FINAL!

Overall I thought The Reluctant Fundamentalist was a pretty good book! I found the writing to be very unique and very interesting. At first it was hard for me to understand why the author had chosen to use such simple language, but as I got further into the plot I began to agree with the author's decision. I thought the diction fit the story and its information. What I really enjoyed about this book was how the author was able to incorperate so much important concepts and believes into one man's story. Sometimes a book revolves so much around one character's problems that it gets boring and uneventful. But the author was successfully able to balance Changez's problems with problems occuring in the world (like the 9/11 attacks). I really admired the authors ability to do this! What I didn't like about the book was how Changez was the only one describing the story. It occasionally bored me. But what I did like about Changez's dominance over the story was that I could really understand HIS point of view. I read the book because I wanted to learn about Changez, a Pakistani man trying to fulfill his goals in American post 9/11. I didn't pick the book so that I could learn about an American view point! Overall I found this book to very unique and actually really good! At first I wasn't sure I would enjoy the book, but by the end I felt like I really understood Changez and his experience in America.

The End

Overall, I thought that this book was unbelievably unique and is a very important piece for any American to read. Through seeing Changez's feelings, my eyes were opened to the Pakistani view on 911. Yes, I did have some prior understanding, but to see an example of a specific life that was affected, really put the situation in a clear light. Also, I couldn't stop admiring the wonderful and unique writing. The role of the American in the story was very affective as a "non-important" point of view. Also, the story line was very interesting and individual. The role of Erica in the story lead for a different relief from the prejudice. As well as a relief, it gave us a good look at Changez as a character. Hamid did a very good job of showing his audience the important points he was trying to bring forth. This was a quick read, however, I feel as if it wasn't lacking in content. There were hardly any slow moments, in fact it was a constant flow that grabbed you. This book is definately one of my favorite books as of lately and I've recommended it to multiple people lately, and I've only gotten positive feedback (however, I hardly doubt the people I recommended it to would ever tell me if they didn't appreciate it). I think that this piece would be a wonderful summer reading book simply because it raises awareness of the other cultures with relevance to ours. Seeing as this whole year is "devoted" to foreign literature, this seems to me to be a good story. Also, it is a good and quick read that is quite addicting. I really enjoyed this story!

The End

Overall, I sort of like this book. When I first started it, I hated the way it was written. It took me a few chapters before I started to really like how the book was written. I got absorbed in the story and couldn't put down the book. I was very intrigued by Changez's character and wanted to know what he would do with his life. At first I really liked his character and how he responded to certain everyday situations. Near the end of the book I just saw Changez as an arrogant character that gets upset at the things that go wrong, but never does anything to try and change them. His relationship with Erica was so boring because Changez never initaited anything to happen, but obviously wanted something to happen. I also thought that more emphaisis should be put on the point that the American is going to kill Changez before it actually happens.  On the cover, there is a quote about how "thrilling" this book is, but I never really felt thrilled while reading it. 

All In All

I really enjoyed this book. I thought I caused a lot of discussion among issues that are currently in the U.S. even though 9/11 is passed. His writing style almost reminded me of McCarthy because it lacked quotations between people and made the reader really engage in what was going on in the story. Changez was also a very intelligent introverted character. I felt as though some of the book was predictable, like Erica and Changez not ending up together and him going back to Lahore, but I felt all that led up to it was still quite intriguing. Also, I loved his integration of both cultures. I know it has been brought up in other blog posts, but I found it astonishing his ability to bring two places into one. The book was filled with forbidden love, foreign engagements, and astounding self-identity. Changez not once lost sight of the man he is and realized all in all, New York was not the place for him. Lahore is and always was his home.

Final Thoughts

Looking back on the book, I definitely have a lot of mixed feelings. To start with the positives, I really like the general plot, with the two parallel stories being told simultaneously. It was really interesting to get the perspective of a Pakistani-American, and his views on 9/11, as well as the conflict between India and Pakistan. I really liked the insight that Changez provided, and how much I was able to learn about what it was like to be the victim of racial profiling following the 9/11 attacks, and the identity struggle faced by Pakistani-American immigrants. However, I really didn't like Changez's narrative itself, or Changez's character in general. He was really cocky and selfish, but tried to be modest about it in a weird way. It seemed to me like he was trying way to hard to blend in, and never really could be himself. He really pissed me off with the whole Erica thing, and how he was willing to pretend he was Chris just so he could be with her; to me, that seemed way too desperate. Overall though, I did like the book as a whole, and I really liked the mysterious end. I love when books end open for imagination (which is why I hate the epilogue of the 7th Harry Potter) and the way Hamid leaves the situation between Changez and the American so up in the air made the book all the more interesting. It left it open for the reader to analyze the story so far, and assume whatever they like of the American, and whether or not he was going to kill Changez, and whether or not Changez was really a terrorist, allied with the waiter and the other mysterious men. Looking back on The Reluctant Fundementalist, as much as I disliked Changez as a character, I really did enjoy the book.

