Answers to Reading Guide for the Reluctant Fundamentalist
 First edition (UK) | |
| Author | Mohsin Hamid |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Hamish Hamilton (United Kingdom) Harcourt (United States) Oxford University Press (Pakistan) |
| Publication date | one March 2007 |
| Pages | 224 |
| ISBN | 0-241-14365-ix |
The Reluctant Fundamentalist is a "metafictional"[1] novel by Pakistani author Mohsin Hamid, published in 2007.
The novel uses the technique of a frame story, which takes place during the course of a single evening in an outdoor Lahore cafe, where a bearded Pakistani man called Changez tells a nervous American stranger about his dear affair with an American adult female, and his eventual abandonment of America. A short story adapted from the novel, called "Focus on the Fundamentals," appeared in the fall 2006 issue of The Paris Review. A film adaptation of the novel by director Mira Nair premiered at the 2012 Venice Movie Festival.[two]
Plot/Summary [edit]
The story begins on the streets of Lahore. A Pakistani man, Changez, offers to direct an American visitor where he tin can find a good cup of tea. As they wait for their tea, Changez begins to weave a long story virtually his life, specially his time living in the The states – in between making remarks near the history, landmarks and gild of Lahore, his native city which he loves and of which he is proud. The unnamed American is restless but remains to listen.
Changez tells the American he was an fantabulous student who, after completing his available'due south degree in Finance, joined Underwood Samson, a consultancy firm, as an analyst. After graduating from Princeton Academy, he vacationed in Greece with boyfriend Princetonians, where he met Erica, an aspiring writer. He was instantly smitten past her, but his feelings remained almost unrequited because she was still grieving over the death of her babyhood sweetheart Chris, who succumbed to lung cancer. After a engagement, they render to his place and he proceeds to take sexual activity with her, merely stops because her emotional attachment to Chris prevents her from becoming aroused. Subsequently this incident there is an interlude where neither contacts each other. But before long they go on another date, after which they accept sex when Changez convinces Erica to close her eyes and fantasize that she is with Chris. Though Changez is satisfied at this development in their relationship, this irreversibly amercement their human relationship. Soon she begins treatment in a mental institution. He notices she is physically emaciated and no longer her erstwhile self. Later on this coming together he travels to Chile on an consignment. When he returns to see her, it is found that she has left the institution and her apparel were institute well-nigh the Hudson River. Officially she is stated as a missing person, every bit her torso has not been plant.
In his professional life, he impresses his peers and gets earmarked by his superiors for his work, especially Jim, the person who recruited him, develops a good rapport with him, and holds him in high esteem. This prompts the firm to send him to offshore assignments in the Philippines and Valparaíso, Chile. In Chile, he is very distracted due to developments in the world and, responding to the parabolic suggestion of the publisher his company is there to appraise (which would lead to its breakup), he visits the nearby preserved home of the late left-wing poet Pablo Neruda and comes to see himself every bit a retainer of the American empire that has constantly interfered with and manipulated his homeland. He returns from Chile to New York without completing the assignment and ends upward losing his task.
Politically, Changez is surprised past his own reaction to the September 11 attacks. "Aye, despicable as information technology may sound, my initial reaction was to be remarkably pleased", he tells the American. He observes the air of suspicion towards Pakistanis. Changez, due to his privileged position in society, is not amongst those detained or otherwise abused, simply he notices a change in his treatment in public. To limited solidarity with his countrymen after his trip to Chile, he starts to grow a beard. Subsequently the 2001 Indian Parliament attack, Republic of india and Islamic republic of pakistan mobilize leading to a collision. Noticing the The states response to this state of affairs, he has an epiphany that his state is existence used equally a pawn. With no job, an expiring visa and no reason to stay in the United States, he moves back to Lahore.
After returning to Lahore, he becomes a professor of finance at the local university. His experience and insight in world issues gains his admiration amongst students. Equally a result, he becomes a mentor to large groups of students on various issues. He and his students actively participate in demonstrations against policies that were detrimental to the sovereignty of Pakistan. Changez advocates nonviolence, only a relatively unknown student gets apprehended for an bump-off endeavor on an American representative, which brings the spotlight on Changez. In a widely televised interview, he strongly criticizes the militarism of U.S. strange policy. This deed makes people surrounding him think that someone might be sent to intimidate him or worse.
Equally they sit down in the cafe, Changez keeps noting that the American stranger is very apprehensive of their surroundings, that he is in possession of a sophisticated satellite phone on which he is repeatedly messaging, and that under his wear there is a burl which might exist a gun. Changez walks the stranger toward his hotel. As they walk, the American, at present highly suspicious that he is in immediate danger, reaches into his pocket, possibly for a gun. Changez says he trusts it is only his holder of business cards. But the novel ends without revealing what was in his pocket, leaving the reader to wonder if the stranger was a CIA amanuensis, possibly at that place to kill Changez, or if Changez, in bunco with the waiter from the buffet, had planned all along to practise harm to the American.
Style [edit]
The Reluctant Fundamentalist is an example of a dramatic monologue[3] and autodiegetic narration.
