Book review: Return of the Butterfly - butterfly’s musings

Moni Mohsin once again holds a mirror to the society, but does it with a smile

Satire is perhaps the most liberating form of writing as it allows the writer to talk about key issues — that might be too sensitive to tread upon otherwise — under the guise of humour. And with her latest book The Return of the Butterfly, acclaimed author/columnist Moni Mohsin once again reminds readers of the power of a well-cloaked joke in a deeply conflicted country like Pakistan.

Mohsin uses the lens of a high-society ‘butterfly’, flitting from Lahore to London to make scathing comments about the prevalent class inequality, poverty, apathy and political chaos in the country. From the first part of the butterfly series that appeared in 2008 to her latest addition, Mohsin has cleverly used this franchise to reflect on everything from Benazir Bhutto’s assassination to the escalation of terrorism, economic downfall and the latest turn of events in the form of Imran Khan’s growing political influence. Despite taking a dig at complicated social and political issues, the book manages to keep the reader engaged throughout with its army of entertaining characters. For example, there is Janoo, butterfly’s husband and her ticket to the good life, her dominating mother, son Kolchoo who she loves to control and nagging in-laws.

Like the earlier parts, Mohsin maintains the same tone of addressing the reader directly throughout this book as well. Her use of colloquial language and illogical transition from Urdu to English will make you cringe and laugh at the same time — strangely reminiscent of how events in the country can make you feel as well. But Mohsin’s greatest victory lies in her ability to allow the reader to laugh at situations without undermining their gravity — a lifesaving skill in a country where fact is often stranger than fiction (or satire in this case).

For more

1. Mirages of the Mind



The English translation of Mushtaq Ahmed Yousufi’s Urdu novel Aab-e-Gum,  encapsulates the many aspects of living in South Asia — its culture, familial relations, the pain of Partition and the nostalgia among those who witnessed the breakup of the subcontinent — with excellent satire.

2. A Case of Exploding Mangoes



This book by Mohammad Hanif deals with the aftermath of General Ziaul Haq’s death in a plane crash. In the novel itself, the fictitious story develops as seen and narrated by a member of the Pakistan Air Force, Ali Shigri.

3. Paro: Dreams of Passion



Namita Gokhale’s entertaining literary debut takes you through Delhi’s tightly guarded social circles exposing its hypocrisy, class struggle and power battles. The story is told in the form of diary entries by Priya, a middle class woman as she observes Paro, her boss’s rich vivacious wife as she romps through Delhi’s posh colonies.

Saadia Qamar is a life and style reporter at The Express Tribune.

Published in The Express Tribune, Sunday Magazine, October 5^th, 2014.