In a world of magic realism, a fly-covered baby girl is found and raised by two mothers in a village rife with rituals and superstition. She pursues acceptance at all costs, while the villagers seek sanctity at a shrine dedicated to the Keeper of the Flies, which is separated from the village by a threatening cane field.

REVIEWS

“Rana gives us a compelling and rare glimpse into the life of rural Pakistan in her novel Wild Boar in the Cane Field.”

Bapsi Sidhwa, author of The Crow Eaters and City of Sin and Splendour: Writings on Lahore

“Here we are gifted a world that is vibrant and richly imagined. The narrative voice is tender and patient in its portrayal of how tradition touches modernity, how the ancients sway the imaginations of the young.”

Shanti Sekaran, author of The Prayer Room and Lucky Boy

“An astonishing novel that transports the reader to rural Pakistan. The author paints a vivid picture that shocks and enthralls. Rural Pakistan is seldom written about—and even when it is, the overall effect isn’t convincing. With a host of unforgettable characters and a gripping plot, Wild Boar in the Cane Field towers over other contemporary literature. This is a debut you will fall in love with.”

Awais Khan, author of In the Company of Strangers

“Immersive and intense, Wild Boar in the Cane Field, a novel by Anniqua Rana, explores the resilience of one woman’s spirit in the face of adversity.”

NRI Pulse

“Rana’s words echo long after the book is over as one mourns over the losses faced by her characters in the course of the narrative. The emotions are intense and extremely powerful. One can find oneself cheering for Saffiya and Bhaggan as they battle their way through a painful existence, riddled with blind beliefs and superstition… This book is a treat to devour from start to finish. Everything about it is vivid.”

Kitaab.org

“Rana is a vivid writer with a talent for evocative metaphors . ”

Kirkus Reviews