The Reluctant Fundamentalist at Barga Book Club

The Barga Book Club convened Tuesday with a spirited discussion of The Reluctant Fundamentalist, by Mohsin Hamid, led by Margaret Moore who presented an astute and cogent account of her reading of the story (Margaret’s  latest book, Tuscan Terror,  can be seen here)

It is told as a monologue by the Pakistani protagonist who recounts his personal history, as a gifted student who achieves select placement in the financial sector in New York, to an unknown American listener in a cafe in Lahore, Pakistan. It is an intricately woven tale of multi-layered symbolism and allegory. There are intriguing suggestions of a complicated conspiracy to assassinate either the listener or the protagonist. The strength of the story is in poignant and beautifully composed passages describing his relationship with a bereaved American woman and in vivid descriptions of his homeland and its history. Through historical references intertwined with topical subject matter, such as 9/11 and an allusion to the assassination of Daniel Pearl, the speaker tells his tale of infatuation and disillusionment in what amounts to an upbraiding of American capitalistic arrogance and hegemony.

Thank you very much to Margaret and everyone who participated.

The book we’ll discuss on Tuesday March 2nd, is Raise High the Roof Beam Carpenters and Seymour: An Introduction, by J.D. Salinger. There are a number of copies in circulation so keep in touch if you would like to borrow a copy to read.

The following book will be Small Island, by Andrea Levy.

We look forward to seeing you in March,

Kerry and Julie – The Barga Book Club