“...status, as in any traditional, class-conscious society, declines more slowly than wealth.”
The Reluctant Fundamentalist is a story told in the form of a monologue delivered by the protagonist, Changez, a young Pakistani man, to an unnamed American stranger that he meets in a café in Lahore.
Changez studied at Princeton University and subsequently worked at a prestigious valuation firm in New York. As he recently returned to Pakistan following the 9/11 attacks, he recounts his life in America, from his arrival as a bright-eyed and ambitious student to his disillusionment with American society and his growing sense of alienation as a Muslim in a post-9/11 world.
Through Changez's story, the author addresses issues such as cultural identity, religious fundamentalism, and the clash between the East and the West. The author also explores the complexities of personal relationships, as Changez struggles with his feelings for Erica, an American woman he meets and falls in love with while he was in New York. As the novel progresses, the reader is left to wonder whether Changez's loyalties lie with Pakistan or America, and whether his encounter with the American stranger in Lahore has a sinister motive.
This book had so much potential. To me, this is one of those novels that fall under the category of "good concept, bad execution", as the author pretty much skims the surface of topics that would have had a great impact if they were addressed in a more detailed way. There really could have been a lot more development around some of the central issues that this novel focuses on.
Regardless, this is an important book. It's a thought provoking and nuanced look at identity, cultural clashes, and the aftermath of 9/11. I will be reading more from this author.
I read this book as part of my Reading the World Challenge for Pakistan.
MOVIE TRAILER FOR THE RELUCTANT FUNDAMENTALIST
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