Rabi al-Akhar 1441 / December 2019's Book Club Recap
Updated: Feb 1, 2020
Bismillahi ar-rahmani ar-rahim
Assalamu aleikum!
Welcome to this month book club's recap and book thoughts. As customary with recaps, we have several books on the roster to dissect and to finish! Grab your drink and enjoy reading our thoughts—brief or detailed—on the books selected insha'Allah. You can read the previous recap here.
Educated by Tara Westover
Tara Westover is an historian, and she makes you realize that we all are if we want to be. Her personal narrative is greatly told. Because she and some of her siblings have decided to break away from a brainwashing family, they are educated. Matter of fact, gaining an education and acquiring a view of the world that wasn't their father's vision of it along with his Y2K predictions helped them see the world under a new lens; their own. Molestation and some other triggering subjects are brought up. So, if you are a bit sensitive to those topics, read with caution even if the details while being the center of the story of her struggles to our opinion are merely glossed over. Rating: 4.5/5
The Light at the Bottom of the World by London Shah
Five stars for world building and writing. First POV works when it's accompanied by a fascinating world building like this one. Now, it's a three stars overall. Christmas 2099 being a major timeline marker in the story played a role in the overall rating. While I'm big on religious tolerance, I try to remember Qur'an 109:6. Being Muslim is hard and to prove that faith the tests are even more challenging...And many of us can't resist the allure of Gregorian hallmark events that have nothing to do with our faith...Sad indeed... Stay tuned for a deeper conversation of the book with other readers insha'Allah. Rating: 3/5
The Fifth Season by N.K.Jemisin
Summary:
A season of endings has begun.
It starts with the great, red rift across the heart of the world's sole continent, spewing ash that blots out the sun.
It starts with death, with a murdered son and a missing daughter.
It starts with betrayal,and long dormant wounds rising up to fester.
This is the Stillness, a land long familiar with catastrophe, where the power of the Earth is wielded as a weapon. And where there is no mercy.
Rating: 4/5
With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevado
Summary: Ever since she got pregnant freshman year, Emoni Santiago's life has been about making the tough decisions - doing what has to be done for her daughter and her abuela. The one place she can let all that go is in the kitchen, where she adds a little something magical to everything she cooks, turning her food into straight-up goodness.
Even though she dreams of working as a chef after she graduates, Emoni knows it's not worth her time to pursue the impossible. Yet despite the rules she thinks she has to play by, once Emoni starts cooking, her only choice is to let her talent break free.
Rating: 3/5
All American Muslim Girl by Nadine Jolie Colbert
We love this book for many things. We also couldn't wrap our heads around so many things Allie does. Books have the power to influence people. While this testimonial may seems unique and relatable to other "confused All American Muslim Girls out there" like the author has written herself, there is a chance the book will encourage many Muslim youths into staying minimalist Muslims. That said, you have to start somewhere and Allie shows a promising future. As Muslims, we need to stop saying and thinking that saying the shahada is enough. Have we been in Allie's shoes at one point in our lives? Yes. Did we come a long way since then? Absolutely yes. Do we consider ourselves great Muslim? No! Why? Because reading the biographies of early righteous will make you realize that you have a LONNNNNNNGGGGGG way to go to even call yourself a good Muslim.
The writing in this book also needs some depth, too.
To end, a secular Muslim is not an oxymoron like the book states. That's the problem with the ummah today; there is too much adoption of secular and liberal practices that border on shirk if not shirk themselves. We can't pick what we like about Islam and discard the rest. Trying to reform Islam; an already complete religion, is a very dangerous initiative and IDEA!
Stay tuned for a deeper conversation of the book with other readers insha'Allah. Rating: 3/5
Dear readers, Jumada al-Awwal 1441 AH/January 2019's Book Club Post will be
will The Ducktrinors Book 1 & Book 2 by Papatia Feauxzar insha'Allah.
Questions to you, the reader, about any book we have discussed, reviewed or we will be discussing are:
1. What did you like most?
2. What gave you pause?
3. What didn't you like?
4. What are your other thoughts?
5. What question (s) do you have for the author?
6. What questions about the book do you have for the moderator or other members of the discussion(s)?
We look forward to hearing from you.
G E T I N T O U C H AND CLAIM A MUG AND A BOOKMARK !
FOFKY'S
Books, Teas & Coffees
Until next time, subhanaka Allahumma wa-bihamdika ash-hadu anla ilaha illa anta as-taghfiruka wa atoobu ilayka. Aaameen.
Wassalam,
The Fofky's Book Club