Thank you to Pantheon books for the gifted ARC

Yahya Bas is many things. He is a poet, a notorious jihadist, a half-white, half-Iraqi Londoner searching for his dad. After fleeing the conflict in Syria and ending up in a detention center, Yahya faces many questions from his interrogator, Mister. So Yahya resolves to tell his own story on his own terms.

MISTER is a riveting exploration that not only gives me echoes of THE SYMPATHIZER (Viet Thanh Nguyen) but also delves into a narrative that challenges immigration, colonialism, radicalization, and self-invention.

The novel unfolds through a confession-style narrative that takes a while to get used to. It poses difficult questions, pushing me to reevaluate my preconceived notions. What does it mean to be an "ungrateful" immigrant? Should we empathize with those whose discontent turns into hostility? What if radicalization takes root, or worse, they encourage violence in the very promised land they sought refuge in? How much of these are the doings of the constant "othering" experienced by POC? Gunaratne masterfully prompts readers to confront the implications, forcing us to ponder the state of the West and its promises.

Inspired by the surge in hate post-Brexit, the Syrian civil war, and the rise of Islamophobia & anti-Semitism, MISTER offers a timely reflection on the socio-political landscape. It seamlessly weaves in a coming-of-age story, transitioning from a somewhat slower-paced first half with a touch of YA to a superbly crafted second half that captivates with its depth and intensity.

Surprisingly, this book hasn't garnered more attention, given its Booker-esque qualities—the absence of quotation marks, drawing inspiration from Syria from a non-Syrian writer (iykyk lol), and the ultimate unreliable narrator. MISTER is a thought-provoking gem that demands attention for its bold exploration of societal nuances and the human condition.

Please note that Gunaratne is Sri Lankan British, whereas the MC is half-Iraqi. Parts of MISTER depict refugees likely informed/inspired by their career documenting post-conflict areas around the globe.

I also want to highlight this poignant quote from Gunaratne in an interview with Southbank Centre to give more context on MISTER & their thoughts on writing those outside his community. You can find the whole discussion by googling "Guy Gunaratne on Mister, Mister, slow art, and room to write." The entire interview is brilliant, and I encourage you to read it even if you're not planning to pick this book up!

When asked about whether their writing of individuals often "othered" in the modern news cycle is meant as a platform for the "voiceless," they answered, "It feels very strange to think of novels as platforms in that way. I don't approach writing on those terms. My subject matter might tackle something in the current public discourse, but I struggle, really, to see how novels, and novel writing, when within the kinds of systems we require to make and distribute books, could be used to foster significant shifts in political discourse, especially in a way that requires the immediacy of our current problems. Novels are a slow art. They seem to work on the conscience in a similar way. That's part of the beauty of them, it seems to me. Anyway, when it comes to the kind of thing I'm eager to influence politically, I use other methods – like my body, which means my showing up, away from the desk, among other people."