|The First City of Love by Mustansar Husain Tarar| |Book Review by Hajra Saeed|

Book: The First City of Love
Writer: Mustansar Husain Tarar
Review by: Hajra Saeed



A classic novel by a classic writer, Mustansar Husain Tarar. Not less than a mountaineer, a tourist and not more than his very own self, Tarar Sahab is known for his spectacular travelogues. The first published in 1971. He has made tremendous contributions to Pakistani television too. His name is a pride for our country.
 Talking about his very first novel, "The First City of Love", published in 1974, is mind blowing. Though an avid reader of Tarar sahab can find his later novels more appealing but for beginners, "the first city of love" is their first love.

Synopsis:
Story of the novel revolves around the restive soul of a Lahori tourist, named Sanan, who is on a tour of Europe. It intervenes with the inferiority complex of a handicapped belle, named Pascal, who is living in Paris. It is pleasing to know how Tarar sahab has depicted that already there are confinements laid by society on a person and it will be brutal if a person himslef encloses him in his own complexes. The astounding mixture of a travelogue with a love story is the success of this novel.

Impact of the novel:
The stirring writing style makes the reader forget his surroundings.
Apparently the book takes you in the streets of Paris, it tries to convince you about your own self esteem. Implausibly the writer wants you to know, in the world of true love, no one is unfaithful. Love stories are never happy. Each of the two have to suffer their own sacrifice. Moreover it depicts the purity and eastern coy in a young western beauty. And this is something really alluring.
  
Best part of the story:
 I enjoyed the most when Sanan and Pascal visited the museum of Louvre. Their conversation in front of the statue of "Venice De Milo" is the central theme of the novel. Everything the writer wants to say about extreme love, fear of being non acceptable by society and all the emotional boundaries is stated in this scene.

Objections on this novel:
 Readers object the ending of this novel. Well, according to me the end can be justified in one sentence:

"With the walls of sand, was built, the First city of Love"
Some readers are not happy with such weird names of the main characters. Well, I take this as an emblem of uniqueness of this novel.
  
Why to read this novel:
  •  If you are interested in history, this novel has elements of your satisfaction.
  • If you are crazy for love stories, this story will not disappoint you.
  • If you are having a tourist soul, this book will bring satisfaction to it.
  • If you are fond of beautiful phrases made up of clear impressive words, This is Your companion!
  • Read it and you will remember it forever.

I rate this novel in comparison to Tarar Sahabs other novels as 7/10



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