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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
I found this novel riveting. It's a political thriller told in an interesting way. The entire novel is a conversation by Changez in Lahore to an American he meets at a Cafe. What the American says is never shown. It's just mentioned as a response by Changez, a Pakistani. Changez's story is interesting and thought-provoking. I liked how the novel was not overtly religious or rather not religious at all despite what the title says. But yet the title is fitting as you listen to more of his story. The ending is compelling. It could be missed but the ending was fitting with his entire story. The novel is a "9/11" book but deals with many other things.
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Had to read this for my book club and I have to say if it wasn't for that I may have DNF'd this book. It's definitely a strange read and just becuase the whole thing is written as if the MC is telling th story to some random man in a cafe.
It's one of those books that you finish reading and are left wondering what you just read. Was any of it real? Is the guy delusional?
I'm not sure i regret reading it but I definitely would not recommend it to someone else.
Personally I reckon the guy went to America and had a good time for a couple of years (uni etc) and then decided he didn't want to be there anymore so became disenfranchised with everything. Then proceeded to essentially sabotage himself (not saying the tension surround 9/11 helped but he certainly didn't handle it well). After returning to Pakistan he taught people of his bad experiences of America.
I think Erica represents his previous love of America which is why he cannot 'find her' in the novel she wrote, becuase he cannot remember the America he loved. Her "disappearance" also coincides with him becoming disenfranchised with America.
It's one of those books that you finish reading and are left wondering what you just read. Was any of it real? Is the guy delusional?
I'm not sure i regret reading it but I definitely would not recommend it to someone else.
I think Erica represents his previous love of America which is why he cannot 'find her' in the novel she wrote, becuase he cannot remember the America he loved. Her "disappearance" also coincides with him becoming disenfranchised with America.
adventurous
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Pretty good. At first this had me rolling my eyes a bit. I didn't like the narration style at all, it seemed a little silly - and at first it was quite the caricature of his intermingling with the privileged American upperclass. But the narration style became less front and center and the caricatures were quickly fleshed out.
There is a lot of important commentary here about the US, and it was actually quite a suspenseful book. The foreshadowing is quite good. I do wish there had been a more in depth, pointed focus on the impact American policies had on Pakistan - the focus was on the protagonist's anguish and if it had been more balanced I think I would have been able to connect with that more. Still, it is from the viewpoint of someone who comes from a country that is irrevocably impacted by US policies, one that if given audience at all in the US is seen as a lack of patriotism and respect.
Lastly, really interesting ending. I won't elaborate as not to give away anything important but it COMPLETELY flips the viewpoint of the book. Overall I enjoyed it.
There is a lot of important commentary here about the US, and it was actually quite a suspenseful book. The foreshadowing is quite good. I do wish there had been a more in depth, pointed focus on the impact American policies had on Pakistan - the focus was on the protagonist's anguish and if it had been more balanced I think I would have been able to connect with that more. Still, it is from the viewpoint of someone who comes from a country that is irrevocably impacted by US policies, one that if given audience at all in the US is seen as a lack of patriotism and respect.
Lastly, really interesting ending. I won't elaborate as not to give away anything important but it COMPLETELY flips the viewpoint of the book. Overall I enjoyed it.
I officially hate this book. I can’t exactly describe why. It might be because it is in second person but wow it’s just super off-putting. Changez also says that he’s quiet and everyone says that he’s quiet except he spends about two thousand hours boring an American in Lahore to death which is annoying.
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Update: I just learned about the cool allegories in the book so I guess I appreciate it a bit more so yeah. i give it a reluctant 1.25 stars.
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Update #2: I watched the movie and I like it a little better now even though it's a lot more different from the book.
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Update: I just learned about the cool allegories in the book so I guess I appreciate it a bit more so yeah. i give it a reluctant 1.25 stars.
__________________________________
Update #2: I watched the movie and I like it a little better now even though it's a lot more different from the book.
The narration was really good, switching between the past and present very naturally. (no spoilers)... THE ENDING WAS FANTASTIC