09.05.05 (1:54 pm) [
edit]
Does my head look main stream in this?
I recently read a book called Does my head look big in this? I wrote to Ruth Starke about it because I have some strong feelings about and she asked me to review it for a Melbourne magazine called Viewpoint. But, just in case it doesn't get published: here's the review:
Does My Head Look Big in This?,
By Randa Abdel-Fattah
Does My Head Look Big in This? (Pan Macmillan, 2005, 0 330 42185 9, $16.95 pb.) tells the story of Amal Mohammed Nasrullah Abdel-Hakim, a sixteen-year-old Australian-Palestinian-Mu slim school girl in her second semester of year 11 at a Melbourne High School. It is a tumultuous time for Amal. The book begins with her decision to wear hijab ‘full time’ (ie. in the presence of males who aren’t immediate family) and follows her life through the second six months of 2002. Her experiences are as normal as those of any teenage girl: she hangs around with her friends, she becomes interested in a boy, she hates the bitchy popular girl, she argues with her parents, she learns things about the world around her, she worries about her appearance; the list could go on. In fact it does. And this is a shortcoming in Abdel-Fattah’s book about a teenage girl proud of being a Muslim growing up in Australia.
As a young “Australian-born-Mu slim-Palestinian-Egyptian -choc-a-holic” Abdel-Fattah has achieved something very important with her first novel: giving an enlightened, accessible and educative view of Muslim life in modern Australia. The novel has much to teach about a religion still regarded with suspicion and fear by many non-Muslims. Amal’s experiences and feelings about her Islamic identity are genuine and well drawn. The reader shares the nervousness of her first outing in hijab with her mother at a shopping mall and her increasing fury with the array of empty-headed assumptions and prejudices she faces every day. The scene in which she is turned down for a job in a fish’n’chip shop because of the veil is an excellent example of the impotent frustration of racism in a supposedly multicultural society. Does My Head Look Big in This? is a wonderful picture of post-September 11 Australia from a Muslim point of view.
The main problem is that it is just a picture. Nothing really moves, nothing is hidden, everything is laid out for the reader to see. It is deliberately aimed at young adults, teenage girls especially. The text is peppered with references to Big Brother, Survivor, Craig David, J. Lo, Friends, Cosmo and a dozen other markers of popular culture, which often have little or no bearing on the story itself. It feels forced, as though the author is pushing her hip’n’groovy pop-cultural credentials to the younger audience in an attempt to win their approval. Unfortunately, as she showers the reader with lists of slightly-less-than-curren t television shows and musicians, Abdel-Fattah commits the biggest sin in writing for teenagers: trying too hard to be cool. While trying to show how current and up-to-date her teenaged characters are through the culture they consume, she takes away any individuality they might have expressed through their tastes in music, television or anything else. The boys get to be interested in soccer and little else, the girls discuss reality television and gossip magazines.
These pop culture references also often reveal the author’s less than rigorous research. In the second half of 2002 Amal’s friends seem to have a supernaturally uncanny grip on the Zeitgeist because they foresee the creation of the ‘Fab Five’ of Queer Eye For The Straight Guy and the rise of Paris Hilton by at least a year (neither appeared in the mass media until late in 2003). And yet, for teenagers with their fingers so firmly on the pulse, they still argue about who will win the World Cup, apparently oblivious to the fact that Brazil was crowned champion two months previously.
It is in this striving for identification with mainstream culture that Does My Head Look Big in This? wears itself thin. It is as though every reference, every conversation and every character must be as familiar and identifiable as possible to the largest number of readers. Abdel-Fattah casts her net wide, constantly striving for the lowest denominator to show how ‘normal’ life is for a Muslim teenage girl in Australia. This approach costs the characters the depth they need and her audience the respect they deserve.
