A review by biblio_jordyn
The Bad Muslim Discount by Syed M. Masood

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This book follows Anvar and Safwa, both separately and when their world’s collide by chance. Anvar considers and takes pride in his “bad Muslim” status, always trying to other and step away from his family’s grasp when they were in Pakistan and even more as they move to San Francisco.

Then, there’s Safwa, who we first see Baghdad, suffocating by the war torn city and by her conservative father, while trying to fill the role that has been decided for her...and then she makes the dangerous journey to the US.

This book talked about immigration (both legal and not), the complexity of one’s relationship to religion, finding yourself and your place in the world, relationships and the complexity of them when it comes to, both, familial and romantic. 

I loved this book. 

I loved the writing. 

I loved how this author captured these characters, their relationships with people and their faith or lack thereof. 

I loved how he intertwined humor and sadness and happiness and tough topics all seamlessly together. 

I loved the authenticity and how much I FELT for these characters. 

I loved learning more about another culture and peoples experiences without feeling like I was learning in the moment. 

I loved the messages interwoven in the story of empathy, and understanding, and love, and change, and so much more.

I love how the author made my heart connect to the words on the paper and made me want to both savor every sentence but also devour the book whole.

I could talk about this book all day...but, here is ONE of my favorite quotes from the zillion I wrote down that isn’t too long:

“Remember to never take more from the world than you can give back to it.” 

Thank you so much @doubledaybooks for this #gifted copy this was definitely my favorite read of January and will probably remain one of my favorites of the year.
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