‘The American dream’ is an unattainable idea that “the land of the free” creates opportunities for freedom and success. Changez, the protagonist of Mohsin Hamid’s The Reluctant Fundamentalist, knows this all too well. Moving from Pakistan, Changez attends Princeton University to seek higher education. As the novel continues, he becomes enraptured by ‘the American dream’ and begins to lose his sense of Pakistani identity. He has a great job, a great woman, and overall, a great life. However, his life begins to unwind as he begins to problematise America and his Pakistani identity during the complexity of 9/11.

The Reluctant Fundamentalist is a labyrinth of metaphors. The subtext of Changez’s workplace, his love interest, and the inclusion of 9/11 introduce complexities that the storyline does not explore. The narrative is easy to follow, but its symbols and allegories craft an unnerving critique of ‘the American dream’. Changez is an anti-hero and throughout the read, sympathy and aversion are constantly at war with how he is perceived. The novel is a radical introduction to xenophobia and life as an immigrant during a terrorist attack.

Reading through the eyes of a Greater Middle Eastern is not often done and underlines a perspective the reader may not have had otherwise.

To understand the true intentions of the novel the reader must immerse themselves in the story. Given the simple nature of the text, this may appear uninteresting, but once the symbols announce themselves the storyline begins to deepen. As I read, I lost interest rapidly. However, as the puzzle pieces fell into place, I felt emersed in the story. The simple storyline and drastic changes in the text make The Reluctant Fundamentalist challenging to get into yet pay off by the mid-point of the book.

For anyone looking for the other side of the narrative or wanting a beginner’s guide to fundamentalism, this is the novel for you. Though The Reluctant Fundamentalist has its downfalls, is a great read on xenophobia and the challenges of being an immigrant in Western society.