Does My Head Look Big In This? (2007) - Plot & Excerpts
This was a random buy, picked up mostly because, flipping through it, the word Tasmania caught my eye - and then I read that the author is Australian. For purely nostalgic reasons I just had to read it. Amal is a year 11 student in her third term at a posh private school in Melbourne. She's also Muslim. An only child, her parents are health-care professionals, she has a large extended family and friends from all backgrounds and religions. Before third term begins, she decides she's ready to wear the hijab "full-time". She doesn't come to this decision lightly - okay, so an episode of Friends helped - but she's sixteen and there are some serious repercussions to her decision. Like, the stereotyping and insults she'll get at school, and trouble finding a job. It's 2001, before the attack on the Twin Towers, but prejudice has been a part of her life for a long time already.Her friends Eileen and Simone stick by her and don't see her any differently, and after a few days, the boy she has a crush on, Adam, starts talking to her again. Her friends from the Islamic school she used to go to, Leila and Yasmeen, are different kinds of Muslim again - Leila is incredibly smart and wants to be a lawyer, but her mother is uneducated and comes from a traditional background, and keeps bringing eligible men over for Leila to marry, while Yasmeen has no intention of wearing the hijab at all. A great many stereotypes and misconceptions are confronted, questioned and explored in this humorous book. Amal's voice is natural and believable, and her story is an open window onto what many young Muslims deal with - and others. Her elderly neighbour, Mrs Vaselli, has estranged herself from her only child when he converted to Jehovah's Witness; Josh has certain Jewish traditions to contend with; Adam's mother left when he was young without so much as a word - all he gets are postcards on his birthday. Eileen's Japanese parents have their own expectations of her, and Simone's mum constantly tells her she has to lose weight if she ever wants boys to notice her. There's a whole gamut of what teens go through and put up with in this book, and it may sound like it would be crowded, but it's not. It may seem kinda pushy and too in-your-face, too, but it's handled with both delicacy and Amal's flair which gives things a very fresh look. Aside from teen issues, the racial and religious prejudices are equally visible, appearing in many subtle and overt ways. I particularly loved the conversation between Amal and the school president, Lara, after 9/11 - Lara wants her to give a speech on the topic of Islam and terrorism, mistakingly making the connection, as many did/do, that since she's Muslim Amal must therefore understand why they did what they did. Her response was excellent:"You're Christian, right?""...Yeah... what's that got to do with anything?""OK, well I'll give the speech if you give a speech about the Ku Klux Klan." (p256)That Abdel-Fattah had an agenda in writing this book is obvious, and quite welcome too. It's a book that needed to be written. Some of it shocked me - the misconceptions and attitudes, I couldn't believe Australians - anyone - would think, say and do those things. But of course they do. It's a balanced approach, though - Leila's family shows that there are some who fulfill negative expectations, though the emphasis is made on the difference between Islamic teachings and cultural traditions, which are often confused by some Muslims themselves, like Leila's mother. Amal's parents are always encouraging her to see other people's perspectives and understand them better, where they are coming from and why they say and think as they do. It's a quick read, and entertaining, and Amal is a great character. It's written well, over the space of a few months, and really engages you to think, question yourself, and react. A great book for teens and adults alike - and one Rosalind Wiseman should definitely add to her glossary of books to read at the back of Queen Bees & Wannabes.I have only two issues: firstly, this edition. There's a reason why I don't like Scholastic books. Namely, they're cheaply put together, the pages are crinkled and they start to fall out. If you can get hold of a different edition, you should get it instead.The second is the translation. You've heard me rant and rage about this before, but here's a prime example of Americanising a text until it's virtually unrecognisable. Even though there were familiar place names like Bridge Road and Luna Park (I used to live not far from St. Kilda, in Elwood - beautiful suburb!), so much had been changed I often forgot it was set in Melbourne at all. If something can be depersonalised, this book has been de-place-ised! It was so jarring I actually wrote the changes down - and the words that hadn't been changed, which was sometimes even stranger.Aussie word: --- Changed to:serviette --- napkinprimary school --- elementary schooltram --- streetcarkilograms --- poundsABC/SBS --- PBS (not available in Australia)biscuit --- cookiegrade/year 11 --- eleventh graderubbish bin --- trash canmilk bar/corner shop --- convenience storemum --- mommaths --- mathroundabout --- traffic circleuniversity/uni --- collegecar park --- parking lotpedestrian crossing --- crosswalk000 --- 911fringe --- bangsplait --- braidtake away --- take-outmobile (phone) --- cell phonenappy --- diaper4WD/four-wheel-drive --- SUVthongs --- flip-flopschilli --- chilli pepperrubbish --- garbageI don't want to know what would happen if a tourist, needing urgent help, was to dial 911 in Australia, but changing it in books is not doing anyone any favours. I actually think it's irresponsible and dangerous - and who couldn't figure out, at least from context, what was meant by "000"?? Also, changing "ABC documentary" (or SBS) to PBS really jolted me - I'd never even heard of PBS before moving to Canada; we certainly don't get any US channels! Also, they put in some brand names we don't have, like Chips Ahoy, Q-Tips (which are commonly called ear buds or cotton buds) - I'm sure they would have changed "Vegemite" if they could have! They put in "medical school" and "pre-law" instead of ... whatever they replaced - in Australia, both law and medicine are offered as undergrad degrees, medicine is an 8-year degree, law 4. In short, I don't think you'd actually learn anything much about Australia from this book.Curiously enough, there were some words they didn't change, including:four-wheel-drive (they used this once, and in another place changed it to "SUV" - a slip?)doughnutsbeaniemincewuss (maybe not as Aussie as I thought?)veggieslollipop ladyfish and chipsPlus a couple of cultural references, such as Luna Park, Women's Weekly and Home and Away. Having been dislocated from the country itself by all the other changes, seeing these words made me even more confused. I wish they'd just leave well enough alone!!
"Does My Head Look Big In This?" is the story of a Australian-Palestinian girl who decides to wear Hijab and the way her surroundings react to this decision. I chose to read this book because the subject of Hijab is an interesting one to me; Hijab, in Saudi Arabia, extends beyond what's available in this story. Here, a woman is expected to cover her face completely, not just her hair. I am completely against that for more than one reason, the simplest of which are the fact that it's merely a cultural thing and not a religious thing, and the religious folk around here consider it a good habit that they do not wish to change (Which I really find bad, because who are they to decide what's "Good to have" and what's not; they should realize that the preferences of the top guys trickle down to become imperatives that have to be followed). The other goes into the human side of things; our faces are an important part of our identities, and who are we without our identities? There is a lot to say about the subject, but I'm not here to go into a whole rant about the subject of Hijab. Afterall, the form of Hijab used in this book is not the one I'm against. Still, though, it is interesting to read about it; the question I had opening the book was: Is Hijab going to change the girl's behavior, is it going to serve its desired purpose of not attracting men, is it going to make her a better Muslim?The answer, on all three counts, is a big fat no. I'm not going to say that the author was even trying to say that Hijab is good, she may have wanted to demonstrate exactly the opposite, I am not sure (In fact, you may be very interested to learn that the author herself does not wear Hijab, apparently, I just realized that now by visiting her author page in Goodreads). For all we know, she may have wanted to demonstrate exactly that Hijab is not what a real Muslim is about; and if this was what she aimed for, I would say that she did a good job at that.Why? Well, for one thing, she managed to dance in front of guys with her Hijab (And I'm sure you realize that dancing will attract far more attention than hair). She started putting more make up. And even though the act of putting the Hijab itself gave people around her the brief idea that she's "out of bounds", she managed, during the course of the story, to change that, and make people feel that her Hijab has no "I'm pure" effect at all. I'm not going to go further into that in order to not spoil the story for you.But then again, let me go back and say, it's a novel. You do not have to have a point in the novel. It is there for entertainment purposes, and she did entertain us with very interesting stories. This author has the potential of being a very good novel writer, but her story was lacking a very important ingredient. It had the interesting small problems, the interactions, the complete theme, the good and the bad people. So what is missing?I'd say that a real "story" is actually missing. Yes, she decided to wear Hijab two pages into the story, and then what? What are we looking for towards the end? There are important elements of fiction that are missing here. I would say that the way it is written right now, it's nothing more than a set of interesting glorified short stories that deal with the same people over and over.Finally, I would have to commend the author for the cultural touch of the book; I believe the best thing about this book is that it leaves us with an idea about the lives of Muslims living in foreign countries, some of their struggle with keeping their culture intact, and the cultural pressure they undergo during unfortunate events. In summary, read this book; expect some entertainment, and you may be left with something to think about, but do not expect a solid storyline.
