A few weeks back i happened to read this post by Kunal. It struck me then that it had been a very long time since i had actually read a book. I had run through my last book “A fine Balance“ more than a couple of months back! By the way that was a brilliant book! Anyway i decided enough was enough and decided to order a few books online. And i chose ”The Reluctant Fundamentalist” by Mohsin Hamid. I just finished reading it today and i must say it was an excellent read.
Why i connected with this book was because it dealt with someone we all could relate to. Changez(ironic similarity to changes.. probably intended), a brilliant guy from Pakistan who made it to Princeton and then to the top of his class and finally into the dream job on campus. He was living the american dream until the WTC and his world came crashing down. How that single event changes his perception of himself and how he finds his place in the world is what the book is about. The amazing thing about this book is that unlike other books its not just about political views but also deals with Changez’s personal life too. His adorable love for Erica is extremely touching and at some points you are really moved.
The language too is quite simple and lucid. You are never bored or confused. However it was written in the form of a monologue, so it took me sometime to adjust to the particluar style. But once i got into the groove i could hardly put the book down. Go read it. I can definitely promise you that you will not be indifferent to it.
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