Mohammed Hanif: ‘I thought she was joking’
Mohammed Hanif on being longlisted for the Man Booker
Congratulations on being longlisted for the 2008 Man Booker Prize. Where were you and how did you feel when you heard the news?
Thanks. I was on my way to watch The Dark Knight with my son and his friends. A writer friend of mine called and told me and I thought she was joking. When I came out of the movie I had messages on my phone from my publisher and some other friends. It felt very weird. Like a bit of joke. What is the literary world coming to, I thought.
A Case of Exploding Mangoes is your first published novel but you have written plays for stage, screen and radio. Which do you prefer to write?
When I am writing a play I am always thinking wouldn't it be great to be writing a big fat novel. And when I try to write a novel I think may be I should just write a short story. And then I start writing a short story and it threatens to become a novel or a movie. So still trying to figure out what I prefer.
Your novel concerns the mystery surrounding the Hercules C130 plane that went down in August 1988 carrying General Zia ul Haq, Pakistan's military dictator. What made you choose to write about it?
Boredom mostly. I work as a journalist and your work life is more or less governed by BBC's editorial guidelines. I wanted to get away from that.
You were a Pilot Officer in the Pakistan Air Force in the 1980s. Did you use any real life experiences in the book?
I tried to but realised that I don't remember much of those experiences. I wanted to describe a military drill but couldn't really remember how it works despite the fact that I had done it for about seven years. I had to look it up on YouTube. But yes I am familiar with some of the military rituals and that helped.
How has the book been received internationally?
It has found publishers in about a dozen different languages. There have been some ecstatic reviews, and some reviewers have hated it. I guess over all you can say that it has been well-received.
In an interview with The Times you said that you 'aimed to write a thriller with jokes'. Do you think you succeeded?
Partly I guess. Some people have found it funny, others have found it quite sad. Some have said that it's a page turner, other find it quite convoluted.
Many Man Booker nominated novels have been adapted for film. Do you think A Case of Exploding Mangoes would work on the big screen?
I have written a film and half in the past and I still don't understand the medium. It'll require a script writer far more experienced than me and a lot of money as the novel involves fighter jets, and planes blowing up. I have a strange feeling that it might work better as a stage musical.
Where do you write and when are you at your most creative?
Still trying to figure out. But mostly early mornings and early evenings. I think I can be a bit creative when I am travelling on a train.
What is your next project? Are you working on a new novel?
I am supposed to working on one but I am in the middle of moving back to Pakistan so it's kind of slow.
Can you recommend a book you have read recently?
Robin Yassin-Kassab's The Road from Damascus is profound and funny at the same time.
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