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“One Way to Pakistan” Harold Bergsma’s tale of corruption and abduction in Pakistan is a very compelling read that rates right up there with, “The Kite Runner” by Khaled Hosseini. The novel is set in a post 9/11 world where American freedoms are at odds with Islamist traditions and the law of Sharia. Bergsma paints a vivid picture of sexual repression and wide-spread graft in a culture foreign to most of us but all too familiar to him as having been born and raised on the sub-continent. His characters are from all walks of life and social castes and give an insightful peek (literally) at how the other half lives. Inevitable none of them escape unscathed as they try to survive in the maelstrom caused by daily terrorist threats and the clash between imperialism and fundamentalism. As a world traveler and raconteur myself, I wholeheartedly recommend this novel to anyone who is interested in finding out more about a society that we as Americans have embraced as an ally in the war on terror- it is a real eye-opener. Robert McMahan, San Diego, California. In One Way to Pakistan, Harold Bergsma takes us behind the headlines to a world where Muslims and Christians are all too human. Using powerful images of three abductions, he weaves a tale which is engaging and passionately written and causes us to care deeply about his characters and their fates. Characters and events such as these, at first glance, may be misunderstood by westerners, but their cultural context on the global stage is made clear and definitely compelling. Fascinating, thought-provoking and sympathetic, this novel is an important contribution to both global and multicultural understanding.Elaine Jarchow, Ph.D., Dean, Author, Preparing to Teach Global Perspectives, Corwin Press, 1997 Reading One Way to Pakistan by Harold Bergsma gave me a nostalgic visit to my childhood in India. The characters in it became real people for me and I felt very involved in their lives. The story drew me in comple
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As Pakistan takes the focal stage in the current international affairs, this novel is a timely piece, which reminds us of how little we know of this country, its culture and its people. Growing up in India, before it was partitioned into Pakistan, Bergsma has a good grasp of the language and the culture, which is rather unusual for a westerner. He uses his knowledge of the land to tell the story of a young Philippine American woman who went into this country with total naivety and was soon ntangled in the intricate local culture and customs. She was later abducted and transported to the tribal region between Pakistan and Afghanistan, a hideout of Taliban and a hotbed for terrorists.
Through a story mixed with murder, abduction and rape, the author exposed many dark sides of human behavior in that part of the world with his vivid descriptions of each character.
What intrigued me the most is the thoughts and actions of some of the characters in the book. They are certainly beyond my comprehension. The author has spent many of his younger years in the Muslim culture. His portrayal of the characters is most likely derived from his own experiences. If fictions are sometimes stranger than truth then I cannot imagine what is still happening today in some of these societies. My job has brought me to many places in the world; however, I only had several brief encounters with a Muslim society to realize how rigid that is. I think you have to read this book to fully understand the intricacies of their culture and religion.
Is there any hope in globalization? Bergsma’s book brings us to ponder this question. We live in a global village today but how many of us really understand cultures other than our own let alone appreciate them. We tend to put everything on the economic scale while ignoring other cultural and religious perspectives. I hope everyone can read this
book so more of us on this side of the globe can start to understand what the other side is thinking. This book certainly opened my eyes to that part of the world.
Rating: 5 / 5
Harold Bergsma’s engrossing novel, “One Way to Pakistan,” has everything going for it: intrigue, sensitive characterization , tender moments, skulduggery. Having lived for ten years in that part of the world, I found Bergsma’s detailed descriptions so evocatively reminiscent. I could almost taste the mutton curry and smell the sandalwood. I recommend this book as required reading for anyone who applies for a visa to to Pakistan. (i would also suggest buying a round-trip ticket.)
Joan B. Manley, author, “She Flew No Flags,” Houghton Mifflin.
Rating: 5 / 5