Book Review: The Hypebeast by Adnan Khan

*A hypebeast is a mostly derogatory slang word for someone, usually a man, who follows trends in fashion, particularly streetwear, for the purpose of making a social statement.

Hamid Shaikh is the son of an abusive Indian from Mumbai who left for Canada with his family in search of fortune, which continues to elude them. Hamid is now a greedy scamster trying to cheat fellow immigrants out of their hard-earned money. He enters the good books of a gang and gets to do stuff for them, like stealing a big cat from a zoo, which ended in his friend losing his arm. When his alcoholic girlfriend Natalie goes missing, Hamid and his gang are drawn into the world of the social-media imam and former Guantanamo Bay detainee Abdul Mohammad and discover that there's more to him than what's shown in public.

‘The Hypebeast' is the novel by Adnan Khan set in Canada and India that explores the identity crises experienced by immigrants, especially Muslims, in Western nations. The title refers to a generation of immigrant children who are caught between the traditional and modern upbringing from two different worlds and the vanity and greed that are induced by it. The novel explores how strict religious beliefs among communities become effective ammunition in the hands of manipulators. I received a review copy from the publisher Dundurn Press through NetGalley.

The novel is narrated in the first person by its protagonist, Hamid. It is this narrative structure of the novel that becomes its greatest strength when many other issues of the plot severely hamper the reading experience. The personal and professional crises that he undergoes are effectively conveyed to the reader through a narrative style that's precise, intense, and sharp. We get to know the person pretty deeply, and even though his actions make him a highly unlikable character, one becomes enamored by the way he shapes up his thoughts and experiences for making his way forward. The roller coaster narrative inside the head of a complex protagonist is the biggest strength of the novel.

While in his introduction the author maintains that Orhan Pamuk and Guy Ritchie are his inspirations, one cannot spot it in his writing or plot. The novel is overlong and unbearably so. It meanders on and on without making a point for pages. While we see the other characters only through the eyes of its protagonist, they still stay far away from the reader. The characterization, except that of the protagonist, leaves a lot to be desired. While Natalie and Abdul were important and integral to the plot, one doesn't find any clarity in their characters.

While we sympathize with the protagonist, it becomes difficult to connect his personal issues with the serious themes that the writer wants to address. Immersed in the chaotic world of Hamid, we never get a chance to see the larger picture or relate to whatever is addressed. Even the flashback of Abdul, which should essentially be the key to understanding him as a character along with the undertones of the novel, doesn't create any impact. The action, suspense, or even sex is not described in any way that evokes a response from the reader. More damage is done by the overlong conversations that the characters engage in very often, where they unnecessarily beat around the bush a lot.

While 'The Hypebeast' can be read due to the brilliant portrayal of its protagonist, it fails to connect to the issues it wanted to address with any coherence. The plot, which is overlong and meandering at times, makes it tedious in many parts.