Moth Smoke

This is a great book. I knew nothing about Pakistan before reading this book, while reading I was absorbed into the culture and strongly felt that I am living in Lahore. Surprisingly an excellent piece of litreture from a Pakistani author. Characterization is simply at its best, the way the characters interact with the reader in first person is hard to find in any other book. Just anxiously waiting for the next sequel, hopefully there is one and if not then another one from Hamid.

Reading this book was satisfying for social reasons. It showed that Pakistan's English speaking sub-culture is finally gaining the confidence to consider its own experiences a valid subject for creativity. I was disappointed with the quality of the prose, however, and the American twang to the syntax. While entertaining, it would be stretching it to call this book literature. The best contemporary English prose to originate from Pakistan is still 'Meatless Days' by Sara Suleri.

This is a great read. The author takes the reader into a dark and somewhat surreal atmosphere with great skill and talent. Moreover, he has several of the characters speak to the reader in the first person, a technique that really worked for me and gave the novel a great deal more dimension and depth. Don't read ahead because the novel really delivers in the last few pages.

Hamid is an excellent writer. Sentences flow smoothly and the setting
is most interesting for an American reader. MOTH SMOKE AND THE RELUCTANT FUNDAMENTALIST along with Durrani and Hosseini's work is essential to understanding a culture quite different from our own. This kind of understanding is essential if the West is to learn that "our" view of
the world is not necessarily the best one.

OK, I have to say I heard way too much about this book before I read it: hot new author, the latest South Asian, Salman Rushdie legacy inheritor, blah, blah, blah...BUT for once, the hype was worth it: truly lyrical, nicely done, rookie of the year this guy: congrats. I love the works of Coetzee, Gordimer, Rushdie, Garcia Marquez, and if this guy keeps it up, I think he could make it into those ranks before this is all over...

This is a fantastic book.
First, it is a heart-racing thriller.
Second, it is a brilliant analysis of a society and a time. It is like going to Pakistan with a good friend who can show you every alley in Lahore.
Third, it is a strange sad story of a man letting his life spin out of control, except for desperate incomplete efforts that send his life spinning even further out of control.

I loved Hamid's second book "The Reluctant Fundamentalist".

Reading this book, I was amazed at the progress Hamid made between this novel and his second. The storytelling in this book is loose and unfocused. The characters are not well formed, and Lahore becomes an amorphous place, sort of like the Tokyo of "Lost In Translation".

This book failed to hold my interest, which was disappointing. I am glad Hamid improved his skills and I will be looking forward to his third novel.

Give this one a pass.

Being from Pakistan myself I couldnt help but notice the intricate and accurate dissection that the author has performed on the creme de la creme of Pakistani society.A must read for anyone wanting an insight into a certain section of the hierarchal pakistani society....and also enjoy one hell of a story!

I also recommend watching the movie adaptation Daira.

This book blew me away! Had me from the start with interesting and colorful descriptions. A bit of danger and history intertwined and real explosive in the end - I would recommned this book to anyone.

This novel is worth reading and keeping in personal collection. Very impressive literature work for someone debuting his career. Author has done an outstanding job in depicting a certain segment of Lahore, as close to reality as it can be. Once you start the novel, the story moves so fast that you want to keep going.

Good Book! must Read ! I wont say much here & wont waste your time, Im not a reader kind of person & i dont like reading books, but this book attracted me & I enjoyed reading this book. All characters are well described ..nice story, overall its about Pakistan & the current circumstances, how it affects normal person's living. I recommand you to read this book. ...

"Moth smoke" was thouroughly involing. It exposes a part of Pakistani culture that is not often talked about.
You would have never thought a third world country to be so exciting and dangerous at the same time. "Moth smoke" blurs the boundary between reality and fiction. Simply amazing!

Everyone I know has not only read this book, they guard it with their lives. Everyone owns a copy. It is a simple, realisitic portrayal of the post-modern pakistani elite. Some find in it shades of meaning. It is a simple story that could not be born, but from experience. If it is written from imagination, Mohsin Hamid is a genius.

this is one of the best works of fiction i have ever read. everything about it is superb. i have read a lot of books and i can say that this is definitely one of my favorites..up there with Einstein's Dreams.

a great insight into the activities of the so called educated yuppies of pakistan.It reveals the decadent life styles of the young elite and sketches out ,very clearly the line between those who have it and those who were just not born into it. A must read.I loved mumtaz.....