Saudia Arabia-No Reservations with Anthony Bourdain

I love the show No Reservations as well as its host, Anthony Bourdain. This episode was his journey through Saudi Arabia with a Saudi Arabian-American female host. The country is shown as devout, hospitable, thriving, and full of modernity. Of course, you can't help noticing all the veiled women. Although the female host, when asked about the segregation of males and females, always seems to down play it... I as a woman watching the show can't help but feel a twinge of saddness. I feel that if I were to visit Saudia Arabia, I could never see it completely or fully participate. As amused as I am by the vibrance of the markets, the uniqueness of their culture and cuisine, I think I would always feel slightly uncomfortable. I don't know if it is because I perceive that I would have to repress my feminimity, or be concerned of some sort perceived threat. I want to understand that there are some women who appreciate their culture and want to live this way by choice. Yet, I can't help wondering all the voices that might not be able to be expressed.

I don't know if this reflects poorly on me, or if it is just where I am in my understanding of the situation. I still sense discomfort.

Persepolis

The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

For anyone who wants to begin to understand Iranian people, I believe this graphic novel is a fantastic first step. The book follows a young Marjane as she tries to grow up in a war torn Iran from pre-1979 to the early 90s. Her story gives tons of perspective on the history of Iran, it's relationship with Islam, the struggle between the ideals of the West and East, exhile, and repression in her own country. The story is very accessable through vivid images.

I was completely moved by this book. I don't think one can read this book and not feel a sort of compassion for the Iranian people and their struggles. It is the perfect compliment to another one of my favorites, Lipstick Jihad. The two books occur during a very simular time frame, deal with very simular topics, and really paint a simular picture.

I really want to watch the movie associated with this book. My hope is that the illustrations are simular. I wish this book was manditory reading for our politicians, and for the rest of us. There is so much more to Iran than this tyranical regime that is portrayed on our mainstream media. These people have suffered so much, it is a miracle that persevere. I have great admiration for the women of Iran and I really hope that they find the freedom that works best for them in their lifetime.

An amazing book! A must read!

The White Castle-Orhan Pamuk

This was a selection offered by our Turkish group. It is about a young Italian scholar who is captured by the Turks at sea and brought back to Turkey as a slave. He is able to make his captivity a little better by posing as a doctor and using his Western knowledge to become an asset to the Turks.

Refusing to convert to Islam, the Italian is eventually sold to another scholarly man who bears a close resemblance to him, Hoja. Hoja demands to know everything the Italian knows. Together, they work on projects to save lives during the plague, create fireworks, and build an ultimate "weapon."

Somewhere in the balance, the Italian and Hoja get so close that they begin to become each other. In the end, they even switch places. The book cover of my edition states, "Orhan Pamuk's exploration of identity, of the strained relations between a devout, superstitious East and a "rational" West."

As this book is written by a Turk, you would think that the concept of "Orientalism" would be minimized...but I as a reader felt uncomfortable at times because the narration is by a foreigner of the West. I felt at times that the portrayal of the Turks was at times crude. The Sultan was sometimes portrayed as a not so smart leader. Hoja was a sort of crazy, ruthless slave holder, and several there seemed to be a lot of corruption and brutality.

In the end, the Italian seems to assimulate to this new world, and maybe even enjoy it. As a reader, I don't know if I at the end of the story develop a greater affection or respect of the Turks. I think that is what bothered me. If you are looking for literature that promotes a greater understanding of the modern culture of Turkey, I don't think this is the best book. I enjoyed it for what it was, although it could be confusing at times.

Time of Favor

Should there be a devote religious brigade in a military setting?

Could you imagine the US Army having a special Evangelical unit that was inspired by some religious leader? I think this movie examined that a little. A radical Rabbi had sort of backed this religious Army unit. I believe the legitimate purpose was to protect their settlement, but because the Rabbi continuously talked about reclaiming the Temple Mount...it sort of opened the door for one of his pupils to want to put action behind it. If you noticed, the regular Army guys never strayed from protocol. It was the "superior" student that was physically weaker, romantically stood up, and looking for a way to feel better that turned things on their head.

Was it all his fault though? Initially, the Army took the Rabbi into custody...but he was freed fairly quickly...although he was certainly the catalyst for the events. The poor commander got beaten mercilessly, and you don't know if he ever truly recovers his good reputation, even though he had nothing to do with it and in the end prevented the student from blowing up the Temple Mount.

This movie also talked a little about women as property. The Rabbi tried to marry off his daughter to his lead pupil. He didn't understand why she was against it, and refused to let her see the man she did want to see.

This was an interesting look at Israel. I think the account was fictitious, but there were a lot of customs and thought patterns that were able to be viewed and contemplated.

Speaks for Itself

A Lake Beyond the Wind-Palestine

A Lake Beyond the Wind by Yahya Yakhlif

This book is an account of the beginning of end of the life of Palestinians before the creation of Israel, and the future of hardship and displacement that will follow for decades to come.

The events that happen in this book are heart breaking and depressing, just as the situation has been for millions of Palestinians. Critics have said this is a fascinating book from the Palestinian perspective, but I hate to say that I had a really tough time reading it. In all fairness to the book, I might have reader fatigue. I have a full load of literature classes this semester and I might be cracking, but than I got frustrated at myself for not getting into it. Am I so pampered, so privileged that I can't spend some hours looking at the real horrors discussed in this book? Am I so narrow minded that I can't try to open myself to this new voice that is talking about things that I find difficult to relate to? How selfish is that?

My intial feeling reading this book was that males may be able to relate to it better. Knowing more about the history and the geography of the area during the time of the conflict might help make it easier to follow the story line. Still, I thought if I was having difficulty reading it, how could I get high school students to enjoy reading it? I don't know. I'll will be interested in our class discussion. Don't hate me because I wasn't a fan.

The Bus Driver Who Wanted to Be God-Israel

The Bus Driver Who Wanted to Be God & Other Stories by Etgar Keret

This book of short stories is a fast and fascinating read. This book has everything from a drawf dressed as a little girl who is smuggling heroine to tales from post-suicide characters in a sort of purgatory sub-world. Sometimes the imagery is sexually graphic. Still, it is laugh out-loud funny and thought provoking. Perception and expectation are often called into question. It is interesting to see the portrayal of Arabs by a Jewish narrator in this post-suicide purgatory where the arguments of this life just don't seem to apply any longer in the bigger scheme of things. I thought it was great to hear from an author with a different voice than what I am used to. Although high schoolers are more than capable to read this, I can't see it passing the parent test. College kids, hell yeah.