Around the Year in 52 Books discussion

In the last few years, there has been a push to diversify the publishing industry, for good reason. Gone are the days when one type of author presents their worldview as the only worldview. This week, to celebrate Ramadan, we are reading books written by Muslim authors or featuring Muslim characters.

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Suggestions:

San Fransisco Library's Fiction by Muslim Authors Recommendations
Books Recommended by Muslim Authors
All Genres of Books Written by Muslim Authors
Muslim Characters in YA Fiction
Books Shelved as Muslim-Characters
Books Shelved as Muslim-Protagonist

ATY Group Listopia

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Optional Questions:
1. What are you reading for this category?
2. Did it feature a Muslim character or was it by a Muslim author or both?
3. What would you recommend to others for this prompt?

Here to recommend the Daevabad trilogy by S.A. Chakraborty, I'm so sad it's over.

I would absolutely recommend:

When the Moon Is Low by Nadia Hashimi
People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks
Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie
The Submission by Amy Waldman
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

I plan to read The Pearl that Broke Its Shell by Nadia Hashimi

Exit West or A Woman Is No Man are my options for this one.

Other than Khaled Hosseini's books, and I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban, I don't really have any recs for this prompt, which is why it's such a good one.

I'm planning to read all three books of The Cairo Trilogy: Palace Walk / Palace of Desire / Sugar Street by Naguib Mahfouz, and count one of them for this prompt. I was going to read the Daevabad trilogy, but it is not available in my library system yet and I have enough owned and unread books on my shelves already.

I highly recommend Mornings in Jenin by Susan Abulhawa. It's one of my best reads of 2020.

Kelly wrote: "I'm planning to read all three books of The Cairo Trilogy: Palace Walk / Palace of Desire / Sugar Street by Naguib Mahfouz, and count one of them for this prompt. I was..."

I assume you are using one of them for the Egyptian museum prompt. That would be convenient. I read Palace Walk but I didn't go any further.

For fantasy readers, there is Alif the Unseen and[ book:The Bird King|40642333]. In sci-fi, Artemis by the author of The Martian, has a female Muslim main character, although the author isn't Muslim.

I love this prompt! I'm either going to read S.A. Chakraborty series, American War, The Thirty Names of Night, or A Burning

Some recommendations:
No god but God: The Origins, Evolution and Future of Islam great non-fiction on the history of islam
I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban
The Map of Salt and Stars
Exit West
A Woman Is No Man
The Autobiography of Malcolm X

I'm reading The Complete Persepolis for this prompt, I've always wanted to read it and this is a great opportunity. There are many Muslim characters in the graphic novel, but I don't believe Satrapi identifies as Muslim from what I've read. I also have The City of Brass and Conditional Citizens: On Belonging in America scheduled for other prompts and those could work here too!

I very much echo the prior recs for Exit West, and in addition:

The City Always Wins
My Name Is Red
The Autobiography of Malcolm X
Home Fire
Zeitoun

No idea what I’m going to read but I’d like to suggest The Family Tree by Sairish Hussain. It’s set in contemporary Britain and about the author wrote it to see her reality in a book. It feature a Muslim family but it’s not the stereotypical tropes - no oppressive father, jihadi bride, militant male or repressed young woman in sight.

I really like this prompt. I haven't decided on what I will read for this one yet but Midnight's Children is on top of the list. I can also pick some lesser known Indian Muslim author books such as Munnu: A Boy From Kashmir or The Plague Upon Us or Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line or A Girl Like That.

I recommend -

1) A Thousand Splendid Suns
2) The Complete Persepolis
3) Haroun and the Sea of Stories
4) Prelude to a Riot
5) Exit West
6) The Forty Rules of Love (there are parts of this book I absolutely love and some I don't. But I still feel that people who enjoy aspects of philosophy, spirituality and culture will like this book).

I'm going to read The Kite Runner.

I have a ton of options here, but right now I’m leaning toward A Very Large Expanse of Sea, The Moor's Account, or Ayesha at Last... or a new release that fits.

Robin P wrote: "Kelly wrote: "I'm planning to read all three books of The Cairo Trilogy: Palace Walk / Palace of Desire / Sugar Street by Naguib Mahfouz, and count one of them for this..."

Robin, yes that is the plan, and the third one will be for the "building in the title" prompt. And if I end up not wanting to read all three after the first one, I'll have my choice of two prompts open again (with lots of options for both)!

A couple I can recommend:
Guest House for Young Widows: Among the Women of ISIS - excellent nonfiction about young women who made the decision to travel to Syria to join the movement and marry ISIS fighters.
East of Hounslow - a mystery/spy story set in current day London

I will echo others' recommendations for Exit West and Home Fire.

I'm going to read either And the Mountains Echoed or Ayesha at Last

I read The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns this year and really want to read his third novel in 2021

Any thoughts on Ayesha at Last?