Overall

In summation, I really didn't like this book. To start off, there are a lot of good positive things. The way the characters are presented is one-sided, but also pretty clever. It's hard to tell a story from only dialogue, especially only one person's dialogue, but he does it sucessfully and we are still able to learn more about the other characters. Hamid also does a wonderful job of presenting a different point of view, but not making it feel so completely foreign. We are able to relate to Changez's Americanization, because let's face it, we have all become commercial and disrespectful. Which is what Changez was on his way to becoming! But despite all of these wonderful assets, I still get the feeling that if I ever met Changez I would want to punch him in the face. It has nothing to do with his reaction to 9/11. I wouldn't go so far as to say that I emphathize with him, but it's understandable. Sometimes countries need to be brought down as much as people do, but in no way am I condoning terrorist action. I do agree that the US should focus on fixing itself before fixing other countries. Now people can had hypocrite to the other list of names they label America with. But back to the book. The reason I dislike Changez is snobiness. He's not even someone who admits to his rude behavior, its like this backdoor way of thinking where he never says or does anything that could outright offend you. It's all undercover. For me that just ends the book. If I can't like the main character, what's the point in reading it? 

Week Five

Welcome to Week Five, and our last week week of blogging. This week's post should be on your overall thoughts about the book. It must be a ten sentence summary. You do not need to comment on anyone else's blog, but your post should be up here by Sunday, March 29 You should have made up any missing work by then as well.

You and Erica

What would you do in the position of Changez? Would you give up on your relationship with Erica or try to help her get over Chris?

Nationalism

Do you think Changez's love his country would have been as strong as it is, if he hadn't witnessed and experienced the after-math of the 9/11 attacks?

Did you think that the American's reactions to Changesz's story were similar to those of your typical American?

Why Love?

Do you think there were certain traits about Erica that led Changez to her?

Do you think if Changez stayed in America, and hadn't quit his job, he would have completely become the American persona that he is now beginning to hate? 

“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.” Albert Einstein

Do you think that a long term relationship (like marriage) would have been possible between Changez and Erica?

Week Four

Welcome to Week Four!

For this week's blog you will post a thought-provoking question that does not have only one answer. Remember that you must make 10 comments this week, not 5. Please do not leave this until the last minute, you have the whole week to get it done.

Favorite Literary Element

My favorite Literary Element of the Reluctant Fundamentalist is partly language, and partly point of view but mostly the whole big picture that they create. This book is completely open to interpretation. Technically it's a novel, but most novels' are fairly cut and dry, with solid characters, plot lines, one step follows another. But in this book, how you see it depends completely on where you're from, who your parents are, a personal set of beliefs. For example, as middle-class Americans, you could even bring in the fact that we're women, we see this book as an eye-opening experience. Changez is a bridge-crosser, a new era friend who will help usher in a time where cross-country relationships are made and the human race will finally understand that we're all the same on the inside. However, to say a conservative Pakistani, they may feel that Changez (Hamid) is betraying his country and his countrymen for a new world which has not shown itself to be allies of Pakistan. They could be furious at the even idea of this book, and that it is so very welcoming to the American, or even Western, ideal. I don't know how far many of you have read, so I won't give it away, but the ending especially proves my point. You could interpret it either way, and to be honest even I, a self-described cynic, have no idea what is going to happen. Is this American just the weary traveler that Changez seems to assume he is, or is he some type of special agent sent to assassinate this vocal, so-called Anti-American. 

Elements of the Fundamentalist

Hamid has a unique style of writing, to say the least. His use of point of view makes his writing distinct and helps the reader relate to a character they normally would be unable to feel a connection with. Changez is not your typical main character, and he seemingly lacks a ‘fatal flaw,’ which should make it hard for a reader to connect, but Hamid provides the mysterious American for this purpose. We don’t know very much about the American, but this is good in a way, because it’s easier for us to pretend that we are the American, and that Changez is telling us his story. He explains to us just how important point of view is, especially when he talks about the different ways America can be viewed. Hamid uses perspective to further enhance his story, and help us understand America through a foreigner’s eyes.

