How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia
 First edition (UK) | |
| Author | Mohsin Hamid |
|---|---|
| Published | 2013 |
| Publisher | Hamish Hamilton (UK) Riverhead Books (US) |
| ISBN | 978-1-59448-729-3 |
How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia is Mohsin Hamid's third novel, published in 2013 by Hamish Hamilton in the United Kingdom and Riverhead Books in the United States.[1]
The novel uses a second-person perspective, referring to the protagonist only as "you."[2] The story takes place in an unnamed country that resembles Hamid's home country of Pakistan.[3] It details the protagonist's beginnings as a poor boy, and quest for wealth and love as he moves to the city and enters the bottled water business.[4]
Reception[edit]
How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia was generally well-received, including a starred review from Kirkus Reviews, who called it "[a]nother great success ... and another illustration of how richly the colonial margins are feeding the core of literature in English."[5] The Telegraph called the novel Hamid's "most impressive yet."[6] Nick DiMartino, writing for Shelf Awareness, applauded how Hamid "combines extremely lean prose and a wry sense of irony to create a dramatic monologue with a wickedly satirical vision of modern times."[7]
Publishers Weekly noted that "though readers may find it frustrating that [story arcs for the protagonist and love interest] never overlap for long, the intermittent intersections provide them an anchor to the lives they left in desperation." They continued, stating, "The book takes its formal cues from the self-help genre, but the adopting of that form’s unceasing optimism also nullifies any sense of depth or struggle. Fortunately, Hamid offers a subtle and rich look at the social realities of developing countries, including corruption, poverty, and how economic development affects daily life from top to bottom."[8] In their review of the audiobook, Publishers Weekly noted that while the novel's use of the second-person perspective can yield a "curious listening experience ... it works exceedingly well here because ... listeners wait with great anticipation to learn what will happen to 'you.'"[9]
| Year | Award/Honour | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | DSC Prize for South Asian Literature | Shortlist | [10] |
| Tiziano Terzani International Literary Prize | Winner | [11][12] | |
| 2014 | International Literature Award | Shortlist | [13] |
References[edit]
- ^ "How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia". Penguin.com. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
- ^ How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia: A satire too caught up in its own conceits – The Globe and Mail
- ^ Book Review: How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia – The Times of India
- ^ KAKUTANI, MICHIKO (21 February 2013). "'How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia' by Mohsin Hamid". The New York Times. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
- ^ "How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia". Kirkus Reviews. 2013-04-02. Retrieved 2022-03-03.
- ^ Gordon, Edmund (2013-03-22). "How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia by Mohsin Hamid: review". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2022-03-03.
- ^ DiMartino, Nick (2013-03-08). "How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia". Shelf Awareness. Retrieved 2022-03-03.
- ^ "Fiction Book Review: How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia by Mohsin Hamid. Riverhead, $26.95 (240p) ISBN 978-1-59448-729-3". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2022-03-03.
- ^ "Fiction Book Review: How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia by Mohsin Hamid. Riverhead, $26.95 (240p) ISBN 978-1-59448-729-3". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2022-03-03.
- ^ Ashlin Mathew (22 November 2013). "Three Indians in race for DSC prize for South Asian Literature 2014". India Today. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
- ^ "Mohsin Hamid - Literature". British Council. Retrieved 2022-03-03.
- ^ ""Tiziano Terzani Prize" Press Release". Archived from the original on 28 July 2014. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
- ^ Mankani, Mahjabeen (20 June 2014). "Mohsin Hamid's novel shortlisted for International Literary Award". Dawn. Retrieved 14 November 2018.