What do You think about Does My Head Look Big In This? (2007)?
راستشو بگم، يه تلاش بسيار محوي داشتم در اين زمينه كه ازش خوشم نياد:-"ولي خب موفقيت آميز نبود:-"اول اينو بگم، كه يه حس عذاب وجدان طور دارم بهش...اينكه حس ميكنم تمركز نويسنده روي يك موضوع بوده، ولي تمركز من به عنوان خواننده روي يه موضوع ديگه بود درباره ش، و اينكه انگار دغدغه ي اصلي نويسنده كه به نظرم حجاب و اسلام بود، چندان برام مطرح نبود!يني در درجه دوم اهميت قرار داشت...از كتابايي كه باعث ميشن فكر كنم خوشم مياد! خيلي! و اين، حتي اگه به قيافه ش، با اون جلد صورتي خال خالي نخوره، ولي جدا چيز خوبيه واسه فكر كردن!:-"مثلا فكر كردن به ايني كه... ايني كه من هميشه حس م اين بود كه آدمايي كه مهاجرت ميكنن، بدبخت ن! يه جورايي خيلي فداكارن! يني، خودشون ديگه احتمالا خيلي تو زندگي خوشبختي رو نميچشن و زندگي شون از بعد از مهاجرت فقط خلاصه ميشه تو زبان يادگرفتن و تلاش براي ارتباط با اون كشور و مردمش، و بعدشم پيدا كردن كار و تلاش براي ادامه زندگي و كار سختِ سختِ سخت! و بچه هاي اين آدما، نسل بعديشون، دقيقا اون عده اين كه ميشه بهشون گفت خوشبخت...آدمايي كه پول و امكانات اون كشور رو در دسترس دارن، و از امكان تحصيل و همه چيز هم برخوردارن، و در عين حال چون اونجا به دنيا اومدن تعلق خاطر و دل بستگي اي م ندارن به كشوري كه اصالتا مال اونجان...ولي...ولي بعد از شناختن امل، و ليلا، و الين، واسه اولين بار به اين فكر كردم كه اينا شايد حتي بدبخت تر باشن... اينكه جامعه اي كه توش زندگي ميكني و خودتو جزوي ازش ميدوني هرگز تو رو به عنوان يه شهروند نپذيره، و هميشه همه اونجا حس كنن كه تو اضافه اي، و در عين حال جامعه اي كه ازش اومدي رو هم اصلا نشناسي، و نه بتوني و نه حتي شايد بخواي كه برگردي اونجا...يه جور حس متعلق به هيچ جا و هيچ چيز نبودن وحشتناك داره به نظرم... و تازه، آدمهايي مثل ليلا مشكل تطبيق دادن خونواده با جامعه رو هم دارن...خونواده اي كه ميخوان به سبك خودشون زندگي كنن تو كشوري كاااملا متفاوت...كه حداقل اتفاقي كه ميفته اينه كه باعث آبروريزي ميشن...اين كه هركدومشون از يه مليت بودن، و در عين حال تو استراليا زندگي ميكردن، و اونجا با هيچكدوم خوب برخورد نميشد، از يه يوناني اروپايي گرفته تا يه عرب و يه ژاپني كه از يه كشور پيشرفته مياد، اين خوب بود! خودش نه ها...دونستنش، خوندن درباره ش، و توجه كردن بهش... و اين كه...نميدونم...ولي نميتونم بگم آدمايي مثه تايا كه استراليايي ن مقصرن كاملا... يني...ميتونم اونا رو هم درك كنم...و شايد حتي عكس العمل خودمم چيزي شبيه اونا باشه تا حدي...اونام ناحق نيستن يني....چيز خيلي پيچيده ايه...و درباره اولويت دوم براي خودم تو اين كتاب كه حجاب باشه، فقط ميخوام بگم كه اگه عمر و فرصتي باقي باشه، يه روز يه كتاب مينويسم راجبه يه آدم، كه تو يه كشور تماما اسلامي مثه ايران، كه ظاهرا بايد از اين جهت كاااملا مناسب باشه، اگه نخواد چادري باشه و از اون طريق دوستها و اطرافياني پيدا كنه كه شبيهش باشن، و بخواد كاملا يه آدم معمولي باشه كه دوستايي معمولي داشته باشه، و مشكلي هم با عقايدشون نداشته باشه، ولي خودش بخواد كه در عين حال يه آدم با حجاب با حدي از عقايد مذهبي باشه، دچار چههههههه مشكلاتي ميشه...