Ayad Akhtar: American Dervish

American Dervish (Little, Brown and Company) is a coming-of-age novel with a difference. Ayad Akhtar writes about coming-of-age as a Muslim in Milwaukee. On Bookworm he speaks about introducing Islam to an American audience prone to receiving misinformation. We discuss the nature of cultural understanding and cultural misunderstanding. Special attention is paid both to sexual and spiritual awakening.