Emily Emily Emily itibaren Chennevières-sur-Marne, France itibaren Chennevières-sur-Marne, France

This is a book I want to hold and never let go.

Awesome book. Has value in many ways. First off it gave me a look into a culture I'm less familiar with; it has a wide array of Muslim characters, something missing in a lot of American culture right now. It also has a good solid look at punk culture in it's many manifestations, from straightedge to classic to riot grrl to homocore. Yes, this book has gay Muslim punks in it. And it's leaps like that that lead to the books truly valuable stuff. The "normal" narrator, while as a character I don't care for much, very effectively poses the question can these cultures collide while staying true to themselves? Can Muslim punks exist? It also edges then on the question can American Muslims be anything but an oxymoron? The book steers clear of being heavy handed about it's answer, but provides a compelling argument. While I am not Muslim, it tackles what I feel like most religions could use some introspection on, and that's the ability to take the power inherent in the divine and break away from oppressive man-made religious structures.