This is strange book about wanting it, and then wanting to have it all. Tara is born into poverty in a Pakistan village called Mazinagar. She has three sisters and a brother, Lateef, who is the favoured son. Tara is determined to escape from the life which is planned for her – and she does.

She does this initially through education and then, deliberately, by agreeing to marry a man from the city rather than from her village. Hamad, the husband, is satisfied with life but Tara has plans to continue to better herself.

She has her teeth done, has two children, learns about life and manners from her mother-in-law, and finds a job – but she still isn’t satisfied. She takes more steps, not only to become wealthy, but to be recognised as wealthy. It is almost an obsession and her behaviour goes beyond what might be considered normal as she pursues her dreams.

Her brother, Lateef, is equally ambitious and his development and increasing wealth and status parallels hers, although as a man he has all the advantages. Somehow she envies his easier rise.

By the end of the book, you realise just far she will go to achieve her dreams and yet you cannot help but sympathise with her predicament, and it’s hard to make a moral judgement. Having followed her through the ups and downs of her battle to be rich, there’s a kind of emptiness and a lack of morality in the ending of the book. Has it all been worth it you might ask? Tara would probably say yes!