Finished Th 2/17/11
John Jude Parish is the scion of a wealthy,loving,and educated family who seems to be headed for a life full of only the best accouterments that the western world can offer. However, this college aged 'truth seeker' becomes attracted to the tenets of Islam, and makes a pilgrimage to Pakistan right before the tragic events of September 11, 2001. Abraham's central character, John Jude Parish is modeled after John Walker Lindh who actually did join the Taliban in 2001. However, John Jude is much more enamored by the nineteenth century explorer, philosopher, and adventurer, Richard Burton, than the violent interpretations of Osama Bin Laden. He views Islam as a viable world religion, and is enthusiastic to understand and to be moved by the beliefs and principles of this doctrine. This novel examines the teachings of Islam through the eyes of someone who is searching for a new meaning for life, and it allows the reader to understand how one might come to embrace this faith. I think that too often westerners think that to embrace Islam is to be, "hypnotized by The Evil Doers", and Pearl Abraham makes the case that this faith is as legitimate as any other.
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