Yusuf Toropov's Blog: Literary Striver, page 13

Join the conversation on Facebook

You can visit the JIHADI: A LOVE STORY Facebook page by clicking here. All the latest updates and reviews, but only half the calories of this site.

"Muslims, Why Don't You Tell ISIS to Stop?"

Paul McCartney explains the White Album cover

A topic of special interest. Click here.

Why I Will Continue Posting This Trump/Hitler Infographic Whether People Like It or Not

Catching some heat for this. Good. It's a national discussion that needs to happen.



I will continue to post this infographic, which I did not create, because mainstream media, with the notable exception of MONTEL WILLIAMS, seems to need reminding that:
1. Donald Trump is in fact a fascist.  If you think the word "fascist" is unfair and/or inappropriate because you believe "fascist" means "Synonymous with Adolf Hitler in terms of demonstrated capacity for genocide," then we disagree about t...

Spell my first name right, please, if you want a conversation

Y-U-S-U-F.

Listen. It's not all that difficult. It's completely phonetic. And I do think it's an appeal to basic courtesy to ask that you spell my name correctly if you want to engage with me online. I could be wrong, but I believe a majority of the people who get my name wrong, over and over and over again, are also, coincidentally or otherwise, the same people who challenge me for talking openly about fascism in the United States of America, which I have constitutional right to do. And will...

#DumpTrump

Mainstream media needs to call this out clearly and repeatedly as a fascist movement.

That's what it is. Big crowds. Night rallies. Demonization of minorities.

What the hell is CNN waiting for? "Kristallnacht II: The Muslims"?

Remind you of anyone?

As Der Donald ranted, a Muslim woman was hooted at, jeered, and escorted from a South Carolina rally. Her crime was wearing a shirt that read "Salaam -- I come in peace." And being, you know, Muslim. The crowd got a little charged up.
I am an American Muslim now overseas. 
As someone else Mr. Trump is targeting for political advantage, I have to say this: 
Something truly ugly is happening in my country, and he is in the middle of it. 
He needs to man up and withdraw from the race....

JIHADI: A LOVE STORY -- "elevating the #thriller genre to a new level of provoking intelligence"

Thrilled about this crazy cool review of JIHADI: A LOVE STORY from Steve Wright!



Excerpt: "In the same way that I have enjoyed reading the likes of Kati Hiekkapelto deliver powerful social commentary within first rate crime novels, it is exciting to find Yusuf, and publishing stable mate Paul Hardisty, elevating the thriller genre to a new level of provoking intelligence."
WOW! Thank you, Steve!

Order it from Orenda Books!
Reviewers: Request a review copy!

Islamic Noir: A Literary Manifesto

This genre, which I appear to have all to myself just now, encompasses my debut novel JIHADI: A LOVE STORY, available from Orenda Books. I got here first, so I'm taking the first pass on the core principles of the movement.

No, I'm not joking. This really is a declaration of literary principles. Compare Dominic Stansberry's brilliant essay NOIR MANIFESTO, one pertinent passage of which appears below:


I am with Stansberry up to a point, but I draw a line at the amorality and anarchy inherent in...

Twelve facts, and one lie, about me

I made the shahada (testament of faith) and became a Muslim in 2003.I have been to Saudi Arabia twice.I made the hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca, in 2005.I cowrote a book about the Quran for Alpha Books.I wrote a book about Shakespeare that I am proud of but would like to update for the Internet era. It was published by For Beginners Books.I wrote a book about the Beatles that doesn't need any updating. It was published by Harper Collins.I wrote a book about Christianity that succeeded only in...