Week 7
And another week has passed. I read 2 books and played more League of Legends than I’d like to have. I’ve listened to more Paramore than I’m willing to admit. I’m still coming out of the Sims 2 hole I was in last week, but sloooowly… I’ll start running again next week…
The women’s prize for non fiction 2025 longlist is out! I’m trying to read more fiction than non fiction, especially as I return to full time working again, but there are definitely some books I’m interested in from the longlist…
The Taste of Ginger by Mansi Shah
The Taste of Ginger is about Preeti, who moves to America as a young child. She has a difficult relationship with her mother, stemmed from her long term relationship with Alex, a white man. She travels to India to support her family in an emergency, and finds herself slowly being drawn in to her culture and heritage, all whilst trying to understand her mother.
I liked this book and found it incredibly easy to read. It wasn’t the most revolutionary book, nor was it the best writing I’ve ever read. It was a plot driven, plainly written book. I found Preeti unlikeable for the most part, but the secondary storylines were the best. Dipti was the more interesting character to me, and I wish the book focused more on her.
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Among the Mosques by Ed Husain
This was an interesting book for me. Husain travels across different mosques in the U.K., trying to understand British Muslims better. He explores different sects of Islam, different schools of thoughts, different politics amongst the mosques.
I found this book interesting for many reasons. There were lots of Islamic principles explored in this book, maybe different interpretations that I don’t personally agree with as a Muslim. Husain challenged those directly. It was refreshing to see someone with similar thoughts to me, and the Islamic knowledge to back it up. Finally, someone who believes in following the law of the land as much as I do!
But there were also elements where I think Husain stood too strong in his views. He discussed the idea of Muslims not going into pubs, and despite my own personal beliefs, I found his refusal? his ignorance? of why this makes many Muslims uncomfortable to be… difficult to read. I also think a lot of this book was… Glum. Maybe that’s the way things are as a modern Muslim, but there were things so difficult to read, things that made me feel very sad for women and children. Reading about mosques performing Nikah ceremonies with no involvement or insistence on an accompanying legal marriage… Outright denying or feigning ignorance on legal marriages… It felt hard to read.
Like I said, an interesting read! Maybe not one where I agree with everything Husain stands for, but nonetheless still interesting to read.
Rating: ★★★★☆