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sweetbeetle's review
3.0
`I saw that in this constant striving to realize a financial future, no thought was given to the critical personal and political issues that affect one's emotional present.'
A sort of slow take on losing faith in the promise of the rightous American big brother. The main character goes from enjoying the American dream without much critical thought until the aftermath of 9/11 starts to affect his own life...
In some sense, a very classic male narrated story. The character in the current timeline seems sort of all-knowing and arrogant. He tells about his life before 9/11 where he was super successful, but also naive, rarely thinking about politics (or how his actions affects others). Then 9/11 happens and he starts feeling a lot of feelings he doesn't have a language for, his emotions build up. This lasts a while, until almost in the end heabruptly changes his course of life and becomes this strangely arrogant character he is the current timeline.
The last part should have his character explain his viewpoints and perhaps greater political ideas, but this part is very short, the ideas are scattered and thin. The story does not offer much insight into the future the character envisions, only that Pakistan cannot trust that America has its back in a war against India, and therefore Pakistan should become more politically independent. It unclear to me if the character has nationalistic tendencies. Maybe I am a bad reader, but I feel the book didn't give much in terms of providing new ideas, good observations or clarity in the overall message. Even the emotional part, feelings creeping up on you slowly and changing your outlook on life, was stale.
Overall, everything was just alright, it was easy to read, engaging in some ways and it has a Norwegian Wood-type love-story added in the mix. I didn't hate it despite my harsh review, but it certainly had room for improvement.
A sort of slow take on losing faith in the promise of the rightous American big brother. The main character goes from enjoying the American dream without much critical thought until the aftermath of 9/11 starts to affect his own life...
In some sense, a very classic male narrated story. The character in the current timeline seems sort of all-knowing and arrogant. He tells about his life before 9/11 where he was super successful, but also naive, rarely thinking about politics (or how his actions affects others). Then 9/11 happens and he starts feeling a lot of feelings he doesn't have a language for, his emotions build up. This lasts a while, until almost in the end he
The last part should have his character explain his viewpoints and perhaps greater political ideas, but this part is very short, the ideas are scattered and thin. The story does not offer much insight into the future the character envisions, only that Pakistan cannot trust that America has its back in a war against India, and therefore Pakistan should become more politically independent. It unclear to me if the character has nationalistic tendencies. Maybe I am a bad reader, but I feel the book didn't give much in terms of providing new ideas, good observations or clarity in the overall message. Even the emotional part, feelings creeping up on you slowly and changing your outlook on life, was stale.
Overall, everything was just alright, it was easy to read, engaging in some ways and it has a Norwegian Wood-type love-story added in the mix. I didn't hate it despite my harsh review, but it certainly had room for improvement.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Suicide, and Xenophobia
kerameia's review against another edition
5.0
I don't think there is much that I say about this book that has not already been said in numerous positive reviews (one from The New Yorker that I think aptly sums up this story: "[A] lucid, unsettling novel"). What I will say is that I enjoyed it far more immensely than I thought I would, and there are several qualities that especially drew me into the story and compelled me to finish it in a matter of days.
I love(d) the narrative style whereby the protagonist, Changez, speaks to you the reader and draws you into both the present day (sitting with him at a cafe in Old Anarkali and basking in the waning evening) and into the tender and intimate memories of his recent past (establishing himself in New York). Changez easily weaves between casual observations of the present surroundings and of you, the American...visitor?...and stories of his time in New York as an up-and-coming self-made man. Throughout and towards the end of the story you feel properly wined and dined (kabob-ed and tea-ed is perhaps more appropriate?); you adopt the implied apprehension and nervousness of the listener as the night progresses.
