Moth Smoke - Moshin Hamid (* * * * *)
Moth Smoke
Author: Moshin Hamid
Pages: 256
Genre: Modern Fiction
Synopsis (from www.granta.com): The year is 1998, the summer of Pakistan's nuclear tests, and Daru has just managed to lose his job in Lehore. As the economy crumbles around him, his electricity is cut off, and the jet set parties behind high walls, Daru takes the bright steps of falling for his best friend's wife and giving heroin a try. This is the story of his decline.
Review: Honestly, I picked up this book because the library didn't have his most recent work, The Reluctant Fundamentalist, and I wanted to read something Pakistani. Within the first 20 pages I was hooked, drawn in by Hamid's minimalistic yet poetic style and his amazing character, Daru. The story is mostly told from Daru's point of view, but there are vignettes separating the 'chapters' that give you insight into the supporting character's world and interpretation of Daru and the events of the book. I polished the thing off in 3 days, unable to put it down. I was a bit put off by the drug use, but Hamid even made that aspect of Daru seem charming, and a natural thing for this character to do. I was quite drawn into Daru's mind, and his way of thinking, and his surroundings. Hamid's descriptions are wonderful (he transports you to Pakistan, utterly and completely) and his storytelling is phenomenal, but the crowning jewel in this book are the characters. Ozi, Daru's best friend, and Mumtaz, Ozi's wife, were my favorites; they're so complex and realistic and beautifully drawn. Moshin Hamid is a pure genius, and now he's one of my favorite authors.
Rating: * * * * *, or READ THIS NOW PLZ.
So, now I'm reading something by my favorite modern author, Thrity Umrigar, and I cannot wait to settle into a nice summer reading marathon. She's supposed to have a new book coming out soon, too, so when I finish Bombay Time I can move on to more of her. :)
What about you? What are you guys planning on reading this summer, or what are you reading currently? And who else thinks that summer is the best time for reading?
And, I think that's enough.