The Prayer Rug

I read The Prayer Rug, cover to cover, in a matter of hours! I simply could not put it down! It is set in Iraq during the early to mid part of our (United States) last occupation. I wish I could talk more about the book, but I don't want to give ANYTHING away! So I'll just say it is from a Sunni family's perspective, in third person, but from Reem's (the wife/mothers) point of view. It covers all facets of pretty much what all hate mongers try to exploit as to why Muslims are bad, but from an inside view. It's seeing what's going on from their point of view. It's beautifully written, with amazing imagery. I think this should be required reading for ALL Americans.

This is war. Its not something that is watched on TV, its not something that should be taken lightly. Its the slow destruction of a civilization, of families, of children. This is a heartbreaking and honest look at what war does to a community, to a family, to a person. Reem is a woman clinging to her faith to help her through these desperate times. She watches as a dictator falls, American's come to help and insurgents start pitting neighbor against neighbor in a civil war that ultimately hurts no one but themselves. Desperate times leak from the pages, the trauma the pain, and the humility of all who find themselves caught in this game.

I also believe that this book could really help open peoples eyes to Islam. It is not a religion of terrorists, it is a religion of peace, and Reem desperately tries to impart these teaching to her children despite the devastation raging around them. It may help you to understand how people are recruited into these fanatical plots, how friends become enemies and how children with no education can ruin an entire generation.

This was not an easy book to read. I found myself detaching from pieces of it so I wouldn't get sucked under by the grief and helplessness of it, but its an important book because it puts a human face on war.

A deeply moving story about Reem, a devout Sunni mother who suffers through the early American occupation of Iraq. Society is fractured and neighborhoods become religiously restrictive and hostile. One by one, she loses the members of her family yet she holds to the comfort of daily prayer and her prayer rug as the Koran commands. Although the account is fictional it rings true to the factual events of the downfall of Saddam and the corruption and violence of war.

I was provided with an electronic copy in return for an honest review.

Well written book. Liked it a lot.

This book was fantastic. It was brilliant to read a book where the focus was on the Islam people suffering due to the war. I hear so much on the media from the European/American point of view that it is easy to live with my head in the sand. Not so when you read this book. It would be heartless to walk away from this novel without compassion for the characters. I would go as far to say it is a must read one that should be put on every historical novel readers list.

Reem lived through more than any wife or mother should have to. She was a woman of strength and determination that puts wow into humanity. Her daughter was sweet and beautiful. Her husband did the best he could to be the man of the family. Her son is a boy wanting to be a man. All the normal senarios of any book. But beyond normal are all the spoilers that I just can't write a good review without.

Do pick this book up and read it when you come across it. I am sure you will enjoy it and keep turning the pages as I did.

Thank you Netgalley for enabling me to read this book pre-publication. I will be letting my bookstores and libraries know about this one.

I read this book ages ago, but had some how overlooked leaving a review. A very powerful story and one that will remain with me for a long time to come.