Book Report

Lately non-fiction has been my thing. I recently ended one of these books and am starting two others.

Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali

This story blew my mind because as I mentioned before I have been objectively reviewing the idea of faith. As Ali tells it, Islam is in theory far different than it is in practice and therefore, often hypocritical in nature. And, I will venture to say that this is not foreign from other established religions.

The hardships that she faced as a woman dealing with other women and men made it clear that-

1. Women who perform ceremonies or acts like genital mutilation are often more vicious than the oppressive male leadership because the women fiercely perpetuate such acts. Maybe they do this because it was done unto them and they feel as though it is only fair to make the next girl go through it as a right of passage. After all, they endured it and it is the way things should be done. This cycle of behavior is getting more abusive with each new addition to its chain. In my mind, women should be the protectors of their sisters, daughters, mothers, etc. and this idea of sisterhood should supersede any ill will regardless of culture, religion, etc. And for people within the same religion, it should be understood.
2. By condoning human rights abuses in the name of religion and asking someone to believe all or nothing with clear threats if the individual doesn't conform is not the way to go about proving the benevolence or faith in religion or Allah. Fear as a motivator may be a powerful tool but it is not right or going to make someone submit.

To see this in action, read her story. Ali's tale speaks to her youth as a devout child of Allah, her attraction to religion and faith, and her eventual distancing and renouncing of her society. All said, the story is fascinating and makes me want to read Salman Rushdie's "The Satanic Verses."



Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

What can I say? I loved this book. Granted...I didn't actually read it. Not because it was long (according to Marian) but because I thought it would be a cool way to foray into the world of audio books during the countless hours I spend on the road. I definitely started with the right book because I was so into her story that all NPR and other radio took a short hiatus until I finished it on Saturday, which was just short of a week.

Even though most people don't have an opportunity to completely uproot themselves and still maintain their income the reader/listener comes away with an understanding of a greater commonality with the author. She is searching for truth and growth and therefore, is relatable to the common person through her struggles to find pleasure, devotion, and balance. I still think it's a cool concept for a self-study or lesson. Everyone needs to find a sense of balance whether it be between pleasure and devotion, or whatever it may be that the person is naturally inclined toward by learning to appreciate and relish it without forgoing the flip side.

Also, the way she writes the story is pretty interesting. Maybe it was more recognizable with this book because the author herself reads it, but I got a strong sense of both her inner monologue and external relationships. She does a really amazing job of bobbing and weaving between both to form a very realistic portrayal of how women approach things. She allows herself to be pretty open about her experiences, which makes the reader feel that she is being completely honest. (How many drafts and revisions and self-censorship moments she had I have no idea.)

I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is searching for something.