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Reviews
Discontent and Its Civilizations: Dispatches from Lahore, New York and London by Mohsin Hamid
alyskarstark's review against another edition
challenging
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
Listened to the audiobook, read by the author.
claire's review against another edition
5.0
After rearranging my bookshelves and separating the books I haven't read yet, I asked some of my friends to randomly pick a number so I could begin to compile my March/Cavite Exile TBR. I forgot I had this book in the first place and was surprised to find out that I willingly bought a non-fiction book, but then I remembered that I didn't know it was non-fiction at the time (roughly 3 years ago—woah!)
I really enjoyed this book! Easy to read and engaging, especially to me, because of the variety in the lengths, themes, and tones of the essays. I never found myself bored even as it delved into topics I wasn't familiar with.
I would like to try reading Hamid's novels because I grew to admire his writing in his non-fiction book, so what more in a novel?
I really enjoyed this book! Easy to read and engaging, especially to me, because of the variety in the lengths, themes, and tones of the essays. I never found myself bored even as it delved into topics I wasn't familiar with.
I would like to try reading Hamid's novels because I grew to admire his writing in his non-fiction book, so what more in a novel?
moris_deri's review against another edition
2.0
Have you ever opened a bottle of Moët that you have kept for a while waiting for that one special occasion, only for the excitement to be doused by the sad epiphany that the wine was flat? That’s exactly how I felt after 200 pages of this bore.
This is akin to something an established author has to release in between his better books because the publisher expects him to so do. There is nothing profound in this – just random, half-baked observations of his world as he travels back and forth between Asia and the UK.
This is akin to something an established author has to release in between his better books because the publisher expects him to so do. There is nothing profound in this – just random, half-baked observations of his world as he travels back and forth between Asia and the UK.
miekookeim's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
A collection that solidified Mohsin Hamid’s position as one of my top favorite authors. This was the last book of his that I had left to read and I was glad to be familiar with his fiction going into it. Wonderful essays that are organized in a way that flows seamlessly. Occasionally the Politics section dragged, but as I continued through it, those denser moments felt necessary to inform and tie together the rest. Great read.
krich075's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
4.5
katherinevarga's review against another edition
A collection of previously published short nonfiction arranged with a lot of care and thought. I loved the first two sections on life and art; I don't have quite enough context to appreciate the section on politics but enjoyed the grouping of essays, how Hamid orders pieces to be in conversation with each other. My favorite is probably "Enduring Love of the Second Person" for so succinctly grasping the allure of fiction.
mxae's review against another edition
5.0
The world needs more books like this. Equal parts beautiful, literary, and honest, it strikes at the core of things we all need undone, namely walls, borders, and monolithic group identities.