Mohsin Hamid, The Reluctant Fundadmentalist

The Reluctant Fundadmentalist is a short novel about a Pakistani's experience in America around the time of the 9/11 attacks. It begins in a market in Lahore, Pakistan, where the main character, Changez, a native Pakistani, helps an American find a table and enjoy some of the delicacies of Pakistan. The novel chronicles their long conversation, as Changez talks of his experiences in going to America to study at Princeton, his success there and his sought-after job at Underwood Sampson, a valuation company. Changez finds himself a top prospect at this elite American company, traveling all over the world in its financial endeavors. He also courts an American girl, Erica. But September 11 happens, and he finds his world start to change. From his own initial reaction of delight at the symbolism of America and the West being brought to its knees to his own impressions of the world as it changes around him. He becomes a living contradiction, both part of the American financial system and also resentful of it. At the same time, his relationship with Erica takes some unsucessful turns, as he discovers she is caught up in lost love for her high-school boyfriend, who died tragically. And there relationship goes nowhere, as Erica becomes increasingly distant and overtaken by mental instability. Finally, the contradictions overtake him, and he can't stand to be part of the system he finds so horrible, supporting the country he finds to be such a meddler in the affairs of the world. So he leaves his job in the middle of a project and heads back to Pakistan. The book closes as he finishes his evening drinks with the American, and then proceeds to lead him into a trap, where he will be captured, or worse.

Hamid's novel is clearly at least somewhat autobiographical, as he himself is from Lahore, and spent time studying in America. It shows penetrating observation into the culture of America, with some interesting analysis of how it shifted with September 11. This little novel proved to be a very interesting read, and is a helpful window from the outside, in a sense, on American culture.