Comments on: The Reluctant Fundamentalist – Book Review

By: Raza Rumi

Raza Rumi — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 18:42:39 +0000

Omer, Ayesha, Aamir and Sin(!)
Many thanks for the comments. I must confess that I agree with the remark that Hamid’s non-fiction writings are much better. He has contributed in presenting an alternative voice and image for Pakistan. Perhpas on this account his novels are also welcome – however, this one harps on the biggest cliche of our times..

By: Sin

Sin — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 11:58:55 +0000

I won’t link to my own review of the book, since I don’t feel like it really matters substantially–people will buy it, if only for the curiousity factor–but I personally disliked it. It rang of inauthenticity, especially the language in which Hamid wrote, this bizarre pre-Partition British Raj tone, vocabulary and syntax. Ugh.

By: the olive ream

the olive ream — Sun, 27 May 2007 12:30:44 +0000

I agree with Mr. Mahipal Reddy’s assessment of the book.

The protagonist’s monologue for me had subservient tone and sounded too much like a character from a Merchant-Ivory film set in pre-partition era.

The book is obviously and intentionally catering to a Western audience, which is rather unfortunate. According to Mohsin Hamed, it took him 7 years to come up with this latest offering. Perhaps, he waited too long, as it seems he got lost along the way.

His non-fiction writing is far better than his recent book.

By: Aamir Khan

Aamir Khan — Thu, 24 May 2007 21:00:42 +0000

Ayesha: This is a subject where many people will be inclined to see it from a US/West vs Muslim prism. Which then holds hostage, the assessment of the book, to a narrower political allegiance. To me, the book wasn’t simply about telling an American ‘my side’ of the story (‘holding up a mirror’ to use your words from your blog review). For anyone aggrieved about uncaring, haughty Americans, this is enough. In reality though, it has to bring insight, unique perspective, to the table should an American or anyone else you consider unsympathetic sit up and take notice. This the author does not do. Then how many ‘Americans’ (other than the ones already against Bush) are going to actually find a point in it?

To a degree, this book helps you let out the frustration or vengefulness one feels about America. From Ayesha’s review, I find this is her angle of approach.

Also, it seems Changez being a ‘secular’ guy or a non-practising Muslim (drinks, doesn’t pray, etc), is enough to legitimize his disenchantment or grouse with America. To me it is not. Its immaterial whether you are religious or secular – you can have a fantastic standpoint being either. That a fundamentalist stand can be vindicated when secular people adopt it is not meaningful to me. That way we’d never have had the many many ‘secular’ monsters the world has had.

Put simply, is it enough for a book, in a somewhat novel way, to make a political view heard? No.

By: mahi

mahi — Thu, 24 May 2007 19:05:47 +0000

Yes, the book is not worth owning. Borrow from a library if possible.

Just to clarify, my interest is not ‘exclusive’ to this subject, otherwise I’d be a fundamentalist or a singularly focused social scientist myself

By: ayesha

ayesha — Thu, 24 May 2007 16:56:53 +0000

I would disagree with the review. I felt that it was an excellent book. The book spoke to the reader. Yes, the author leaves a lot to you to conjecture, but that is what made the experience more enjoyable for me. To me was that was a strength of the book.

Moreover, the book is an attempt to hold a mirror to the other side and I think Hamid does that fantastically with the cloudy impression he gives us of the American and open ended questions he leaves us.

My own review of the book can be found here:

http://ayesha.wordpress.com/2007/05/17/the-reluctant-fundamentalist-a-review/

By: Alvi

Alvi — Thu, 24 May 2007 13:54:07 +0000

This review by Mr. Mahi Pal Reddy for sure is not going to make readers to go out and buy the book. “Fundamentalist” like “Terrorist” is the catch phrase of our time and from this review it appears that the author Mohsin Hamid is merely trying to capitalize on the current sentiments. Mr. Reddy on the other hand, even though not a Muslim or from Pakistan/Afghanistan is keen observer of both. His exclusive interest in the subject has fascination of its own. We shall wait more from Mr. Reddy.

By: » The Reluctant Fundamentalist - Book Review - Street talk and opinions

» The Reluctant Fundamentalist - Book Review - Street talk and opinions — Thu, 24 May 2007 00:41:39 +0000

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