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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
CAWPILE score: 7.71
An interesting little story with a fun narrative structure. I was captivated to keep reading.
An interesting little story with a fun narrative structure. I was captivated to keep reading.
I really enjoyed reading this but was a bit disappointed by the lackluster ending that the book seemed to be building towards all the way through.
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A great, quick read. Story of a Muslim immigrant to the US and how his life changed after 9/11. Story shows the depth and complications that such a character might feel. The way the story is told by the narrator sitting with a stranger at a cafe is very refreshing. Great discussion to be had and consider the meaning of the ending!`
Overall, I really enjoyed this story. I like Hamid's writing, however I was not a fan of how this story was presented. I know why he chose to use the monologue style, but it's not my thing. I will definitely read the rest of his novels though.
This one *is*, for once, as advertised, "beautifully written." I love the second person voice, the ominous foreshadowing in the sparse hints we get of the person that the narrator is speaking to as they share a meal in a Lahore restaurant. I love the way the narrator's voice demonstrates how at home he is here, and how different that character is from the unfinished young man he describes himself as being previously while at university in the USA.
The one plot-thread that continually rang false for me was the love interest, Erica. I could not get my head around this beautiful, talented, high-spirited, filthy rich Ivy League graduate who was at the same time so deeply spiritually wounded (with real wounds) that she couldn't function. I didn't believe in her wounding, ever. I didn't believe in her dead boyfriend. I didn't believe in their perfect childhood friendship. I didn't believe he died of cancer at 17 or whatever it was. I didn't believe in Erica's sort-of breakdown-remission or hiatus or whatever it was that made her fully functional for some undefined period between Chris's death and her own (staged?) disappearance (suicide?).
I didn't believe in her to the extent that I thought maybe the NARRATOR was making her up, not the author; the NARRATOR.
But here's a curious thing. I found her to be quite a Lolita figure, a Daisy Buchanan figure, representative of grace and youth and perfection and --above all--of AMERICA--seductive, beautiful, wholesome, wealthy, fatally flawed. And then, as I was typing her name for this review, I remembered having a conversation with a friend about Erica's name--before I read the book. I suggested at the time (not having read the book) that it had nothing to do with a pun on "America" and that I have a cousin named Erica and it's a common enough name. But now that I've read the book I'm not so sure about this any more. If this character had ever said, which I don't remember her saying, "I am Erica," it could also be construed as "I America."
So I suppose I understand why she's there, as a sort of extended metaphor and catalyst, but I still didn't like the way her very dominant and unconvincing presence worked in what would otherwise be an arguably flawless narrative.
Maybe my book group will enlighten me further!
The one plot-thread that continually rang false for me was the love interest, Erica. I could not get my head around this beautiful, talented, high-spirited, filthy rich Ivy League graduate who was at the same time so deeply spiritually wounded (with real wounds) that she couldn't function. I didn't believe in her wounding, ever. I didn't believe in her dead boyfriend. I didn't believe in their perfect childhood friendship. I didn't believe he died of cancer at 17 or whatever it was. I didn't believe in Erica's sort-of breakdown-remission or hiatus or whatever it was that made her fully functional for some undefined period between Chris's death and her own (staged?) disappearance (suicide?).
I didn't believe in her to the extent that I thought maybe the NARRATOR was making her up, not the author; the NARRATOR.
But here's a curious thing. I found her to be quite a Lolita figure, a Daisy Buchanan figure, representative of grace and youth and perfection and --above all--of AMERICA--seductive, beautiful, wholesome, wealthy, fatally flawed. And then, as I was typing her name for this review, I remembered having a conversation with a friend about Erica's name--before I read the book. I suggested at the time (not having read the book) that it had nothing to do with a pun on "America" and that I have a cousin named Erica and it's a common enough name. But now that I've read the book I'm not so sure about this any more. If this character had ever said, which I don't remember her saying, "I am Erica," it could also be construed as "I America."
So I suppose I understand why she's there, as a sort of extended metaphor and catalyst, but I still didn't like the way her very dominant and unconvincing presence worked in what would otherwise be an arguably flawless narrative.
Maybe my book group will enlighten me further!
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Definitely his best work. I think Hamid is an experimental writer to the core, some times more successfully than others. The narrative style, though distracting on occasion, seemed well-suited for the story of someone who just wants his perspective/frustrations heard and understood. It made sense.
This book is so good. Mohsin Hamid is quickly becoming one of my new favs. Such a narrative gift.
In light of recent events and controversy, this seemed like an appropriate book to read. Although the title suggested a novel about religious fanaticism, there was virtually no talk of any discrepancy between Islam and Christianity. In that respect, since I was eager for such a discourse, I was mildly disappointed. That said, however, when all was read and done (see what I did there?), I closed the pages of a book I enjoyed very much, one that I thought spoke multitudes. Especially today.
Here's what's going on in our world today. A brief recap of recent events, if you will. For all intents and purposes, I am removing names - they simply don't matter. Some Muslims want to open a mosque and community center for other Muslims in New York. Here's the problem (or what is widely perceived to be the problem) - the Imam wants to put it in a building that is only a couple of blocks from Ground Zero, a place that almost exactly 9 years ago housed two skyscrapers that were destroyed by Muslim extremists. Many people are outraged, they say it's distasteful and insulting and insensitive. Some people (rational, clear-headed, live-and-let-live type of people) acknowledge that it's quite wrong, quite bigoted, and quite insensitive to deny the Mosque. Some moron Pastor in Florida with a big, ugly moustache decides he wants to get some cameras pointed at his old, wrinkled head and declares that this September 11th (this approaching Saturday) he and his congregation (about 50 people) will burn 200 Korans - the Muslim Holy text. Everyone is in an outrage over this (or maybe they just don't like his moustache), and rightfully so. It's a stupid, dangerous, and incredibly hypocritical thing to do. The moustache man talks with the Imam in New York. Moustache man said that he'd cancel the event because the Imam agreed to move his Mosque somewhere else. Imam says that no such agreement took place. Moustache man is confused and says he'll have to reconsider his cancellation of the Koran bonfire. Meanwhile, up in some fancy penthouse in NY city, one of the wealthiest men in the country with funny hair makes a phone call, offers a lot of money for the building that is to house the Mosque (more money than was paid for it), and suggests the Muslims take their Mosque somewhere else. Mr. Moneybags would like the whole ordeal to be swept under the rug (not an Islamic prayer rug, mind you!!) and to avoid any further controversy.
There. At least if the review doesn't do much for you, you're up on your current events!
In The Reluctant Fundamentalist we read about a Pakastani man, Changez, who experiences awesome success in America. He graduates from Princeton, is offered a top-notch job at only 22, dates a beautiful girl, and is hugely respected and admired by all of his friends and acquaintances. To put it cliché-ly, he's living the American dream. That is, until, the attack on the World Trade Center - to which he has an interesting reaction to. After the attack, he's viewed suspiciously, he's called a "fucking Arab," he's strip searched at airports. He goes from being reverent of America to one who has rapidly dwindling respect for America. And he eventually returns to Pakistan, a country that is on the brink of war.
The story is told as a conversation at a cafe in Lahore, Pakistan. Changez is speaking to an American, and as the discussion progresses the reader begins to feel a bit wary of its outcome. It's riveting, a page-turner, and it's quite nicely written. At first I was skeptical that such a conversation could take place realistically, but after the end of the novel I can buy it. I suggest, actually, that after you finish the book, you go back and re-read the first paragraph. Sort of ties it all good and tight.
Anyway, what does this book have to do with my long, ranting summary of current events? Well, since you asked... Changez experienced then what so many people are experiencing today. Islamophobia, fear of the Other, and horrible stereotyping. We feel bad for Changez. I really quite like him. I feel remorse for him. And at the end, which I will not ruin, I was a bit upset.
While the extremists who flew airplanes into the twin towers were indeed MUSLIM, it in no way follows that all Muslims are extremists. It's worth remembering that Muslims died in the towers, too (and not just the ones who commandeered the planes). America so readily prides herself on the constitution, we claim to be one of the more civilized nations, claim to open our arms to all walks of life - this is what America is all about. Unfortunately, though, America is comprised of all walks of life and included in that "all" are mean, cold-hearted, jerk-offs who fail to actually make the nation what they say it is.
Changez is only one, isolated case of the affect of racism and stereotyping. But it's a case none the less. Since 9/11, things have gotten a little better. It seems, however, that the mosque has excited our sensitivities all over. To the point where a man with a big moustache thinks it's a good idea to burn another religion's holy text.
Now, all this talk about mosques and pastors and holy texts brings me to this disclaimer. I'm not religious. I think all religion is in one way or another poisonous to society. I also see no reprieve from it. I'm not actually in favor of any mosque or church or temple. I think they all represent irrational thought. But in America, I recognize the importance of allowing people to persist in irrational thought - to an extent, anyway. And I furthermore recognize the inhumanity that blares when, as a nation, we judge millions of people based on the actions of a few. Islam is indeed worthy of fear, but so are all the other religions. Including that of unrelenting patriotism.