Reception [edit]
Awards [edit]
| Year | Award/Honour | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Booker Prize | Shortlist | [4] [5] |
| New York Times Notable Book of the Twelvemonth | Selection | [iv] | |
| 2008 | Ambassador Volume Award of the English Speaking Spousal relationship | Winner | [4] |
| Anisfield-Wolf Book Award | Winner | [4] [six] | |
| Arts Council England Decibel Award | Shortlist | [4] | |
| Asian American Literary Award | Winner | [iv] [7] | |
| Australia-Asia Literary Award | Shortlist | [4] [eight] | |
| Commonwealth Writers Prize (Eurasia Region, All-time Book) | Shortlist | [4] [9] | |
| Alphabetize on Censorship T R Fyvel Award | Nominee | [4] [x] | |
| James Tait Black Memorial Prize for Fiction | Shortlist | [4] [xi] | |
| South Bank Bear witness Annual Accolade for Literature | Winner | [4] [12] | |
| 2009 | International Dublin Literary Award | Shortlist | [four] [13] |
| Premio Speciale Dal Testo Allo Schermo | [four] |
Academic reception [edit]
In 2007, Davidson Higher assigned this book to all incoming freshmen as a topic for later discussion during Freshman Orientation. This book kicked off the theme of the school's 2007-08 year, which focused on multifariousness. The post-obit year, Tulane Academy gave the novel to all new undergraduates as part of the Tulane University Reading Project.[14] In 2009, the Academy of St Andrews announced that they would be sending a gratuitous re-create of The Reluctant Fundamentalist to all of i,500 new undergraduates equally part of a new incentive to "offering students a common topic for word and focus energies on reading and intellectual debate".[15] In 2010, Washington University in St. Louis gave the book to each of its incoming freshmen, every bit a office of the "Freshmen Reading Programme."[16] Georgetown Academy chose this book for incoming freshmen'due south summertime reading. Ursinus College has incorporated the novel into their unique Common Intellectual Feel for freshmen students. Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas uses the book in all honors rhetoric classes for first-year students. Drake Academy in Des Moines, Iowa and Siena Higher in Loudonville, New York employ the novel every bit an introduction to their Start Twelvemonth Seminar programs. Lehigh Academy assigned all incoming freshman this novel in 2012. Rollins College has assigned this novel to their incoming freshmen as part of their summer reading program. The University of Evansville in Indiana uses the novel as a tool in the freshman First Year Seminar program. This program has the purpose of engaging incoming first-year students to topics of leadership and citizenship. Bucknell University chose it for the first year common reading for the Form of 2018. The Academy of Pretoria has this novel as part of the ready piece of work and reading list for English language 220. New York City'due south CUNY Hunter College, department of English, assigns this book in an Asian American literature course for public soapbox and a level of understanding of a post-ix/11 age in America.
In his critique entitled "Mohsin Hamid Engages the Globe in The Reluctant Fundamentalist," One thousand. S. E. Madiou goes against mainstream criticism, analyzing the historial and artistic contingencies Mohsin Hamid has faced while writing his novel focusing on 9/eleven as one of Hamid'due south "Eureka" moments that has significantly contributed to the production of his novel.[1]
Commercial reception [edit]
The Reluctant Fundamentalist became a million-copy international all-time-seller.[17] Information technology reached #4 on the New York Times Best Seller listing.[xviii]
On November 5, 2019, the BBC News listed The Reluctant Fundamentalist on its list of the 100 most influential novels.[19]
Adaptations [edit]
BBC Radio iv began dissemination an abridged version on 22 August 2011, read by British actor Riz Ahmed.[20]
A motion picture, too entitled The Reluctant Fundamentalist and directed past Mira Nair premiered in 2012.
References [edit]
- ^ a b Madiou, Mohamed Salah Eddine. "Mohsin Hamid Engages the World in The Reluctant Fundamentalist: 'An Island on an Island,' Worlds in Miniature and 'Fiction' in the Making." Arab Studies Quarterly, vol. 41, no. four, 2019, pp. 271–297. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/ten.13169/arabstudquar.41.4.0271.
- ^ "'The Reluctant Fundamentalist Opens Venice Film Festival'". Screen. 30 August 2012. Retrieved 3 October 2012.
- ^ Grand. H. Abrams, gen. Ed. "Dramatic Monologue" A Glossary of Literary Terms. eighth ed. Boston: Thomson Wadsworth, 2005. pp. 70-71.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l 1000 "Mohsin Hamid - Literature". British Council . Retrieved 3 March 2022.
- ^ "The Reluctant Fundamentalist". The Booker Prizes . Retrieved 3 March 2022.
- ^ "The Reluctant Fundamentalist". Anisfield-Wolf Volume Awards . Retrieved 3 March 2022.
- ^ "Awards". The Asian-American Writers' Workshop. Archived from the original on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
- ^ "Australia-Asia Literary Award". Government of Western Commonwealth of australia: Department of Culture and the Arts. Archived from the original on 19 Feb 2011. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
- ^ "Commonwealth Writers' Prize Shortlist | Book awards". LibraryThing . Retrieved 3 March 2022.
- ^ "PAST Effect: Freedom of Expression Awards 2008: the nominees". Alphabetize on Censorship. 19 March 2008. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
- ^ "Pinnacle writers in running for literary prize". The University of Edinburgh. 14 April 2016. Retrieved three March 2022.
- ^ "South Depository financial institution Evidence Awards 2008". Due west Terminate Theatre. 1 Jan 2009. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
- ^ Flood, Alison (11 June 2009). "Debut novelist takes €100,000 Impac Dublin prize". the Guardian . Retrieved 3 March 2022.
- ^ "Tulane Academy Reading Project", Tulane Official Website, 28/09/2009
- ^ "St Andrews' Booker Prize Project", St Andrews official website, 01/06/2009
- ^ "Washington Academy Freshmen Reading Program"
- ^ "Taking a hermit to a party and letting him dance" Dawn
- ^ The New York Times Best Seller List (29 April 2007)
- ^ "100 'most inspiring' novels revealed by BBC Arts". BBC News. v Nov 2019. Retrieved 10 November 2019.
The reveal kickstarts the BBC'south year-long celebration of literature.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-condition (link) - ^ BBC Radio four Book at Bedtime 22 Apr 2011
External links [edit]
- The Reluctant Fundamentalist
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Reluctant_Fundamentalist
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