Questions for February's book club
Hi there
Ive had a look through some book club questions on the web for February's book - The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid which I have edited down and posted below.
The questions dont have to be taken too seriously its just a way of getting the ball rolling and the conversation going within the book club and a way of breaking the ice with everyone
Ive added them just in case you want to spare a few thoughts about before the next meeting and I will bring them along with me when we meet on February 7th. Im not expecting us to get through even half of the questions and theres no pressure attached to having an answer at all, its just something to think about.
Louise
1. Early on, Changez says that his café companion’s "bearing" gives him away as an American. What does Changez mean by this? What are his deeper implications?
2. In chapter 1, Changez explains that his family belonged to the old aristocracy in Pakistan—though they are no longer wealthy, they still retain their social status. How important is it to Changez to regain what his family has lost? How does he hope to do that?
3. What do we learn about the American who sits across the table from Changez for most of the novel? And what do we never learn about this person?
4. Who is Jim, and why does he take such a liking to Changez? What do they have in common?
5. Changez announces in chapter 3, "I was . . . never an American; I was immediately a New Yorker." Explain this. How is Changez’s sense of identity altered over the course of the novel?
6. In chapter 5, Changez is in a hotel in Manila, packing his suitcase and watching television, when he sees the World Trade Center collapse. "And then I smiled," he confesses. Explore this scene as the turning point of the novel—in terms of plot, character, scope, and tone.
7. After visiting his family in Pakistan, why does Changez decide not to shave his beard upon returning to New York?
8. Discuss Changez’s relationship with Erica. What prevents them from having a “normal” relationship? Why are they attracted to each other? How does Erica’s fate affect Changez?
9. For a novel with “fundamentalist” in its title, this work has surprisingly little to say on the subject of religion. When, if at all, does Changez speak of devout faith, divine right, or deity worship?
10. Since 9/11, there has been a growing trend in contemporary fiction to write about the tragedy of that day and its aftermath. Compare The Reluctant Fundamentalist with some of the other “9/11 novels” you have read. What sets it apart or makes it unique?
Tuesday, January 25, 2011 | | 2 Comments
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Future Books
- May - Catcher in the Rye JD Salinger (Louise)
- June - Life and Laughing: My Story by Michael McIntyre (Mandy)
- July - Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonsen (Book List)
- August - Hothouse Flower by Lucinda Riley (Book List)
