Posted by I had read reviews of this book earlier and an author interview as well, but never really got around to reading it. Last week I chanced upon it in British Library, and added it to my pile immediately.
I found it an absorbing read. Over the course of two evenings, I finished this short book. It clocks in at less than 200 pages.
The protagonist Changez narrates the book in first person as a lengthy monologue. Though his surname is not mentioned anywhere, my subconscious automatically added a Khan to it throughout. I knew about the symbolism in it beforehand (Underwood Samson = US, Erica = America, etc).
I enjoyed the book but felt it petered out a few chapters after Changez’ startling revelation that he smiled when the Twin Towers collapsed. The best line that struck a chord with me lies on page 64.
I tried not to dwell on the comparison; it was one thing to accept that New York was more wealthy than Lahore, but quite another to swallow the fact that Manila was as well.
This captured exactly how I felt when I visited Singapore, a tiny island country that attained independence barely forty years ago, but today has leaped way ahead of India in terms of development.
The book is definitely worth a read and re-read. When you have finished it, do check out the author’s website and impressive essays.
Gargi's World 