I have mixed feelings about this book. I love his writing style,
truly lyrical .He is gifted man. He paints incredible images and tells his story the best way imaginable. I enjoyed learning about the war from his perspective. The escape of this family to America was thrilling. His detailed account of how his family managed to “thrive” in the states, despite incredible prejudice and poverty, was very enlightening. He had a very messed up family, but his wonderful honesty about his own issues and that of his family, allowed me to feel connected to him. Regarding the actual bike trip…I got weary of hearing about the all the towns he went through…by the end I found my self skimming the pages describing the landscape and outlandish poverty. It felt like the same note over and over. His recollection of familial or acquaintance conversations always included foul language and the reoccurring descriptions of his bowl movements were too much for me. This is my first time reading something like this. I have no idea how it compares to others, but overall, I learned a lot; writing wise and culturally speaking.We have begun our next book… “Infidel”
This is memoir written by Ayaan Hirsi Ali, who shares her first-hand experiences and criticisms of Islam. Her style is much simpler in comparison to “Catfish,” yet in her defense she has no one to confirm or clarify her memories, because her entire family has disowned her. Four chapters in and already I am appalled and disgusted by the barbaric way women are treated in Somalia and Saudi Arabia, one example, female circumcision. Also terrible, is the way her grandmother and mother treat her in the name of religion or Allah; beating, cursing, and berating her all the time. This is not an uplifting read but an important one. Even with her life in danger she continues to fight for the rights of Muslim women. Her reason for continuing the dangerous quest, “…some things must be said…there are times when silence becomes and accomplice to injustice.”
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