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A review by eekhoorn
The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid
2.0
Part of the problem is probably that I just read this book way too late.
Apart from this, the narration is really very clever. I planned to just read the first page to get an idea of the writing style, but immediately felt compelled to read further and finished it in two days. However, being a page turner does not mean a book is enjoyable, I guess.
To start of with, some paragraphs were really beautiful and some images very strong. I liked the firefly. I could practically feel the melancholy dripping from some of the pages, and the part in Greece was really well done: I could almost feel the sun and I fell a bit in love with Erica myself.
Other things in the book irritated me, such as the way in which Changez asked if the person he is conversing with 'likes women, or maybe men'. Or the way in which he feels the need to mention a house is definitely not 'feminine'. No really major problems, I guess.
I don't even know if there really is a major problem in this book though. I did not really like nor understand Changez (which could be personal). The message of the book was a bit too much in my face. Telling me once America is quite horrible for meddling in the affairs of other countries in their war on terror (something I have definitely heard before), is enough, telling me 60 times does not make me like you more nor understand your cause any better. And the whole love affair just felt so unnecessary and much 'Murakami' in the end. Also 'romantic' suicidal girls are another pet peeve of mine in books.
Honestly, I have no idea if these problems are my problems, or problems of the book.
Apart from this, the narration is really very clever. I planned to just read the first page to get an idea of the writing style, but immediately felt compelled to read further and finished it in two days. However, being a page turner does not mean a book is enjoyable, I guess.
To start of with, some paragraphs were really beautiful and some images very strong. I liked the firefly. I could practically feel the melancholy dripping from some of the pages, and the part in Greece was really well done: I could almost feel the sun and I fell a bit in love with Erica myself.
Other things in the book irritated me, such as the way in which Changez asked if the person he is conversing with 'likes women, or maybe men'. Or the way in which he feels the need to mention a house is definitely not 'feminine'. No really major problems, I guess.
I don't even know if there really is a major problem in this book though. I did not really like nor understand Changez (which could be personal). The message of the book was a bit too much in my face. Telling me once America is quite horrible for meddling in the affairs of other countries in their war on terror (something I have definitely heard before), is enough, telling me 60 times does not make me like you more nor understand your cause any better. And the whole love affair just felt so unnecessary and much 'Murakami' in the end. Also 'romantic' suicidal girls are another pet peeve of mine in books.
Honestly, I have no idea if these problems are my problems, or problems of the book.