Moni Mohsin

Book Title: The Impeccable Integrity of Ruby R.
Author: Moni Mohsin
Format: Kindle

My Review:
This is my first novel by Moni Mohsin, famous for her books like The Diary of a Social Butterfly, which is the musings of a society airhead whose life revolves around shopping, gossip and partying, it was a fun read. This book was highly acclaimed for its audacious contents. Here in this book with the character Ruby, author Moni has created an interesting tale that runs a serious subject related to politics in Pakistan and a young girl's dreams to see her country in better shape.

The story in ' The Impeccable Integrity of Ruby R. ' is of a 23-year-old young Ruby Rauf, a student from London who prepares for her goal to study business and media and get a good job. One day, she hears a political speech by Saif Haq, a former movie actor and now turned into a politician. His speech about making the country great, a corruption-free country and many more such positive promises impress Ruby to the core. It so happens her admiration towards him lands her into a job as his party's social media admin. Not to forget Saif is an old man but with his own mindset.

Ruby is a feminist for herself. As the story progresses, the readers understand the real face of Saif as a sexist, abuser, ill-mannered and vile personality. In the story, when the readers get to see both the characters and their traits, there prevails a confusion and point of clarity that how did Ruby, a feminist fall for Saif being a misogynist. In another place, readers also see that Ruby is shown becoming the social media wig head though she knows the fact of how the funds flow, what kind of criminal activities are carried out in the name of the party, Ruby ignores. These two points created a buzz in my head. Hope someday Author Moni could explain this.

In the process of being close to Saif, a 23-year-old Ruby somewhere starts imagining the 60-year-old actor turned politician more than a confidant. Until she shows the traces of jealousy when Saif announces his marriage to a socialite, Ruby's character depleted in the impression. A dynamic young female who had a zeal to do something great in life behaves like a cliché female being, which is somewhat unacceptable to me.

To conclude, this story with many other characters that fail to impress, Moni Mohsin's story is a one-time read with a political backdrop.

Final Verdict
An interesting political satirical thriller!

Rating:
3/5










… (mehr)

I originally downloaded this novel as a reworking of Emma by Jane Austen, because the title was featured under that description on Amazon. Then, when I started reading, I had to squint to make the connection - Asian matchmaker tries to find the 'right kind' of bride for her reluctant cousin - but by that point, I was glad to be reading Moni Mohsin and not Jane Austen! Great fun - witty, entertaining, and even poignant in places, the rather distinctive narrative is both endearing and aggravating!

The wealthy heroine of the novel could be accused of being even more unlikeable than Emma Woodhouse - so of course I loved her! She speaks in a sort of Urdu-English blend, full of malapropisms and quirky catchphrases ('between you, me and the four walls', 'don't even ask'), that reveal her flighty personality and good nature. Husband Janoo is her Mr Knightley, grounded in good sense and a modern, liberal attitude. I love how she trips herself up, showing how she is the biggest 'hippo-crit' in a lot of ways, but she comes good in the end (of course). I also enjoyed the author's taste of Pakistani culture, from the privileged lifestyle of the narrator and her socialite friends, to the working class poverty of families at the other end of the scale. Being completely Western and shallow, however, the description of food had me drooling!

Any similarities between this work of fiction and Jane Austen's Emma may be purely coincidental, but I'm glad I fell for Amazon's marketing ploy!… (mehr)

This has nothing at all in common with any Jane Austen book any way you look at it. It was a piece of flimflam trash light fiction to read on the beach if that is your sort of thing. It wasn't mine.

Two stars because on a scale of dreadfulness it was only somewhat boring, pretentious rubbish where because it was set in Pakistan the foreignness of it was probably meant to add to it from a cultural perspective. It did, but not in a good way, too many stereotypical people and situations. It wasn't one star unreadable nor was it good enough for a three star 'meh, ok'. It was one of those read it and forgot it books.… (mehr)