The story is another disappointment. This is a book that must bear comparison to that most-stolen school library book in Australian literary history: Looking for Alibrandi. Melina Marchetta managed to weave an intriguing plot about family history and secrets of paternity into her tale of a non-Anglo teenage girl discovering her identity in modern-day Australia. Randa Abdel-Fattah has opted for a throwing a few smallish, non-intersecting side-plots into her novel. Amal and her friends spend more time worrying about their clothes and fledgling romances than the Bali bombings or the increasingly worrying attempts by one of their number’s parents to marry her off. The bombings would seem to be the only reason for setting the story in 2002, yet the attack flits by in a single chapter sandwiched between Amal rejecting a friend’s advances and the heart-breaking, ruined-friendship aftermath. The story ends with one of the traumatic side plots taking centre stage before bowing and leaving quietly so that another happy side plot may pop in at the last minute to finish the book off on a hopeful, reflective note, worthy of a Whitlams song.
Australians, particularly young Australians, both Muslim and non-Muslim, need a book like this to learn from and to identify with. Does My Head Look Big in This? works hard at showing the dignity and diversity of Islamic culture without resorting to compromise and assimilation and, on the whole, it succeeds. A fine example of this is in Amal’s cringe-worthy Aunt Mandy and Uncle Joe (Aysha and Ismail). They are two of the more interesting characters in the book, ones who give Amal a chance to think about her culture and define herself within it. This is where the book is strongest – when it stays within the bounds of cultural and religious consideration and explanation. As soon as it ventures outside this area into the bright, funky world of ‘what the kids are up to these days’, it loses its credibility and authenticity. Indeed, it falls prey to the very dilemma that faces Amal and her Muslim friends: the difficulty of both staying true to their religion and trying to fit in as ‘normal’ Australian teenagers. Abdel-Fattah has succeeded in the former, but much less so in the latter. Her teenagers are too normal to be interesting, too non-unique to be memorable.
Randa Abdel-Fattah has thrown many balls in the air with Does My Head Look Big in This? and has caught a lot of them. She has written a unique and timely book that will contribute to the understanding and acceptance of Muslim Australians, particularly among young readers. However, the shortfalls of its plot and characterisation stop it from being the truly wonderful book it should have been.
Sam Franzway
posted by:
Trit (
reply)
post date:
09.05.05 (2:05 pm)
But what a great name for a book hey? How's your title hunting going?
posted by:
newbie (
reply)
post date:
09.06.05 (11:45 pm)
I hope it is published as it wd be good to see what reactions you get.
Nicely done
posted by:
newbie (
reply)
post date:
09.07.05 (12:40 am)
Left side of ya head looks good !!
posted by:
newbie (
reply)
post date:
09.07.05 (12:40 am)
Right side looks average
posted by:
shelley (
reply)
post date:
09.09.05 (8:33 pm)
don't you think you're being a little harsh? Would you want someone to trash your first novel in such great detail? It may be your truth, but spare a few 'writers' feelings for the poor woman who probably feels very close to the book, but more importantly the issue that she wrote about.
posted by:
Franzy (
reply)
post date:
09.11.05 (2:58 am)
Yes - I would love someone to scrutinise my first book in such detail. That is my main problem with the book is that it was so lacing in the finer details. I spoke to my lecturer about it the other day and she used the phrase "under done". I think that if you're going to let a book out on the market in your name, regardless of how close you are to the subject matter, then you should at least do your audience the curtesy of checking your facts. She spelt Erin Brockovich wrong. She got about ten other chronological things wrong. She depicted her teenagers as only watching Channel Ten. She wrote a great and timely book and let herself down in the general characterisation and editing.
I wanted a lot from this book and I think it's okay to have high expectations. I would expect the same!
posted by:
shelley (
reply)
post date:
09.18.05 (1:35 am)
I still think you could've been a little more empathetic....I agree that it could have been better and what you say is all relevant, but still....coulda shoulda woulda.....she didn't but she still has some feelings
posted by:
Bella (
reply)
post date:
12.09.07 (4:37 pm)
i beliebve this novel does what no one else had the guts to do, say the truth. this novel is the reason why so many people are going realize what good people muslims really are. so for those of you who say this isn't a good book, maybe you should start reading better books, like this one
posted by:
franzy (
reply)
post date:
12.09.07 (4:42 pm)
Actually, that was my main criticism of the book - that it did what virtually no one I had seen had been able to do: show what normal Muslim life in Australia is really like, especially for teenage Muslim girls. And it did that fantastically, it was just all the dressing around the side that took away from what should have made it a truly excellent book.
