Leo Song’s Reviews > The Reluctant Fundamentalist > Status Update

At this point in the book, I have all my attention in the relationship between Changez and Erica. Erica represents America. She is beautiful and promising, but unable to accept Changez fully because she is trapped in nostalgia with her boyfriend, Chris, who died. I feel so frustrated since not much progress is shown, with Changez constantly reaching out while Erica remains locked in the past.

I was happy that Changez finally got his job at Underwood Samson. I think that it was mostly because the interviewer, Jim, saw himself in Changez during the interview. However, I felt something weird through the reading as if Changez will not be able to succeed like Jim. There is no clear evidence yet, but I guess in the future that Changez will face a major challenge that could lead him to a significant failure.

I was intrigued to The Reluctant Fundamentalist because of how it explores identity in the story. Changez’s experiences as an outsider in America made me think about cultural assumptions and the little ways people judge one another. His reflections on love and his connection to home reveal a character who is both thoughtful and conflicted, which kept me engaged and curious about how his story would show out later.