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3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
This wasn't my favorite book. It was a huge slog to get through, honestly. Rez is so unlikeable and gross. The writing was good, as was the ending, so that's good. I guess.
And young dude just wanted to get married. Damn.
The best element of this text is the nuanced way in which the author approached the causes and motivations of fundamentalism. There is no easy blame here, and there are no heroes--only ambitious adolescents, bigoted strangers, severe parents, and shady saviors. In many ways, this text perfectly reproduced the tensions I feel around the topic of religion.
With that being said, however, the narrative never settled for me. It was poorly paced--dragging as we met surfer dude Rez (yawn) and speeding to a sprint when Reza and Fatima neared Syria. This pacing might've reflected the character's inner lives in these times, but it worked against the real strength of the text which was, in my mind, the meditation on America, especially for immigrants (the unfettered capitalism, the never-quite-attainable American dream, and the simmering anxiety). The language was, at times, needlessly complicated. There were zebras when horses were all that was needed. More matter, less art.
In all, it was a worthwhile read, one that I'll continue to think about because of its complexity, but not one I'd recommend to many.
With that being said, however, the narrative never settled for me. It was poorly paced--dragging as we met surfer dude Rez (yawn) and speeding to a sprint when Reza and Fatima neared Syria. This pacing might've reflected the character's inner lives in these times, but it worked against the real strength of the text which was, in my mind, the meditation on America, especially for immigrants (the unfettered capitalism, the never-quite-attainable American dream, and the simmering anxiety). The language was, at times, needlessly complicated. There were zebras when horses were all that was needed. More matter, less art.
In all, it was a worthwhile read, one that I'll continue to think about because of its complexity, but not one I'd recommend to many.
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was really good, if I had more a base knowledge of Muslim religion and Islam etc maybe I would have been able to take more from it, but it was really well written, and I found every turn the story took very interesting
WOW THIS BOOK.
I absolutely loved this novel! A timely, emotional and scary story about an American Iranian teenager finding his identity, and his Muslim faith in a post 9/11 world. It has beautiful, lyrical prose and wonderful character development for such a short book. I really enjoyed every part of this book. It starts off with some light California teenage 'surfs up' vibes. Lots of experiments with drugs and sex. Then we move into heavier territory once terrorist attacks become more frequent. Rez's outlook on his place in the world changes and people start to treat him differently. Then Rez starts to be introduced to Islam in a new way and meets the lure of religious radicalization.
The only negative thing I would have to say is that I really wanted more out of the ending. I became so emotionally invested in Rez's journey that the ending was really hard to accept with so little answers. I wouldn't change the ending, but it will haunt you days after.
I HIGHLY recommend this book and I hope you love it as much as I do. I also just learned that this is the last novel in Khadivi's loose generational trilogy. This can still be read as a stand alone, but I definitely plan on reading the first two.
I absolutely loved this novel! A timely, emotional and scary story about an American Iranian teenager finding his identity, and his Muslim faith in a post 9/11 world. It has beautiful, lyrical prose and wonderful character development for such a short book. I really enjoyed every part of this book. It starts off with some light California teenage 'surfs up' vibes. Lots of experiments with drugs and sex. Then we move into heavier territory once terrorist attacks become more frequent. Rez's outlook on his place in the world changes and people start to treat him differently. Then Rez starts to be introduced to Islam in a new way and meets the lure of religious radicalization.
The only negative thing I would have to say is that I really wanted more out of the ending. I became so emotionally invested in Rez's journey that the ending was really hard to accept with so little answers. I wouldn't change the ending, but it will haunt you days after.
I HIGHLY recommend this book and I hope you love it as much as I do. I also just learned that this is the last novel in Khadivi's loose generational trilogy. This can still be read as a stand alone, but I definitely plan on reading the first two.
Rez Courdee is an American, or at least, he sees himself as an American. His peers accept him into their circle initially, but following a devastating terrorist attack, they start to see his Iranian heritage more than the smart, kind surfer kid they've known for so long. This book does a beautiful job of portraying the struggle of a first generation American who is torn between his own view of himself and his peers' view of that same self. In addition to the ways that others view our selves, this book also tackles the way that our self changes throughout time so that we have many selves as we move through our past, present, and future. Rez's radicalization is in a sense the disastrous result of two of his selves overlapping at the wrong time and in the wrong place.
What bothered me about this book. The blurb was too spoiler-y for me, and worse, the spoiler suggested that the event would happen quickly, but it actually happened in the final chapter. I spent the entire book anticipating that one event and feeling confused as to how the author was going to get it to happen so quickly. That completely threw the pacing off for me.
There are parts about the ending I liked--I like that the word "mistake" was explicitly used, and I like the separation that occurs. But I feel like I'm going to need to think about this book for awhile to make a final decision about it.
What bothered me about this book. The blurb was too spoiler-y for me, and worse, the spoiler suggested that the event would happen quickly, but it actually happened in the final chapter. I spent the entire book anticipating that one event and feeling confused as to how the author was going to get it to happen so quickly. That completely threw the pacing off for me.
