
Mehreen Arshi is a Pakistani-born, Australia-raised writer, researcher, and reader based in Canberra. After fifteen years in scientific research and writing, she turned to fiction to explore family, identity, belonging, cultural expectation, and the private desires that shape a life.

She is the author of *I carry your heart*, a family romance set between Pakistan, Australia, and London. Her second novel, currently in progress, follows the long shadow of the 1947 Partition of India and Pakistan.


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Pakistani-born, Australia-raised writer based in Canberra.

Mehreen Arshi


We all read for different reasons. Entertainment is an obvious one. Knowledge and personal growth are others. But what makes a book truly click?

When I read, I look for a story that will linger with me long after I’ve closed the cover. I want to be absorbed by it, lost in the language, immersed in the setting shaped by carefully chosen words. Words can make or break a story. The same plot, told in two different styles, can leave entirely different impressions on a reader. Half the magic lies in the story itself; the other half lies in the storytelling.

How did the author arrive at that particular line? How striking is that metaphor? How did they transform ink on paper into something I can feel in my chest? If the language of a narrative fails to captivate deeply, something is missing. The power of storytelling lies not only in what is told, but in how it is told.

That said, words are not the sole pillars upon which a story stands. Attention to detail and character development are just as crucial. We need to understand the characters, not merely their physical appearance, but their essence. Without a backstory, it becomes difficult to form an emotional connection with a protagonist. One of the most effective ways to build this connection is through observing how a character acts and reacts in ordinary situations. Their thoughts, their small opinions about everyday matters. These often reveal more than dramatic events ever could.

Understanding a character also deepens when we see them through the eyes of others. What do other characters think of them? Fear them? Admire? Resent? Without grasping who they are and why they behave as they do, it is difficult to empathise with them, or even to dislike them meaningfully.

Another essential element is emotional maturity within both the characters and the narrative. This is not about age, but about depth. When we read, we embark on a journey, not merely through time, but through transformation. That journey may chart the rise and fall of relationships, a coming-of-age evolution, or the consequences of a single pivotal event. Whether the arc leads toward growth or destruction, there must be movement. Stagnation weakens a story; development strengthens it.

These are just some of the elements I will be exploring in my reflections on each book I read, what made it resonate with me and what fell short. They are, of course, my personal impressions. You are welcome to disagree.


Intricate character development and attention to detail are crucial for readers to connect emotionally with the story.

Motivation.

Exploring the art of story telling