Comments on: Mohsin Hamid Media Coverage

By: Emma

Emma — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 23:59:00 +0000

Hey, I just got his book and started it today! It’s pretty interesting, and desis from many backsgrounds will be able to relate, not only Muslim men. He talks about NYC also!

By: Amardeep

Amardeep — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 17:52:19 +0000

Neale, I don’t think it’s McSweeney’s so much as it is the desire for books that “go down easy.”

By: Ashi

Ashi — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 17:48:50 +0000

I heard the Terry Gross interview too and now am eager to get a hold of “Moth Smoke” since everyone is talking about it.

By: Neale

Neale — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 05:41:32 +0000

..that students seem to prefer him over more substantial contemporary authors

Amardeep, Does this happen with American books too? What contemporary Amercican authors do they gravitate to? Has the McSweeney effect taken hold among under grads?

By: Neena

Neena — Sun, 08 Apr 2007 04:03:30 +0000

I’m for peace between India and Pakistan but it should be durable and which can only be achieved when Pakistan has elected democratic leaders. Musharaff has no right to discuss any deals within or outside the countires.

By: Sin

Sin — Sun, 08 Apr 2007 03:17:12 +0000

Amardeep, if you can get me a book deal, I swear to you, I will quit my full-time “real” job and collate the entire damn’ blog into an actual book. I just need royalties on which to survive!

By: sa

sa — Sun, 08 Apr 2007 00:48:22 +0000

This is a great post. I thought for the longest time that I was the only person who had even heard of Moth Smoke. I met Hamid on his book tour of Moth Smoke years ago and he mentioned that there might be a movie based on the book. Anyone heard of that happening?

By: Mr Kobayashi

Mr Kobayashi — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 20:07:16 +0000

his story confirms that ethnic populations internalize some of the worst, most damaging stereotypes about their own co-ethnics, and that the problem of discrimination and prejudice within ethnic communities can be more serious than that from other ethnics or the majority community

On the contrary.

I found Hamid's approach nuanced. He has that ability to look at different sides of an issue that's essential in a good writer. He's distrustful of causes, and he has dealt with whatever fears he might have had about cheap accusations like yours. That's worth listening to.

And the brother has a really good reading voice. More power to him.

By: Shivam

Shivam — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 20:03:03 +0000

The test is: can you find another Indian publication that where a Pakistani would speak like this about India?

By: Amardeep

Amardeep — Sat, 07 Apr 2007 19:48:22 +0000

Shivam, I was referring to Tehelka's reputation as a more liberal/progressive paper (though I know that they are not at all like the first version of Tehelka). Perhaps I simply don't read enough Tehelka these days to have a strong fix on the editorial slant.

Chachaji, just one thing -- I don't think he's suggesting that the Mumbai blasts might have been done by Naxalites, but rather that there is a trend to look for foreign connections when the Naxalites commit acts of violence in various places in the eastern states.