I also love Changez's voice, which I think strongly conveys his character without actually or physically describing him. The reader imagines what he must be like based on how he phrases things: keen observer, a sensitive soul with a touch of nostalgia, reflective and philosophical, honorable. Some favorite lines:
-"Ah, I see I have alarmed you. Do not be frightened by my beard: I am a lover of America" (p.1)
-"Will you give him something? No? Very wise; one ought not to encourage beggars, and yes, you are right, it is far better to donate to charities that address the causes of poverty rather than to him, a creature who is merely its symptom. What am I doing? I am handing him a few rupees--misguidedly, of course, and out of habit" (p.40)
-"The confession that implicates its audience is--as we say in cricket--a devilishly difficult ball to play. Reject it and you slight the confessor; accept it and you admit your own guilt" (p.70)
The interweaving story lines of Changez's self-realization and development as a Pakistani man in New York and his evolving relationship with Erica are poignant and brilliantly telling. You don't expect much from a seemingly common man's sharing of his personal story. Yet once he begins to unearth his memories, it's as though a window opens into the human experience of what it means to be caught in the middle between two cultures and to be caught up in a relationship with someone who's rooted in the past. Fascinating and also sad in the realization of what is vs. what is hoped for.
These are the aspects that most stood out for me, but there are several other bits that could be mentioned. I highly recommend this book.
(As an aside, titles similar to it in terms of narration & story that I also loved are Life of Pi, Memoirs of a Geisha, The In-Between World of Vikram Lall, & Boy's Life)
I love(d) the narrative style whereby the protagonist, Changez, speaks to you the reader and draws you into both the present day (sitting with him at a cafe in Old Anarkali and basking in the waning evening) and into the tender and intimate memories of his recent past (establishing himself in New York). Changez easily weaves between casual observations of the present surroundings and of you, the American...visitor?...and stories of his time in New York as an up-and-coming self-made man. Throughout and towards the end of the story you feel properly wined and dined (kabob-ed and tea-ed is perhaps more appropriate?); you adopt the implied apprehension and nervousness of the listener as the night progresses.
I also love Changez's voice, which I think strongly conveys his character without actually or physically describing him. The reader imagines what he must be like based on how he phrases things: keen observer, a sensitive soul with a touch of nostalgia, reflective and philosophical, honorable. Some favorite lines:
-"Ah, I see I have alarmed you. Do not be frightened by my beard: I am a lover of America" (p.1)
-"Will you give him something? No? Very wise; one ought not to encourage beggars, and yes, you are right, it is far better to donate to charities that address the causes of poverty rather than to him, a creature who is merely its symptom. What am I doing? I am handing him a few rupees--misguidedly, of course, and out of habit" (p.40)
-"The confession that implicates its audience is--as we say in cricket--a devilishly difficult ball to play. Reject it and you slight the confessor; accept it and you admit your own guilt" (p.70)
The interweaving story lines of Changez's self-realization and development as a Pakistani man in New York and his evolving relationship with Erica are poignant and brilliantly telling. You don't expect much from a seemingly common man's sharing of his personal story. Yet once he begins to unearth his memories, it's as though a window opens into the human experience of what it means to be caught in the middle between two cultures and to be caught up in a relationship with someone who's rooted in the past. Fascinating and also sad in the realization of what is vs. what is hoped for.
These are the aspects that most stood out for me, but there are several other bits that could be mentioned. I highly recommend this book.
(As an aside, titles similar to it in terms of narration & story that I also loved are Life of Pi, Memoirs of a Geisha, The In-Between World of Vikram Lall, & Boy's Life)
_charreadsbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
xxx_xxx's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
artasin_workof's review against another edition
3.0
Not my personal favorite of Hamid's work, but a 3-star novel from Mohsin Hamid is still better than a 5 star novel from 90% of contemporary authors.
leomonade's review
challenging
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
sparky_penny's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
It took a second to get into it because of the second person, but once I was in it the story was incredibly captivating and moving
offworldcolony's review against another edition
5.0
Hilarious whilst also slowly unpicking bias and anti-bias. It just builds and builds and the style in which it is written is extremely satisfying.
mcmoon's review against another edition
4.0
The set up and style of this novella--a Pakistani telling his story to an American he happens upon in a Lahore cafe--is quite clever. Set around the aftermath of 9/11, the book deals with being a Pakistani immigrant in America pursuing the American Dream and then becoming disillusioned by it. For a short novel, the book's depth and breadth are astonishing. There are layers of complexity here that will take me a second read to sift through. Most movingly, the book captures the psychological pain of bearing disappointments in life, from the personal to political. I loved the book's tone and narration (as well as the ironic title). However, I need more time to process the book's finer points.
beetroot17's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0