كه اصلا دست كمي از امل نداره به خدا! در حاليكه قطعا به نظر نمياد اين طوري باشه...:|پ.ن١: يه روزي، بزرگ ميشم، و يه رشته تاسيس ميكنم به اسم مهاجرت شناسي! خودمم ميشم اولين استاد و محقق ش! چه معني داره كه من يه مبحثيو انقدررررر دوست دارم و هيچگونه تحصيلات آكادميكي نميشه داشت راجبش؟:-""پ.ن٢:مرسي از هانيه:))))پ.ن٣: نگارنده ي اين سطور، در جريان هست كه ميشده پيشنهاد كننده را منشن كند! وقتي نكرده، لابد به اين دليل بوده كه نخواسته كسي را مجبور كند با منشن شدن، كه چيزي را بخواند! اما در عين حال خب وجدانش هم اجازه نداده كه نگويد كي پيشنهاد كرده اين را بهش! خب؟ اين را براي آن دسته از دوستاني ميگويم(كه مثه كاراي خودم تو اينستا:-") الان ميخوان كامنت بذارن كه "ميشد منشن هم بكني ها... گودريدز اين امكانو داره..." خودم ميدونم اين امكانو داره! خب؟:دي :-اصلنم اطلاعاتم در زمينه گودريدز كم نيست:-""شايد...يه روزي در آينده...از اين امكان استفاده كنم حتي...ولي الان نه!پ.ن٤: خيله خب...باشه!:-پايين آمدن از خر شيطان به طور موقتميتونم از پيشنهاد كننده هم تشكر كنم به هرحال... از خوندنش راضي م!:)بعداً نوشت: اون قدری از خر شیطون پایین اومدم که حتی حاضر شدم منشن کنم!:دیو خب دلمم نخواست که پاک کنم اون چیزایی که قبلا راجبه دلیل منشن نکردن نوشته بودم!:-”
—لیلی
Have you ever had one of those weeks/months/years where no book is able to hold your attention? And you need a good one to break the trend? For me, this was that book. Amal is a 17 year-old Muslim Australian who goes to a snobby (read WASP) school in the suburbs. She's always been a practicing muslim, but before the start of this book she hasn't worn the scarf, or hijab, full time. Does My Head Look Big in This chronicles her journey from deciding to "go full time" (inspired by an episode of Friends, no kidding) through debates with family, dealing with schoolmates, worrying about what her crush and friends will think, and learning what her faith and convictions really mean to her. The writing style is in first person and very conversational, funny and easy to follow. I found myself wanting to be friends with Amal. I'd recommend this book to any teen-- especially one who has ever had to defend or uphold a personal stance, religious or not. I actually think i would recommend this book for Christian teens or teens interested in Christian fiction, because the main character is strong in her faith while still dealing with all of the pressures of society and other people's conceptions about her religion and its followers. The only think that I didn't like was that at times it was a bit preachy.
