The first chapter of The Reluctant Fundamentalist, presents all the most important novel's traits, introducing in the best way possible.

The monologue, that characterizes the entire romance, is the most evident of the features adopted by Mohsin Hamid. A monologue, providing the reader with one, single point of view, has two meanings: the first is telling his beliefs in a society where such positions would never be listened (in this case, the Eastern world point of view, or at least a neutral one); the second is creating in this way something of different, unique, that can impress the reader, and so cause curiosity.

Curiosity, after all, is the most important feeling that a book (and especially its beginning) should bring to the reader: curiosity sells, and only books that sell, share their meaning.

Another one of the aspects the writer wants to show, is the politeness of Changez: good-manners create a space between the reader and the speaker, creating interest: an interest that is continued through the story, and is never satisfied. The reader will never totally understand the protagonist (the open ending needs it, anyway), even if aware of its story, and of the feelings linked to it.

The formal and colloquial register of Changez's tale represents the novel's register: this, “comforts” the reader, making him or her more prone to listen to to the speaker's words. Courtesy, predisposes people to trust in people (in this case, the protagonist).

The first sentences, also, have all the entire novel presents: “sir”, “may”, “assistance”, “do not” are all expressions that highlight the protagonist's courteousness. Also, the fact he knows how American people are normally scared by bearded tanned people, is symbol of the racism, the predujices mr Hamid is going to tell the reader about.

Who has already read the book, can interpret this first chapter in a different, more conscious way.

Knowing the ending of the novel, both Changez and the American's behaviours appear different, suspicious: why does Changez describe his interlocutor as “bearing”? Why does the American seem on a mission? What is this mission? Why is the American scared by everybody? Why does he decide to have dinner with somebody he doesn't know, or even trust? Why has Changez approached him? Why is he so keen on telling him his story, as if he was trying to “justify” himself? What does he have to justify? Why doesn't he say his name till the end?

Well, the answer to these questions is personal: this, is the most important feature Mohsin Hamid decided for his novel. Letting the reader free to deduce his or her own conclusions, giving the reader the possibility to think, is what he wants to transmit. This, is a book made for reflecting.