You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
I read this in one sitting and really liked his characteristic use of the second person narrative that adds an air of authenticity. He aptly deals with the issue of a Pakistani immigrant in a pre and post 9/11 America.
Consumed this novella in basically a day and a half. Enthralling writing, especially the usage of 1st and 2nd person, and a narrative that tiptoes around expectations in a sneaky and still revealing way. Highly recommended.
You talk too bloody much.
What a total disappointment. The main character was such a skeez, and a total loser. There were about two sentences in the whole novella I enjoyed. I don't know if I was expected to sympathize with him, but I certainly do not.
As for how easy it is to slide into extremism, I do not agree at all. That is only for a certain type of person, the kind of person our protagonist is. He also can't seem to differentiate between the American and the American government.
What a total disappointment. The main character was such a skeez, and a total loser. There were about two sentences in the whole novella I enjoyed. I don't know if I was expected to sympathize with him, but I certainly do not.
As for how easy it is to slide into extremism, I do not agree at all. That is only for a certain type of person, the kind of person our protagonist is. He also can't seem to differentiate between the American and the American government.
I need someone to explain the ending to me. It was so vague as to be frustrating for me. Props for a foreigner who moved to the US being named Changez falling in love with America named Erica (get it? amERICA).
This was really weird but good.
One half of a conversation between a Pakistani Professor and an unnamed American "tourist". Discusses America's interference in global politics and the civil unrest in Pakistan.
One half of a conversation between a Pakistani Professor and an unnamed American "tourist". Discusses America's interference in global politics and the civil unrest in Pakistan.
Every one of the books I’ve read by this author has a simplistic surface with a swirling allegorical world of east-west issues underneath. So many sad moments, the issues ever present. And now with the direction Erica is headed we just might all have to pretend to be Chris.
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A simple story of an immigrant's inner turmoil around the post 9/11 America from a distinct narrative style that keeps you on the edge till the end. Personally, it left me wanting for more elaboration on the fundamentalism aspect of the story and less on lost love. Or rather, a parallel could have been drawn between the two themes where one character isn't unable to let go of childhood love for a man where the other couldn't do the same for his values.
I liked the book overall. The structure was somewhat annoying occasionally - it gave the novel an overly strident tone. Though I suppose anything about the subject is going to sound very strident. Also I found the narrator's reported 'first thoughts' on seeing the towers fall suspect. Anyone working in M&A in New York would have known more than one person in the buildings. And, it was not immediately clear how the event had happened. So the narrator claiming that his first reaction was pleasure that America had gotten her comeupance was sketchy. He didn't seem like such a brutal person that he'd not even care about people he worked with, went to school with etc who would have died. Normal humans think about actual people especially those they know when they see such an event. Politics would come later - unless you had some prior expectation.
A quick read. Interesting point of view as the author is a Pakistani Muslim living in New York, when 9/11 occurred. I could relate to some of the things he went experienced, even though I am not Muslim myself.