From Publishers WeeklyStarred Review. Readers with an eye on European politics will recognize Ali as the Somali-born member of the Dutch parliament who faced death threats after collaborating on a film about domestic violence against Muslim women with controversial director Theo van Gogh (who was himself assassinated). Even before then, her attacks on Islamic culture as "brutal, bigoted, [and] fixated on controlling women" had generated much controversy. In this suspenseful account of her life and her internal struggle with her Muslim faith, she discusses how these views were shaped by her experiences amid the political chaos of Somalia and other African nations, where she was subjected to genital mutilation and later forced into an unwanted marriage. While in transit to her husband in Canada, she decided to seek asylum in the Netherlands, where she marveled at the polite policemen and government bureaucrats. Ali is up-front about having lied about her background in order to obtain her citizenship, which led to further controversy in early 2006, when an immigration official sought to deport her and triggered the collapse of the Dutch coalition government. Apart from feelings of guilt over van Gogh's death, her voice is forceful and unbowed—like Irshad Manji, she delivers a powerful feminist critique of Islam informed by a genuine understanding of the religion. 8-page photo insert. (Feb.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Wikipedia has some intriguing comments on their website about this book. There should be TONS to talk about! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infidel_(book.
Definitely check out wikipedia's info. on the film she made, Submission. I will try to get a copy of it for book club. I think its only 10 minutes long. Here's the wikipedia link - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Submission_(film))
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7 comments:
hey gals,
try clicking the follow button to get email updates. I got my book at Borders, it was in the Religion/Islam section. There is tons of information about this book on-line, just surfing the internet peaked my intrest!
btw, the daily literary quotes are worth logging in for every day--just to see what the quote is. :)
So far, I love this book. I think I am on Chapter 4 or 5. I love the stories about her and her sister misbehaving, and I am happy to say that so far I am not having any credibility fact/fiction issues. I think partly because she frequently admits she doesnt remember why or how certain things happened. Still, much like Wild Swans, there are lots of fascinating cultural insights.
oooooh! this one looks like a good one. i'll have to borrow your book when i get back...
So does anyone out there have any sympathy for the grandmother?
I think that the grandmother is an old witch and I also dislike the mother. The one really bad beating she gave Ayaan made me sick. I don't understand why she was so courageous and independent early on in her life, but after her husband left, she was so weak and depressed. Did her religion make her that way or did she become more extreme to hide behind it? I too love the book so far (110 pages in). I find the author very likeable, funny and beleivably honest which helps when it's a memoir.
Yes, that beating was terrible. I couldn't believe that man cracked her skull and then didn't tell anyone! Its ironic how her brother saying he would have not part in the mom's beating the next day seemed like such a great act of kindness.
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