Books and Movies, at least the ones I remember to write down!

The Reluctant Fundamentalist, By Mohsin Hamid

Written in the form of a one sided conversation between a Pakistani professor, Changez, and an unnamed American, the Reluctant Fundamentalist was a thought provoking read. Changez tells his live’s story, talking about how his life in the US was changed by the 9/11 attacks, and how the way he was treated by americans, as well as his feelings toward them, changed as well. I found the story to be an accessible novel that was able to address the events of 9/11, and the consequential racial tensions through the not often heard perspective of a Pakistani man. It provided the other view of the story, and clearly outlines how to the consequences of 9/11 were felt across all people.

The Good Earth, By Pearl S. Buck

The Good Earth was written in 1931, and illustrates the Chinese family life of that time. Through simple yet compelling descriptions, it brought a descriptive understanding of China so far ago. It was interesting to see it written by a caucasian who grew up during that time, and even more interesting to learn that it faced backlash only from the Chinese-Americans. Though the 1930’s were not the brightest of times for diversity in film, I was disappointed to see that the adaptation of this book had a majority all white cast. Furthermore, techniques were used to make the caste appear Asian (while maintaining the Eurocentric standards of beauty). This is just one occurrence of yellow-face in media, and it also actively went against the author’s wishes. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the book thoroughly. It was not an uplifting read, but it was one readers can be emotionally invested in.

Becoming, By Michelle Obama

After reading President Obama’s memoirs in previous years, this book was incredibly interesting by showing a different perspective on the campaign, but also giving a deeply personal view into the authors life. The story was moving, showing her journey and development through life and education, from the South Side to the White House. What struck me most was the ending, the understanding of how temporary those eight years in the White House truly are. The difficulty of transitioning a family in and out of presidency was clear, and it drove home the point of how volatile and divided politics in this country are, swinging back and forth.

The Mayor of Casterbridge, By Thomas Hardy

To be honest, I expected this book to be a slow read, something rather laborious. It was pleasantly surprising to see how quickly and jarringly it started off, with the sudden scene of Michael Henchard, his poor wife and young child. The book grew increasingly involved, as relationships blossomed, soured, and in some cases, severed. The family dynamics of the story were different from what one experiences now, and provided a particular insight into rural England in the late 1800’s.