THE RELUCTANT FUNDAMENTALIST

Katie G.

Mohsin Hamid ‘s The Reluctant Fundamentalist tells the story of a young

Pakistani man’s experience with living what initially appears to be the American Dream.

Changez is an admirable, conscientious man who works hard for the chance of a better

future for both himself and his family living in Pakistan. Changez’s hard work pays off;

he graduates at the top of his class at Princeton, receives an amazing job offer at the age

of 22, and is praised for being one of the best young employees at his firm. Everything

Changez works so long and hard for begins to change after the September 11th attacks.

Suddenly, Changez sees the country that he has grown to love turn against him because of the

color of his skin. One of the most intriguing parts of The Reluctant Fundamentalist is the very

different point of view the reader experiences when Changez speaks about is time in America.

Changez talks about seeing a country that he had always thought of as modern and advanced move backwards rapidly. By telling the story of his time in America, Changez offers a unique perspective on the effect that 9/11 had on those who were from the Middle East. In this book, Changez tells his story to an American who is meeting him for a meal. The changes between the Changez’ story and the narrative between Changez and the American allows the reader to have an interesting perspective on the main character’s personality. Not only does the reader learn about an important story, but they are also able to learn more about a person who was directly affected by the the 9/11 attacks. Overall, this is a very interesting and well written book that I would recommend to anyone who wants to read more about a perspective that is unique and different from their own.

The Reluctant Author

Sarah

From the first page to the last line of The Reluctant Fundamentalist, author Mohsin Hamid’s poignant language and exquisite descriptive abilities constantly kept me engaged and wanting more. Although really not much more than a fictional memoir, Hamid’s novel excites and enthralls the reader as they travel with him from Lahore, Pakistan, to a new – and old – life in America, and back again many times to his place of birth. The format of The Reluctant Fundamentalist, told as a “frame story”, perfectly accents the key themes of retribution, relapse, and displacement; in addition, Hamid’s choice to present the reader, “you”, as the recipient of Changez’ discourse allows the reader to make their own decisions about who Changez is as well as who they are.

For the most part, the novel was an interesting read. I think it asks some fundamental questions about what it means to be a person, and what lines exist at the boundaries between nationalism, marginalization, and race. I think, however, Hamid is not always successful in answering these questions, as he often shies away from a lot of obvious plot holes. For example, why is Changez so happy to see "America brought to its knees"? Superficially, it is plausible, but what previous character development or plot points should ever lead us to believe that this would be his feelings towards the situation at hand? I think that, overall, the book was entertaining, but it simply felt a little too superficial to tackle such hard-hitting questions that require better answers.

As a casual read, however, The Reluctant Fundamentalist does not disappoint. Packed with a sense of poise coupled with a sense of urgency, Hamid develops his narrative quickly and fully engulfs the reader in both the lands of Pakistan and America, seamlessly going back and forth as if in an actual conversation. Although it does not answer many proposed questions about the conflict between Western civilization and the Middle East, nor does it give much basis for some of the decisions its characters make, The Reluctant Fundamentalist both excites and drives the reader to want to read more.

Tom

The Reluctant Fundamentalist chronicles the life of Changez, who is an immensely bright and talented man from Pakistan. Upon receiving a business degree from Princeton, Changez begins working for the prestigious firm Underwood Samson. Everything is running smoothly until September 11th, 2001. After 9/11 everything changes if Chagez’s life; a relationship breaks down, his job is threatened, and his family in Pakistan may be in danger. Changez also witness’s a change America. America, which was once so full of opportunity is now hateful and guarded. Mohsin Hamid, who is the author, critics Americans oversized response to the attacks, and demonstrates its negative effects through the lense of Changez. Ultimately the swelling American pride creates an unsustainable hatred for outsiders and drives Changez back to his home in Pakistan. The novel is very well written and thought provoking. Not only does it make you think about these horrific events, but it questions the morality of America’s response. For example, the Americans are shook by this attack, yet they don’t bat an eye when thousands of people are killed in the middle east. From excellent writing to an important moral lesson, this book is excellent.

