In the world of the novel, there are no knights in shining armours

Between market trends, what publishers want and readers becoming conservative, the session seemed like a stock report.

KARACHI:

What is the world of the novel? Shandana Minhas, moderating the session, questioned both the panel and the room at large. And there it was, a rare gleam of hope that we may end up discovering it today.

A novelist herself, Minhas’ sharp wit alluded to a pun well-intended as she denied any knowledge of this world. The gleam faded sooner than later as she handed the trail lead to the panellists, anthropologist Amir R Mufti, lecturer Claire Chambers, Brazilian novelist Bernardo Carvalho, translator of Italian origin Gioia Guerzoni and German satirist Thomas Brussig.

By the end of the hour-long session, we knew that there are no knights in shining armours waiting to rescue you from the confused abyss you have landed yourself in. Save yourself, they have pills for that now.

Following Shandana’s cue, one decided to embark on a journey with the entourage at the lead. Maybe you were meant to get lost so that you find your own novel place. But the quota reserved for handing out doubtful benefits ran out.



Bernardo Carvalho is one of those successful writers, winning several awards, writing so prolifically that he comes across as a salesperson peddling printing presses. He knew so much about the market trends, the business of writing what his success has brought upon him one wondered how he manages to express his creativity. Is there a separate section on eBay that sells this at a reasonable market price?

Guerzino translates work into Italian because she claims her own language is not wise enough to create masterpieces. Dante probably burnt in his own inferno but some of us understand the language barriers that often mis-communicate complex ideas.

“There is no such thing as a Pakistani novel in Urdu,” said Mufti. One wondered if he is also paid to contradict himself. When questioned what his favourite novel is, he promptly replied: ‘Merey bhi Sanam Khaney’ by Quratulain Haider. He emphasised on the fact that being one of Urdu literatures greatest masterpieces anyone who wants to read it, should do so in its original version as opposed to the author’s translated edition.  Amidst the mind-numbing back and forth between market trends, what the publisher wants and the readers becoming conservative, the session seemed like a stock market report of wordy transactions. In order to save oneself from both the happy medication induced delusion and more importantly, the pleasure of reading a good piece of writing you had to come to your own conclusion.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 8^th, 2014.