Safar Book Club Recap ---- Q&A
Updated: Sep 6, 2022
Bismillah.
Assalamu aleikum!
This month, we will share our answers to the book club questions on the books we have recently read. Thank you for tuning in.
The Endless Banquet
Fofky: I like that Surah al Ahzab reiterates the value of reading Quran, making dhikr, and seeking knowledge. This thematic tafsir of the last ten juzs of the Holy Quran also has a quote toward the end of the book worth sharing; "If Allah wills, as we learn from the nations before us, he could change our circumstances within the blink of an eye such that only those who prepared themselves will prevail.
On Book Lovers
1. What did you like most?
Musart: I loved the characters of Book Lovers. You could easily feel their characters and each time a character was presented or spoken it was easy to feel their emotions and understand their perceptions. What I liked the most was the style of writing by the author. She presented Nora as a character portraying reality in a witty manner.
Fofky: I agree. Nora was realistic. I liked that the romance style deviated a bit from the common genres plots and borrowed a bit from Frozen as in the sisterly love. Their love was more at the forefront. The spark between Nora and Charlie was a bit secondary to the story.
2. What gave you pause?
M: There was nothing about the book that gave me pause. You felt like always wanting to know what was going to happen next.
F: Nothing. If anything, the book trajectory surprised me. In a very good way.
3. What didn't you like?
M: There wasn't anything that I didn't like about the book. It was lovely reading a novel after a long time. It was a nice escapism.
F: Ditto.
4. What are your other thoughts?
M: Book Lovers was a lovely read. Something I would go back and read for fun.
F: It's definitely a good read that flipped the script for me.
5. What question (s) do you have for the author(s)?
M: How was the author able to twist words and make them almost poetic at times to represent a feeling? That was a lovely learning kerb(curve) for me as a writer.
F: I see what you mean. The book is a special type of slow burn romance indeed. I really liked it.
On All My Rage
1. What did you like most?
Nana Aisha: I loved the story. I loved the picture Tahir painted. Her description of Misbah’s dying and death stayed with me. It was like I could touch it.
Fofky: The patience of Aunty Misbah. She was very caring.
2. What gave you pause?
NA: Honestly every section of the book. I thought the sections were such of an intermission and I will need to sit and reconnect with my thoughts.
F: The fortune teller incident. I am still wrapping my head around it. I wished it had never happened. That said, then we wouldn't have a book to discuss.
3. What didn't you like?
NA: More like who, in the beginning, I didn't like... Ashley and Abu but they both grew in those pages and it was a reminder to not put people in boxes and close the boxes.
F: Yeah, we are sinners.
4. What are your other thoughts?
NA: It's a question: In what ways are our experiences now affecting our generations?
F: A lot actually. Our sins usually affect the next generations if we don't resolve them in our time. It becomes a curse in my opinion.
6. What questions do you have for the author?
NA:
● Is this entirely fiction?
What questions about the book for moderator or other members for discussion?
● When you are in a bad place/situation, how do you get through it?
● What are your thoughts about trauma from this story?
Fofky: Great questions Sis. I believe they have roots in true events since her family owned a Motel.
On Drawing in Shallow Waters
1. What did you like most?
M: Although there was alot of hurt, past, pain and discord. There was light at the end of the tunnel. But what I loved especially was that Brandon being such a successful man who never married before was wanting to take on a divorced woman and accept her for who she was.
F: Right, it's such a taboo these days when during the search time, such women were a catch. Perhaps we need books like these to teach people that divorced women are not handicapped.
2. What gave you pause?
M: I really had to stop and wonder what was Brandon's past like since he didnt seem like such a nerd after all!
F: Haha!
3. What didn't you like?
M: This is a tricky one. I think the ending was quite intense especially what was done to Faruq to teach him a lesson. I was left with mixed feelings thinking did he deserve that from Dominique and Quinn. Not sure if I didn't like it or was happy to hear him continously plead. Bit of mixed feelings here!
F: Yeah...It's hard to say but I think it was time for him to face the consequences of his actions. A bit of justice...lol!
4. What are your other thoughts?
M: I loved the message of picking yourself up after PSTD. Especially what Hawwah went through.
F: Right, we own our happiness. We decide to turn the page and free ourselves from the baggage weighing us down.
5. What question (s) do you have for the author(s)?
M: If this were to become a movie what would you change? Also would you change anything from the book? Being a writer myself I wouldn't change a thing. I loved the cliffhangers.
F: Nice! It has that romance thriller vibe vibe indeed.
6. What questions about the book(s) do you have for the moderator or other members of the discussion(s)?
M: How did the other members take on the book? Were they as intensely engrossed like me?
F: For sure. I really liked the book.
On The Cult of Romance
Read the review by Saffiyya Muhammed on the blog here.
On Family of Liars
Check out last month's recap for insights.
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Want to discuss books with us? Our Usual Book Club Questions 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(s)?
6. What questions about the book(s) do you have for the moderator or other members of the discussion(s)?
Thank you for tuning in and reading. Dear Readers & Members, see you in Next Year, in Rabi-I 1444 AH insha'Allah. We look forward to hearing from you.
G E T I N T O U C H !
FOFKY'S
Books, Teas & Coffees
Until next time, subhanaka Allahumma wa-bihamdika ash-hadu anla ilaha illa anta as-taghfiruka wa atoobu ilayka. (O Allah, You are free from every imperfection; praise be to You. I testify that there is no true god except You; I ask Your Pardon and turn to You in repentance.) Aameen.
Masalam,
The Fofky's Book Club Team