Tell Tales

Tell Tales:

How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia.

Mohsin Hamid

Mohsin Hamid, the Pakistani born acclaimed writer of The Reluctant Fundamentalist and Moth’s Smoke has written his third book “How to get filthy rich in rising Asia”.

The reason we chose this book was because we are going to hear Hamid at the opening address of the Sydney Writers Festival in a couple of weeks and it just seemed logical to read one of his books.

 We met last night over wine and coffee (we are free to choose our poison!) and had a lively discussion with the group being clearly divided in opinion.

Some of us enjoyed the book and some of us were disappointed and found it not as engaging as we had hoped.

I think the book caught us off guard.

From the title, there was an expectation of reading a self-help book that would proclaim to be “all-knowing “and give you clear and simple mantras for amassing wealth. This could be the one- the one with some invaluable gems, which would lead to your fortunes.

Now, personally – I have no time or use for these kids of books but since we were going to read a Mohsin Hamid book and this was going to be it, I at least hoped this book would be genuine and would offer a refreshing perspective on amassing your fortune. And if nothing else – I at least knew what I had signed up for.

Surprisingly - this book is nothing of the above really. It is a story. A story of a cook’s third son and his infatuation, struggles, love and life journey set in the glitzy backdrop of rising Asia. The story spans eight decades.

Hamid takes the boy through 12 steps and writes about how this boy amasses wealth in the Asian country. Each chapter begins with a piece of advice .For example “Move to the City”. (So, maybe this is meant to be the self-help bit – not sure!)

 The story trails the boy as he moves to the city, gets an education, sets up many industries, loves a pretty girl and gets married to his wife.

And while telling the story – Hamid incorporates other issues being faced by many of the Asian economies like corruption, bribery, politics, beaurocratic agendas, failed marriages, divorces and the new age lifestyle.

 The story does not have any names- no names of characters or places and Hamid mentions that he found this very liberating as the story could literally be of anyone from anywhere in Asia.

 At the time of writing the book, he had moved back to Pakistan to live with his family and his book is partly reflective, inspired from the broad arc of three generations under one roof.

The structure of the narrative takes time getting used to.  It’s written in second person. It left most of us confused in the beginning and wondering what the book was really trying to be.

I actually thought, in the first few pages that this was going to be one of those books that I would just have to get through for the book club!

I did get interested in the story slightly later and wanted to know if the boy would make it and how it would end.

The book actually ends with – not the rags to riches typical character in the midst of his industrial empire and surrounded by his wealth, but in a hotel with a few belongings in a suitcase and little money.

His brother-in-law, who is also his deputy cheats him of a lot of money and runs away with his funds while he is recovering from a heart attack in hospital.

His son lives in America and visits once in a few years and his wife leaves him for another man.

 Towards the end of his life he finds solace with the pretty girl whom he has loved from the beginning and spends his time with her taking walks and enjoying conversation.

Hmmm. So, in conclusion – the book is a self – help book of how not to focus on amassing wealth but living well and meaningfully with the people you love.

Anyhow- that’s how we concluded our discussion.

Exciting times around the corner- We are heading to see and hear Mohsin Hamid at the Sydney Writers Festival Opening address in a couple of weeks.

Cant wait!