The Butterfly Mosque

I appreciated this view of life in Cairo, with all its challenges, but in spite of the title did not gain much insight into the appeal of Islam for the author. I was also concerned by her plunging into marriage in a misogynistic society with little knowledge of her spouse. I hope she is really all right.

Really interesting, but something about it in audio format didn't quite grab me in the way I was hoping. Not a lot of plot, but it's a memoir, so there doesn't have to be, of course - just trying to think of why it didn't quite work as audio for me. Standout parts: the section on Iran, and particularly the wedding. I also was fascinated by how Wilson writes about religion and her conversion to Islam, with a unique perspective that brings a new angle to a well-worn topic.

(Bookriot Read Harder 2016 Challenge: #13 Read a book that is set in the Middle East and #20 Read a book about religion, fiction or nonfiction)

I read this book for the “Community” read at the ACRL 2015 conference. Discussion will be later this morning. I had no prior knowledge of the author (although now I can connect her with the stories I'd read about Ms. Marvel, the Pakistani-American, Muslim superhero) or the subject of the book. I found it to be a really moving account of finding community in a place far from “home,” in a religion and culture far from the author's upbringing. I particularly resonated with the author's account of her conversion to Islam–my experience of converting to Christianity as an adult was similar in many ways, from finding to my surprise that I already believed many of the central tenets of a religion I had always thought was incompatible with my most deeply held beliefs to reassuring my atheist family that I was still the same person.

Another compelling part of this book is the author's recognition of the difficulty of communicating the value and beauty she sees in the cultures of Muslim countries to American audiences, who don't have an open mindset toward that topic at this moment. I saw G. Willow Wilson speak last night at the opening of ACRL2015–she is a vibrant speaker, so I am looking forward to the discussion this morning.

I read this book in less than four hours because I couldn't put it down. I can't wait to review this for The Broke and the Bookish Blog. Until then, I'll keep a lid on my fully formed opinions, but I'll be sure to link back after.