Brynnae

The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid is what I initially want to call an “eye-opening book”. This book is based around the time of the attacks on the Twin Towers in New York on 9/11/01, so the differences in opinion between the Pakistani main character, Changez, and his American relations are really able to show the effects of the attacks, and what occurred after them, on the characters. Through Hamid’s writing, though it is only written from the main character’s point of view, the reader is exposed to the emotions, opinions, and behaviors of the characters through the unusually yet captivatingly formal voice of Changez as he tells his story. I chose this book because I’ve always found it interesting to hear other people’s stories, especially people who have had such different experiences. I think that this book was able to provide a different point of view than those that I’ve been previously exposed to. The reader is also exposed to Changez’s experiences when moving from Lahore, Pakistan to Manhattan, New York and how these moves cause dramatic changes in both his lifestyle and his personality. When I first started to read the book, I was initially a little worried that I wouldn’t really like it. The novel starts with Changez addressing the reader as a male, american man who is visiting Pakistan. If I’m being completely honest, this style of writing kind of annoyed me when I first started the book. As I continued to read, however, I got used to and even started to enjoy Hamid’s writing, which was able to place the reader among the characters in the story.

Charlotte D.

I was captivated by the story of The Reluctant Fundamentalist from the moment I read the first page. The narrative is told as if the main character, Changez, is speaking directly to the reader and I found this style new and intriguing. It provided a chance to feel as if I was part of the novel, a connection that I otherwise might not have had as I do not necessarily relate to his position. Therefore, this is the perfect read for anyone looking to experience a fascinating new point of view. We so often engage in discussions about immigrants to the U.S. together with the issue of terrorism without really knowing what these people must go through. Mohsin Hamid’s novel provides an opportunity to realize the adversity that Middle Eastern immigrants faced in our society after 9/11 and opens the reader’s eyes to a new perspective on this topic. Changez’s story is told in a captivating way, that hints at the difficulties and advantages of being a Pakistani immigrant while remaining a realistic representation of his everyday life, which makes him very relatable. After becoming well acquainted with Changez, I was able to experience his struggle to find himself, being torn between his home and his “new life” in America, which helped me to love the book even more. The Reluctant Fundamentalist was a gripping read that I would firmly suggest to anyone to read, as it is an eye-opening story told with an engaging narrative with a conclusion that leaves the reader amazed.

Sophie S.

Moshin Hamid’s eloquent style of writing transports you into the story of

Changez as you are reading it. What’s weird is that my opinion of the book was totally

different when I picked it up. I thought it was essentially an autobiography. I wasn’t expecting the style of writing that is present on the pages, but was expecting a kind of biography of his experience as a Pakistani man attending an Ivy League University in America. I chose this book because I was

interested in this subject of racial prejudice especially with people of middle-eastern

descent primarily because of current events that are taking place in the world today. As

someone living in America, you don’t really get to hear the flip side of the coin. The

opening page is very interesting because as the reader, you get to see the personality of

Changez first-hand. You realize that he is an openly honest person with regards to

his views on terrorism and politics in America. “I turned on the television and saw what at first I took to be a film. But as I continued to watch, I realized that it was not fiction but news. I stared as one – and then the other – of the twin towers of New York’s World Trade Centre collapsed. And then I smiled. Yes, despicable as it may sound, my initial reaction was to be pleased… But at that moment, my thoughts were not at the victims of the attack- death on television moves me most when it is fictitious and happens to characters with whom I have built up relationships over multiple episodes- no I was caught up in the symbolism of it all, the fact that someone had so visibly brought America to her knees. “ (Hamid 62). His view on 9/11 is eye opening. As a citizen of America you would be infuriated to think about how Changez can have such a thought. But when you understand what is being said, as the reader, you begin to realize how different the thinkings of people from different nations can be. The Reluctant Fundamentalist is a wonderful book that requires deep thought to let the message sink into your consciousness.

Rating: 4/5

Book Review: The Reluctant Fundamentalist

Meghna

The novel The Reluctant Fundamentalist, by Mohsin Hamid deals with the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks through the perspective of a Muslim Pakistani, named Changez. The book tackles the themes of morality, self - identity and family. I chose to read this book because I found it to be very relevant in 2016 because of the current and continual rising tensions within the Middle East.

The plot of the book was the best part because the book takes many unexpected turns, but that only adds more suspense and makes the book more engaging. When I was reading this book, I only expected this to be a conversation between a Muslim man and an American tourist, but I then realized there was something else to the whole point of this conversation between these two people, which got me really hooked on to the book. Looking back, I realize that the book is covered with subtle hints on what is going to happen, but these are hints a reader would not catch the first time.

Another important thing the book does, which is what makes it so relevant today, is the different perspective of the 9/11 attacks. The 9/11 attacks are always perceived as these horrific and tragic attacks (which they are), but as you read the book, you realize that this is the sad reality many Middle Eastern countries face everyday, which is something that is not acknowledged by many. ***SPOILER ALERT***In the novel, Changez, falls into an identity crisis after 9/11. He doesn’t know how to feel about the attacks. He does feel the attacks were horrible, but then he believes that many Muslim countries face similar acts of terrorism, yet there is no sympathy for them. Is he an American? Is he a Pakistani? This identity crisis tears him apart, but he does decide to go back to Pakistan because he believes by being in the U.S., he is only a pawn being used in U.S. propaganda.

