The Reluctant Fundamentalist
3 journalers for this copy...
Amazon Editorial Review
Now a major motion picture
Short-listed for the Man Booker Prize
New York Times bestseller
“Extreme times call for extreme reactions, extreme writing. Hamid has done something extraordinary with this novel.” —Washington Post
“One of those achingly assured novels that makes you happy to be a reader.” —Junot Diaz
At a café table in Lahore, a bearded Pakistani man converses with an uneasy American stranger. As dusk deepens to night, he begins the tale that has brought them to this fateful encounter . . .
Changez is living an immigrant’s dream of America. At the top of his class at Princeton, he is snapped up by an elite valuation firm. He thrives on the energy of New York, and his budding romance with elegant, beautiful Erica promises entry into Manhattan society at the same exalted level once occupied by his own family back in Lahore.
But in the wake of September 11, Changez finds his position in his adopted city suddenly overturned, and his relationship with Erica shifting. And Changez’s own identity is in seismic shift as well, unearthing allegiances more fundamental than money, power, and maybe even love.
“Brief, charming, and quietly furious . . . a resounding success.” —Village Voice
A Washington Post and San Francisco Chronicle Best Book of the Year
A New York Times Notable Book
I read a copy of this a few years ago and enjoyed it.
It might make sense and/or be thought provoking in the american midst, but I didn't like the style (unconvincing monologue) which bothered me from the beginning and found the storyline filled with clichés. Even its title... Maybe the fundamentalist in it comes from the business slogan of the company the protagonist works for in New York, "focus on the fundamentals", something he becomes a tad reluctant about, from a certain point on. I really don't understand how it became shortlisted for a booker.
Anyway, it's good to know there's some pakistani writers out there to be read and I got interested in reading his first novel, Moth Smoke, much more poetic and inventive, I've heard, than this one. Being a first approach from my part, I guess it was therefore successful.
Therefore, even if I didn't really like this particular book, it is from my point of view an author worth reading.
Once again, thank you Yorsgire-lass, for presenting him to me!
Released 3 yrs ago (6/29/2020 UTC) at Lisboa (city), Lisboa (distrito) Portugal
CONTROLLED RELEASE NOTES:
After a long time unable to decide to send along this book, because of not liking it all that much, lending it to some non-BC friends made me remember once more that there are always those who like reading things we didn't. Meanwhile I have even seen the movie based on it, but it goes on a totally different direction, telling a different story altogether. It didn't help.
Still, having heard big praise to the book from one of those friends, made me choose it this time. I do hope you like it more than I did.
Have fun, lucky winner! :)
The book has traveled with me to Graz and I think it will stay here somewhere.
Released 3 yrs ago (7/17/2020 UTC) at Bücherbox Metahofplatz in Graz, Steiermark Austria
WILD RELEASE NOTES: