Reviews

Moth Smoke by Mohsin Hamid

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reflectiverambling_nalana's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

"Moth Smoke" is both humorous and sardonic. It tackles both our own hubris and that which is born from being of privilege and having society and those we look up to reinforce those ideas.

taking place among an elite group of Pakistani 20 somethings it follows three friends in a multiple narrative story structured around a criminal trial. each character has such a distinctive voice, the writing style engaging a vast array of all rather self important and indulgent attitudes. While each of the characters is gray at best to humans you want to knock some sense into, you can't help but be caught up in their frivolity in some cases and stark honesty about their own faults in others.

A really enjoyable read, but one that also has a gravity as it tackles some painful truths. Even if those who take a fall aren't completely innocent, it is difficult not to see that there is a level of unfairness to what fates befall which people.

hmmclean's review against another edition

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challenging dark tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

jess_mango's review against another edition

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4.0

My husband is from Pakistan, so when I first heard about this novel, I had to read it as I had never read any Pakistani literature.

The story takes place in Lahore and is about a young Pakistani man, Daru. He is on the bottom-most tier of the young elite in Lahore... he doesn't have as much money or power as his friends. In fact most of what he has, he owes to his childhood friend Ozi's family. After Daru gets fired from his job he begins a downward spiral of drugs, crime and betrayal.

aljavi's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

lottie1803's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

jadeyen's review against another edition

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medium-paced

Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

An impressive debut from Hamid. Loved the intersection of Mughal lore, Pakistan, and very modern issues— all while painting the growing pains of a country/middle class in “development” and the anxieties alongside— showing both the beauties and terrors. I liked the chapter set up and the cast of complex characters and their even more layered relationships with each other and their shifting contexts.

I wish it touched more on the lore and the nuclear tests— and the impact of the sanctions and geopolitics felt by every day citizens. Also, sometimes I felt like the story opened an interesting line of inquiry just to not be followed up or perhaps earned.

Maybe a good companion piece to Yang’s Taipei Story.