The Reluctant Fundamentalist discussion

I just finished The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Moshin Hamid. Short novel, easy read, but my, the writing is superb. The whole story is told as a first person narrative, recounting the experience of a Pakistani man in America after 9/11, as told to an American over dinner in Lahore. The way in which the narrator constantly returns to the present throughout the telling of his tale, and the sense of menace that he builds up, are excellent devices. An extremely controlled performance by an obviously talented writer, and the ending is perfect in its ambiguity.

I really enjoyed this book as well. INitially I wasn't thrilled with the ending but then I thought more about it and realized that the ending is mine to make. excellent writing.

I agree. I read this book in May 2011 too :)

Then, I reread it again because it's brilliant!

For details check out my review here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

agreed! an awesome read!

One of the best books I read this year.

I've been totally surprised by the muted reader reception this book seems to have received. Like those of you here so far, I was dazzled by the controlled, laser-like, probing, yet ultimately ambiguous story line. I shared my book with several others (it disappeared and I eventually replaced it from bargain books) and within that small community, we had a common sense of the realness of the feelings and the actions expressed and implied. (This despite, or perhaps because of, our living in one of the commuter communities that lost a number of our neighbors in 9/11.)

I must also throw my hat into the ring. I felt that this is a seriously overlooked book. It gives some idea of the feelings that might be engendered by the current tensions, but it gives them form a viewpoint we are much less likely to know.

Alan wrote: "I must also throw my hat into the ring. I felt that this is a seriously overlooked book. It gives some idea of the feelings that might be engendered by the current tensions, but it gives them form ..."

Rightly put :)

Alan wrote: "I must also throw my hat into the ring. I felt that this is a seriously overlooked book. It gives some idea of the feelings that might be engendered by the current tensions, but it gives them form ..."

So True

I agree - I read it a while ago now and enjoyed it. Along with the kite runner and a thousand splendid suns, it helped me gain a perspective about what the people of Afghanistan have been through and why the west is not liked as much as we'd like to be liked!

Just want to add my kudos. A superb read. Didn't think I was going to enjoy the narrative structure. That lasted about a page, maybe less, and I was into it.

That's probably the only good thing I enjoyed about this book :)