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The Kindness of Enemies
The Kindness of Enemies: A Novel | Leila Aboulela
8 posts | 4 read | 24 to read
A versatile prose stylist... [Aboulelas] lyrical style and incisive portrayal of Muslims living in the West received praise from the Nobel Prize winner J. M. Coetzee... [she is] a voice for multiculturalism.New York Times Its 2010 and Natasha, a half Russian, half Sudanese professor of Islamic studies, is researching the life of Imam Shamil, the 19th century Muslim leader who led the anti-Russian resistance in the Caucasian War. When shy, single Natasha discovers that her star student, Oz, is not only descended from the warrior but also possesses Shamils priceless sword, the Imams story comes vividly to life. As Natashas relationship with Oz and his alluring actress mother intensifies, Natasha is forced to confront issues she had long tried to avoidthat of her Muslim heritage. When Oz is suddenly arrested at his home one morning, Natasha realizes that everything she values stands in jeopardy. Told with Aboulelas inimitable elegance and narrated from the point of view of both Natasha and the historical characters she is researching, The Kindness of Enemies is both an engrossing story of a provocative period in history and an important examination of what it is to be a Muslim in a post 9/11 world.
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Smiley9
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Pickpick

As part one of my 'read around the world' self-set challenge, I enjoyed The kindness of enemies for the reflections on identity and belonging/not-belonging, of code switching between worlds, and for the well researched narrative running through the story.

rather_be_reading welcome to litsy! 📚☕📚 @LitsyWelcomeWagon 6y
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LitsyFeministBookClub
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Today is World Day of Muslim Culture, Peace, Dialogue, and Film! Celebrate with some awesome books written by Muslim women. What are your favorite books by Muslim authors or about Muslim culture?

#MuslimShelfSpace #MuslimBooks #WomenofColor

Libby1 I really want to read The Moor's Account. 8y
Reese_Pearly.Pages 2 of these are on my TBR. Didn't know the authors were Muslim. (Bright Lines and the Moor's Account). 8y
night_shift I've read Alif the Unseen.. it was pretty great! 8y
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charl08

So, according to the guidelines, how should his response be classified? Did he tick this particular box or not? According to the guidelines, a student was who 'vulnerable to radicalisation' would have symptoms of regression, a hankering for an idealised past, a misguided belief in authenticity.

Not remotely Xmassy. Very timely though.

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half_book_and_co
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Pickpick

I had started this book months ago but after 40 pages put it back into my tbr stack for it could not hold my attention. I am so glad I now finally finished it. Aboulela created such a fascinating read following academic Natasha and her student Oz, who is suspected of being a terrorist, in the 2010s and the Chechen's resistance against the Russian Empire in the 1850s. The book is about belonging, family, religion, assimilation and so much more.

MrBook Ooh, nice! Look, @BookBabe ! 8y
6 likes1 stack add1 comment
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half_book_and_co
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weekend reading stack - let's see how far I get...

#diversebooks

Suet624 Good luck! 8y
9 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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CAGirlReading
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Sad that I'm not able to take part in today's #readathon but enjoying all the great posts! Also very excited to receive today's #bookmail 📚📬

Lesliereads I recently finished reading all of Leila Aboulela's novels except for The Kindness of Enemies, which I hope to get to in the near future! 8y
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LubicaP
Pickpick

Many books on emigration deal with the sense of alienation experienced by immigrants. I like the way this book looks at the other side, at the relationships formed in a new home, acknowledging that some of the connections formed in a new environment are just as strong as those to one's 'home' country.

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