Although the book was interesting, the writing style of the book was too over the top. Since the book is told as a conversation, I expected the book to be sort of informal, but the conversation between these two people, only made Changez seem as a kiss-up. The writing style had many awkward phrases in the sense that these aren’t things a person would normally say in a conversation. Because of these awkward and over the top tone of Changez, I feel the flow of the book was ruined a little.

Despite the writing style of the book, I would recommend this book to anyone because of its relevance and perspective the book gives. The book also does a good job demonstrating how tension rose even more in the Middle East after 9/11. I especially think this book is great to read if you want to know more about 9/11, want some perspective on the attacks or want to see how 9/11, or if you just want an interesting read.

PROCEED WITH CAUTION: SPOILERS

Rebecca

After I read Mohsin Hamid’s The Reluctant Fundamentalist I found myself questioning why I, a sixteen year-old female New Jerseyan, could relate to a Pakistani male New Yorker in his mid-twenties. Despite the fact, that we come from completely separate worlds, I found Hamid’s writing of Changez’s life to resonate with me on an oddly deep level. Then I realized, Changez felt pressured to succeed, he wanted love with someone who emotionally could not return his feelings, and the extent of his self-identity issues were overwhelming. Aren’t these problems that teenage girls all over the world struggle with daily? As nonsensical as it sounds to try and parallel the issues of Changez and high-school girls, there is clearly some symmetry. I definitely think that the story’s ability to weave its way into anyone’s life highlights its strengths. However, the plot itself definitely had some missteps. The story opens up and the reader gets a sense of who Changez is: an intelligent Pakistani immigrant, bound for prosperity. I’m not going to lie, hearing him talk about his success at Princeton University and how obviously exceptional he was made him come off a bit cocky, but that facet of Changez kept me engaged (c’mon, who doesn’t love a success story?) The side of Changez that I was not particularly fond of was his obsession with Erica. The romantic aspect of the story seemed forced, and in my opinion, was completely unnecessary. Without having to balance the emotional decline of Erica, the story already had an abundance of moving parts (for God’s sake, the man would go from talking about his past life in America to ordering coffee in his present life in Pakistan with practically no transition). It was clear that Hamid did not know what to do with this aspect of the story, as he so abruptly kills her off.

Overall, this story was a satisfying read. The way Hamid played with perspective throughout the book was intriguing, and kept the characters relatable. The conversational tone aided in transporting me to Changez’s world, and helped me build connections with the characters. Similarly to the real world, the story did not end happily. However, the conclusion was left up to the reader’s interpretation, which kept the story engaging even after I was done reading. In fact, the ending was still circulating in my thoughts several days after I finished the book.

The Reluctant… Everything

Teddy

Choosing a book, for me, is less of a process and more of a blind introduction. You could almost treat my decision as a blind date, either painfully uncomfortable and something I want to completely erase from my memory or, on the contrary, a beautiful and matrimonious experience. Two weeks ago I picked up (without further ado) The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid. In the deepest crack of my couch, stereotypically with a cup of coffee and a cozy blanket, I began reading...

To say the least, I was thoroughly engulfed in Hamid’s writing. The protagonist, Changez, vividly recalls his personal experiences as a Pakistani in America to an American in Pakistan, which offers the views of Changez both in and out of his element.. Though, as a reader, I came to realize that Changez's ‘American Dream’ violently crashes and burns at the end, Changez speaks of his experiences delicately and expresses the smallest details in such a vivid and powerful manner that I was left wanting more of his graceful verbiage.

Thriving through the energy of Princeton, New York City and his elite job, Changez is enviable amongst his peers. Internally Changez fights a conflict between his Pakistani roots and his desire to be a part of the new American community he has entered, that few people in his life understand. In Changez’s attempt to assimilate himself with the community of his fellow Princetonians and New Yorkers, he finds himself in Greece with a woman he instantaneously fell in love with. Soon after graduation this woman becomes Changez’s Upper East Side desire, as well as an outlet to realize his displacement in America through his displacement in his lover’s heart. The connection in Changez and Erica’s relationship had a profound affect on me, as a reader, because their love was so suitable with such sensual undertones that the unattainability was heartbreaking. However, the reasons their relationship was impossible synchronizes perfectly with the theme of ‘wanting what you cannot have, until you have it.’