There are parts about the ending I liked--I like that the word "mistake" was explicitly used, and I like the separation that occurs. But I feel like I'm going to need to think about this book for awhile to make a final decision about it.
"So good, right?
Yeah, It was cool.
Something had happened to her during the prayer." (pg. 194-195)
I had hoped for a bit more complexity but the book takes a pretty predictable trajectory.
Yeah, It was cool.
Something had happened to her during the prayer." (pg. 194-195)
I had hoped for a bit more complexity but the book takes a pretty predictable trajectory.
Rez Courdee is a model student and son until he isn't. Then he goes through a period where he gets stoned a lot, has sex, and surfs. But the fun comes to an end when a weekend trip to Mexico goes horribly awry and suddenly his "friends" seem to notice that he's not like them. A Good Country is about how a model student and All-American boy can become a terrorist. It's well-done.
Reza Courdee is living the typical teenage life in California. He has got his friends with whom he likes to spend time surfing in the ocean and haging around at the beach and he also has his first crush and makes first sexual experiences. He plays soccer and he is highly achieving in school. Yet, with his new bunch of friends, he neglects his former interests and spends more time consuming drugs and doing nothing which does not really agree with his parents’ – immigrants from Iran – expectations for their son. However, one day, his life starts to change: Reza, born in the USA, is suddenly the immigrant, a terrorist and his friends start to question their friendship. He becomes more and more isolated and thus joins a group of Muslims who find relief and support in the local mosque. Most of all Fatima is attracted by the strong believers and the hip American girl, who easily shared her bed with Reza, starts not only wearing a hijab but also following the strict rules of Koran.
I really liked how Laleh Khadivi elaborates the topic of finding your identity on different levels. In the beginning, we seem to encounter the average teenager who does not share his parents’ beliefs and finds his ideas much more mirrored in his peer group. A slight disdain for the elder generation is not uncommon at this age. The fact that his Americanizes his name “Reza” into “Rez” also shows that it is this culture and not his familial background that he identifies with. I also found quite remarkable how the parents cope with their own immigration history and their culture. They eat in the old Iranian style, but try to integrate into the American culture since they are grateful for the lives they can lead there. They do not seem to convey that much of their past to their son. This only happens after Rez is identified as an immigrant, which he apparently is not since he was born in California. His interest in his family life is only born at the moment when he is excluded from the culture he always considered to be his own. His drifting away from the parents now leads to a new rapprochement in order to create the new self and to identify who he is and where he comes from. The most thought-provoking step in this development is definitely the encounter with Islam. As a reader you can effortlessly understand why this is attractive and how and why radicals do not have any problems winning over second or third generation immigrants for their ideas. It is absolutely convincing why Fatima and the others are magnetized and easy comply with the codes.
Yet, it is not only the immigrants’ perspective which is worth scrutinizing in this novel, it is also the behaviour of the “native” population which should be taken into account. When did we start seeing our friends and acquaintances not anymore as whom they are but as “Muslims” or “immigrants”? Which effects do global and local acts of terrorism have on our own life? And to what extent to be transfer personal pain due to the loss of a beloved person onto others who are not at all connected with the incident which caused our grief?
If you are open, as a reader, to question yourself, you will surely find food for thought in this novel.
I really liked how Laleh Khadivi elaborates the topic of finding your identity on different levels. In the beginning, we seem to encounter the average teenager who does not share his parents’ beliefs and finds his ideas much more mirrored in his peer group. A slight disdain for the elder generation is not uncommon at this age. The fact that his Americanizes his name “Reza” into “Rez” also shows that it is this culture and not his familial background that he identifies with. I also found quite remarkable how the parents cope with their own immigration history and their culture. They eat in the old Iranian style, but try to integrate into the American culture since they are grateful for the lives they can lead there. They do not seem to convey that much of their past to their son. This only happens after Rez is identified as an immigrant, which he apparently is not since he was born in California. His interest in his family life is only born at the moment when he is excluded from the culture he always considered to be his own. His drifting away from the parents now leads to a new rapprochement in order to create the new self and to identify who he is and where he comes from. The most thought-provoking step in this development is definitely the encounter with Islam. As a reader you can effortlessly understand why this is attractive and how and why radicals do not have any problems winning over second or third generation immigrants for their ideas. It is absolutely convincing why Fatima and the others are magnetized and easy comply with the codes.
Yet, it is not only the immigrants’ perspective which is worth scrutinizing in this novel, it is also the behaviour of the “native” population which should be taken into account. When did we start seeing our friends and acquaintances not anymore as whom they are but as “Muslims” or “immigrants”? Which effects do global and local acts of terrorism have on our own life? And to what extent to be transfer personal pain due to the loss of a beloved person onto others who are not at all connected with the incident which caused our grief?
If you are open, as a reader, to question yourself, you will surely find food for thought in this novel.