Upcoming Reads

In the few days since school ended I've done a bit of reading.  A brain candy novel, and a fascinating memoir about a young woman who converted to Islam, moved to Egypt, and married an Egyptian man.  Seriously, if you're into memoirs, travel, and spiritual themes, you need to read G. Willow Wilson's "The Butterfly Mosque".  It was perhaps the best description of the process of being completely transplanted into another culture, and the challenges that come with that that I have ever read.  I borrowed the copy I read from the local public library, but I think I'm going to order myself a copy for re-reading.  It contributed to all of the reading I've been doing on experiences with Islam lately and left me with fascinating questions to mull over.  My only criticism is that the ending felt abrupt - I wanted more.  I want to know what happened when she and her husband relocated to the US for a time, and how their journey continued, past the early newlywed days.

I still find myself exhausted and struggling to form coherent thoughts, but I'm planning to spend the next week looking for work, catching up with a few friends, and reading, maybe even bus reading.

On my list for the days and weeks to come:

• Chasing the Dragon (Jackie Pullinger)
• Love Wins (Rob Bell)  (yep, I'm going to read the book that there's been all the controversy, not because of the controversy, but because I read all of Rob Bell's books)
• Sabbath (Dan Allender)  (my next booksneeze review title)
• Sisters in War (Christina Asquith)
• The Bookseller of Kabul (Asne Seirstad)
• Between Two Worlds (Zainab Salbi)
• Reconstructing Natalie (Laura Jensen Walker)
• Murder, Mayhem & a Fine Man (Claudia Mair Burney)