"Unimagined" by Imran Ahmad
How strange that such a trite and puerile book that converts, in some cases, relatively minor incidences into life changing traumas, should result in such gushing reviews across a range of respectable British reviewers from the Guardian, Cambridge University and indeed the BBC. Oh I had to eat eggs, instead of fish and chips, boo hoo! This is notwithstanding, of course, the reality of the general scourge of racism describled.
There are billions of people in the world experiencing "unimaginable" hardships at any one time, making this hypocritical twerp's simplistically written tome all the more galling.
There were some minor points of interest in gaining a better understanding of Islam and Muslim values (which is what initially seemed attractive about this book), however Ahmand's shallow objectification of women and grasping middle class pretensions tend to neutralise this positive aspect of the book.
Lets hope that in spite of itself Unimagined does succeed in making a contribution to good relations across religious/cultural boundaries.
Scores were as follows:
Leanne 6
kevin 5
Mark 5
Nathalie 5
Helen 5
Dennis 4
Andrew 4
Al 6
Henri 6
Total: 5
For a more positive review see:
http://books.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0,,2066905,00.html
The next book will be: 'Fear and Trembling' by Amelie Nothomb
There are billions of people in the world experiencing "unimaginable" hardships at any one time, making this hypocritical twerp's simplistically written tome all the more galling.
There were some minor points of interest in gaining a better understanding of Islam and Muslim values (which is what initially seemed attractive about this book), however Ahmand's shallow objectification of women and grasping middle class pretensions tend to neutralise this positive aspect of the book.
Lets hope that in spite of itself Unimagined does succeed in making a contribution to good relations across religious/cultural boundaries.
Scores were as follows:
Leanne 6
kevin 5
Mark 5
Nathalie 5
Helen 5
Dennis 4
Andrew 4
Al 6
Henri 6
Total: 5
For a more positive review see:
http://books.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0,,2066905,00.html
The next book will be: 'Fear and Trembling' by Amelie Nothomb
posted by Corporate Photography Sydney at Wednesday, July 02, 2008
2 Comments:
You have completely missed the irony and self-deprecating humour of this book.
My book club loved it and we are all women!
He is honest about the way that men objectify women, and he eventually learns better, as he makes very clear in the narrative. He reinforces this message with the metaphor about the dream car only being superficially beautiful.
The book is always written 'in the moment', which is what makes it so compelling.
I see from the website that two prominent Australian feminists have warmly endorsed this book.
www.unimagined.co.uk
It seems as if we read a completely different book from you.
Susan
PS: I met him at the Sydney Writers' Festival, and he is far from a twerp.
From the Oxford English dictionary….
Irony /irni/ • noun
1 the expression of meaning through the use of language which normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous effect.
2 a state of affairs that appears perversely contrary to what one expects.
Dear Susan,
Glad to hear you are keeping up Muslim traditions with your segregated book club.
Hope that works for you.
It really is so important to live only for today.
I sincerely hope you enjoy your life as a car.
XXX
Dennis
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