thoroughly enjoyable and quite scary in aspects of just how a certain situation can have such a profound and devastating effect on a person. It is written in an unusual style to in the way it links the past narrative with the present day reality.

Excellent commentary on how nationals of other countries feel about America without the overbearing feeling of political science tomes.

5 Stars because this is a quick and easy read. Subject, of course, it's very controversial and this book can be seen as full of hate for everything American. But I think that the main thing in this book - an idea against the war, against the resumptuousness towards "third world" from the "all-powerful", against racism, against the "punishment" of all population of a country just because of the terrible acts of some individuals from that country. But, again, opinions of the main character, and I think of writer, about some things he tries to resist - related to the material prosperity of capitalist America, its desire to be "the ruling hand" of the world, despite the fact that the history of America is very short, compared with the history of many countries against which its military operations are directed. But at the same time, the the main character is not very different from those he accuses and condemns. If it were not for the tragedy of September 11, I am confident that he, like many others with a similar fate, would have lived and thrived in the same America.

A brillant book, well written. Keeps you interested til the end!

Written in the style of "The Prophet" which would have normally turned me off. The author kept me engaged throughout.

A beautifully written, thoughtful and perceptive piece that should be read by anyone who wants to understand how bigotry ignorance flourish in a time of understandable tension. A very good read.

This book is easily read within one sitting but the memory of it will linger a long time. The framework is unusual - it's like a play, a monologue with only one speaker. For the reader, it's like listening to one side of a phone conversation. But the author does so much with that one side. The story of a Pakastani man attending Princeton and becoming successful in America was fascinating. His subsequent transition to becoming a "reluctant fundamentalist", I felt, was less comprehensive, and therefore less believable and less understood. However, the writing is excellent and the perspective of a Middle Eastern man both pre and post- 9-11 is important. I heartily recommend it.

Gripping, with a mounting air of menace and foreboding. The narrator's elegant, old fashioned prose contrasts sharply with the nature of the story he tells. Framed by an encounter in Pakistan between a mysterious American and the even more mysterious narrator, this spine-tingler blends a classic story of immigrant disenchantment and the perils of post 9/11 cultural isolation.

Interesting perspective on the Middle East and the US of A. You never hear the “American”, which is a nice change especially in English fiction on this topic.

A post 9/11 literary virtuosity.