Literary Element and Figurative Language

I think Mohsin Hamid is an excellent writer! He does a great job of keeping with Changez’s personal bias throughout the book but also incorporating other characters’ emotions and personalities. Changez may be the main character and the book may be based on the telling of his experiences in America, but because of his ability to describe little details, other characters are established who seem just as important and just as real as him. For example, even though the American never talks, the reader is still able to feel his emotions change as he sits with Changez in the café in Lahore. Without the describing of the American, the reader would be missing out on a whole different perspective of Changez’s story. The mysterious American could be considered the “American” perspective and without this perspective Changez’s story wouldn’t seem as real. What I also like about Hamid’s writing style, is its easy diction. I think he made the decision to keep his language somewhat easy to comprehend so that the large amount of themes and lessons described in the book would not be missed. It is hard not to see the many ideas Hamid is trying to express through Changez’s story. Whether its nationalism, racism, love or the desire for wealth and power, all of these themes seem to jump out at you as you are reading of Changez’s experiences. So far, Hamid’s writing style has kept me reading, interested to find out what will happen next!

Language of the Fundamentalist

At the end of chapter five, the last sentence says..."Your ears must be exhausted; the time has come to employ your tongue--for taste, if nothing more, although I hope you can be persuaded to speak!" (page 76). I think this is such typical language of Mohsin Hamid. His language is deep, thoughtful, and sophisticated with so much to think about it. I love how he personifies the ears, it's a wonderful way to incorporate figurative language with the real idea that you're tired of hearing someone talk. Also, I like how this quote incorporates how not only should one speak, but listen as well. How your tongue can be used to speak, but still if you cannot speak, just to taste. It's almost like observing if you can't really put forth something in a discussion. In previous posts, I have talked about how Hamid has the easy ability to show instead of just telling. This quote is a perfect example. He makes each word seem important even if it's just "it" or "must."

Literary and Figurative Languange in The Reluctant Fundamentalist

Mr. Mosim Hamid is a wonderful writer, and it is apparent through his story of Changez. The author uses comparisons when explaining Changez's emotions. For example, on page 67, Changez admits, "I felt at that moment much closer to the Filipino driver than my collegue; I felt that I was play acting, when in reality I ought to be making my way home." Here were see straight into Changez's thoughts and it is necessary for us to understand the character. These bold and obvious statements keep the reader "in" the story. Also, the author keeps the American silent throughout the story, but we get a very general idea of what the American is like (thanks to Changez's comments). I think it is interesting that the American seems to be a generalized "American" instead of a specific being. It is like Mr. Mosim Hamid decided to change the roles of American (generally understood) and Pakistani (understood). In the book we understand Changez's views, but aren't as enlightened about the American's. You can see an example of Changez's explanation of the thoughts of the American on page 75, Changez asks, "Why do you flinch? Ah yes, the bats, they are circling rather low. You know you say?" Without such quotes, we wouldn't be able to see the mis-understood American.

"True wisdom comes to each of us when we realize how little we understand about life, ourselves, and the world around us." Socrates

Hamid describes everything in perfect detail in the book, and he adds analysis onto everything. At the beginning and end of each chapter, Changez has a dialogue with the American. Although we only see Changez’s side of the conversation, we still get a very good sense of what this American is like. Changez will repeat a question that the American has just asked him, and then uses that as an opportunity to give insight on Pakistani culture. He talks a lot about Lahore and really emphasizes that the people there aren’t out to get Americans and cause trouble. I definitely think a lot of Americans (if not most) look down to Middle Eastern people and are often wary of them just because of their race. Changez throws very subtle (or not so subtle) hints about the misconceptions that are made about his race and homeland. When Changez is talking to the American at the restaurant, he mentions things about the Pakistani waiter that allows the reader to see what is happening. The American is obviously uneasy about how the waiter is acting, and Changez understands and tries to explain that the waiter is just being attentive. The way Changez explains everything in detail really shows how wise he is at such a young age.

Week Three

Welcome to Week Three of the Discussion! This weeks discussion will run from Monday, March 9 to Sunday, March 15.

This week's discussion will be on figurative language and literary elements in your book. Please find an example of these in your book and POST a 10-sentence comment on it. Don't forget to comment on 5 other posts on this blog. You have all week to complete this assignment, please don't wait until the last minute.

