Looks like only one person has read this book besides me. My daughter started but didn't care for it. So let's get the conversation rolling.
What did you think of the book? Of the authors? What surprised you? What did you learn? Was this book helpful in understanding the 3 abrahamic religions? Would you recommend it?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
oh no, I just wrote an essay and the blog failed to post, and I lost it all. This book is really, really killing me! : )
ReplyDeleteoh no! save it on word and try again insha Allah.
ReplyDeleteFaith Club
ReplyDeleteDid I like this book? Well, it usually takes me a few days to read a book, but this one took a month more or less. I had to take a break from it to read, in two days, Japanland: a year in search of Wa, which was excellent.
I was not too interested in reading about their experiences, once I got started. It just seemed watery. I was not too impressed. I am surprised that it people like it on Amazon. I guess it’s a new thing for most people. I think the more we know about each other the better. We need to realize we have much in common, and that we can live in harmony.
I have to say I was really, really disappointed that Ranya and Priscilla were not practicing their religion. I felt closer to Suzanne surprisingly, little do I know about Christian faith. I expected more heart wrenching discussions or something more deep, not sure. My disappointment over Ranya cast a huge shadow over the whole book. I know this was their experience, their club, but I’d prefer to read religion from people who actually practice, or even struggle with their faith. I didn’t sense any guilt, remorse, even a desire from her to practice more. Instead I am shocked she kept doing the Christmas. Shocked by her black and white view of Islam: wahabi or the moderate, which to her is a pretty low standard of Islam... Sad, too. I’m sad that as an ummah we can’t welcome all people into the masjid, no matter what stage they are at, covered or not. Ugh! I felt awful judging her, but she wrote this book, and this is not what I want non-muslims to be excited about. I don’t want people to read this and think more Muslims should be like her, and if they read this they are not even getting a normal, “moderate”, glimpse of a practicing Muslim’s life. I can’t give her respect for representing our religion. I don’t hate her, and I am glad she made small steps in being comfortable with Islam and getting her kids to feel the same, but, inshallah, I hope she knows she can actually practice her religion and stay moderate. Part of why I hated reading this book is that I constantly felt like an angry, offended extremist—which I am not. I don’t like feeling like this, and would not towards any person I actually met.
I would not recommend this book at all. I think you would be better off reading about each religion separately, as a religion, and then picking one book for each religion about a woman’s journey or experience or memoir.
Pg 251 Dr Karam lists the things the word Islam conjures up, including polyamy and fundamentalism...which she claims or the author got wrong, are not part of Islam.
ReplyDeleteWhat? Is she sugar coating it for the interfaith group? I can let fundamentalism go, as a term, but shouldn't we all strive in our own ways to practice our religion and obligations to god fully? Polygamy--please! I know it's an uncomfortable topic, but it is in Islam.
Jihad, well, this term must be defined...
OK so this is one of my nitpicky issues with the book.
ASA.
ReplyDeleteI'm SO interested in this book! I have 4 1/2 weeks of school left and can't wait. I'll be ordering it soon before my final exam...that way I can't cheat and read it while I'm supposed to be studying. Anything that conjures up discussion about Islam is a good thing (to me). I hope that some of my followers of my blog will read along with me.
Did you notice that by the end of the book they had still not produced their children's book? After 3 yrs? I know what you mean about the Christian woman. I was kind of surprised that two of the authors weren't practicing. A lot of the islamic information was incorrect too even though it was presented by a muslim. I couldn't understand why she thought practicing muslims were like show offs or something instead of just people following their religion. I think she was raised in a really mixed up way..part islamic (not so much) and part christian (holiday style). Maybe she could relate to the new Miss USA. There are a lot of muslims I know like this woman and I never could understand them. This sheds some light on their background and thinking. I feel sorry for her though because she's like a christian on the verge of converting but keeps holding back. She has never really experienced the true joy of actually embracing islam. What was strange to me too was that the Jewish woman felt so scared after 911 but the muslim woman not so much. I guess its because no one could really tell she was muslim unless she mentioned her name. She didn't have to go through what the rest of us hijabis went through. It was interesting to read what they thought about the christian woman. How she was part of the majority and never had to feel left out. I remember that feeling and now experience the opposite so I could really relate to this part. I thought the stereotype of starving at a christian wedding so funny. Personally I've never experienced that but ask a muslim immigrant about his experience eating at a christian's house and there is always a starving story. I'm not kidding. Muslims are the most hospitable people in the world from my experience. I felt sad too that the muslim felt left out at the mosque. I know that feeling too well but its not because I don't practice but more like because they think I practice too much! Also she's arab so it should have been easier for her unlike the experience converts go through and being left out for language and cultural reasons. There are so many things that were still left unsaid in this book. I think she never mentioned the crucifiction and resurrection according to Islam at all. I also hated the fact that she was so accepted because she wasn't practicing. They only like you when you seem just like them. That's not respect. If she started praciticing they would turn their backs on her slowly but surely. I wouldn't recommend this book either because it doesn't paint a proper picture of what islam is or what muslims experienced after 911.
ReplyDeleteOh and I forgot that she said that alcohol is not forbidden in the Quran. She obviously never read it properly. Even Christians know that muslims aren't allowed to drink.
ReplyDeleteMuslim Hospitality is my favorite part of Muslim cultures--I am almost done with Honeymoon in Purdah--about a Canadian in Iran, her and her "husband" are always being given nuts, fruit, and being almost forcefully taken for dinners by the locals. It's hilarious and heartwarming. It's not something I grew up with.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if there is a better book out there on a similar thread? Not that I am the mood to tackle another book like that. I had more fun with the very naughty Michael Muhammad Knight's book Blue Eyed Devil: An American Muslims Road Odyssey. It another by an iffy Muslim, and the book has it's bad points, but I felt that at least he was more honest about his feelings and struggles.
I've never heard of either of these books. Have you read Journey through ten thousand veils? Just saw that in Azizah magazine.
ReplyDeleteNo, I am way behind in my reading. I find what ever is at the library, but I did order next months read from amazon. I don't think honeymoon in Purdah would make it into a Muslim magazine ;)
ReplyDeleteI am really enjoying it, there are great story bits and adventures and then visceral parts where she gets time alone to absorb in all the sights, sounds and scents... these parts are brilliant.
I'll look up "Journey" did you read it?
Aischa
NO, I haven't read it. It says The Alchemy of Transformation on the Sufi Path.
ReplyDeletebut I did order next months read from amazon.
ReplyDeleteI guess you didn't order from my link on my post for amazon.
I assumed it would be canadian amazon? I just ordered a cheap used copy of Unimagined.
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't seem to give you the option to choose canadian amazon.
ReplyDelete