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My Son the Fanatic
Set in a northern industrial town, this screenplay presents the dismay experienced by a Pakistani father when his son rejects the material possessions and values he has slaved all his life for and embraces a fundamentalist sect of Islam.
8 pages, Paperback
First published November 5, 1998
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670 people want to read
About the author
Hanif Kureishi
128 books1,126 followersHanif Kureishi is the author of novels (including The Buddha of Suburbia, The Black Album and Intimacy), story collections (Love in a Blue Time, Midnight All Day, The Body), plays (including Outskirts, Borderline and Sleep With Me), and screenplays (including My Beautiful Laundrette, My Son the Fanatic and Venus). Among his other publications are the collection of essays Dreaming and Scheming, The Word and the Bomb and the memoir My Ear at His Heart.
Kureishi was born in London to a Pakistani father and an English mother. His father, Rafiushan, was from a wealthy Madras family, most of whose members moved to Pakistan after the Partition of India in 1947. He came to Britain to study law but soon abandoned his studies. After meeting and marrying Kureishi’s mother Audrey, Rafiushan settled in Bromley, where Kureishi was born, and worked at the Pakistan Embassy.
Kureishi attended Bromley Technical High School where David Bowie had also been a pupil and after taking his A levels at a local sixth form college, he spent a year studying philosophy at Lancaster University before dropping out. Later he attended King’s College London and took a degree in philosophy. In 1985 he wrote My Beautiful Laundrette, a screenplay about a gay Pakistani-British boy growing up in 1980’s London for a film directed by Stephen Frears. It won the New York Film Critics Best Screenplay Award and an Academy Award nomination for Best Screenplay.
His book The Buddha of Suburbia (1990) won the Whitbread Award for the best first novel, and was also made into a BBC television series with a soundtrack by David Bowie. The next year, 1991, saw the release of the feature film entitled London Kills Me; a film written and directed Kureishi.
His novel Intimacy (1998) revolved around the story of a man leaving his wife and two young sons after feeling physically and emotionally rejected by his wife. This created certain controversy as Kureishi himself had recently left his wife and two young sons. It is assumed to be at least semi-autobiographical. In 2000/2001 the novel was loosely adapted to a movie Intimacy by Patrice Chéreau, which won two Bears at the Berlin Film Festival: a Golden Bear for Best Film, and a Silver Bear for Best Actress (Kerry Fox). It was controversial for its unreserved sex scenes. The book was translated into Persian by Niki Karimi in 2005.
He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2008 New Year Honours.
Kureishi is married and has a pair of twins and a younger son.
Kureishi was born in London to a Pakistani father and an English mother. His father, Rafiushan, was from a wealthy Madras family, most of whose members moved to Pakistan after the Partition of India in 1947. He came to Britain to study law but soon abandoned his studies. After meeting and marrying Kureishi’s mother Audrey, Rafiushan settled in Bromley, where Kureishi was born, and worked at the Pakistan Embassy.
Kureishi attended Bromley Technical High School where David Bowie had also been a pupil and after taking his A levels at a local sixth form college, he spent a year studying philosophy at Lancaster University before dropping out. Later he attended King’s College London and took a degree in philosophy. In 1985 he wrote My Beautiful Laundrette, a screenplay about a gay Pakistani-British boy growing up in 1980’s London for a film directed by Stephen Frears. It won the New York Film Critics Best Screenplay Award and an Academy Award nomination for Best Screenplay.
His book The Buddha of Suburbia (1990) won the Whitbread Award for the best first novel, and was also made into a BBC television series with a soundtrack by David Bowie. The next year, 1991, saw the release of the feature film entitled London Kills Me; a film written and directed Kureishi.
