Kartography tells the tale of Karachi itself and the people that give the city life. Kartography covers so many important and complex themes, it speaks of a Pakistan I never got to experience but one I still recognise. It puts forward questions about love, identity, classicism and how we define the places we call home. 

I enjoyed the writing style; it wasn't simplistic but wasn't too prose-heavy either. However, I didn't always enjoy the pacing, sometimes the flashbacks were too abrupt and spaced out a lot oddly leaving me a small bit confused at times. This book also delivers drama in a way only a desi person could write. 

In regards to the character writing, I'm conflicted, the characters have their complexities, and they are in a way two dimensional or a mishmash of tropes. However I think they are unequally developed I could never wrap my mind around Karim, other than his obsession with maps and yearning for a connection who was he? While Raheen annoyed me, it was the point, she was someone self-centred and stubborn and had to learn the errors of her ways.

Despite its flaws I think Kartography is a beautiful exploration of the history of Karachi and captures its magic in a way I have never seen before.