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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
the mc’s personality made for such an unenjoyable reading experience. usually, i like reading books that show different perspectives than mine, and i did enjoy reading of some of his thought processes and ideas on life but he was honestly pretty annoying. i didn’t appreciate his constant need to comment on every woman he came across as a sexual object. there was also an undertone of his seeking validation from white america. i stayed up all night to finish this - not because i enjoyed it, more so just to get it over with - so hopefully i’m being too critical due to sleep deprivation.
Set as a monologue given by Changez to a man he meets in Lahore – a man who may or may not be a spy – The Reluctant Fundamentalist is a book that not only examines a Pakistani man who is in America during 9-11 but also the question of the reliable or unreliable narrator.
Changez’s story details his, perhaps, buying into the American dream or idea, his love for a typical, cliched American beauty, and his reaction to the terrorist attack 9-11.
The question is whether or not he is telling the truth. There is his name, there is the reference to Sleepy Hollow – which we must never forget is a story about a prank.
It’s a tricky novella.
Changez’s story details his, perhaps, buying into the American dream or idea, his love for a typical, cliched American beauty, and his reaction to the terrorist attack 9-11.
The question is whether or not he is telling the truth. There is his name, there is the reference to Sleepy Hollow – which we must never forget is a story about a prank.
It’s a tricky novella.
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:
Complicated
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
An interesting book written as a one sided conversation that explores the impression America has on other cultures. The main character is used to look at the personal conflict an individual has when participating in two cultures at odds (or in this case at war) with each other.
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
TW: consent, sex
I actually didn’t realise how much of the book was fictional and was under the impression it was based on real life events, and as a result I changed my rating from 1 to 2 stars, but then I changed it back because the below issues are just too significant regardless.
The huge issue for me was the sex scenes. The first one is incredibly disturbing: why does he not ask if she’s okay, if she wants it?! Why does he continue when she does not seem aroused at all?? At best it’s a complete lack of empathy, care or concern for Erica. It was horrible, I hated it and that is what I will remember from the book.
The second time, although very different, is not much better either. Reflecting on Changez’ relationship with Erica as a whole, it is incredibly obsessive and damaging and very much harms the book.
The 9/11 reaction is obviously just…I don’t know what to call it. I think it was added to cause controversy and to add a big stirring point to the book. It absolutely did not need to be there and the author could have made a much more compelling point about any number of things, such as American war crimes or Western indifference to death and poverty abroad.
I can appreciate uncomfortable things, but not those that are pointless or wholly unrealistic. A self-described New Yorker educated at Princeton, besotted with an American girl, working in FiDi every day at an extraordinarily exclusive high finance firm…yeah sure.
And it’s a real pity because I read the novel very quickly and I enjoyed the writing style, I did like this book a lot in several parts, but some of the content…
Title (and honestly the whole concept) is misleading since Islam is almost never mentioned, instead fundamentalist refers to a firm inside job that is not very relevant…done on purpose I suppose.
I liked the Lahore and Pakistan/India insights but the air of “don’t worry about all the Pakistani people they won’t hurt you” seemed very exaggerated and somewhat offensive. I know there are Westerners who meet the stereotypes set out in the narration, but I don’t think many people reading this book will. Again, I also didn’t feel it served any actual purpose other than adding a sense of superiority and aiding the complete contrast between “Princeton, Erica-obsessed, etc Changez” and “I smile when planes are flown into buildings Changez”
I actually didn’t realise how much of the book was fictional and was under the impression it was based on real life events, and as a result I changed my rating from 1 to 2 stars, but then I changed it back because the below issues are just too significant regardless.
The huge issue for me was the sex scenes. The first one is incredibly disturbing: why does he not ask if she’s okay, if she wants it?! Why does he continue when she does not seem aroused at all?? At best it’s a complete lack of empathy, care or concern for Erica. It was horrible, I hated it and that is what I will remember from the book.
The second time, although very different, is not much better either. Reflecting on Changez’ relationship with Erica as a whole, it is incredibly obsessive and damaging and very much harms the book.
The 9/11 reaction is obviously just…I don’t know what to call it. I think it was added to cause controversy and to add a big stirring point to the book. It absolutely did not need to be there and the author could have made a much more compelling point about any number of things, such as American war crimes or Western indifference to death and poverty abroad.
I can appreciate uncomfortable things, but not those that are pointless or wholly unrealistic. A self-described New Yorker educated at Princeton, besotted with an American girl, working in FiDi every day at an extraordinarily exclusive high finance firm…yeah sure.
And it’s a real pity because I read the novel very quickly and I enjoyed the writing style, I did like this book a lot in several parts, but some of the content…
Title (and honestly the whole concept) is misleading since Islam is almost never mentioned, instead fundamentalist refers to a firm inside job that is not very relevant…done on purpose I suppose.
I liked the Lahore and Pakistan/India insights but the air of “don’t worry about all the Pakistani people they won’t hurt you” seemed very exaggerated and somewhat offensive. I know there are Westerners who meet the stereotypes set out in the narration, but I don’t think many people reading this book will. Again, I also didn’t feel it served any actual purpose other than adding a sense of superiority and aiding the complete contrast between “Princeton, Erica-obsessed, etc Changez” and “I smile when planes are flown into buildings Changez”
Suggested by Jorden. Very short, riveting read of a young man from Pakistan telling his story in first person style to an American 'tourist'. He speaks of his time in the US and his increasing internal struggle with being a successful professional in America while feeling like he is betraying Pakistan. A very open ending that is filled in by the mind of the reader - it's not clear what ends up happening, and it seems that the author wanted it that way. Definitely a good discussion book.