The Book of Gold Leaves by Mirza Waheed

*Shortlisted for the DSC Prize for South Asian Literature 2016*

‘The Book of Gold Leaves’ is a heartbreaking love story set in war-torn Kashmir. In an ancient house in the city of Srinagar, Faiz paints exquisite papier mache pencil boxes for tourists. Evening is beginning to slip into night when he sets off for the shrine. There he finds the woman with the long black hair. Roohi begs for the boy of her dreams to come and take her away. She wants a love story, an age-old tale of love, war, temptation, duty and choice.