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spookyaz's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide attempt, Toxic relationship, War, Grief, Hate crime, Islamophobia, Mental illness, and Sexual assault
katiegilley's review against another edition
5.0
This was the story of Changez, a man who lives in Pakistan. He shares his tragic story with an obvious American visiting Pakistan as they sit in a market drinking tea and feasting on dinner.returnreturnThe story of Changez is amazing. He grew up in Pakistan, but won scholarships that allowed him to get his college degree at Princeton. After Princeton, he earned a spot in a successful financial firm in New York City where he gets constant praise from the higher-ups. He falls in love with a girl, Erica, who has a heartbreaking tale of her own.returnreturnAll goes well for Changez until 9/11 - the towers fall in NYC and suddenly people that look similar to Changez are the enemy. Along with this, he is constantly worried about the state of the world surrounding the attacks and the ensuing battles.returnreturnThis story is told completely in the form of a conversation. I truly felt as if I were sitting with Changez and eating dinner - it was beautifully written and so comfortable to read. Many of the points that Hamid makes really struck close to home - he makes excellent observations about American life and state of mind. This was an amazing read and I would recommend it to everyone.
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
serafina_lang's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid
Plot:
The story follows, to summarise it briefly, a Pakistani Muslim man named Changez and a conversation he has with an American stranger one day, sitting on the rickety chairs outside a cafe in Lahore; where both the stranger and we, the readers, are drawn into his story. The story of how he immigrated to America at eighteen years old and was living the best life he could have imagined, until the 9/11 attacks and the consequences that they had on him and his life.
My Thoughts:
Interestingly enough, this book reminded me time and time again, of Babel. Both spin a tale of an Eastern main character who goes to the West and is exposed to the wealth, the power and the bling of a first world country with all its advanced technology and superiority. They are dazzled by its brilliance and desire to entwine themselves in the very fabric of the country, to discard their old lives, personalities and along with them, everything that was a memory of the place they had come from, where they were viewed as lesser, ignorant, pitiful, weak. Then comes the realisation that despite contorting themselves to fit the mold, they will never truly be accepted and not only that, but they are betraying their own people by working with the very country that wishes to do them harm. Finally comes the desperate urgency to right their wrongs, to escape the manipulative, exploitive pit that they once knew as the great West.
I absolutely adored the writing style, if you've ever read a book and the writing itself felt like a hug you'll know what I mean. It was so comforting and relaxing and easy to read. As for how it was laid out, I think it was so simple, yet clever. The way Changez addressed the American the whole time, narrating the story to him, yet never once do we witness dialogue between them.
This review is definitely on the shorter side and by no means elaborate because I don't have much experience with books of this genre but for me personally it was a thought-provoking, engaging read that I really enjoyed it and would definitely recommend :)
Plot:
The story follows, to summarise it briefly, a Pakistani Muslim man named Changez and a conversation he has with an American stranger one day, sitting on the rickety chairs outside a cafe in Lahore; where both the stranger and we, the readers, are drawn into his story. The story of how he immigrated to America at eighteen years old and was living the best life he could have imagined, until the 9/11 attacks and the consequences that they had on him and his life.
My Thoughts:
Interestingly enough, this book reminded me time and time again, of Babel. Both spin a tale of an Eastern main character who goes to the West and is exposed to the wealth, the power and the bling of a first world country with all its advanced technology and superiority. They are dazzled by its brilliance and desire to entwine themselves in the very fabric of the country, to discard their old lives, personalities and along with them, everything that was a memory of the place they had come from, where they were viewed as lesser, ignorant, pitiful, weak. Then comes the realisation that despite contorting themselves to fit the mold, they will never truly be accepted and not only that, but they are betraying their own people by working with the very country that wishes to do them harm. Finally comes the desperate urgency to right their wrongs, to escape the manipulative, exploitive pit that they once knew as the great West.
I absolutely adored the writing style, if you've ever read a book and the writing itself felt like a hug you'll know what I mean. It was so comforting and relaxing and easy to read. As for how it was laid out, I think it was so simple, yet clever. The way Changez addressed the American the whole time, narrating the story to him, yet never once do we witness dialogue between them.
This review is definitely on the shorter side and by no means elaborate because I don't have much experience with books of this genre but for me personally it was a thought-provoking, engaging read that I really enjoyed it and would definitely recommend :)
milliad's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
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? Yes
4.75
I loved this book. The reflective prose which read as if it was through a conversation between us and the main character was intriguing.
I enjoyed the reflection on American centralism and the way America has used the tragedy of 9/11 to exert overt influence on the developing world
I enjoyed the reflection on American centralism and the way America has used the tragedy of 9/11 to exert overt influence on the developing world
itsmoleyreads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
anon_m3's review against another edition
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
tafrito's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
vxnick's review against another edition
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0