His novel Intimacy (1998) revolved around the story of a man leaving his wife and two young sons after feeling physically and emotionally rejected by his wife. This created certain controversy as Kureishi himself had recently left his wife and two young sons. It is assumed to be at least semi-autobiographical. In 2000/2001 the novel was loosely adapted to a movie Intimacy by Patrice Chéreau, which won two Bears at the Berlin Film Festival: a Golden Bear for Best Film, and a Silver Bear for Best Actress (Kerry Fox). It was controversial for its unreserved sex scenes. The book was translated into Persian by Niki Karimi in 2005.
He was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2008 New Year Honours.
Kureishi is married and has a pair of twins and a younger son.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews
June 28, 2020
This was originally a short story,which later became a play.It is about the lives of a father and son of Pakistani origin,who are British citizens.
The father,Pervez,is a taxi driver.He likes alcohol and whores.The son,Farid,like many young British Muslims is becoming increasingly conservative and religious.
He frowns on his father's activities,while the father in turn,is not happy with the son.The author,Hanif Kureishi,is himself the product of a mixed marriage.He has a Pakistani father and a British mother.
The play is fairly interesting,though the title is a bit misleading.The focus is more on the father and much less on the son.If he is a fanatic,his activities and motives are not explored in detail.
The father,Pervez,is a taxi driver.He likes alcohol and whores.The son,Farid,like many young British Muslims is becoming increasingly conservative and religious.
He frowns on his father's activities,while the father in turn,is not happy with the son.The author,Hanif Kureishi,is himself the product of a mixed marriage.He has a Pakistani father and a British mother.
The play is fairly interesting,though the title is a bit misleading.The focus is more on the father and much less on the son.If he is a fanatic,his activities and motives are not explored in detail.
May 11, 2023
I will admit that I struggled with this short story - I think for the extremes of the characters portrayed in this book. There are no real villains or heroes here rather different view points (and not just that of the titular son of the title).
I think however what I struggled with was the motivations of the characters - it felt like they were being presented as means to an end, almost as if the author wanted to get a point over and that required a character to deliver it.
My reading tastes as my own and while I can appreciate when someone has written something well it does not mean it connects with me and I think this one I did struggle with - it can happen
I think however what I struggled with was the motivations of the characters - it felt like they were being presented as means to an end, almost as if the author wanted to get a point over and that required a character to deliver it.
My reading tastes as my own and while I can appreciate when someone has written something well it does not mean it connects with me and I think this one I did struggle with - it can happen
February 18, 2017
Thruthfully when i first read the shortstory i didnt think much of it too but the line that really struck me was what Ali asks Pervaz in the last line. You never decifer if the father is more afraid of Ali or if Ali is more afraid of Pervaz. Its till the end of the story that ypu realize that they are not characters but just stand ins, symbolic figures with greater meaning because at the end when i read it now it seems that when Ali asks Pervaz "who's the fanatic now", its not the pervaz he is adressing but it is the reader.
Hanif plays with the reader's perception of the fanatic and turns it topsy turvy.
Hanif plays with the reader's perception of the fanatic and turns it topsy turvy.
March 2, 2017
Short stories fast to read with incredibly important messages that make you wonder and understand... I really have to read more of these!
December 29, 2020
This book is impactful for me as a muslim figuring out her way in this modern society. I feel like Ali is the embodiment of a proper muslim while most of us are similar to Parvez (Ali’s father) in his views that we have to conform and fit in with the rest of the world.
My take is to give any book that has enlightened me, no matter how big or small, a 5 stars. This book along with The Test by Sylvain Neuvel has done an impeccable job at pulling my heartstrings.
Ali’s dialogues are powerful especially when he said “The problem is this” ... “You are too implicated in Western civilisation.” “How can you love something which hates you?”
The last line is particularly a knock out when Ali asked Parvez “So who’s the fanatic now?” Because the fanatic is not the devoted muslim peacefully practicing his belief (as Ali did not initiate anything until probed by his father) but the aggravated lot like Parvez and us readers that are agitated by people like Ali practicing a religion that comes across as backwards to them.
My take is to give any book that has enlightened me, no matter how big or small, a 5 stars. This book along with The Test by Sylvain Neuvel has done an impeccable job at pulling my heartstrings.
