Year 12 English SL: Miss Swarbrick discussion

The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid is a book that follows the life of a Pakistani in America before and after the 9/11 incident. The main character speaks in first person, of his struggles, successes and thoughts during his American Journey. However, what makes this book unique is that the character, Changez, is not communicating to the audience upfront. Instead, he is narrating his life story to a white American man whom he just met at a tea shop. The book covers the themes of racism, isolation, fundamentalism and the reluctancy of the human mind to admit one's own negativity; thereby, having the name "The Reluctant Fundamentalist." The author expresses these ideas through the use of symbolism, irony and a conversational tone. I liked this book because it keeps me pondering about the reliability of the author.