The Flying Man

Near the end of Roopa Farooki's engrossing tale of a life, I was reminded of William Boyd's Any Human Heart. Like Boyd's epic, 20th century-spanning story, Farooki takes us on a journey from birth to death, showing us the love, pain, selfishness and weakness of the human soul.

Farooki's creation is something of an international man of mystery. Pakistan-born Maqil Karam is a drifter, who shrugs off family obligations to serve his globetrotting, wheeler-dealer nature, changing names and occupations as he charms his way through life, unwilling to be shackled by anything - even love. He's may not be likeable, but he's interesting, and, much like his humorously catty second wife - the love of his life, despite himself - he inspires a certain admiration. That's down to the engaging prose of Farooki, who has used the world as her canvas and painted an attractive fable that exudes glamour and mystery. But ultimately, for all his exoticism and defiant selfishness, her protagonist cannot fend off attachment to the weaknesses, as he sees them, that we are all susceptible to - love, family, fulfilment. Absorbing, funny and ultimately sad, The Flying Man is a cracking read.