It's Not About The Burqa (adult nonfiction)

     "When was the last time you heard a Muslim woman speak for herself without a filter? Or outside the white gaze? On her own terms? Or outside the narrative built around us by the media and governments? If Muslim women are to progress in society, if they are to be treated with respect, then it's important that we challenge the narrative built around us."

     Miriam Khan, editor of It's Not About The Burqa, did more than recommend that Muslim women create their narrative. She gave them a space in which to do so. The book brings together Muslim women's voices. It doesn't represent the experiences of all Muslim women or claim to cover every issue faced by Muslim women. The contributors and the subjects are indeed diverse. 

*In Too Loud, Swears Too Much, and Goes Too Far columnist, international public speaker and activist, Mona Eltahawy, describes how Muslim women are caught between the proverbial rock and a hard place. On one hand are the racist Islamaphobes who attack Muslim men for subjugating women. On the other are the Islamic men who silence Muslim women to control the narrative. Both ignore Muslim women. Not surprisingly, Eltahowy, who considers the title of her essay a compliment, urges revolution. 

*In There's No Such Thing As A Depressed Muslim researcher and mental health advocate, Jamilla Hekmoun, discusses the stigma that prevents many Muslims from acknowledging mental illness symptoms and seeking help and the enormous toll this takes. 

*In Life Was Easier Before I Was Woke  mechanical engineer, Yassmin Midhat Abdel-Magied, discusses the illusion shattering experience of working in the "hyper-masculine" working environment of an off shore oil rig.

    This is not a book to rush through or tackle when you're preoccupied with something else, especially if you (like me) are not a Muslim. It is best read with an attitude of curiosity, openness, and contemplation. If you open it with this mindset It's Not About the Burqa is a rich and rewarding, very worthwhile read.

On a purrrsonal note, I had a purrrfect day Sunday. Eugene and I drove to Cape Elizabeth to visit Katie, Jacob, Adam, and Archie (Katie and Jacob's super loveable, handsome cat 🐈 😻). It had been a year since we'd been there. The kids went all out to make sure we had a good time. We went out for breakfast and lunch. We went shopping. I found some really good bargains at the South Portland Goodwill. We drove to a really big antiques mall. We hung out and talked. Everyone admired the Squishmallow blanket I'd just finished. It was so special spending time together. Eugene bought supper on the way home. 

A great big shout out goes out to my amazing family. 

Jules Hathaway 

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More progress

I've completed the rows and am connecting the first two. 

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Favorite flower this summer

The delicate purple and yellow Johnny jump ups 

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A sunset in the neighborhood

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Goodwill finds

Isn't this counted cross stitch kit the cat's pajamas? I plan to make one each for my reading buddies Amber, Katie  and Adam and the other three for myself. 

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Goodwill finds

Squishmallows (of course) including 2 of the tiny ones that are so hard to find. 

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The Story Of My Anger (YA novel in verse)

     Whether you're 14 or 74 or anywhere between or beyond and are alarmed and angered by the most recent wave of book banning that is sweeping America--targeting diversity, inclusion, and truth telling under the guise of protecting the children--you're going to love Jasminne Mendez's The Story Of My Anger and find yourself cheering for its valient protagonist. 

"Everything's bigger 

in Texas,

except the straight white Texan's ability 

to imagine a world where they are not 

the center of the universe 

which is why, I think, they keep making laws 

and keep changing the rules 

to keep the rest of us 'in our place'

to keep the rest of us 

small."

     Yulieta is a diligent, rule obeying girl. She's the only daughter of a single parent who has struggled with lupus for much of her life. It's a relentless autoimmune disease that gets better and worse. 

"But the worst thing for Mami's health 

is stress. So I do my best

to be the easy river she needs me to be

so the fire inside her stays quiet and calm 

and she stays healthy and out of the hospital."

      But there are two aspects of her school life that will make this commitment to not rocking the boat impossible. 

      There is the racism of her school's theater director who never casts actors of color in anything but bit parts. Yulieta is a talented and dedicated actress with Broadway aspirations. Despite a really good audition the part she tried for has been given to a white girl. 

"It's not my skin that's 

a problem, it's their lack of 

imagination."

     And then there's what happens with her favorite teacher, Mr. G., whose curriculum is considered too controversial and his readings too radical. He has to surrender his books to the school board for review and basically teach without them. 

"When Mr. G. says the school board 

wants to 'review his library,'

What he means is they want to

'Ban his books.'

When Mr. G. Says that the books

'contain controversial content,'

What he means is 'topics that make 

white conservatives uncomfortable.'"

     Yulieta has a brother in college who is an activist and film maker. He urges her to use her formidable talents to fight back. 

     What about her mom? Perhaps she could be more of an ally than Yulieta imagines.

     The Story Of My Anger belongs in all school and public libraries. Students who are already angry about the current situation will find it empowering. Students who haven't yet grasped what is going on will find it quite an eye opener. 

On a purrrsonal note, I am in the middle of an exciting weekend. Yesterday was Orono Festival Day. After Eugene and I went to Governors for breakfast I headed to Orono. In the morning Taylor and I were tabling for Black Bear Mutual Aid Fund. We took turns touring the crafts fair and the Friends of the Orono Public Library book sale. I bought 2 beautiful books at the crafts fair. You'd better believe I got me some books from Friends. I had a few free hours which I put to good use finishing the Squishmallow blanket I've been working on. Then there was a special potluck put on by Orono Thrift Store and Black Bear Mutual Aid Fund. People paid what they could afford. The food was delicious, especially Taylor's lasagna. People got to take home their bowls. I'd picked a really cute flowered one. It was a day of friendship and fun with purrrfect weather. I had a painted cat face. Today I am up at an ungodly hour to post this before Eugene and I go to Cape Elizabeth to celebrate my birthday 🎂 🥳 🎉 🎈 🎁 🎊 early with Katie, Jacob, Archie (their creamsicle cat), and Adam. It will surely be a day to remember!!!

A great big shout out goes out to all who participated in Orono Festival Day!!!

Jules Hathaway 

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