What do you think?
Rate this book
Kite Strings
Kite Strings is a novel about dealing with growing up, finding direction in life and making choices. It is told from the perspective of Mehnaz, a headstrong girl who is unlike most other girls in her family or community. The unique flavour of Kite Strings comes from its setting which is of a Lababin Muslim household with all their orthodox customs and ways of life.
287 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2009
10 people are currently reading
88 people want to read
About the author
Andaleeb Wajid
76 books200 followersAndaleeb Wajid is the author of more than 35 novels. She writes romance, young adult, horror and speculative fiction.
For more details, check her website.
For more details, check her website.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
June 5, 2019
I chose this book because I know the author from Twitter. This isn't a biased review. I believe that I should give feedback, the way it is. Better for the author if it comes from friends like us.
I liked the book for the easy read. It's something you pick up and finish in one go, or, at the most, wait to get back to it as soon as you get off work or whatever. I come from a Hindu family with tons of Muslim friends through school and college. With some of them (who were rich), it was easy- their parents were broadminded enough to ensure their kids were happy, if not happy professionally. For the middle class families like me, we always felt weird discussing our career plans. No, I'm not being elitist or narrow minded. The girls, for all the career ambitions, knew they were getting married at some point. Marriage isn't an issue, really. But our social conditioning is. That reflected in how I quite liked the book for keeping it real. The author hasn't tried to show women shattering the stereotypes, because our lives are unfortunately just that, sometimes.
The little moments between Mehnaz and Imtiaz are lovely and so hopeful. The idea of young love has been explored beautifully. Basheer's going away, I thought, should have been explained better. Or the feud between the families. I feel the characters could be developed more (maybe that itself would explain the feud/Basheer missing)While I understood for most part, why Mehnaz did what she did. The fathers, the mothers wasn't explained as well.
Otherwise, it's a light, breezy read. Going to read more of Andaleeb Wajid.
I liked the book for the easy read. It's something you pick up and finish in one go, or, at the most, wait to get back to it as soon as you get off work or whatever. I come from a Hindu family with tons of Muslim friends through school and college. With some of them (who were rich), it was easy- their parents were broadminded enough to ensure their kids were happy, if not happy professionally. For the middle class families like me, we always felt weird discussing our career plans. No, I'm not being elitist or narrow minded. The girls, for all the career ambitions, knew they were getting married at some point. Marriage isn't an issue, really. But our social conditioning is. That reflected in how I quite liked the book for keeping it real. The author hasn't tried to show women shattering the stereotypes, because our lives are unfortunately just that, sometimes.
The little moments between Mehnaz and Imtiaz are lovely and so hopeful. The idea of young love has been explored beautifully. Basheer's going away, I thought, should have been explained better. Or the feud between the families. I feel the characters could be developed more (maybe that itself would explain the feud/Basheer missing)While I understood for most part, why Mehnaz did what she did. The fathers, the mothers wasn't explained as well.
Otherwise, it's a light, breezy read. Going to read more of Andaleeb Wajid.
December 5, 2020
Kite Strings stretches over a period of about seven years, from when its narrator, Mehnaz, is thirteen years old. Mehnaz, living in Bangalore but often going to her family's home in Vellore, meets a boy named Imtiaz while flying kites up on the terrace of the Vellore house. As the years pass, Mehnaz's relationship with Imtiaz develops into something beyond just friendship, and at the same time, Mehnaz's relationships with other people change. With her parents, her younger brother Mateen, her friends, her cousins, her tutor Mrs Dahlia, and older relatives: with each of these people, Mehnaz finds that she, and they, are no longer quite the same as when she was younger. Some drift away, some come closer, with some the equation changes.
I have always loved the way Andaleeb Wajid depicts human relationships and their nuances. She's very insightful, and her writing shows a deep and empathetic understanding of how people behave. Not cookie cutter black and white, but so many shades of grey. Kite Strings is no different. The people in this story come very vividly alive, warts and all. Mehnaz herself, though the protagonist, is by no means the perfect heroine: she has her flaws, her unreasoning hatred of the maid Aasia for instance, but she is so alive and so relatable. I loved the way Mehnaz's growing up is shown: the way she slowly begins to unearth family secrets, the way her parents' attitude towards her changes, the way she starts to take control.
