Wednesday 25 August 2010

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!

7 comments:

  1. i loved the book already ...it talks about a fact that a lot of muslim s in forgein countries go through and i could have been one of them , but i am lucky my parents got me back to Egypt so i dont fall in that confusion....its hard to choose between those two choices and it is even harder to live to two different lives and lie to your family and friends..i will love to read the book :D and i am impressed by ur writing ...u are good keep it up dont give up ,u dont even need to edit it :D

    ReplyDelete
  2. Glad you like it dear.
    And looking forward to know more about your settle in a western country

    ReplyDelete
  3. She's an author I'm dying to read for! She's on my TBR list but, unfortunately, her books are only available in the one bookstore I never go to on purpose. =/ But you reminded me - I need to go buy them.
    & 'Anonymous' is right, I like your writing :) & I agree: they're a dilemma, but I think that (since I'm planning - ya rab ya rab - to immigrate) the strength of your faith is what decides the route you're taking; that's how there are many Muslims in the western society - and not only Arabs.

    Anyway, about your question from earler, step by my blog and check out (among the blog buttons on the sidebar) and check out blogs like 21 Pages, or search for Chasing Words Reviews if you don't find it on my sidebar. Just comment and stuff :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Marium, really the best circumstances to buy a book is really not-on purpose! I've not tried this before but I guess so.
    Since you are from alex, here is the deal; it's available at Carrefour's extension in the stands while walking there..
    Also Amazon online ebooks- I don't support this though!!

    You are right about having Faith to break any boundary and any field .. wish you good years with your emigration isA .. My dear friend had traveled America long time ago and I do miss her in btw.. :)

    I got it about blogs, and excuse me for the sever visits to ur blog..interesting in btw.
    Thnaks for ur comment ans surely i'll drop by if any thing stuck =)

    P.S Anonymous is hadeer aymam; a girl i guess you know :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. hey mariam its me hadeer ....oh .btw jailian i just made my blog :D

    ReplyDelete
  6. Sorry for the confusion, but I'm *planning* to immigrate. At some point. I don't have any *current* plans :)
    & Yeah, I know her :)
    & I do buy books from Amazon, but I don't think any book is worth over a month of waiting. & I don't stop by that in Carrefour much, but I guess I'll try to.

    ReplyDelete
  7. same here about carrefour, marium!!
    and it's okay.. I support emigration though!!

    @Hadeer: Mabrouk for the blog.. :D
    I still didn't read the new e-mail though.. give me my time, okay?

    I'm happy to have you both on my blog <3

    ReplyDelete

I write like
James Joyce

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!