Slam Dunk

It appears H M Naqvi inadvertently started a fashion trend at the recently concluded Jaipur Literature Festival. The Pakistani author’s style of wearing his sweatshirts zipped low to reveal a bare chest caught the fancy of many a young man,and a surprising number of bare chests were spotted thereafter. He wore the attention with ease,just as he treats the acclaim for his debut novel Home Boy,with humility and humour. “I would say about 16 per cent of the book is autobiographical. I just know it’s not 15 per cent or 17 per cent of the experiences that I have drawn out in the book,” says Naqvi,35.

Written in a language that is strongly associated with hip-hop and slam poetry,Home Boy (HarperCollins,Rs 399) tells the story of three young Pakistani men in New York City. But post 9/11,they cannot be carefree “Metrostanis” any longer; they’re caught in an America that is suspicious. “I call it the post-post 9/11 book. It is a coming-of-age novel,an immigrant tale,a South Asian novel and an American novel as well,” says Naqvi.