Colors of My Dreams
The Reluctant Fundamentalist...
Being an avid reader of Desi writers when couple of months back I heard Mohsin Hamid the author of "Moth Smoke" is coming up with a new book I got extremely excited. Heard mixed reviews before buying but I thought will give it a try and share with you guys :)
The Reluctant Fundamentalist reveals a young lad(Changez) from a family once well to do in Pakistan, but fractured by the political changes suffered by that country, a lad who goes to America to attend Princeton University where he transforms himself into an 'American stance', performs exceedingly well academically, and joins the wealthy American classmates on jaunts where he met Erica. Changez and Erica become friends and were it not for Erica's recovering from a loss of her previous dead boy friend Chris who died of cancer, the two seem to be destined to become lovers. Erica is from a wealthy family who accepts Changez even more readily when upon graduation he is awarded a position with the prestigious firm Underwood Samson. Changez learns the feeling of the American preoccupation with success and wealth while still being committed to his family ties in Pakistan. While Changez is on a business trip to Manila he watches the 9/11 event and he is surprised that he feels a bit happy that haughty America is being brought to her feet. In return he ended up getting fired due to his disturbed mind and carelessness at work, lost his H-1 visa and had to go back to Pakistan. One would assume his downfall was due to the aftermath of 9-11 with difficulties at work, his circle of friends, community or fight with his inner self at wanting to become a better Muslim. Rather, he let himself go due to a failed relationship with his girlfriend who was still in love with her previous (dead) boyfriend.
I was amazed how Changez tells his guest of his true inner feelings about the 9-11 attacks. It was a very bold move as a character and as a writer of a book. This one category truly makes the book stand out. Author certainly caught my attention with his opening in a Lahore marketplace. The love he emits when speaking about Lahore was totally contagious and made me long for the particular setting, in the particular bazaar, with the exact atmosphere and the droolicious Chicken tikka's, Naan and Kheer he described :)
I enjoyed the entire book all the way until the last paragraph, throughout the novel I was looking for a fundamentalist who perhaps finds his true self after overcoming his insecurities and obstacles. I was left greatly disappointed because there was no fundamentalist, reluctant or otherwise, in the book. I think I expected a bit more of a heroic tale.
You will find his 1st book Moth Smoke in my Ruined by Reading set :)
Explored :)
The Reluctant Fundamentalist...
Being an avid reader of Desi writers when couple of months back I heard Mohsin Hamid the author of "Moth Smoke" is coming up with a new book I got extremely excited. Heard mixed reviews before buying but I thought will give it a try and share with you guys :)
The Reluctant Fundamentalist reveals a young lad(Changez) from a family once well to do in Pakistan, but fractured by the political changes suffered by that country, a lad who goes to America to attend Princeton University where he transforms himself into an 'American stance', performs exceedingly well academically, and joins the wealthy American classmates on jaunts where he met Erica. Changez and Erica become friends and were it not for Erica's recovering from a loss of her previous dead boy friend Chris who died of cancer, the two seem to be destined to become lovers. Erica is from a wealthy family who accepts Changez even more readily when upon graduation he is awarded a position with the prestigious firm Underwood Samson. Changez learns the feeling of the American preoccupation with success and wealth while still being committed to his family ties in Pakistan. While Changez is on a business trip to Manila he watches the 9/11 event and he is surprised that he feels a bit happy that haughty America is being brought to her feet. In return he ended up getting fired due to his disturbed mind and carelessness at work, lost his H-1 visa and had to go back to Pakistan. One would assume his downfall was due to the aftermath of 9-11 with difficulties at work, his circle of friends, community or fight with his inner self at wanting to become a better Muslim. Rather, he let himself go due to a failed relationship with his girlfriend who was still in love with her previous (dead) boyfriend.
I was amazed how Changez tells his guest of his true inner feelings about the 9-11 attacks. It was a very bold move as a character and as a writer of a book. This one category truly makes the book stand out. Author certainly caught my attention with his opening in a Lahore marketplace. The love he emits when speaking about Lahore was totally contagious and made me long for the particular setting, in the particular bazaar, with the exact atmosphere and the droolicious Chicken tikka's, Naan and Kheer he described :)
I enjoyed the entire book all the way until the last paragraph, throughout the novel I was looking for a fundamentalist who perhaps finds his true self after overcoming his insecurities and obstacles. I was left greatly disappointed because there was no fundamentalist, reluctant or otherwise, in the book. I think I expected a bit more of a heroic tale.
You will find his 1st book Moth Smoke in my Ruined by Reading set :)
Explored :)