The Reluctant Fundamentalist
by Mohsin Hamid
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Book Reviews of The Reluctant Fundamentalist
Book Review: Truly outstanding
Summary: 5 Stars
Changez, a young Pakistani man, sits in a cafe in Lahore relating his time in the US both before and after September 11. His audience is a rather nervous and unnamed American. This is essentially a novel about identity, about "us" and "them". There is a sense of urgency as the narrator's monologue unfolds - how exactly does he transition to becoming, in his words, an "ex-Janissary"? Who is the American, simply a tourist or someone more shady like an operative? What happens with the strange and touching relationship Changez has with Erica, a lovely but deeply sad young woman? It's so beautifully and powerfully written that I found myself going through many emotions. It is also quite funny in parts and I'd find myself chuckling. I rarely buy books these days (instead making good use of my library) but have now felt compelled to order a used copy from Amazon. It's one I will definitely read again.Book Review: Real Connection with Narrator
Summary: 5 Stars
A fantastically written book that pulls the reader in emotionally, as if the narrator was a personal aquaintance rather than a fictional character (I found myself wanting to yell "NO!" out loud on more than one occasion). The plot is so real it is still hard for me to believe this is a fictional novel at all.
The entire book is a one-sided conversation between the Pakistani protagonist, Changez, and an American visitor. Changez gives a riveting history of his time in the United States, from his enrollment at Princeton at age 18 to his return to Pakistan at age 22. It is amazing the transformation he goes through in the post-9/11 era. Throughout the novel we also learn of a romance that folds in upon itself.
Overall, The Reluctant Fundamentalist is a powerful, emotional read that may just give you a new set of eyes in regard to America's post-9/11 policies.
Book Review: Entertaining but unconvincing
Summary: 4 Stars
Hmm. I loved the narrator's monologue but I wasn't convinced the narrators interlocuter would want to sit around listening to it. If I was the American, I don't think I would have, especially if his purposes were as shady as is implied. I also wasn't particularly convinced by the narrator's political awakening - and really his change of life is all about politics and justice and nothing to do with religion, so the title is misleading. Nothing in Changez's worldview seems to be about Islam as a religion, simply about Islam as an identity. But then again, as he admits himself, his story may not be true.
However, I very much enjoyed the structure, the narrators voice, the ambiguity of the ending , the very vivid invocation of Lahore, and the latent hint of menace in almost every paragraph. I read it in 2 sittings and was sorry to reach the end
Book Review: Gave Much To Think About
Summary: 4 Stars
I found this book to be much more enjoyable than I thought it would be. The concept was a little difficult at first for me to grasp: a young man, Changez, imposes himself upon an American in a Pakistani cafe, and spends the afternoon/evening in a conversation in which he speaks of how his life has come full circle, from Pakistan to America and back.
Although most seem to pick up hate against the US, I concentrated more on Changez's story and tried to place myself in his shoes. It was interesting to see how he perceived events in his life and he chose to interpret those events in his surroundings. This book gave me much to think on and about.
While I feel the book was good, I think the writing could be improved on, so the reason I gave it 4 stars and not 5. I enjoyed the book, but it's not something a lot of people can read easily.
Book Review: The personality you project
Summary: 5 Stars
Set aside your personal political affiliation and views. I think more people would like the book if it revolved around some other terrorist act in another part of the world (rather than 9/11), some other conflict than this one that is so fresh on our minds.
The Reluctant Fundamentalist is a good story. If you focus on the relationships the main character has, the delivery style, and the substory that is happening in the "now", you will enjoy it. Hamid presents an interesting study on human behavior/sensibility and the pulls of nationalism and its duties. At one level, the characters act all the same, but for each their personal histories bubble to the surface and take their lives in wildly different directions. As others have said, the main character isn't so much reluctant as he is surprised by his own feelings.