American Dervish

American Dervish (2012) by Ayad Akhtar. A young Pakastani-American boy's world is turned upside down when his attractive Aunt Mina comes to stay with his family. She convinces him to study the Quran with great diligence, and he starts to have some pretty outlandish ideas about Islam and his place in it. Meanwhile, his Aunt Mina, who has recently gone through a divorce, meets and falls for an American man who is Jewish. The flavor of this novel is rich and authentic, and there seems no doubt that the author is also Pakistani, for he knows the culture so well. It made for a very entertaining and enlightening read. Grade: A-