Jul 26th, 2011 by Lisa
Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali
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Infidel is the story of Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s upbringing in an abusive Islamic family/society and the events that led to her losing her faith. She was raised Muslim and led a nomadic life as the daughter of a Somali revolutionary. While living in Kenya, her eyes were opened as she was exposed to American books that portrayed women as equivalent to men. As she was en route to an arranged marriage in Canada she became a refugee in Holland and eventually rose to become a member of the Dutch parliament. She spoke out about Islam’s abuse of women’s rights and made a documentary regarding this issue. The film maker who collaborated on the project with her, Theo van Gogh, was brutally murdered and a letter addressed to Hirsi Ali was stabbed to his chest. Her determination to speak out about the injustices to women, despite the threat to her life, contributed to her becoming one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world. |
Book Club Menu for Infidel
Hirsi Ali talks about the spices that reminded her of home which included tea laced with cardamom and cloves. I made a Somali Tea (Shaah) Recipe, which goes perfectly with Angello or Anjero a traditional Somali pancake that can be rolled with sugar and butter. I found theses recipes also on MySomaliFood.com.
Book Club Resources
Ratings at the time this post was published
| Goodreads: 4.2 stars (10,922 ratings) |
| Amazon: 4.5 stars (429 ratings) |
| Barnes & Noble: 4 stars (147 ratings) |
| My Rating: 4.5 stars. Ayaan Hirsi Ali gives one person’s perspective of Islam, and it is a gripping one. I admire the courage it took for her to speak out about the injustices towards Muslim women. She is the type of person that takes the bad things that happen to her and uses them to make her stronger. |
Discussion
- Ayaan Hirsi Ali feels so strongly about her cause that she continues to speak out about the injustices to women despite the threats to her life. Do you think the risks she takes are worth it? Would you be able to continue to speak out about something you believed in if you knew your life was at risk?
- Danielle Steele and other American novelists were Ayaan’s first glimpse that women could be equivalent to men. She also read books with strong women such as Nancy Drew. Is there a female character that you draw strength from?
- Through the generations of females – her grandmother, mother and Hirsi Ali herself – it appeared the strict adherence to the tenets of Islam were loosening. How did each of these women view Islam? Do you see this occurring with other religions?
- How did you feel about her father? How is Hirsi Ali similar to him?
- Did your view of Islam change after reading this book?
Purchase Infidel at your favorite bookseller
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The Author
Ayaan Hirsi Ali started the AHA Foundation in 2007 to help protect and defend the rights of women in the West from oppression committed in the name of religion and culture
Here is the film Hirsi Ali made with Theo van Gogh:
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Book Club Party Ideas This post is filed under : 2000-2009, biographies and memoirs, top pick
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