Infidel

For my next independent reading book, I chose to go a little off the beaten path from what everyone else in the class has been doing. Following the recommendation of my older sister, I decided to ready Infidel, by Ayaan Hirsi Ali. This book is an autobiography about a young Islamic woman and her struggles in many different Middle Eastern and African countries.

Hirsi Ali was born into a traditional tribal family in Somalia. Her father was one of the organizing members of an anti-government group and he wasn't there for a large portion of Ayaan's life because he was in put into a political prison. Ayaan therefore grew up in a household run by her constantly grandmother and her constantly on-edge mother. She also has an older brother and a younger sister, both of whom had plenty of problems with their personal identities while growing up.

After a few years, her family chooses to move to Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is a completely different world because it is very much more conservative than Somalia: women are not allowed to leave the house unaccompanied by a male and they must always be covered from head to toe. A couple of years later, her father managed to escape from jail and he tells his wife and family that he wants to move to Kenya.

Ayaan's mother is not happy at all about this because Kenya is much more free-thinking, not to mention the fact that a great majority of Kenyans are Christians. This is the country where Ayaan begins to develop into the strong woman she is today.

This is a story about a woman's triumph over the things that have held her back all of her life - her religion, her culture, and her family. Even though she was abused physically, mentally, and emotionally as a child, she still managed to grow up to be a strong, independent woman who wouldn't allow her culture to hold her back. Her strength allows stands as a symbol for all women, no matter what their religion or ethnicity.