Comments on: Mohsin Hamid: The Reluctant Fundamentalist http://booklit.com/blog/2007/08/31/mohsin-hamid-the-reluctant-fundamentalist/ a literary handout Thu, 17 May 2012 10:08:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.2 By: Ano http://booklit.com/blog/2007/08/31/mohsin-hamid-the-reluctant-fundamentalist/#comment-31746 Ano Sat, 01 Oct 2011 01:07:29 +0000 http://booklit.com/blog/2007/08/31/mohsin-hamid-the-reluctant-fundamentalist/#comment-31746 I disagree with Victoria who claimed that the book was 'superficial' and 'devastatingly simplistic in its approach to terrorism and America’s response to it'. Unfortunately, its clear that most of the books themes and ideas had not reached Victoria like they had with me. I found the book dealt more with confusion of identity then anything else. Reading it a number of times, you pick up on different things each time and this theme gets stronger after each read. One would notice that his everyday life and relationships are reflective to the bigger picture. His relationship to the US and attitudes towards the US from Pakistan and vise versa. The novel is written as one long monologue which changes the feel of this book. As a reader you feel you are being spoken to directly, and are allowed room for your own thoughts to develop. This book was written with the intention to provoke thoughts. The title alone does this and contributes greatly to the ideas that come from reading this book. I disagree with Victoria who claimed that the book was ’superficial’ and ‘devastatingly simplistic in its approach to terrorism and America’s response to it’.

Unfortunately, its clear that most of the books themes and ideas had not reached Victoria like they had with me.
I found the book dealt more with confusion of identity then anything else. Reading it a number of times, you pick up on different things each time and this theme gets stronger after each read.
One would notice that his everyday life and relationships are reflective to the bigger picture. His relationship to the US and attitudes towards the US from Pakistan and vise versa. The novel is written as one long monologue which changes the feel of this book. As a reader you feel you are being spoken to directly, and are allowed room for your own thoughts to develop.
This book was written with the intention to provoke thoughts. The title alone does this and contributes greatly to the ideas that come from reading this book.

]]> By: Aashish http://booklit.com/blog/2007/08/31/mohsin-hamid-the-reluctant-fundamentalist/#comment-20800 Aashish Wed, 11 Feb 2009 12:17:15 +0000 http://booklit.com/blog/2007/08/31/mohsin-hamid-the-reluctant-fundamentalist/#comment-20800 the plot, the character of the girl, the visit to the asylum outside the city, even the suicide, are all there written with better skill. You must try reading Norwegian wood, I think you will like it, though one must read Murakami only in the early twenties, for after that he becomes unreadable and seems to impressed with himself. But your reviews are spot on in most cases. cheers a. the plot, the character of the girl, the visit to the asylum outside the city, even the suicide, are all there written with better skill. You must try reading Norwegian wood, I think you will like it, though one must read Murakami only in the early twenties, for after that he becomes unreadable and seems to impressed with himself.

But your reviews are spot on in most cases.

cheers
a.

]]> By: Stewart http://booklit.com/blog/2007/08/31/mohsin-hamid-the-reluctant-fundamentalist/#comment-20787 Stewart Wed, 11 Feb 2009 09:26:19 +0000 http://booklit.com/blog/2007/08/31/mohsin-hamid-the-reluctant-fundamentalist/#comment-20787 I couldn't possibly say, Aashish Kaul, having never read much Murakami. Well, only <em>Dance Dance Dance</em>, which I didn't like much. I couldn’t possibly say, Aashish Kaul, having never read much Murakami. Well, only Dance Dance Dance, which I didn’t like much.

]]> By: Aashish Kaul http://booklit.com/blog/2007/08/31/mohsin-hamid-the-reluctant-fundamentalist/#comment-20777 Aashish Kaul Wed, 11 Feb 2009 05:56:51 +0000 http://booklit.com/blog/2007/08/31/mohsin-hamid-the-reluctant-fundamentalist/#comment-20777 Not only is it a horror to call this book literature, it has been lifted straight off Murakami's Norwegian Wood. Not only is it a horror to call this book literature, it has been lifted straight off Murakami’s Norwegian Wood.