SETTING

The setting of The Reluctant Fundamentalist is a very important aspect to the plot and also to the discovery of Changez as a character. The setting takes place in New York and Lahore. Both places hold a special place in Changez’s heart. The hustle and bustle of New York inspires Changez to do his best, but also let go every once in a while and have fun. Changez first goes to New York in order to fulfill his dreams of going to Princeton. But he stays in New York, after Princeton, because he feels his hopes for wealth and love can be met. Lahore is the other setting of the book; Changez’s hometown. Lahore, even though very similar to New York, has a totally different effect on Changez. While Changez is in New York, Lahore reminds him of his childhood and of his family. As we see from Changez’s meeting with the mysterious American, Changez is at peace in Lahore and his love for his country is very evident when he describes the beautiful characteristics of Lahore. Even though both settings seem important to Changez, from what I have interpreted, Lahore brings out his true character. Changez doesn’t seem to evoke the true New Yorker. New York is the city that never sleeps and until Erica and Underwood Samson Changez doesn’t really experience all that New York has to offer. But in Lahore, Changez is at ease and seems to be in his element. Even though I think Lahore is where Changez belongs, the fact that Changez is able to love and experience two different cultures is really fascinating and makes me like Changez even more as a character!

Setting

In The Reluctant Fundamentalist, the setting mainly takes place in two cities. New York City, and Lahore. But those are only physical places. The more important setting, to me, is the mentality that the main character has when he is describing these two places. When Changez is describing his life in New York City, is mental setting is very reminiscent, almost wistful. He does seem satisfied with the choices he made, and he did end up back in Lahore, but it would make sense that he's still sad. It's very difficult to go from living in one environment and getting used to it, then switching to one that is drastically different, even if it is a switch by choice. There also seems to be a hate/love relationship with America going on in this mindset. Also understandable. The anger is there because of his disagreement with some of America's political values, such as his reaction to 9/11, and because America took away the girl that he loved. But he still loves America for the education it gave him, the experiences that he got to enjoy. In the opening paragraph he even states 'Do not be frightened by my beard: I am a lover of America.' The term lover is a very passionate term, at least to most Americans, but it must be remember that passion is both sweet and violent at times. Not that I'm suggesting Changez would do any violence to America, but just that his mental setting is very jumbled. Just like the physical setting of the book! Switching between continents, the hubbub of New York City mixed with the silent night square of Lahore. It does paint a beautiful picture, those two men just sitting in a tea booth together watching the sun go down. 

Two Worlds Apart

To me, the thing that makes this book so unique and fascinating is the setting. It's fairly common to have a book in which the setting switches back and forth between different time periods, or different locations so as to enhance the plot, but it's not everyday that it is done in the style of Mohsin Hamid. He manages to switch back and forth between New York and Pakistan so smoothly, without distracting the reader with distinct separations or separate chapters for each setting. When I first starting the book, I thought that I'd get confused with the two parallel plots but I haven't gotten lost once in the story, since the two stories intertwine so well. The seemingly only contrasting locales end up having several similarities, and we can see this so well through Changez's narration. New York is a place of endless activity, there is always something going on. In New York, Changez is a man of class with several honors, yet he remains humble throughout and as a result of this, he stands out. The way he melds with New York while still being a unique character helps us understand so much more. As we see Changez reflect on his time in America, and he subtly points out the differences and similarties between his two homes, we learn about Lahore and the people who live there. The way he deals with the changes in setting help us learn so much about Changez, while adding to the plot.

Setting

Hamid really does a fantastic job of integrating the two settings of New York City and Lahore. We see who Changez is from Lahore, and who he becomes from New York. Lahore is where Changez grew up, so his outlooks on different situations really show the reader that he is a Pakistani man. When he starts living in New York, he by no means looses any of his Pakistani-ness, but he seems to Americanize some of his views. New York is so fast moving and crazy, whereas Lahore seems more serene and thoughtful. When Changez is thrown into the hustle and bustle, he defiantly changes a little bit. We see this when he goes back to Lahore to visit his family, and he describes everything as looking worn. He used to describe his house in a very elegant, historic manner, but now he describes it as looking sort of old and run down. Changez got used to the upscale and high standards the United States has. I really find it interesting how Hamid incorporated New York into who Changez is. 