I loved, too, that Wajid steered clear of the temptation of tying up all the loose ends and giving everybody a happy ending. Instead, in a realistic way, she shows how life goes on, taking one turn after another.
A fine coming of age story. My only minor grouse was that the editing wasn't as good as it could have been. There were slips here and there, where one could see a sentence had been reworded but some words from the earlier sentence had got left in.
I have always loved the way Andaleeb Wajid depicts human relationships and their nuances. She's very insightful, and her writing shows a deep and empathetic understanding of how people behave. Not cookie cutter black and white, but so many shades of grey. Kite Strings is no different. The people in this story come very vividly alive, warts and all. Mehnaz herself, though the protagonist, is by no means the perfect heroine: she has her flaws, her unreasoning hatred of the maid Aasia for instance, but she is so alive and so relatable. I loved the way Mehnaz's growing up is shown: the way she slowly begins to unearth family secrets, the way her parents' attitude towards her changes, the way she starts to take control.
I loved, too, that Wajid steered clear of the temptation of tying up all the loose ends and giving everybody a happy ending. Instead, in a realistic way, she shows how life goes on, taking one turn after another.
A fine coming of age story. My only minor grouse was that the editing wasn't as good as it could have been. There were slips here and there, where one could see a sentence had been reworded but some words from the earlier sentence had got left in.
January 3, 2013
Kits strings was a nice and easy read about the life of a young, Muslim girl, Mehnaaz.
The book was very factual and real, and I could relate to it at many points. No matter how broad minded and modern our upbringing may be there still are certain things that Indian parents resist to accept when it comes from a girl, such as a decision that's against the norm. Such emotions are very nicely portrayed in the book.
I like how the author developed Imtiaz and Mehnaaz's relationship. I assumed it would be a happy ending for them and was taken aback when that wasn't the case.
I loved the way the way the book ended, stating possibilities about what might happen next, but not stating too much.
I did think though that the author could have included more details about Mehnaaz's cousin Basheer. I expected him to re-enter the story at a later point, or for Mehnaaz to discover some reasons for his sudden disappearance. Or she could have avoided mentioning him from the beginning.
Overall though, this a a great book, and I'd recommend to everyone for a good, light, refreshing read.
The book was very factual and real, and I could relate to it at many points. No matter how broad minded and modern our upbringing may be there still are certain things that Indian parents resist to accept when it comes from a girl, such as a decision that's against the norm. Such emotions are very nicely portrayed in the book.
I like how the author developed Imtiaz and Mehnaaz's relationship. I assumed it would be a happy ending for them and was taken aback when that wasn't the case.
I loved the way the way the book ended, stating possibilities about what might happen next, but not stating too much.
I did think though that the author could have included more details about Mehnaaz's cousin Basheer. I expected him to re-enter the story at a later point, or for Mehnaaz to discover some reasons for his sudden disappearance. Or she could have avoided mentioning him from the beginning.
Overall though, this a a great book, and I'd recommend to everyone for a good, light, refreshing read.
December 26, 2012
Kite Strings by Andaleeb Wajid is a story of life in Vellore, a town in Tamil Nadu from Mehnaz’s eyes. The culture and traditions of the Lababin Muslim community are on full display in the book.
For the major part of the book, the flow is nice and easy; towards the end, it became a bit too pacy with quite a few incidents happening at the same time.
Overall, the book provides a good view of life in the Lababin Muslim community from a woman’s perspective.
For the major part of the book, the flow is nice and easy; towards the end, it became a bit too pacy with quite a few incidents happening at the same time.
Overall, the book provides a good view of life in the Lababin Muslim community from a woman’s perspective.
May 15, 2011
Loved the story, a look at the world from POV of a Muslim girl growing up in Bangalore. I liked the simple story-telling. The pace of the story and enough surprises to keep the readers hooked to the story.
Story though specific about a Muslim girl is also universal in nature to all girls growing up anywhere.
Story though specific about a Muslim girl is also universal in nature to all girls growing up anywhere.
