129: Fauzia Musa on The Strangling Fig | Literary Fiction, Partition & Generational Trauma | Reading is Political

In this episode of Reading Is Political, I'm joined by debut novelist Fauzia Musa to discuss her extraordinary novel The Strangling Fig.Spanning the Partition of India and Pakistan in 1947 through to the early 2000s, The Strangling Fig is a sweeping family saga that blends literary fiction, magical realism and historical memory. We explore how personal histories become family myths, the generational impact of political decisions, and why some stories remain untold for decades. Fauzia shares how the novel began as an attempt to write her own family's history before evolving into fiction, why she introduced a ghost into the narrative, and how multiple drafts transformed the book into the story readers see today. We also discuss researching Partition, writing ambitious dual timelines, and the challenge of creating authentic characters across generations. Fauzia also recommends four books that have shaped her thinking, before sharing two comfort reads she returns to again and again:Melissa Febos – Body Work: The Radical Power of Personal NarrativeShehan Karunatilaka – The Seven Moons of Maali AlmeidaShon Faye – Love in ExileAyn Rand – The FountainheadLily King – Heart the LoverJohn Fowles – The MagusIf you enjoy conversations about books, politics, identity and the stories that shape our world, don't forget to follow In My Good Books wherever you listen to podcasts.Fauzia's Legit Substack