For what it's worth, I don't hate America. I love it here. I love that I can say things like I said in this review without being hanged or stoned. I also love dogs. But sometimes I find them to be pretty disgusting.
Here's what's going on in our world today. A brief recap of recent events, if you will. For all intents and purposes, I am removing names - they simply don't matter. Some Muslims want to open a mosque and community center for other Muslims in New York. Here's the problem (or what is widely perceived to be the problem) - the Imam wants to put it in a building that is only a couple of blocks from Ground Zero, a place that almost exactly 9 years ago housed two skyscrapers that were destroyed by Muslim extremists. Many people are outraged, they say it's distasteful and insulting and insensitive. Some people (rational, clear-headed, live-and-let-live type of people) acknowledge that it's quite wrong, quite bigoted, and quite insensitive to deny the Mosque. Some moron Pastor in Florida with a big, ugly moustache decides he wants to get some cameras pointed at his old, wrinkled head and declares that this September 11th (this approaching Saturday) he and his congregation (about 50 people) will burn 200 Korans - the Muslim Holy text. Everyone is in an outrage over this (or maybe they just don't like his moustache), and rightfully so. It's a stupid, dangerous, and incredibly hypocritical thing to do. The moustache man talks with the Imam in New York. Moustache man said that he'd cancel the event because the Imam agreed to move his Mosque somewhere else. Imam says that no such agreement took place. Moustache man is confused and says he'll have to reconsider his cancellation of the Koran bonfire. Meanwhile, up in some fancy penthouse in NY city, one of the wealthiest men in the country with funny hair makes a phone call, offers a lot of money for the building that is to house the Mosque (more money than was paid for it), and suggests the Muslims take their Mosque somewhere else. Mr. Moneybags would like the whole ordeal to be swept under the rug (not an Islamic prayer rug, mind you!!) and to avoid any further controversy.
There. At least if the review doesn't do much for you, you're up on your current events!
In The Reluctant Fundamentalist we read about a Pakastani man, Changez, who experiences awesome success in America. He graduates from Princeton, is offered a top-notch job at only 22, dates a beautiful girl, and is hugely respected and admired by all of his friends and acquaintances. To put it cliché-ly, he's living the American dream. That is, until, the attack on the World Trade Center - to which he has an interesting reaction to. After the attack, he's viewed suspiciously, he's called a "fucking Arab," he's strip searched at airports. He goes from being reverent of America to one who has rapidly dwindling respect for America. And he eventually returns to Pakistan, a country that is on the brink of war.
The story is told as a conversation at a cafe in Lahore, Pakistan. Changez is speaking to an American, and as the discussion progresses the reader begins to feel a bit wary of its outcome. It's riveting, a page-turner, and it's quite nicely written. At first I was skeptical that such a conversation could take place realistically, but after the end of the novel I can buy it. I suggest, actually, that after you finish the book, you go back and re-read the first paragraph. Sort of ties it all good and tight.
Anyway, what does this book have to do with my long, ranting summary of current events? Well, since you asked... Changez experienced then what so many people are experiencing today. Islamophobia, fear of the Other, and horrible stereotyping. We feel bad for Changez. I really quite like him. I feel remorse for him. And at the end, which I will not ruin, I was a bit upset.
While the extremists who flew airplanes into the twin towers were indeed MUSLIM, it in no way follows that all Muslims are extremists. It's worth remembering that Muslims died in the towers, too (and not just the ones who commandeered the planes). America so readily prides herself on the constitution, we claim to be one of the more civilized nations, claim to open our arms to all walks of life - this is what America is all about. Unfortunately, though, America is comprised of all walks of life and included in that "all" are mean, cold-hearted, jerk-offs who fail to actually make the nation what they say it is.
Changez is only one, isolated case of the affect of racism and stereotyping. But it's a case none the less. Since 9/11, things have gotten a little better. It seems, however, that the mosque has excited our sensitivities all over. To the point where a man with a big moustache thinks it's a good idea to burn another religion's holy text.
Now, all this talk about mosques and pastors and holy texts brings me to this disclaimer. I'm not religious. I think all religion is in one way or another poisonous to society. I also see no reprieve from it. I'm not actually in favor of any mosque or church or temple. I think they all represent irrational thought. But in America, I recognize the importance of allowing people to persist in irrational thought - to an extent, anyway. And I furthermore recognize the inhumanity that blares when, as a nation, we judge millions of people based on the actions of a few. Islam is indeed worthy of fear, but so are all the other religions. Including that of unrelenting patriotism.
For what it's worth, I don't hate America. I love it here. I love that I can say things like I said in this review without being hanged or stoned. I also love dogs. But sometimes I find them to be pretty disgusting.