A review by bookswithbront
The White Mosque: A Memoir by Sofia Samatar

Did not finish book. Stopped at 72%.

This book attempts to do three things: 

1. Tell the story of the Mennonite group who made the long journey from Russia to Central Asia, where they believed Christ would return

2. Recount the author’s own travels to visit the site of the “White Mosque” this group established

3. Reckon with the Mennonite church’s history of prioritizing whiteness (despite its global reach) and with what it means to be a mixed race, non-white, or otherwise “othered” person in the Mennonite community

Each of these parts of topics was strong in its own right, but I was baffled by the structure of this book. I picked it up hoping to learn about a fascinating chapter of Mennonite history, and maybe, if I was lucky, become engrossed in a travel memoir. So imagine my surprise when the story of the Mennonite church in Central Asia essentially concluded in chapter 2. 

While Samatar’s reflections on Mennonite identity were thought provoking and beautifully written, they were ultimately not what I came to the story for, and I found myself wishing for more time with Jacob, Elizabeth, and the other historical figures. I do, however, think this book is incredibly insightful and important for people within the Mennonite identity (which I am not), so I think the biggest flaws can be chalked up to mismarketing.