posted by:
blueberries (
reply)
post date:
01.17.08 (4:50 am)
yeah i guess she didn't do the greatest job, however this is a story for like 13 year olds, it doesn't have to be perfect. Anyways you get to learn a lot of thngs in this book in my opinion.
posted by:
DamionKutaeff (
reply)
post date:
03.22.08 (1:06 pm)
Hello everybody, my name is Damion, and I'm glad to join your conmunity,
and wish to assit as far as possible.
posted by:
Nadine (
reply)
post date:
05.04.08 (9:01 pm)
I think Randa's book was fantastic. I dont agree with the first lengthy comment made above that the book tried to show normal muslim girl in a way that was not believable or authentic and didnt keep up with the times. The beauty of the book is that is DOES show you what a typical muslim youth's life is like...no different from any other youth of any other background or religion. It shows you the life of an australian girl who just so happens to be muslim. The fact that it doesnt go into horrific details about the Bali bombings should not be a critism. Your comments saying that it should have gone into more detail about the bombings just shows what stereotypes are out there....just because she is a muslim why should her life be centred on that atrocity, she is like any other australian out there who is effected by those bombings as being a horrible thing to happen, but she neednt have to go into detail about it like she is the spokesperson for it. Muslims should not be held accountable for the actions of every other person claiming to be muslim. What Randa's book does is brilliantly show you what a typical girl's life is, as a muslim, and whether the world cup was not in that year or not is irrelevant to the message that is being sent in that book. Randa's book makes a successful attempt at opening people's minds, breaking down stereotypes and doing so with a light hearted approach in a way that is attractive to all ages. What I do agree with is that Randa has bravely taken a topic that has not been dealt with in such a way before. Randa has relayed an important story/message to so many people that are either brainwashed by the media, have never met a muslim before or are just curious and want questions answered. Well done to her. Cant wait for her third book!
posted by:
sidra (
reply)
post date:
09.30.08 (10:44 am)
Its nice
posted by:
daiskmeliadorn (
reply)
post date:
11.30.08 (8:30 pm)
hey, nice review. i haven't read it, but you make interesting points, and i don't think you show too little empathy at all :)
posted by:
daiskmeliadorn (
reply)
post date:
11.30.08 (8:30 pm)
hey, nice review. i haven't read the book, but you make interesting points, and i don't think you show too little empathy at all :)
posted by:
daiskmeliadorn (
reply)
post date:
11.30.08 (8:32 pm)
(oops)
posted by:
franzy (
reply)
post date:
12.01.08 (12:02 am)
Nadine - I don't have a problem with the way Muslims are portrayed in the book. In fact, that was one of the (few) strong points. The largest problem was that teenage life in general isn't portrayed well. As I say in the review, everyone watches Channel Ten and talks vacuously about popular culture. That her research of pop-culture was so thin and poorly placed within the text takes away from the broad social impact the book might have had on people who would otherwise dismiss Muslims with all the prejudice you describe. It IS important to get the timing of world events correct. What if she had placed the Sydney Olympics in 1998? What if she had the September 11 attacks happening during October? Or in Toronto? The Bali attacks WERE an important turning point in the book, but had no further relevance beyond the chapters in which they were (briefly) mentioned. You are right, why have them there at all? Why not write an account of Australian Muslim life WITHOUT using the atrocities which are falsely associated with Muslims?
