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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
Interesting. I did find the way the story is told--the narrator telling stories to and having brief exchanges with an interlocutor (who doesn't speak, but the narrator fills in the relevant replies)--initially clever but eventually tiresome. (Is there a name for this particular conceit of storytelling? One normally only encounters it in shorter works because, as Hamid has shown us, it is unsustainable at length.)
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
What an incredibly well written little book. Changez is a Pakistani who came to the US to attend Princeton. It his misfortune (?) to graduate and get his first job (on Wall Street
I would give it 3½ ± ½ ☪
I am often conflicted about how much of a role does trust play in the reading experience. Specifically, trust in the author. Narrated in the first person from the perspective of a Pakistani disillusioned with the western world, it is quite usual for me to have to question whether the views presented are of the character or of the author. Specially important for this book because the narrator Changez is not a particularly sympathetic character and in some of those lecturing/speechifying moments I have to question whether the author is simply presenting me a confused character or he is pushing an agenda. I guess that fluctuating ½ depends on this very issue.
I loved the format of this book, it's short, fast, the narrator is literally talking to you the reader providing a teensy bit of a mystery too trying to figure out our own identity. Interestingly that is a major theme of the book too. Changez who is uncannily charismatic tells us about his identity crisis, his inability to separate himself from his Pakistani roots and in consequence never really assimilating in America, where oddly enough he completely did live like a regular local. There is a bit of hypocrisy to him too and unfortunately that is the part where I don't know if it was deliberate, or a reflection of Hamid's own views. Also, while it's not a thriller, there are quite a few high tension moments which I loved because of the way they were written.
Overall it's a very well written book (Especially if given the benefit of doubt) which I can easily recommend especially because it has quite a few refreshing unique elements and won't take up much of your time.
I am often conflicted about how much of a role does trust play in the reading experience. Specifically, trust in the author. Narrated in the first person from the perspective of a Pakistani disillusioned with the western world, it is quite usual for me to have to question whether the views presented are of the character or of the author. Specially important for this book because the narrator Changez is not a particularly sympathetic character and in some of those lecturing/speechifying moments I have to question whether the author is simply presenting me a confused character or he is pushing an agenda. I guess that fluctuating ½ depends on this very issue.
I loved the format of this book, it's short, fast, the narrator is literally talking to you the reader providing a teensy bit of a mystery too trying to figure out our own identity. Interestingly that is a major theme of the book too. Changez who is uncannily charismatic tells us about his identity crisis, his inability to separate himself from his Pakistani roots and in consequence never really assimilating in America, where oddly enough he completely did live like a regular local. There is a bit of hypocrisy to him too and unfortunately that is the part where I don't know if it was deliberate, or a reflection of Hamid's own views. Also, while it's not a thriller, there are quite a few high tension moments which I loved because of the way they were written
Spoiler
in the first personOverall it's a very well written book (Especially if given the benefit of doubt) which I can easily recommend especially because it has quite a few refreshing unique elements and won't take up much of your time.
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The narration very effectively helps the reader understand Changez's outsider feeling despite an Ivy League education and job in NYC finance. A Pakistani living in America pre and post 9/11 -struggling with how he is perceived by society and himself. The novel takes place as a dinner table conversation in Pakistan and forces the reader to question and confront how the U.S. moves in the world. A moving and difficult read.
Slow moving but quick easy read that is just okay until it punches you in the throat in the last paragraph