The Reluctant Fundamentalist

A bit of a departure from normal service here, though no agenda was ever set in stone.

I’m going to do a book review.

The Reluctant Fundamentalist - Mosin Hamed.
A story of a well educated Pakistani and his conversation with an American tourist/business man at a cafe in Lahore.
It’s told in monologue and he talks of his education at a top quality American institution and eventual employment in a highly regarded city firm. Between which he holidays in Greece with fellow students and falls under the spell of a beautiful charismatic girl called Erica.

He tells of how he embraces the American ideal, his employers pleasure and regard for his work ethic. He becomes accustomed to the lifestyle his wage can afford, at still a young age. His relationship with Erica is always somewhat distant as she is still mourning the death of her one true love and only once do they consummate their relationship. It becomes apparent she is an emotionally damaged character but his love for her never wanes.

Then 9/11, he finds himself at odds with his loyalties, his reaction to the events and impending war at home between Pakistan and India. He is suddenly shaken by a conversation with a client in Chile that causes him to realize he’s been led to work to bring down his own kind, a ‘janissary’ as he is told. His work suffers as he starts to despise the world he has adopted. Allied to the fact Erica has been inducted to a mental institution and he feels more distant from her than ever.
The inevitable loss of his job due to this emotional debate and a longing to go back to his family and homeland bring him back to Lahore.

He endeavours in his own mind to exact his revenge on America. He gets a job as a lecturer at Lahore university where he infuses his students with his fundamentalism. Though he claims not to be a terrorist himself many of his students have become active. Thought provoking.

This was one of the most enjoyable books I've read in ages. It’s not a long book about 200 pages so is quite a quick read, even for me. I found it compelling and difficult to put down. It's well writen and you find yourself understanding the character and to me an empathy with his emotions.

A really good read.