My leading candidate is Artemis, which I've heard has a Muslim character. Otherwise, I might read The City of Brass or Ms. Marvel, Vol. 1: No Normal.

I’ll be reading An Ember in the Ashes for this category, by a Muslim author. I’m excited to start this series and I have the second book slotted for another category.

I've been wanting to read both Finding Nouf & The Unquiet Dead for quite some time now, so I will probably choose one of these.

Sam wrote: "I'm reading The Complete Persepolis for this prompt, I've always wanted to read it and this is a great opportunity. There are many Muslim characters in the graphic novel, but I don't ..."

I read Persepolis a couple of months ago and I thought it was really, really good. And I'm not a regular reader of graphic novels, but that has totally turned my head towards them now.

1. What are you reading for this category?
The Reluctant Fundamentalist

2. Did it feature a Muslim character or was it by a Muslim author or both?
There is at least one Muslim character. And I am making an assumption that the author is Muslim too. But it is an educated assumption after reading his own article in the Guardian. He doesn't say outright that he is, but it's implied in a conversation he relates.

3. What would you recommend to others for this prompt?
As well as The Complete Persepolis, I've recently enjoyed Life as a Unicorn: A Journey from Shame to Pride and Everything in Between, Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books and A Thousand Splendid Suns

I'm going with a later book on the Rivers of London series by Ben Aaronovitch as the sidekick police officer is Muslim.

I did really enjoy Home Fire so I heartily recommend that.

My pick for this slot is American War as I have had a copy sitting on my shelf for YEARS and somehow failed to read it. I took the liberty of adding it to the Listopia as well.

1. What are you reading for this category? Artemis

2. Did it feature a Muslim character or was it by a Muslim author or both? The main character is Muslim, the author is not

3. What would you recommend to others for this prompt? This Life or the Next

1. What are you reading for this category?
The Kingdom of Copper by S.A. Chakraborty

2. Did it feature a Muslim character or was it by a Muslim author or both?
It is fantasy written by a Muslim author, but the main characters have a religion that has definite similarities to the Muslim religion.

3. What would you recommend to others for this prompt?
My last book of 2020 was The Map of Salt and Stars, which WRECKED me. It was beautiful and haunting and wonderful and I highly recommend.

1. What are you reading for this category?
Exit West by Mohsin Hamid

2. Did it feature a Muslim character or was it by a Muslim author or both? Both

3. What would you recommend to others for this prompt?
The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

I'm going to read "A Woman Is No Man"
by Etaf Rum
In amazon Canada it's on sale today - January 16th - for $2.99 kindle edition.

1. What are you reading for this category? A Woman Is No Man by Etaf Rum
2. Did it feature a Muslim character or was it by a Muslim author or both? both
3. What would you recommend to others for this prompt? This was a 5 star read for me!

1. What are you reading for this category?
Ayesha at Last by Uzma Jalaluddin

2. Did it feature a Muslim character or was it by a Muslim author or both?
Both

1. What are you reading for this category? Once Upon an Eid
2. Did it feature a Muslim character or was it by a Muslim author or both? This is an anthology by several Muslim authors. Its a YA or even middle grade book so a little young for me but I enjoyed hearing the stories about Eid and feel like I have a greater appreciation for the how important and fun the holiday is.
3. What would you recommend to others for this prompt? Threading My Prayer Rug: One Woman's Journey from Pakistani Muslim to American Muslim

1. What are you reading for this category? A Burning
2. Did it feature a Muslim character or was it by a Muslim author or both? Features a character (several), I don't know about the author
3. What would you recommend to others for this prompt?
Well, this was really good.
Someone above read Ayesha at Last which is so good- there's also Unmarriageable in the Muslim Pride & Prejudice books. I'm currently reading Leave the World Behind for another prompt which could work here. Exit West, Salt Houses, The Map of Salt and Stars, The Other Americans

Robin P wrote: "Kelly wrote: "I'm planning to read all three books of The Cairo Trilogy: Palace Walk / Palace of Desire / Sugar Street by Naguib Mahfouz, and count one of them for this..."

Alif the Unseen is so so so so unique! Please please read it!

Pamela wrote: "1. What are you reading for this category? A Burning
2. Did it feature a Muslim character or was it by a Muslim author or both? Features a character (several), I don't know about th..."

Please don't read unmarriageable. I liked the author's first book but this one was horrendous on so many levels. All the other options are good!

1. What are you reading for this category?

2. Did it feature a Muslim character or was it by a Muslim author or both?
Muslim author.
3. What would you recommend to others for this prompt?

I am planning to read Homeland Elegies

Kelly wrote: "I'm planning to read all three books of The Cairo Trilogy: Palace Walk / Palace of Desire / Sugar Street by Naguib Mahfouz, and count one of them for this prompt. I was..."

Well, I ended up reading something else: The Architect's Apprentice by Elif Shafak. It's going to be my best book of the month for March - I love historical fiction that is deeply rooted in the setting, makes me want to travel so I can see it all for myself!

