The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid - 4 stars

[Ellen]

Changez is a young Pakistani man who followed his dream to America where he was Princeton-educated, hired by a prestigious financial analysis institution, and fell in love with the beautiful, but ultimately unattainable, Erica. He excelled at his job, always being the top-ranking analyst and was popular with his co-workers. Unfailingly polite and gentlemanly, he charmed Erica and her parents even as Erica pined for a lost love. As Changez sat in a hotel room in Manila while on a buisness trip, he watched with the rest of the world as the twin towers fell in New York City. Unbidden, a smile crossed his lips as he saw the symbol of American wealth tumble to the ground. In the following days, as America began its war with Afghanistan, Changez became less enamored of his adopted country as bombs dropped on a Muslim neighbor of his native Pakistan. At first torn between his allegiance to the country that had provided a stellar education and a lucrative paycheck and his homeland, Changez had to decide where his deepest loyalties lay.

This story is told completely as a narrative by Changez as he sits across a restaurant table from an unidentified American. What an intriguing way to write a book and it works quite well. It is very interesting to see the other side of the war from a Muslim point of view. His views that "no country inflicts death so readily upon the inhabitants of other countries, frightens so many people so far away, as America" is a difficult pill to swallow for an American reader but it is certain that he is not alone in his theories. It is a thoughtful, insightful and, at times, terrifying book.

[Booknblues]

Thanks for your review. I really want to read this.