Scan barcode
xxx_xxx's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
artasin_workof's review against another edition
3.0
Not my personal favorite of Hamid's work, but a 3-star novel from Mohsin Hamid is still better than a 5 star novel from 90% of contemporary authors.
leomonade's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
sparky_penny's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
It took a second to get into it because of the second person, but once I was in it the story was incredibly captivating and moving
offworldcolony's review against another edition
5.0
Hilarious whilst also slowly unpicking bias and anti-bias. It just builds and builds and the style in which it is written is extremely satisfying.
mcmoon's review against another edition
4.0
The set up and style of this novella--a Pakistani telling his story to an American he happens upon in a Lahore cafe--is quite clever. Set around the aftermath of 9/11, the book deals with being a Pakistani immigrant in America pursuing the American Dream and then becoming disillusioned by it. For a short novel, the book's depth and breadth are astonishing. There are layers of complexity here that will take me a second read to sift through. Most movingly, the book captures the psychological pain of bearing disappointments in life, from the personal to political. I loved the book's tone and narration (as well as the ironic title). However, I need more time to process the book's finer points.
beetroot17's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
roosuyttendaele's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
oxnard_montalvo's review against another edition
fine I suppose?
Not particularly compelling, and yet, yeah? Kinda compelling? Sort of fizzled. I'll probably find it memorable only because it's so short and easy to recall what happens, but in terms of story, it doesn't really go anywhere.
Perhaps it was more 'groundbreaking' when it was first published, because I fail to see how exactly this character is a fundamentalist, nor do I get a sense of his reluctance. The whole book is a bit of a shrug.
Not particularly compelling, and yet, yeah? Kinda compelling? Sort of fizzled. I'll probably find it memorable only because it's so short and easy to recall what happens, but in terms of story, it doesn't really go anywhere.
Perhaps it was more 'groundbreaking' when it was first published, because I fail to see how exactly this character is a fundamentalist, nor do I get a sense of his reluctance. The whole book is a bit of a shrug.