Home

Changez has experienced two lives. Growing up in Lahore he learned the several traditions related to the culture, and a few years later moved to the United States. He brings up more than once how similar Lahore is to New York. As an outside perspective, I think most of us will never understand the similarities he thinks about because from our perspective there probably isn't anything that would seem alike in the two cities. Changez's different lifestyles have contributed to his unfailing work ethic and persona. New York is busy and caught up in the lifestyle of technology and work while Lahore seems to focus more on the traditions and culture that it encompasses. All of which is shown in Changez's mellow personality. The setting is kind of at his work, while relating back to Lahore. It deals with his past and present experiences.

A Complex, and Intertwined Setting

It is necessary to comment on both settings of The Reluctant Fundamentalist. Those settings are Lahore and New York. Surprisingly, the two cities are very similar, and I'm sure this is something the author wanted to express so that his American audience would understand why the people from Pakistan think the way they do. Both places are very nationalistic and full of culture. Yes, the cultures do clash in many ways, but consider the constant bustle and people fighting for wealth. When you do thins, the similarities almost hit you in the face. Possibly the similarity between Changez's Lahore and New York is what keeps the young man in the US for so long (when his persona so clearly doesn't fit with the New Yorkers)? It is clear through the text that Changez finds both settings very beautiful and exciting. For different reasons however. He loves his home for the smells, familiarity and people and he loves New York for the individualism, Erica, work and hope for a better life. It is clear that Changez's love for all of these aspects tears him between the two cities, but by the end of the book, we see where his true "love" lies. I'm not surprised with Changez's choice, and I think the author was not meaning it to be a shock. In fact, I think the author was trying to tell us that we are very much influenced by where we are from, and we cannot change that. I think the author also wanted us as readers to understand that no place is the same, and you must take into consideration the differences between cultures to try and understand others.

Week Two

Welcome to Week Two of our discussion. This discussion will last from Monday, March 2nd to Sunday, March 9th.

This week's discussion is on Setting. Please POST a 10-sentence comment on setting. Don't forget to comment on 5 other posts on this blog. You have all week to complete this assignment, but waiting is not recommended!

Changez

Changez is a very unique and intriguing character. His intelligence and ability to remember little details makes his story interesting and realistic. While I am reading, I can clearly imagine the quaint town filled with restaurants, shops, and the small cafe where Changez and the mysterious American are enjoying the delicious foods of Lahore. I think what makes Changez such a unique character is his personality. The mixture of kindness and strength he contains, makes him a powerful but loveable character. We know that he is not perfect and sometimes is affected by emotions. This side of him is shown when he watches the World Trade Centers collapse and is filled with a feeling of happiness. Changez is not a mean or hateful person but his strong desire to see his country succeed overpowers him and he is unable to think of the many innocent people who lost their lives. This is what I really like about Changez, his ability to express his true emotions and not hide them. I think this quality makes him seem more real in the eyes of the readers. I really admire Changez and his character! His story is so interesting and unique!

Changez

I'm very impressed with Changez as a character. To me, I think he is unbelievably aware of what he wants (be it Erica or to go to Princeton). Also, he is willing to work very hard to get exactly what he has in mind. The only time we see him stray from this mentality is when he quits his job. But, there is another part to his personality that causes him to do this. Along with an amazing work ethic, Changez is a very loving man. It is obvious that he is very connected to his country and family. It amazes me how he can stand living in the US during this time in history. We do see that he has troubles, but he continues to succeed, until it eventually gets to be too much. I'm impressed with his strength, I know that I wouldn't be able to live with rude and accusatory assumptions due to my beard (or whatever it may be). Through Changez's relationship with Erica, we are shown his difference in culture compared to the Americans. He is very polite, and I'm fairly surprised he continues to behave this way with all of the influences the US had in being forward. This is just another reason that proves Changez's strength. I really admire this character for who he is.

Changez

To me Changez is more than just cocky or arrogant, he seems almost devious in his character. He did live in America for a fair while, and obviously had his brush-ins with the racial tension that is strong there, especially in New York. Yet in his interactions with the mysterious American, he shows a sweet naiveness that is rarely seen. So rare, that it seems unrealistic that Changez is really what he portrays himself to be. But this character flaw aside, he has no reason to lie about anything else to the stranger, which means that he also has a traditional honesty. Which is an interesting combination, and lends all of his words a half and half chance of being incredibly true, or a ridiculous display of his ability to make people believe what he wants them too. Changez's exchanges with Jim, when Jim probed into his character and seemed to get closer to his true personality, Changez did become squeamish. Which could be a result of anyone coming close to discovering his deceptiveness. Or maybe it's just the natural reaction when anyone looks at your life, and your way of living, with a magnifying glass. Another part that is enjoyable of Changez's character, is his charisma and ability to relate to other people. Through his eyes, its easy to see this American, and all of his different reactions to what Changez is saying. It's an interesting portrayal of two different character's, and all that can be done with only words. 