]]> By: booklit » Blog Archive » Aravind Adiga: The White Tiger http://booklit.com/blog/2007/08/31/mohsin-hamid-the-reluctant-fundamentalist/#comment-10268 booklit » Blog Archive » Aravind Adiga: The White Tiger Sun, 03 Aug 2008 16:15:48 +0000 http://booklit.com/blog/2007/08/31/mohsin-hamid-the-reluctant-fundamentalist/#comment-10268 [...] the telling, The White Tiger is reminiscent of last year’s Booker nominated The Reluctant Fundamentalist, give that we are left to wonder at Wen Jiabao’s reaction to Balram’s letters, assuming [...] […] the telling, The White Tiger is reminiscent of last year’s Booker nominated The Reluctant Fundamentalist, give that we are left to wonder at Wen Jiabao’s reaction to Balram’s letters, assuming […]

]]> By: Stewart http://booklit.com/blog/2007/08/31/mohsin-hamid-the-reluctant-fundamentalist/#comment-49 Stewart Tue, 04 Sep 2007 13:40:02 +0000 http://booklit.com/blog/2007/08/31/mohsin-hamid-the-reluctant-fundamentalist/#comment-49 It means the posts have been picked up by other sites and it's linking them together. Let's me know. It means the posts have been picked up by other sites and it’s linking them together. Let’s me know.

]]> By: steffee http://booklit.com/blog/2007/08/31/mohsin-hamid-the-reluctant-fundamentalist/#comment-46 steffee Tue, 04 Sep 2007 13:21:34 +0000 http://booklit.com/blog/2007/08/31/mohsin-hamid-the-reluctant-fundamentalist/#comment-46 What happened to the above two comments? I see that on lots of blogs. It sounds very political. Not really my thing. What happened to the above two comments? I see that on lots of blogs.

It sounds very political. Not really my thing.

]]> By: Mohsin Hamid: The Reluctant Fundamentalist http://booklit.com/blog/2007/08/31/mohsin-hamid-the-reluctant-fundamentalist/#comment-42 Mohsin Hamid: The Reluctant Fundamentalist Sun, 02 Sep 2007 11:29:48 +0000 http://booklit.com/blog/2007/08/31/mohsin-hamid-the-reluctant-fundamentalist/#comment-42 [...] …more [...] […] …more […]

]]> By: Ray of hope http://booklit.com/blog/2007/08/31/mohsin-hamid-the-reluctant-fundamentalist/#comment-41 Ray of hope Sun, 02 Sep 2007 11:29:32 +0000 http://booklit.com/blog/2007/08/31/mohsin-hamid-the-reluctant-fundamentalist/#comment-41 [...] …more [...] […] …more […]

]]> By: Victoria http://booklit.com/blog/2007/08/31/mohsin-hamid-the-reluctant-fundamentalist/#comment-39 Victoria Sun, 02 Sep 2007 09:46:39 +0000 http://booklit.com/blog/2007/08/31/mohsin-hamid-the-reluctant-fundamentalist/#comment-39 I agree that the novel was superficial - it was devastatingly simplistic in its approach to terrorism and America's response to it. I felt like I could have read the blurb and known everything there was to know about the depth and breadth of the plot. And I thought the ending was trying to be 'clever' but was ultimately naive. I think Jem has hit the nail on the head: 'The Reluctant Fundamentalist' feels very much like the obligatory 9/11 novel. I agree that the novel was superficial - it was devastatingly simplistic in its approach to terrorism and America’s response to it. I felt like I could have read the blurb and known everything there was to know about the depth and breadth of the plot. And I thought the ending was trying to be ‘clever’ but was ultimately naive.

I think Jem has hit the nail on the head: ‘The Reluctant Fundamentalist’ feels very much like the obligatory 9/11 novel.

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