1. What are you reading for this category?
I read The Twentieth Wife and The Feast of Roses by Indu Sundaresan. These are two very nice historical novels, of a series of three. The first is best, and I will not move onto the third as it is about different characters. Also a love story, which I'm less into, but really, very lush writing.

I also read The Perfect Nanny by Leïla Slimani. Psychological character-driven novel, very well done.

2. Did it feature a Muslim character or was it by a Muslim author or both?
For the first set - Muslim characters, don't know about the author.
For the second - both.

3. What would you recommend to others for this prompt?

I would *highly* recommend Woman at Point Zero or any other book by Nawal El Saadawi, who just died a few days ago, and is a groundbreaking Arab feminist, whose works (both fiction and non-fiction) are astonishing.

1. What are you reading for this category?

I read King of the Wind: The Story of the Godolphin Arabian by Marguerite Henry for this prompt. It is based on the true story of The Godolphin Arabian (a famous race horse). It is a Newberry award winner and I would highly recommend it.

2. Did it feature a Muslim character or was it by a Muslim author or both?

The main character (that was not a horse) was a Muslim.

3. What would you recommend to others for this prompt?

Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga
King of the Wind: The Story of the Godolphin Arabian by Marguerite Henry

Unmarriageable by Soniah Kamal

1. What are you reading for this category? I read A History of Islam in 21 Women by Hossein Kamaly. It was very interesting, although I would have liked an overview of women in the Koran, and also some maps for the early chapters. It is a part of a series of histories based on 21 women, which I think constrained the layout. Nevertheless, I would recommend it, as I learned a lot from it.

2. Did it feature a Muslim character or was it by a Muslim author or both? Both - all the main and most of the other characters mentioned were Muslim.

3. What would you recommend to others for this prompt? Honour; Guest House for Young Widows: Among the Women of ISIS; The Kite Runner

I read The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid for this one and finished it in a day (it's short!). I'd been meaning to get to it eventually because it's also on the 1001 books to read before you die list. The way it's written sucked me in and kept me interested right to the end. I believe both the author and main character are Muslim (but I'm not entirely sure).

1. What are you reading for this category?
I read Love From A to Z by S.K. Ali

2. Did it feature a Muslim character or was it by a Muslim author or both?
All of the main characters are Muslim, and the author is as well.

3. What would you recommend to others for this prompt?
I really enjoyed this book. It's YA but doesn't talk down to its readers so it's enjoyable for all ages.

I went with a comic: Ms. Marvel, Vol. 1: No Normal by G. Willow Wilson about a 16-year old Muslim girl living in New Jersey. The author is also Muslim.

I enjoyed the Muslim aspects of the story, but I find superhero stuff to be a bit boring so I probably won't continue with the series.

I read A Burning

Both Muslim character and author
I am conflicted by this book. In some ways the author has perfectly captured the place and the people that she uses to create the narrative. There are however times when it feels like 3 separate storylines.

Perhaps The Kite Runner

I'm reading The Kite Runner

I finished The Bad Muslim Discount by Syed M. Masood. 5 stars
2. Did it feature a Muslim character or was it by a Muslim author or both? All but one character was Muslim. The author is Muslim.
3. What would you recommend to others for this prompt? At another challenge I'm doing they are reading Ayesha At Last by Uzma Jalaluddin.

Wendy wrote: "I read The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid for this one and finished it in a day (it's short!). I'd been meaning to get to it eventually because it's also on the 1001 books..."

Yes they are both muslims :)

Marie (UK) wrote: "I read A Burning

Both Muslim character and author
I am conflicted by this book. In some ways the author has perfectly captured the place and the people that she uses to create the ..."

Please please please please read the kite runner...it is one of my top favourite books...but it gets me quite emotional so I have only read it thrice :(

I plan to read A Very Large Expanse of Sea

I also recommend
The Kite Runner
A Thousand Splendid Suns = One of my all time favorite books.
The Widows of Malabar Hill

Update - I finished A Very Large Expanse of Sea, with both Muslim characters and author. I recommend it as a lighter option for this prompt (as compared to books set in Afghanistan). The mc is a teenage Iranian-American girl who wears a hijab. It is set shortly after 9/11. She starts dating a basketball player (more or less in secret), and likes to break dance. I don't always like YA fiction, but I really enjoyed this book.

This is a quick shout-out for the book Throne of the Crescent Moon by Saladin Ahmed. If you are looking for a fun summer read to fit this prompt, give it a try. It was nominated for a Hugo Award. I read it a couple of years ago and loved it.

I couldn't decide between fiction and non-fiction for this, so read one of each.

And the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini has Muslim characters, The Art of Disruption is written by Magid Magid who is a Somali Muslim refugee (and also the youngest ever Mayor of my home city).

I'd recommend both those books, also The Kite Runner, My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece, Streets of Darkness and Artemis.