Scan barcode
sweetbeetle's review against another edition
3.0
`I saw that in this constant striving to realize a financial future, no thought was given to the critical personal and political issues that affect one's emotional present.'
A sort of slow take on losing faith in the promise of the rightous American big brother. The main character goes from enjoying the American dream without much critical thought until the aftermath of 9/11 starts to affect his own life...
In some sense, a very classic male narrated story. The character in the current timeline seems sort of all-knowing and arrogant. He tells about his life before 9/11 where he was super successful, but also naive, rarely thinking about politics (or how his actions affects others). Then 9/11 happens and he starts feeling a lot of feelings he doesn't have a language for, his emotions build up. This lasts a while, until almost in the end heabruptly changes his course of life and becomes this strangely arrogant character he is the current timeline.
The last part should have his character explain his viewpoints and perhaps greater political ideas, but this part is very short, the ideas are scattered and thin. The story does not offer much insight into the future the character envisions, only that Pakistan cannot trust that America has its back in a war against India, and therefore Pakistan should become more politically independent. It unclear to me if the character has nationalistic tendencies. Maybe I am a bad reader, but I feel the book didn't give much in terms of providing new ideas, good observations or clarity in the overall message. Even the emotional part, feelings creeping up on you slowly and changing your outlook on life, was stale.
Overall, everything was just alright, it was easy to read, engaging in some ways and it has a Norwegian Wood-type love-story added in the mix. I didn't hate it despite my harsh review, but it certainly had room for improvement.
A sort of slow take on losing faith in the promise of the rightous American big brother. The main character goes from enjoying the American dream without much critical thought until the aftermath of 9/11 starts to affect his own life...
In some sense, a very classic male narrated story. The character in the current timeline seems sort of all-knowing and arrogant. He tells about his life before 9/11 where he was super successful, but also naive, rarely thinking about politics (or how his actions affects others). Then 9/11 happens and he starts feeling a lot of feelings he doesn't have a language for, his emotions build up. This lasts a while, until almost in the end he
The last part should have his character explain his viewpoints and perhaps greater political ideas, but this part is very short, the ideas are scattered and thin. The story does not offer much insight into the future the character envisions, only that Pakistan cannot trust that America has its back in a war against India, and therefore Pakistan should become more politically independent. It unclear to me if the character has nationalistic tendencies. Maybe I am a bad reader, but I feel the book didn't give much in terms of providing new ideas, good observations or clarity in the overall message. Even the emotional part, feelings creeping up on you slowly and changing your outlook on life, was stale.
Overall, everything was just alright, it was easy to read, engaging in some ways and it has a Norwegian Wood-type love-story added in the mix. I didn't hate it despite my harsh review, but it certainly had room for improvement.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Suicide, and Xenophobia
motherofladybirds's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
aarustin's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Islamophobia and Deportation
Minor: Suicide and War
clemmiem's review against another edition
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime and Islamophobia
Moderate: Classism, Mental illness, and Suicide
katharina90's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Loved the stylistic choice of the one-sided dialogue, the voice of the Pakistani narrator, and the ambiguous ending.
Great commentary on US imperialism, capitalism, the immigrant experience in general, and the rampant racism and islamophobia post-9/11 in particular.
Didn't care for the Erica storyline, whether it's supposed to serve as an allegory or not.
"As a society, you were unwilling to reflect upon the shared pain that united you with those who attacked you. You retreated into myths of your own difference, assumptions of your own superiority. And you acted out these beliefs on the stage of the world, so that the entire planet was rocked by the repercussions of your tantrums, not least my family, now facing war thousands of miles away. Such an America had to be stopped in the interests not only of the rest of humanity, but also in your own."
Great commentary on US imperialism, capitalism, the immigrant experience in general, and the rampant racism and islamophobia post-9/11 in particular.
Didn't care for the Erica storyline, whether it's supposed to serve as an allegory or not.
"As a society, you were unwilling to reflect upon the shared pain that united you with those who attacked you. You retreated into myths of your own difference, assumptions of your own superiority. And you acted out these beliefs on the stage of the world, so that the entire planet was rocked by the repercussions of your tantrums, not least my family, now facing war thousands of miles away. Such an America had to be stopped in the interests not only of the rest of humanity, but also in your own."
Content Warnings
Moderate: War, Xenophobia, Racism, Suicide, Grief, Islamophobia, and Mental illness
joensign's review against another edition
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Racism, Suicide, Islamophobia, War, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Mental illness and Sexual assault
Minor: Cancer
meenalgarg's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Death, and Mental illness
emdear's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
simoneg's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Mental illness, and Grief
Minor: Suicide
amkclaes's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This is a quick read, solid and poignant, reflects on immigration experiences and 9/11, but I found some plot elements extraneous, and the ending a bit rushed
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Islamophobia, and Death
Moderate: Suicide and War