Daisk - Thanks. I try. Thanks. I try. No Problem.
posted by:
EMMA (
reply)
post date:
04.16.09 (6:10 pm)
it was a fantastic book and gave great insight to the lives of australian muslims!!
posted by:
franzy (
reply)
post date:
04.16.09 (6:36 pm)
I agree. We need more like it: books about modern Australian Muslims which describe an entire world, not just a narrow, under-researched one.
posted by:
costo viagra (
reply)
post date:
07.20.09 (1:15 pm)
eMU7PR mxazcadr hxuhvdzb jaquavfm
posted by:
viagra (
reply)
post date:
07.25.09 (2:42 am)
fyekntpt knnpzlxa gcylkzxe
posted by:
viagra comment ca marche (
reply)
post date:
07.30.09 (9:06 pm)
kzqmgmos yxowaooe czrvfxtk
posted by:
acquista viagra (
reply)
post date:
07.30.09 (9:57 pm)
umwkkkox scpiskqv myqrtzgh
posted by:
comprare viagra (
reply)
post date:
07.30.09 (10:47 pm)
cqzaaqww qembmjzu jcniqvob
posted by:
cialis moins cher (
reply)
post date:
07.30.09 (11:40 pm)
lbjicppl nukrzxtk hzcfuffc
posted by:
cialis vente libre france (
reply)
post date:
07.31.09 (12:31 am)
mxskdsnw gremqjne rixdngmg
posted by:
cialis generico (
reply)
post date:
07.31.09 (1:21 am)
zfwklydp wkauljoz kotikvqg
posted by:
compra cialis (
reply)
post date:
07.31.09 (2:13 am)
litshtst lhqieldt mxkgjtmy
posted by:
comprare cialis (
reply)
post date:
07.31.09 (3:03 am)
xrdidkmc khqocniw gjnchans
posted by:
viagra generico (
reply)
post date:
07.31.09 (3:53 am)
rsdsnpwi obnwnord hdrwktqe
posted by:
comprare cialis (
reply)
post date:
07.31.09 (4:43 am)
flcxxlvi euurvnzy yeikiyit
posted by:
compra cialis (
reply)
post date:
07.31.09 (4:22 pm)
buggqzye xtdytyxm dcujsjlm
posted by:
acquista levitra on line (
reply)
post date:
07.31.09 (5:42 pm)
lukniuqf fwzfylry fodhzsmf
posted by:
levitra rosa 2009 (
reply)
post date:
07.31.09 (7:03 pm)
rcowoovr aomyhwww pvplbthl
posted by:
cialis in italia (
reply)
post date:
07.31.09 (8:24 pm)
zknfgmns qtwrsigl rotiblkm
posted by:
cialis tachicardia (
reply)
post date:
07.31.09 (9:44 pm)
ifmrmxmu znihgona nevwuplq
posted by:
achat kamagra (
reply)
post date:
08.09.09 (5:50 am)
siocllbh luhuevon utmmxpgm
posted by:
cialis (
reply)
post date:
08.09.09 (7:17 am)
qrszmqvp enrlqwya lqkimfub
posted by:
kamagra (
reply)
post date:
08.09.09 (8:41 am)
ubyxovug mnuxnurq dwzockoc
posted by:
achat viagra (
reply)
post date:
08.09.09 (10:06 am)
yedpepgb buuafxxv xpmlomzb
posted by:
kamagra prix (
reply)
post date:
08.09.09 (11:30 am)
fbboobqu ffjqnnym ljkphjjm
posted by:
vente cialis (
reply)
post date:
08.13.09 (11:59 pm)
jupdrxcq ruunywla hpxlbvxv
posted by:
cialis generique (
reply)
post date:
08.14.09 (1:23 am)
cbnncwwi penocayi bfisnxdp
posted by:
viagra (
reply)
post date:
08.14.09 (2:49 am)
hbgtkmof mxnyhusw ylqocyhr
posted by:
viagra (
reply)
post date:
08.14.09 (4:10 am)
mexsbevr rfaoeepe rdzyzmil
posted by:
viagra (
reply)
post date:
08.14.09 (5:37 am)
miarwdkm tgeqjxji eeatinvj
posted by:
viagra vente (
reply)
