The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid

A short book, an easy read, but expertly crafted. Written in the first person it tells the story of Changez, a bearded Pakistani, as revealed to an American stranger who may or may not be FBI. We learn that Changez has lived in the US, was top of his class at Princeton and snapped up by Underwood Sampson, a consultancy firm,on graduation. He lived the good life, with position, money and parties, working hard until, on assignment in Chile, he realises how much the US interferes in other countries, and he stops working and is subsequently fired. And then comes 9/11, and he realises, as he sees the twin towers fall that he wants  to harm America. And as he realises, in the aftermath, that he is somehow  treated differently, we get some understanding of why. 

Here he is, back in Lahore, presumably now a "fundamentalist". He is teaching and we learn that he was initially against violence, but experiences have made him change his mind. 

The atmosphere is tremendous with an undercurrent of tension throughout.  Did the relationship with Erica, the rich American girl add anything? - perhaps it added to his story that he was an outsider, not really accepted in the US and had chosen an unsuitable girl. 

The book gives a glimpse of life in a troubled Pakistan, on the brink of war with India. As Changez travelled back to the US after a visit home he realised that the plane was full of bright young people from his home country being removed to safely in the west, and found himself full of contempt. 

So, why is he talking to the stranger? We learn that he now has a position of influence in his own country and, presumably, is teaching against the west. Is he acting alone? What about the waiter? Or the power cut? And what happened at the end?- we were divided in our thoughts. Clearly something happened. A killing? A kidnap? Of whom? 

Most of us enjoyed the book, although Alison did not like the style. It led to a discussion of displacement and the tendency of people from similar cultures to want to live together.

 A good read. 

Average mark 7.5 ( 6 - 10!)