May 12, 2011
Kite Strings is an absolute delight to read. Andaleeb has very beautifully woven the life of a Lebabin Muslim woman, Mehnaz, with the yarns of her words. I, as a woman and that too one belonging to a lower middle class family, could really identify with her and her quest to find her true identity. While, Mehnaz's quest to find her identity forms the main plot of the story, there are several sub-plots to the novel, through which Andaleeb has touched upon various social and familial issues, like sibling rivalry, family disputes, child abuse, and many more. Each and every chapter is a masterpiece in its own. I'm really proud to have been associated with this book, and sincerely hope it gets the success it deserves.
Neha
Neha
May 15, 2011
Life, with all its little intricacies, joys, and sorrows just pass us by. If we don't stop to look, they'll be gone forever. Andaleeb Wajid reminds us to pause, look, examine and feel, along with her characters. I was taken along in Mehnaz's journey as she entered and explored young adulthood. As she feels the pains of growing up and the happiness of taking adult decisions, in a world torn by everyday decision making - which is so prevalent in our daily lives - but which we just pass by. Kite Strings is a remembrance of it, and Ms.Wajid weaves a delightful, yet sombre story that you can identify it. I'd definitely recommend it!
November 22, 2011
I loved this book... Beautiful story...
I learn t from this book that whatever happens in our life, sweet or bitter, life has to move on...
And I feel like finding a sort of Mehnaz in myself..!
I learn t from this book that whatever happens in our life, sweet or bitter, life has to move on...
And I feel like finding a sort of Mehnaz in myself..!
January 21, 2019
Week 3 Book 7
Kite Strings by Andaleeb Wajid
Rating: 2/5
My third book by the author, it is the usual light read chick-lit. This time, the setting is in the Lababin Muslim community in South India.
The book revolves around a young girl called Mehnaz who lives in Bangalore with her parents and little baby brother. The book chronicles the events in her life over a period of 7-8 years, during which she navigates through school, college, impending marriage; and also forever changing family dynamics with parents, siblings, cousins and relatives.
It was interesting to read about a community I know nothing about, and the story was engaging enough for me to want to reach the end, even though it had its flaws. The characters were somewhat realistic but lacked much depth. The ending was not really abrupt, but overall unsatisfactory.
Overall a strictly okay read, a quick book to read for a change, if you must.
Kite Strings by Andaleeb Wajid
Rating: 2/5
My third book by the author, it is the usual light read chick-lit. This time, the setting is in the Lababin Muslim community in South India.
The book revolves around a young girl called Mehnaz who lives in Bangalore with her parents and little baby brother. The book chronicles the events in her life over a period of 7-8 years, during which she navigates through school, college, impending marriage; and also forever changing family dynamics with parents, siblings, cousins and relatives.
It was interesting to read about a community I know nothing about, and the story was engaging enough for me to want to reach the end, even though it had its flaws. The characters were somewhat realistic but lacked much depth. The ending was not really abrupt, but overall unsatisfactory.
Overall a strictly okay read, a quick book to read for a change, if you must.
April 18, 2023
Loved the start of the book, extremely promising. However towards the ending, I felt it taper off a little, and I was extremely disappointed with the ending. It was so unresolved, and there wasn't any point. Heartwarming book all the same.
October 9, 2019
Loved it. A refreshing novel.
September 26, 2018
Kite Strings is beautifully written story of an young girl who belongs to Muslim community author excellently explained how life of that young girl goes on. I felt though this book is fictional it has a touch with reality. Loved reading it.
January 31, 2013
Andaleeb Wajid is a brilliant storyteller and Kite Strings proves that.
Not at all predictable. Emotional. Relatable. Displays the actual scenario flawlessly.
This books needs editing. Nevertheless, it was a great read. I look forward to reading more of her work.
Not at all predictable. Emotional. Relatable. Displays the actual scenario flawlessly.
This books needs editing. Nevertheless, it was a great read. I look forward to reading more of her work.
September 9, 2013
this book makes for a decent light read, except that I found the too many characters bit distracting. the editing could've been sharper and on the whole I felt that the ending was a tad abrupt with too many loose ends.
Read
February 25, 2016kindle 287
February 24, 2014
Easy and quick read. It portrays the feelings from heart of various small town girls.
November 24, 2014
Loved it. A refreshing novel.
December 27, 2015
Link to my review at https://lakshreviews.wordpress.com/20...
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews