Taimur, a.k.a. Alpha Male, enters the closed universe of the haveli, he is smitten, but he’ll never admit it.
The stakes get higher when the father, who had so cruelly abandoned her at birth, returns and C’s dream of reuniting with him becomes a reality. But now she has to choose between her father and his hand-picked groom on the one side, and Alpha Male and The Broad on the other.
When I read that the story of Haveli is set in Jalalabad of 1970’s, the first thought that came to my mind was about getting a peek into the conservative life style and culture of the then Pakistan! I was pleasantly surprised to read about a family from erstwhile Pakistani royalty which is suave, sophisticated and extremely well read and educated.
Haveli is a story of Chandni, who prefers to be called C is beautiful, smart and loves to give caustic replies. She lost her mother as a child, is abandoned by her father and is brought up her grandmother, the widow of the last Nawab of Jalalabad. The Broad, as C calls her grandmother, rules the haveli with an iron fist. C is home tutored and is made to learn multiple languages, ballet and kathak, amongst other things. C wants to marry Kunwar who is twice her age and has a teenage daughter but the Broad wants her to marry Taimur or Alpha Male whom C loves to hate. To add to the drama, Nameless or C’s father enters her life and promises to make up for all the lost time and wants her to marry a person of his choice.
Finally who is C’s groom, well, you need to read Haveli to know that!
I loved reading Haveli and that’s because of the witty, humorous and intelligent expression of the author. Zeenat’s style of writing is very engaging and lucid. Assigning nicknames to the various characters is an interesting approach. The ‘literary’ conversations between Chandni and Taimur are entertaining.
Haveli is a short breezy romance with charming characters, a fast paced storyline with funny and quick-witted dialogues. This is one novella, that I would love to re-read again!
Haveli is definitely a must read!
Rating : [usr 4 text=”false” size=20]
38 Responses
Very good review. I really want to read this. You say its an e-book. How does one procure it?
Hi Ava! You can click on the Type: ebook link and it will lead you to Amazon.in. You can buy the book from there. Hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did! Do share your review too 🙂
It amazes me that just a few short months ago, I was missing out on all these great books to which you have introduced me, Shilpa. TBR’d on GoodReads.
It’s the same here, LuAnn! Glad to meet you and know so many new authors and their books through you too 🙂 ♥
Sounds interesting. I think I’ll give it a try.
Do check it out, Vinodini! Am sure you will love reading it too 🙂
A good Review SG.. makes me think the book is interesting .. now I am sure it is because of the Review you have written
Bikram
🙂 You are very kind, Bikram 🙂
That’s a beautiful review, Shilpa and me gotta check it up:)
Do check it out, Vishal, it is a nice breezy read 🙂
Great review , Shilpa 🙂 I plan to make more time to read now, given how much time I spend online otherwise!
Thanks Shailaja and that sounds like a great plan 🙂
Sounds like it introduces us to a new culture I should check out!
It is interesting to get a small glimpse of the life and culture of the Pakistani royalty in the 70’s!
Sounds like a fun book – thanks for the review!
The pleasure is all mine 🙂
Thanks for the wonderful review.
My pleasure! Thanks for reading this post, SG 🙂
Love your reviews and this sounds like a very intriguing book. Love the mystery you created by not giving away the ending. Well done…made me want to read it for myself!
Thank you for your kind words, Kathy 🙂
Sounds interesting.. Thank you for the review Shilpa! 🙂
It surely is, Pixie! I enjoyed reading it! 🙂
Sounds like a different kind of book, Shilpa!
Loved the intelligent literary conversation, the style of writing… definitely a must read!
Books seems to be interesting…only if I would have had all the time in the world… Another good review, Shilpa..
It is an ebook and a very short one. You can finish it in a couple of hours 🙂 Thanks Jayanta!
Seems to be an interesting read.
It is! Do check it out Jayashree! 🙂
wow so much around marriage. Well reviewed Shilpa.
Thanks Raj 🙂
Thanks for your review, I found it to be very interesting and with the right amount of information. I am tempted to read about C and who she chooses to marry.
You must check it out, Sulekha! I am sure you will enjoy it too 🙂
You are right about the rereading. I have read Haveli multiple times. It is a lovely book 🙂
Aha! You feel that way too about Haveli!! 🙂
It is indeed a wonderfully narrated tale 🙂
Another well-written review from you, Shilpa 🙂 I am really amazed at your speed at reading and reviewing so many books 🙂
Keep them coming!
Thanks Beloo! Glad you liked this review.
I wish, I was reading a lot more! 🙂