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4.08 AVERAGE
4.08 AVERAGE
challenging
informative
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Insightful, poetic, a deeply personal work of fiction - I was immediately blown away by the author’s crisp language and cadence, his warm and thoughtful portrayal of a fiery, funny, and flawed Pakistani father, and the first and second generation South Asian immigrants in his coming-of-age story who give glimpses into what it’s like to be Muslim outsiders in a fearful, increasingly impoverished America that is rotting under the contradictions of its own gospel of wealth.
Akhtar writes with a raw emotional intimacy that is balanced by his lucid analysis of the elite financier class in NYC, and the concentration of debt that is strangling middle American towns, from 9/11 through the Obama and Trump years. More essay than novel, the author engages in a heart-felt social polemic that might seem out of place if the astute historical and cultural analyses weren’t so integrally woven into his skillful storytelling.
There is a daring honesty here that is only possible because of an attention to detail that crosses reactive ideological lines, a kind of compassion he extends to the people who are prejudiced against him, which allows him to see more clearly, tenderly.
Without completely pandering to expectations of what a Muslim-American memoir in 2020 needs to be, the author simply acknowledges the saturated political moment we are in, and chooses to leave a little more space for critical reflection. I appreciate that.
Akhtar writes with a raw emotional intimacy that is balanced by his lucid analysis of the elite financier class in NYC, and the concentration of debt that is strangling middle American towns, from 9/11 through the Obama and Trump years. More essay than novel, the author engages in a heart-felt social polemic that might seem out of place if the astute historical and cultural analyses weren’t so integrally woven into his skillful storytelling.
There is a daring honesty here that is only possible because of an attention to detail that crosses reactive ideological lines, a kind of compassion he extends to the people who are prejudiced against him, which allows him to see more clearly, tenderly.
Without completely pandering to expectations of what a Muslim-American memoir in 2020 needs to be, the author simply acknowledges the saturated political moment we are in, and chooses to leave a little more space for critical reflection. I appreciate that.
Some parts are more engaging than others, and don’t understand the “fiction as memoir” style, but so original!
I loved this. A novel framed as a memoir, with the author sharing his name and much of his life with the narrator, this book drew me in immediately. I loved Akhtar’s narrative voice. Each chapter and story paints vivid pictures of the characters, who create quite the ensemble. There are moments that seem contrived, sure, but then again, Akhtar’s voice and beautifully paced chapters make everything sound so true, I often forgot this was a novel. I blazed through this. I feel like I made a new friend.
This was written by someone who very clearly selects each word intentionally and has spent a lifetime reflecting on these issues which are important to be sure but at times this dragged for me.
The writing style left me frustrated. It was going back and forth between using a casual tone to being overly flowery and somewhat pretentious, particularly in the beginning. The timeline was scattered - it works for some books but only further spoiled it for me. I wish he left this style of writing in the dream journals he described.
The book is not without merits. The author depicts flaws throughout the book with such rare honesty that one cannot help but admire his authenticity. It provides such a unique perspective on the struggles of Muslim immigrants in the United States, challenging literally everyone's thinking, Muslims and non-Muslims, immigrants and non-immigrants alike. I just wish the narrative and important messages were delivered in a better, clearer and more concise way.
Rating: 3
The book is not without merits. The author depicts flaws throughout the book with such rare honesty that one cannot help but admire his authenticity. It provides such a unique perspective on the struggles of Muslim immigrants in the United States, challenging literally everyone's thinking, Muslims and non-Muslims, immigrants and non-immigrants alike. I just wish the narrative and important messages were delivered in a better, clearer and more concise way.
Rating: 3
This book was challenging and frustrating. I found myself lost in it and forgetting it was fiction (was it REALLY fiction?) the writing was sharp and interesting. The story heartbreaking and cringy at times. I learned quite a bit while reading this book. I highly recommend it.
Elegías a la patria, que género es este libro? Akhtar juega con la autoficción, con un protagonista escritor , hijo de médicos, nos sumerge en las verdades sobre la moral y la avaricia del credo estadounidense, y la atracción fatal y sentimental que se esconde en la yihad. Si bien el libro es una novela, en muchas partes me sabe a un ensayo, no puedo dejar de identificarme en el hecho de como persona entiendo el conflicto de identidad por mi país me duele en el alma porque es un país que se está desmoronando año tras año. Sus letras me llenan de esa necesidad de reconciliación en un ambiente post 11 de septiembre. Me encantaron los tonos satíricos de la relación de padre e hijo y el conflicto eterno de encontrar paz entre los dos mundos que conforman la vida de este personaje central de la obra. Me termina dejando una sensación de que fue escrita con amor por un país pero con odio por muchas de sus características principales como sociedad. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ +
Read more than half but I felt it was written in an unnecessarily complex way that detracted from its message.
It became unbearably tedious. None of the character were likeable.