by Guntur Sukarno
Salam kenal lagi.
Kebetulan saya membaca buku ini sudah lamaaa sekali, waktu masih remaja. Saya bahkan tidak tahu lagi buku kami itu ada di mana sekarang. Mohon maaf, saya kurang tahu di mana dan bagaimana mencari buku ini sekarang ini. ]]>
bookshelves: to-read
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The language is beautiful, the descriptions of the culture and landscape are intense, even her depiction of the main character's feelings in memorizing the Qur'an is, to me, a Muslim, a mind opener.
But...
The Islam in her book is not the real Islamic teaching. It's heavily mixed with cultural traditions, but still labeled 'Islam'. I can imagine the readers say "Oh, now I know more about Islam' but are actually misled. True, it's not Miss Gibbs responsiblity (why would you learn about a religion from someone who is not a believer again?), but with all the precise details she showed of the traditions and habits, one might assume that she had done a lot of research about Islam and that her portrayal of Islam is valid. So all those mistaken information has left me dissatisfied.
I also have a problem with her message. To conclude that a person can only be a 'good person' if she/he becomes more permissive, leaving the code of law now and again, may be what many readers want, but is not prudent. Everyone in her story either becomes inhumane from or shackled with the religion (Islam), or they leave Islam and be humane again. Perhaps she's yet to meet a person who is kind, compassionate, and successful BECAUSE he/she is a Muslim. Or perhaps she has never read the stories of the Prophet (who is the kindest, the most compassionate ever, and very, very successful). Or simply because she meant to discredit Islam. God knows best.
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Destinia
read and liked
Jessica's
review of Sweetness in the Belly:
"At first I thought this book would be a journey through the life of a young convert raised with a strong spiritual background. Like most books today it just ended up undermining the beauty and importance of Islam as a spiritual inspiration. They on...more "
"At first I thought this book would be a journey through the life of a young convert raised with a strong spiritual background. Like most books today it just ended up undermining the beauty and importance of Islam as a spiritual inspiration. They on...more "
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