Ali’s dialogues are powerful especially when he said “The problem is this” ... “You are too implicated in Western civilisation.” “How can you love something which hates you?”
The last line is particularly a knock out when Ali asked Parvez “So who’s the fanatic now?” Because the fanatic is not the devoted muslim peacefully practicing his belief (as Ali did not initiate anything until probed by his father) but the aggravated lot like Parvez and us readers that are agitated by people like Ali practicing a religion that comes across as backwards to them.
May 2, 2025
Letzter Satz GAGGED
April 12, 2022
Western influence clashes against Eastern culture and religion. At its core, this should've been a really thought provoking story. How does Western influence challenge religion? What things get left behind as one becomes Americanized? How do we live together in such stark perspectives on life?
My Son the Fanatic has the skeleton of what could've been an incredibly salient story. Unfortunately, it falls a bit flat. We get snippets of serious commentary between these two cultures but it falls short at the final scene of violence. I think this story would've really benefited from a larger prose to put it all together and build up the tension towards the final scene.
Even though I'm rating this a three, I'm still saying this is worth the time to read before of the conversation it sparks. I would've loved to have more but it feels as if this is still budding in it's own way.
My Son the Fanatic has the skeleton of what could've been an incredibly salient story. Unfortunately, it falls a bit flat. We get snippets of serious commentary between these two cultures but it falls short at the final scene of violence. I think this story would've really benefited from a larger prose to put it all together and build up the tension towards the final scene.
Even though I'm rating this a three, I'm still saying this is worth the time to read before of the conversation it sparks. I would've loved to have more but it feels as if this is still budding in it's own way.
May 3, 2025
Bettina hat gecarried
May 30, 2024
This was actually a really interesting read
November 24, 2021
i love short stories. this is only 29 pages, but each page is a little story in itself
June 5, 2021
2.5 stars✨
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Der letzte Paragraph wurde bei uns rausgeschnitten, damit wir selber quasi ein Ende für die Story schreiben, vorerst ohne zu wissen wie es endet. Habe eben das Ende dennoch gegoogelt und WAS FÜR EIN ENDE. Das Ende hat meine Meinung zu dieser story definitiv verbessert, da ich ansonsten gedacht hätte "okay boring", aber das Ende macht es definitiv more impactful. Bin tatsächlich impressed!! Weil ich es nicht erwartet hätte. Ist natürlich jz auch nichts krasses, aber finds insgesamt echt nicht schlecht. Natürlich kann man dies nicht vergleichen mit den Short Story Kings and Queens wie O Henry oder Borges, Anderson usw. aber an sich not bad. I mean, Woyzeck has a lower rating also 😂 ich glaube ich mag es eventuell auch mehr als shooting an elephant, weil es mehr Charaktere und dadurch eine größere Konstellation gibt, was ich persönlich gerne mag (wenn es nicht nur um eine Person geht), da es dann eine größere chance gibt dass es jemanden gibt den ich sympatisch finde. Tatsächlich mag ich Bettina eig gerne, she's quite iconic (nicht ganz unschuldig aber scheint wenigstens menschlicher zu sein als die anderen...) Ehrenfrau
(ich kann dem ganzen aber keine 3 stars geben, da ich anderen impactful stories schon 3 gegeben habe wie my heart and other black holes, poet x usw. 3 Stars bedeuten ja in meiner Welt nice, good oder really good)
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Der letzte Paragraph wurde bei uns rausgeschnitten, damit wir selber quasi ein Ende für die Story schreiben, vorerst ohne zu wissen wie es endet. Habe eben das Ende dennoch gegoogelt und WAS FÜR EIN ENDE. Das Ende hat meine Meinung zu dieser story definitiv verbessert, da ich ansonsten gedacht hätte "okay boring", aber das Ende macht es definitiv more impactful. Bin tatsächlich impressed!! Weil ich es nicht erwartet hätte. Ist natürlich jz auch nichts krasses, aber finds insgesamt echt nicht schlecht. Natürlich kann man dies nicht vergleichen mit den Short Story Kings and Queens wie O Henry oder Borges, Anderson usw. aber an sich not bad. I mean, Woyzeck has a lower rating also 😂 ich glaube ich mag es eventuell auch mehr als shooting an elephant, weil es mehr Charaktere und dadurch eine größere Konstellation gibt, was ich persönlich gerne mag (wenn es nicht nur um eine Person geht), da es dann eine größere chance gibt dass es jemanden gibt den ich sympatisch finde. Tatsächlich mag ich Bettina eig gerne, she's quite iconic (nicht ganz unschuldig aber scheint wenigstens menschlicher zu sein als die anderen...) Ehrenfrau
(ich kann dem ganzen aber keine 3 stars geben, da ich anderen impactful stories schon 3 gegeben habe wie my heart and other black holes, poet x usw. 3 Stars bedeuten ja in meiner Welt nice, good oder really good)
June 13, 2022
I really liked this. But content warnings would have been nice.
