Pakistani Readers discussion

what are your thoughts guys?

Im conflicted. I'm not sure how I feel about the "self-help" set up of the book. I did enjoy how Mohsin Hamid was able to highlight so so many of the political and social issues plaguing our society in such an easy manner. I'm bot sure how I feel about the relationship of the poor guy and the pretty girl... Kinda errrr.... Ummmm... !!! I can't get the dialogue towards the end of the book out of my head, the one about the poor being so much more aware of the disparity between themselves and the rich of our society.

".....their faces pressed to that clear window on wealth afforded by ubiquitous television....."

I liked the reluctant fundamentalist, I have been hesitant about reading this one primarily because like you said zenab, it's written as a self-help book despite being a novel and I want to like it but I'm worried I may not.

I loved this book. It had me thinking days after I put it down and is definitely one that I will be reading again. I would not describe it as a book about love but inevitably, I think, it was. Insightful about SE asian countries in general and an addictive book. I gave it four stars out five, the only reason being that I found the second person point of view distracting in some parts. Otherwise another gem from Mohsin Hamid.

o.k salma, since i was on the fence about this book, your love of this book with plans for re-reading and Amina Ilahi's review swayed me..got it yesterday, lets see how it goes

Great Lara, let us know what you think of it.

good script...but I didn't find it much of a self help!! first half was good with accurate details!

Half way through. So far it's too crude for my taste, but I often have this issue with male authors( no offence guys), they tend to objectify women and love, which kills the romance. The profanity is completely unnecessary. That's just me though. Mohsin Hamid is a talented writer, but I am disturbed when Pakistani authors portray Pakistan in such a bad light to an international audience. Thoughts??

Pretty rubbish till the last couple of chapters.

Lara, how would you portray it in a positive light?

Misha, I agree that it is challenging. Corruption and poverty and violence are a harsh reality. But what about family values, etc. Plus the middle class is seldom represented; it's either the utterly impoverished or the extremely rich who are into drugs, infidelity and the like. Living in America this bothers me because Pakistanis here may not represent the average Pakistani, but they are mostly from middle class educated backgrounds. Authors should try to improve our already tainted image in a realistic way. This book has interestingly not mentioned the backdrop as being Pakistan, but most know that it is.

I know it's hard to portray the positives, but I have tried to do that in my book despite being unable to deny all the ills.

i agree with you @lara, about the book being crude... but i've noticed that to be the case with Mohsin Hamid beginning with Moth's smoke.

Agreed Zenab. Here is my review:

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...