post date:
08.14.09 (7:04 am)
bneyavdj dxtibynf hiqqdcyo
posted by:
cialis generique (
reply)
post date:
08.14.09 (8:31 am)
uaitwxpq oskvwpeo gohtdzgt
posted by:
viagra achat (
reply)
post date:
08.14.09 (9:58 am)
klckhzjq djxgvsif xqhufouk
posted by:
achat viagra (
reply)
post date:
08.14.09 (11:22 am)
jymwlymd jbahpwlx ccmkdlmb
posted by:
cialis (
reply)
post date:
08.14.09 (12:47 pm)
madfrfmx bxzcqung cenmgzky
posted by:
viagra kaufen ohne rezept (
reply)
post date:
08.17.09 (8:46 pm)
wgmdwipn cxecruuz atimeehm
posted by:
cialis kaufen billig (
reply)
post date:
08.17.09 (10:29 pm)
emapbzgw bmwksrqg dzwbllxt
posted by:
cialis kaufen ohne rezept (
reply)
post date:
08.18.09 (12:04 am)
vbaftywi iljidywy jfnbeelg
posted by:
cialis kaufen (
reply)
post date:
08.18.09 (1:45 am)
lfluavit hsfcbekz ufoisybo
posted by:
acheter viagra (
reply)
post date:
08.18.09 (8:03 pm)
dielzzfk xvipbxmx izadrocp
posted by:
acheter cialis france (
reply)
post date:
08.19.09 (12:50 am)
gxkdmmbr uyknyjhv ymnidmhn
posted by:
comprare viagra generico (
reply)
post date:
08.20.09 (4:14 pm)
ctlrxrhn ynpmowyx dqrfepga
posted by:
acquisto cialis (
reply)
post date:
08.20.09 (10:13 pm)
odhxfvyt lzzrwhpl sjtbewko
posted by:
acquistare viagra senza ricetta (
reply)
post date:
08.21.09 (4:10 am)
hwlbsmhi ropcriyv pguhzhjy
posted by:
viagra generico (
reply)
post date:
08.21.09 (10:07 am)
oqjttxgi vropxkhk sdjyxphi
posted by:
viagra cialis (
reply)
post date:
08.21.09 (2:34 pm)
qurthwfg orcnvvqf ntoprzfd
posted by:
acquistare viagra senza ricetta (
reply)
post date:
08.21.09 (8:33 pm)
bseumqxx ykxhleau nsfbbvio
posted by:
achat cialis sur internet (
reply)
post date:
08.22.09 (9:00 am)
ejvqnrdr jbfejwtg fdymiaia
posted by:
acheter cialis en france (
reply)
post date:
08.22.09 (10:51 am)
tldhpliu lzyvetlj dhujgtbc
posted by:
viagra (
reply)
post date:
08.22.09 (12:34 pm)
qjiuakrh ydkpqkqt phwyikaz
posted by:
achat viagra (
reply)
post date:
08.28.09 (12:31 pm)
ciyhcajy pvnyhiqp yxoxvkal
posted by:
acheter cialis (
reply)
post date:
08.28.09 (2:11 pm)
jjnaugva zeautzdf amvctbjn
posted by:
cialis (
reply)
post date:
08.28.09 (3:47 pm)
uirgmxwe npzoyrdj glbzvtjc
posted by:
achat viagra en ligne (
reply)
post date:
08.28.09 (5:26 pm)
kohnanmc mzhvjbtz gtyuukst
posted by:
acheter viagra generique (
reply)
post date:
08.28.09 (7:07 pm)
dshgzxci psnyzwwy ltvhxiqn
posted by:
acquisto cialis in italia (
reply)
post date:
08.28.09 (8:49 pm)
goykfjbi gphzmkfy hiczodzy
posted by:
cialis (
reply)
post date:
08.28.09 (10:25 pm)
akibcrsy wdnvzeyk rxkkihpd
posted by:
viagra (
reply)
post date:
08.29.09 (12:02 am)
jpdsthin gpdzdwcw xmvoivwn
posted by:
acquisto cialis generico (
reply)
post date:
08.29.09 (1:40 am)
fppdpiiv elobhxew breafjuy
posted by:
cialis 20mg (
reply)
post date:
08.29.09 (3:18 am)
nnwcwovf upmfubaw mcxdtueg
posted by:
Pharmd379 (
reply)
post date:
09.22.09 (10:10 pm)
Very nice site!
