The two friends

The story of the novel narrates the tale of Zehra and Maryam, who were close friends since childhood in the Pakistani city of Karachi, despite their almost complete differences, from their personalities to their backgrounds and the values each was raised on. After 3 decades of knowing each other, the two girls became influential women, each forging a distinct path in life after reaching the British capital, London. But the appearance of two troubling figures from their past makes it necessary for them to confront their deep differences, so they can discover whether their friendship is capable of surviving and enduring. This sensitive, thought-provoking novel, filled with unexpected twists, offers a captivating exploration of an old question: can loyalty and principles compensate for a close friendship? It is worth mentioning that the British press celebrated the novel after its release, and some of what was said about it includes: "Every new novel by Kamala Shamsi deserves to be celebrated, but this work is different: an epic novel exploring the bonds of childhood friendship, the possibility of survival, and how the world of politics invades the personal, all through two heroines portrayed with great precision." It is also noteworthy that the Dar Al-Tanweer previously published the author's novel "Naar Al-Dar" (Fire of the House), which was nominated for several awards, including the British Booker Prize, the Costa Prize, and the Women's Novel Prize.