—Mimo
Okay so I'm a Muslim girl going into 11th grade ( I wear the head scarf full-time) and my friends told me this is a good book. So I read it and let me tell you what I thought of this book was completely different then my friends . If you want a good book I suggest "The ten things i hate about me" it felt more relate-able then this book, about a normal Muslim life. Please note their is going to be a few SPOILERS (nothing to big).When i first pick up this book I believed I was going to read a book about a girl, Amal, who lived in a racist neighborhood and thus the hijab (head scarf) was a major decision and what lead to her decision of being a full-time wearer. Instead I get her decision in the first two pages. I was if-ie at that part . Then Amal goes to school and I find out about her school uniform and you do not go to a school that has a uniform with a head scarf any color of the rainbow without asking about it with the head of the school. What was she thinking, she knew she had to do it instead she goes waltzing in the school. (My school has uniform and if I did that,I would have to go to the office and wait for my parents). The principal let her off easy. Then everyone stares at her but after a few days everyone is okay with it . Only the snobby girls are making remarks. So I'm like this novel is not about a girl trials and tribulations wearing the hijab.Then I read Amal puts on make-up (for those who do not know the point of putting on the hijab is for modesty putting on make-up attracts attention so it goes against the whole point of pointing on the hijab.) for no real reason .I put on makeup when i have to go out for a party or a wedding or an event because it like mandatory thing for all girls to put make up ,other than that never. We get Amal's other firends Lelia and Yaseem . Yaseem I really didn't think she the best of friends for Amal. Lelia that different Okay so first of all one does not live in a 1st world country for like 20 years and still thinks her daughter never has the right to go work ,so Lelia's mom is a stereotype right there. And her never reading the Qu'ran is hmm how do you say blasphemie( I mean their are websites in which you can go and hear the Qu'ran , for those who don't know Qu'ran is the right way you koran the author didn't even bother with that small note, wit the translation so their is no way she can be that arrogant about her religion . So lelia mother isn't even that real. Also the bashing on Lelia's mother is far to much ,it normal for a host to literally make sure her guest gain a few hundreds pounds when they come over to eat. (sorry that part annoyed me the most.) Also I know a few people who have mothers that think women have to get married and do everything around the house and men do nothing around the house. But that the most extreme your'll see in a 1st world country, (also they want their kids to have a good job. )So she bashed for no reason and just made as a horrible person.Then Amal goes and befriends her crush Adam . She committing a big big mistake to have lustfull thoughts about a guy and then to befriend him, So i wasn't surprise when spoiler, he kisses her and she like i cant I'm wearing a hijab . For goodness sakes you lead him on in the first place. your at fault take the blame . But also after days they go back to being friends what is up this girl. A Guy who friend does not kiss you and want to have relationship with you will happily be friends with you and not have any sort of romantic feelings for you is plain impossible.Amal's parents are also very, very lenient they let her go to a teenage party that was going to have dancing and alcohol, though Amal lied to them, completely unsupervised . You know what worse the amount of lying Amal does to her parents on a daily basis ,and not about petty little things ,but about huge events. It comes to a point that Amal thinks it okay to lie which is big no-no and major sin . Lelia dream of being a lawyer ,I'm sorry to say lawyers have to lie a lot in their line of work so Lelia's dream job is to go against Islam. Then she also dances at the party . Dancing with men around is something that can be written off as seductive. And inviting them to have your body honestly this is down right wrong. I swear though out the whole book Amal is acting like a stereotypical teenager who put on the head scarf to make herself feel like a better Muslim. When all she does is just be one huge hypocrite.You know what the worst part was the author never answered the question why do Muslim girl wear the hijab (head scarf). My uncle who isn't that religious asked me about the hijab so i told him its for modesty since people will like me for who i am on the inside on on the outside. So Amal's whole purpose of wearing the hijab is ruined and the big question never answer maybe because if she answered it she would have to admitted to be a hypocrite. So in the end the book isn't about a girl finding her right path and becoming a better Muslim it about a girl who is simply putting on for show she a good Muslim.
—Zehra
