“I just finished the book, its amazing! And its interesting to read the comments here as well. Well, i didn't understand myself the meanings of the names of the characters but it gives them entirely new meaning. The book is delicate and beautiful like a poem despite the harsh theme. And the contrast between the old culture and world of East and new ruling respectles West is described in many ways and layers. The idea of modern time janissary was interesting. We hear every day everywhere loud voices which tell us opposite story, im glad that M.Hamid told in quiet voice the other side of the story as well.”
“Just read my review and tell me. Is this book worth stocking on a Library Shelf?”
“I'm fascinated by this line of discussion regarding the names in the book. Changez - - well that one hits you over the head. But I didn't think of Erica/America - - also I suspect purposeful.Another thought occurred to me, and I wonder if I'm really stretching or if someone else thought of this too. Chris . . .could the dead Chris be a parallel to Christ. That in some way, for Americans, religion has died and left them worshipping capitalism and doing anything to defend it (believe me, this isn't what I think . . .just wondering if the author might be implying it . . .).”
“Was the American killed in the end? What do you think?”
“I just didn't enjoy this book, however it was well written and compelling. I am more of a "third person" or first person "observational" rather than a first person "conversational" type of person ”
“I am sorry quite contrary to everyone's praise I found the book terrible. The expression was awful , the perspective pathetic. The pakistani take on american society was stereotyped. It appeared to me the main character was rejected by his american lover and then he turned to his faith. Puh-Lease and the end......”
“.What I don't understand is that why he left America after 9/11?Either because of his religion? or because of his crush and lost girlfriend?It is obvious that Mohsin Hamid is mixing the love story with the 9/11 background.And in this way he lost both charms.Of course the magic of words is brilliant, and Mohsin is wizard in it..but let me think again, why he wrote this books..is he fond of religion or does he added delibrately the role of his girlfriend just to soothe the real fact.”
“The truth is, I haven't read this yet but it keeps being recommended to me. The trouble is, I'm currently in Doha, Qatar, and not only is there a very limited number of bookstores, but many books are banned -- especially books that deal with the Islamic religion. Can anyone tell me more about this highly recommended book?”
“I did not like this book at all. It is supposed to give readers an insight into the mind of a fundamentalist; I was actually even more bewildered after reading the book. ”
“The monologue used in the book is rather a new experiment and works well. But it does not prevent Changez from appearing rather naive in his expectations from firstworld/corporate power structures. His girl friend Erica (Am Erica??) is an allegorized version of the country which seems to disintegrate after 9/11. The book works on several levels but fails to explain what Changez expected from Underwood Samson etc and thus his increasing disillusionment with America remains under explained. There was racism in North America/Manhattan even before 9/11 but Changez seems so blissfully unaware of that; it could have been a more exciting book if it had explained how expressions of racism had metamorphosed after 9/11. However, it has made it to the Booker Short list now...and that is important isn't it?”