The writing style was brilliant but the book likens bigotry by religious individuals to cult fantasism and also describes a scene of abuse between father and son. Overall I think it's a good think piece regarding western values vs more traditional religious values.
Also it was interesting to see the dynamic and contrasts of opinions between the two men as I personally would have expected a stronger sense of religion to be held by the older man rather than the younger one (as this is my own experience to this point) but it was refreshing.
The writing style was brilliant but the book likens bigotry by religious individuals to cult fantasism and also describes a scene of abuse between father and son. Overall I think it's a good think piece regarding western values vs more traditional religious values.
Also it was interesting to see the dynamic and contrasts of opinions between the two men as I personally would have expected a stronger sense of religion to be held by the older man rather than the younger one (as this is my own experience to this point) but it was refreshing.
December 7, 2012
I read this when I was in high school and didn't think much of it at the time.
Now that I've re read it I can only wonder what the fuck the teacher was thinking about.
This is so brutal and scary. I totally respect it but I am not prepared to review this. It's just too much.
Specially the ending.
Now that I've re read it I can only wonder what the fuck the teacher was thinking about.
This is so brutal and scary. I totally respect it but I am not prepared to review this. It's just too much.
Specially the ending.
March 2, 2020
Hmm. I'm not sure how I feel about this. They're both fanatics in their own separate ways, but I'm not sure what message this story is meant to convey and why? I don't see anything positive about it. It seemed confusing and slightly misleading as well. Not enough depth to really get into something this critical, I think.
May 6, 2008
A great short read (i'm talking a few pages) on Eastern meets Western culture. An (Americanized) father is offended and confused by his son's loyalty to Islam.
April 20, 2024
5/5⭐️
I thought this short story was really great.
I was supposed to read it for english class, but I would have read it privately too.
The inner conflict of the father with his son, who on the one hand loves him but also feels like he no longer knows him, was described really well.
I found the characters exciting and also that the ending is left quite "open".
I would definitely recommend it!
5/5⭐️
I thought this short story was really great.
I was supposed to read it for english class, but I would have read it privately too.
The inner conflict of the father with his son, who on the one hand loves him but also feels like he no longer knows him, was described really well.
I found the characters exciting and also that the ending is left quite "open".
I would definitely recommend it!
5/5⭐️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
April 30, 2023i hate it when school forces me to read shit (i love reading tho, i just don’t like being forced to do something)
July 28, 2024
It was fine if predictable, nothing incredible.
September 17, 2025
Der Vati hat am Ende gecarried
October 25, 2021
A lovely book about generational gaps (a general human experience) and radicalization (a not yet general human experience, one would hope). Incredibly sad but also endearing, tender. The writing style is not over-explanatory and realistic, which allows the narrative tension to build up at its own pace. I loved that.
June 10, 2024
'So who’s the fanatic now?’