Changez

It's not very often that a character can characterize himself, but I think Changez describes himself from an outsiders view very well. Most people have a hard time trying to figure out what others think of them, but he seems to know exactly who he is both inside and out, and that's what I like about him. He knows he is wise, and has come far in life, but he explains that he has worked hard for everything, and the reader doesn't doubt one bit that he deserves his job and status. Changez is the definition of humble, and through his narrations he doesn't make you feel inferior, since he is such a likable person. As he tells his story, Changez makes it clear that he is comfortable with who he is, and that he tries not to judge people without looking a little deeper. I found that Changez's relationships with Jim and Wainwright said a lot about him as well. Through his conversations with Jim we can see he's a really deep person, and that there is a lot to him. I love the way that other people's views of Changez are conveyed so clearly, even though the book is in first person. His friendship with Wainwright also shows that he is an easy person to get along with, and an all around good guy which makes the reader like him even more. I think that Changez is a unique but very real character all around, and the author does an impeccable job of characterizing him while keeping to the first person point of view.

Changez

My favorite part about Changez is he lets both Pakistani and American, cultures shape who he is. Growing up in Pakistan has changed his whole persona in dealing with other people and staying true to himself. I found it incredibly interesting the way he described how men look at women and all the different customs. And yet, he loves the hustle and bustle of everyday life in America. Changez shows a unique way of portraying himself confidently, maybe a little cocky, but always secure with who he is. Also, he's open, but quite mysterious. It's as if he enjoys the simple things in life and see through different eyes. When I read The Reluctant Fundamentalist, I don't exactly relate like I would other books, but I see a whole other point of view that I don't think I would have personally seen. I hope throughout the book, Changez presents new ideas to think about and his own twist on what you wouldn't expect.

Changez

Changez is a very interesting character that constantly reveals new things about himself. It has become obvious that unspoken communication means more to Changez then conversing. Body language and eye contact seems to be the most powerful. Changez is also very open to learning about different cultures and lifestyles. I like how he compares Pakistani culture with American culture and finds subtle similarities. He understands that there are people very different from him, but that it is a good thing. Changez is very polite, and he makes a lasting impression on the people he meets. Jim even mentions that Changez is very polite. I love reading this book because I feel like I can hear Changez telling his story. He is so wise and has so much to shard with the people he meets, but he never comes off as arrogant. He really gives the reader insight into Pakistani culture. I personally don't know much about Pakistan, outside of the news, so it is very interesting to read about the cultural similarities with the US.

Week One!

Welcome to Week 1 of our Discussion. This discussion will last from Monday, February 23rd to Sunday, March 1.

This week's discussion is on Character. Please POST a 10 sentence comment on character. Don't forget to comment on 5 other posts on this blog. You have all week to complete this assignment, but don't wait until the last minute!!!

ARE YOU GOING TO READ THIS BOOK?

ARE YOU GOING TO READ THIS BOOK?

If so, please comment on this post with your name and hr and answer the following 2 questions by Monday, February 2nd.

1. Why do you want to read this?
2. How are you going to acquire the book?

Welcome!

Welcome to 3rd quarter OR. Here we will be discussing the Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid. What follows is a brief summary of the book.

"Hamid grabs hold of the American Dream as seen through the eyes of a young Princeton grad from Pakistan in a post-9/11 world. As the protagonist, Changez, finds moderate business success and romantic love in New York City, his heritage and identity will be lost in a sea of subtle and blatant bigotry as well as international politics. In relating this journey from loving to loathing of all things American, Changez speaks to a nameless and speechless American whom he encounters in the marketplace of his home city, Lahore, Pakistan. Bhabha's English-influenced Pakistani accent proves soothing and inviting for listeners. His gentle demeanor captures the courteous and polite manner of Changez. His American accent comes in the form of a Midwestern accent with a confident-almost arrogant-lilt. He lapses when it comes to vocalizing women. Though lighter, his voice exudes a stoic resonance instead of a feminine one. But the casual tone of Changez telling his life story translates perfectly with the help of Bhabha's velvet voice." Courtesy of:
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Reluctant-Fundamentalist/Mohsin-Hamid/e/9780156034029/?itm=1