If this city could talk

It's the tail-end of a very, very long summer in Pakistan. If your summer - like your youth - feels a little misspent, don't worry! There is totally a way to escape your here and now and it's kind of cheap. Cheaper compared to air fares and so on, at least. Like your fourth-grade English teacher, or your mom, we're here to tell you that you can read about far off places and travel to them in your imagination.

We like to think that every city in Pakistan has its own magic, and sometimes that magic is caught so fantastically in words and stories, you just have to experience it. Here are four books that aren't about the city, but define its essence so perfectly that reading them might just help you understand them (and those cousins with inexplicable personalities that live there) just a little bit better.

Moth Smoke (2000)

Mohsin Hamid

Everyone who hit a certain age and read Moth Smoke will always assume all that happens in Lahore is fancy parties, illegal substances, and betrayal. With characters named after figures from the Mughal dynasty, which could be a nod to the city's royal past, Hamid gives us flashes of insight into everything from the social scene (of the '90s), the weather, and that Lahore vibe. This may not be the definitive work of fiction on Lahore, but it definitely one of the first in modern times.

Kartography (2001)

Kamila Shamsie

In Kartography, Kamila Shamsie sets the story of unrequited love against the disco ball of tumult Karachi is. Whether it is the riots, the disparity of privilege, or the color of the sky that provide the background; if you miss Karachi, love Karachi, or are just curious about Karachi, this should be on your reading list.

The Party Worker (2017)

Omar Shahid Hamid

The Party Worker is Karachi lore. It is history written as fiction, therefore is perhaps easier to read, but also one person's perspective on the history. It's a good thing this person has great insight into Karachi's law enforcement and politics, giving the perspective credibility.

Vapour Trails (2021)

Abdul Qadir

Vapour Trails starts in Islamabad but goes everywhere else, just like the people who come from Islamabad. Like most creative works from Pakistan's capital, Vapour Trails reflects the restlessness that bubbles just beneath Islamabad's serene surface, and reminds us why we need it: restlessness leads to action. Whether good, bad, or in the case of Vapour Trails, rather bloody, action is important to take us to the next level.