March 14, 2013
Yup, liked it.
Just today, I spoke with a friend about the authority our parents have over us. And then I read this, and it kind of fit. The father is in no position to tell his son to quit his religion and then to beat him up like that? Over a prostitute? I think Ali was right about everything he told his father, he deserved it and had it coming.
Will be interesting to interpret this story tomorrow in class, so I'll maybe come back to this review.
EDIT: So yeah, they're both fanatics. It slipped my mind that the son said he and the other Muslims are ready for a Jihad hahah
But still, the alienation between family members is really well portrayed, the immigration prejudices, religious intolerance and the clash of cultures (London's multiculturalism) - it'a all very contemporary and interesting to read about.
Just today, I spoke with a friend about the authority our parents have over us. And then I read this, and it kind of fit. The father is in no position to tell his son to quit his religion and then to beat him up like that? Over a prostitute? I think Ali was right about everything he told his father, he deserved it and had it coming.
Will be interesting to interpret this story tomorrow in class, so I'll maybe come back to this review.
EDIT: So yeah, they're both fanatics. It slipped my mind that the son said he and the other Muslims are ready for a Jihad hahah
But still, the alienation between family members is really well portrayed, the immigration prejudices, religious intolerance and the clash of cultures (London's multiculturalism) - it'a all very contemporary and interesting to read about.
April 16, 2021
Opowiadanie to przedstawia historie mężczyzny, z pakistańskimi korzeniami, mieszkającego w Anglii, którego syn postanawia odrzucić dobra materialne oraz wartości, które wpajane mu były latami przez zachodnią kulturę na rzecz fundamentalizmu islamskiego.
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Opowiadając o krótkich formach, staram się jedynie delikatnie zarysować fabułę, gdyż warto pewne elementy odkryć samemu, a ja nie chce psuć nikomu zabawy. Ta pozycja najbardziej działa na czytelnika, gdy już przeczyta się ostatnie zdanie, bo wybrzmiewa ono potem w nas, skłaniając do zastanowienia się nad pewnymi ważnymi kwestiami, które często ignorujemy.
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Opowiadając o krótkich formach, staram się jedynie delikatnie zarysować fabułę, gdyż warto pewne elementy odkryć samemu, a ja nie chce psuć nikomu zabawy. Ta pozycja najbardziej działa na czytelnika, gdy już przeczyta się ostatnie zdanie, bo wybrzmiewa ono potem w nas, skłaniając do zastanowienia się nad pewnymi ważnymi kwestiami, które często ignorujemy.
September 17, 2020
I found the short story quite interesting. It's important to know that the story is set from the father's perspective - and that's very significant for the narrative.
It's seems rather authentic almost autobiographical and Hanif Kureishi portrays the interesting clash between asian and european cultures, lifestyles and different worldviews.
It's seems rather authentic almost autobiographical and Hanif Kureishi portrays the interesting clash between asian and european cultures, lifestyles and different worldviews.
June 10, 2020
Trigger warnings - racial slurs
Actual rating 3.75
This was such an impactful short story. It was well written and heartbreaking. My only complaint is that it was only eight pages so I did not het to know anything about the characters or background fully. :(
Actual rating 3.75
This was such an impactful short story. It was well written and heartbreaking. My only complaint is that it was only eight pages so I did not het to know anything about the characters or background fully. :(
January 9, 2018
Read because of school
August 19, 2023
Well. I read it.
Disliked. Prostitute character was nicely written.
Disliked. Prostitute character was nicely written.
March 30, 2025
what was the point of the book? please explain
February 23, 2021
I am going to include this freaking book on my freaking shelf because I feel I should get an award for reading this. I read it together with another work for one of my classes and I made the mistake of reading it "before" bed and kept agonizing over how terrible it is and made me feel and I had to actually boot up my notebook to vomit my thoughts onto Word so I could get some measure of peace.
If something like those thoughts interests you, you can continue but that one star says it nicely.
