Once upon a day during my last mid-year vacation -and as always -I was anchored in my pace in front of the book centre in the mall nearby; to find a pink colored book catching my sight and is possibly capable to catch the sight of any Muslim lady with its cover of a girl's face once with the veil and another photo with her blond hair it as if she is torn between religion and the other life, that's how I feel from the first glance on that book.
Soon I did my searches about the book- back then I was at home- and here is what I found –worthy to be shared- :
"Who am I? Jamie or Jamielah?"
She is Jamie Towfeek; a 16-year-old Australian-Muslim-Lebanese teen wondering who she really is as she straddles two cultural realities living in Sydney's western suburbs. Jamielah is overly protected by her father who imposes strict curbs on her social life especially after the death of her mother.
There are a lot of things Jamie hates about her life: her dark hair, her dad's Stone Age Character of Curfew Rights, her real name - Jamilah Towfeek.
Obviously, Jamielah seemed to be ashamed of her true identity and heritage as being in western country. That's why she dyes her hair blonde and wears blue lenses and is determined to be known among her friends as "Jamie"
Her only friend whom she shares her thoughts with is her e-mail friend, John.
"At school I'm Aussie-blonde Jamie -- one of the crowds. At home I'm Muslim Jamilah -- driven mad by my Stone Age dad. I should win an Oscar for my acting skills. But I can't keep it up for much longer..."
Then the true dilemma comes when she had to join her high school when she struggles about revealing her true identity. Who is she? Jaime, the assumed among friends, or jamilah!!
One more problem there; when the cutest boy at school asks her out and her friends start to wonder about her life outside school her secrets then are threatened to explode!!
Another serial of dilemmas passes by her older sister; Shereen who is a hejab wearing girl and is totally absorbed in political causes, human rights and anti war protester. Her father wanted her to settle down.
The author is Randa Abdel Fattah; an Arab novelist and the author of ''Does my head look big in this" Book. "Ten things about me" is her second book and was first published in Australia, 2007.
Oh, well, I'm not here reviewing a book I haven't read or tell a story of me searching for a book.
I personally perceive Arab teen Muslims who live in western countries as a dilemma themselves. Who of them won't be torn between his/her ancestors' customs and how life is there?! And who of them won't choose more freedom and less controlled restricted life when choice is offered and obliging itself? Surely nobody!
And who of them would choose to reveal a true identity that seems in the eyes of westerns as a stone –aged society?!
Randa, in my opinion, -note that I've not read the book- is not only telling a story or a novel for tonight's sleep but is handling a social problem supposed to face any teen in Jamie of Jamielah's condition.
"Ten things I hate about me" is a book I'm looking forward to, in hope to find more that just a story!
