The Kite Runner, and related issues

[proud2bmom3]

Assalamu alaikum dear sisters..

a while back I brought up the book a Thousand Splendid Suns by Husseini.. and mentioned that I would try to read the Kite Runner..  well, I finished reading it about a week ago. or so, one of the things that encouraged me to read it was that my girls in Sunday school and youth group were required to read it for school and to discuss it. so I thought it would be a good topic to discuss during one of our classes just to kind of prepare the girls for an argument in class.

basically. the Kite Runner is an excellent book of literature.. Fiction. but it should not be taken as a source of information about Islam or Islamic behaviour..  judging Muslims by the actions of the Taliban and what Assef and his group of monsters did in the book would be like judging Christianity by reading about the Naziis..

one of my girls wanted to talk about common misconceptions in Islam.. like who is Allah, status of women, Jesus, jihad, honor killings, violence, ..etc. and alhamdulilaah she did a great job.. however, when she said that no one in the book really represented true Islam, except maybe to some degree: Hassan. her teacher argued with her that it is not true. that the Quran , like the bible and any other book of literature, is open for different kinds of interpretation. that is why we have so many sects in Christianity and Islam..etc.

so, .. the unislamic practices in the book have CLEAR cut orders or prohibitions in the Quran that leave NO room for shades of meaning..

some characters drink alcohol.. the do not pray five times.

raping children ( anal sex, sodomy)

killing other Muslims, for ethnic cleansing. etc..

so I typed down all the evidence from the Quran and Sunnah against these practices.. and emailed them to my student so she can show her teacher how there really is NO room for interpretation when things like these are forbidden.

it bothers me that people who are supposed to be teachers, are so ignorant. educate yourself first about Islam before you pass such a generalized notion .. dont'  you agree???

well, any way..

rant over..

what did  YOU think of the book? would you recommend it?  I have to admit that I read it only for purposes of educating my girls.. but I ended up enjoying it, and yes you guessed it, choking up and crying some time as well. he really is a talented writer. and the book is very different from a thousand splendid suns.. but almost equally as good.  the style of narrating, the little hints and predictions..etc. early on the book you get hooked wanting to know what he wants to make right..etc.

it is a book about growth, regret, redemption. I enjoyed it. I would recommend it. :)

[MIA0223]

I actually have this book checked out now, but haven't had a chance to read it. The librarian told me she couldn't read past the first few pages, she said she just couldn't get in to it. But I am going to try when I get a chance...

[SlingsAndThings]

I loved the book. We read it for a literature class in college. I have to say I like a thousand splendid suns more but still loved kite runner. Movie wad disappointing though lol. I like the author khaled hussini ( probably butchered his name).

I feel it's very easy to throw Islam under the bus and make no distinction between culture and Islam. I never really felt he was trying to make Islam look awful. In a thousand splendid suns the main character remained true to Islam and Allah Subhana wa t'ala even in her death. Through all the injustices done to her she remained pious. That was impressive to me.

Anyway those are my thoughts.

[muhajjirah]

would either book be appropriate for a 12-13 year old girl?

[lajolla]

My son read this book in school and it was a family project. I am not Muslim, but my husband is.  DH used this as a learning tool for the family, discussing what was correct and having us do research. The class was very open for discussions on the author's view and 'true" Islam. My husband says that Muslims should take these opportunities to discuss Islam.

[muhajjirah]

what grade was this? wondering if it's approp for my daughter who's in 7th, 12ish yrs old.

Quoting lajolla:

My son read this book in school and it was a family project. I am not Muslim, but my husband is.  DH used this as a learning tool for the family, discussing what was correct and having us do research. The class was very open for discussions on the author's view and 'true" Islam. My husband says that Muslims should take these opportunities to discuss Islam.

[proud2bmom3]

Quoting muhajjirah:

would either book be appropriate for a 12-13 year old girl?

in my opinion, not really.. the first one ( T.S.S) has a ' wedding night' discription.. the other one K. R. a child rape. ( though not as explicit as the the wedding night thing) 

 the girls in my class who have read the books are 14+  I dont' know how much they are exposed to .. but I am a prude.. lol.. I blasted into my daughter for drawing a heart and writing ( Be Mine) a few days ago... poor girl was just imitating what she saw I guess, but I explained to her that it is NOT appropriate ( Eib) that it is shameful. it is something said between husband and wife, not kids ....etc.

if you screen the book first for her and kind of mark out the profanities and explicit scenes. she could read the book. it is really a good way of discussing what is accepted and what is not in Islam. plus it gives window into Afghan culture before, during and after Taliban.  the human emotion and growth in both books I thought was remarkable.. 

so, if you want your daughter to read it. YOU read it first, and you be the judge, have a marker ready lol..

((hugs))

[lajolla]

It was the tenth grade

Quoting muhajjirah:

what grade was this? wondering if it's approp for my daughter who's in 7th, 12ish yrs old.

Quoting lajolla:

My son read this book in school and it was a family project. I am not Muslim, but my husband is.  DH used this as a learning tool for the family, discussing what was correct and having us do research. The class was very open for discussions on the author's view and 'true" Islam. My husband says that Muslims should take these opportunities to discuss Islam.

[muhajjirah]

jazakAllah kheir sisters in this case inshaAllah she CAN WAIT lol. prudish like proud :)

[muslimahpj]

I havent read either, but I would like to.

[SlingsAndThings]

In my opinion no. It's more of a young adult/ adult novel. I read it in college. In KR there is some rape/sodomy and while it's not terribly graphic I wouldn't recommend it that young. In TSS there is some sex between husband and wife and abuse. Both are definitely more adult oriented novels.

Quoting muhajjirah:

what grade was this? wondering if it's approp for my daughter who's in 7th, 12ish yrs old.

Quoting lajolla:

My son read this book in school and it was a family project. I am not Muslim, but my husband is.  DH used this as a learning tool for the family, discussing what was correct and having us do research. The class was very open for discussions on the author's view and 'true" Islam. My husband says that Muslims should take these opportunities to discuss Islam.