(I was sort of phrasing it like I was preparing it to argue my points in class but also free through so it may be a mess).
I know the piece is trying be really thoughtful and questioning and made you really think about that last sentence of “who’s the fanatic” based on the father’s behaviour but the moment of doubt becomes really just a moment, because the book should be judged on the book and it provides many examples and reasons why it is the Islamic culture that is seen as cruel and controlling and judgemental compared to western culture.
I know it’s called fiction in English but I somehow still prefer our most used word that calls it the “pretty literature” because it expresses a somewhat fundamental purpose and nature of books, of what I think books should do and represent – an experience maybe, aesthetic value but most of all, to be pleasing, to make you or your day somehow better. And even thought I am also like it when literature is thought provoking and maybe portrays some important events or ideas or points out important truths, I still feel that being pleasing in some way to the reader is an important consideration.
I don’t let my books do what this one did. If, because it does happen sometimes, a book takes a similar tone or turn as here, I am sure to point it out and complain. It’s not like I am asking for much but the utter hopelessness and despair contained in this book… I am pretty sure I could read some faithful real life diary-book of someone suffering from severe depression and anxiety and it still wouldn’t be as depressing as these two! I just can’t stand for something that makes you feel like the world is worthless and thankless place to live and maybe we should just off ourselves and hope there is some kind of paradise and we may end up there because the life here is just not worth it. That’s a terrible feeling and I don’t think books should inspire it like… ever.
I also see little point in books where you feel no character is worth your emotional effort of getting involved and everyone is bad or unlikable in one way or another.
Books are called escape for a reason and while happily ever after may not be “realistic”, it also signifies that one important feature of literature: to bring positive things into ones life.
I am not saying getting rid of negative emotions. The label itself is a little misleading – grief, for example, can have a very positive impact on ones life. And it’s those “negative” parts that help us reach higher in the opposite direction. But this emotion approaches a whole other territory: being harmful or even toxic.
(end of night musings)
If something like those thoughts interests you, you can continue but that one star says it nicely.
(I was sort of phrasing it like I was preparing it to argue my points in class but also free through so it may be a mess).
I know the piece is trying be really thoughtful and questioning and made you really think about that last sentence of “who’s the fanatic” based on the father’s behaviour but the moment of doubt becomes really just a moment, because the book should be judged on the book and it provides many examples and reasons why it is the Islamic culture that is seen as cruel and controlling and judgemental compared to western culture.
I know it’s called fiction in English but I somehow still prefer our most used word that calls it the “pretty literature” because it expresses a somewhat fundamental purpose and nature of books, of what I think books should do and represent – an experience maybe, aesthetic value but most of all, to be pleasing, to make you or your day somehow better. And even thought I am also like it when literature is thought provoking and maybe portrays some important events or ideas or points out important truths, I still feel that being pleasing in some way to the reader is an important consideration.
I don’t let my books do what this one did. If, because it does happen sometimes, a book takes a similar tone or turn as here, I am sure to point it out and complain. It’s not like I am asking for much but the utter hopelessness and despair contained in this book… I am pretty sure I could read some faithful real life diary-book of someone suffering from severe depression and anxiety and it still wouldn’t be as depressing as these two! I just can’t stand for something that makes you feel like the world is worthless and thankless place to live and maybe we should just off ourselves and hope there is some kind of paradise and we may end up there because the life here is just not worth it. That’s a terrible feeling and I don’t think books should inspire it like… ever.
I also see little point in books where you feel no character is worth your emotional effort of getting involved and everyone is bad or unlikable in one way or another.
Books are called escape for a reason and while happily ever after may not be “realistic”, it also signifies that one important feature of literature: to bring positive things into ones life.
I am not saying getting rid of negative emotions. The label itself is a little misleading – grief, for example, can have a very positive impact on ones life. And it’s those “negative” parts that help us reach higher in the opposite direction. But this emotion approaches a whole other territory: being harmful or even toxic.
(end of night musings)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 104 reviews