Page 37 - Alumni Horae: Vol. 93, No. 3 Spring 2013

patriarchal dominance, the subjugation
of women, the impact of Sufi, Shi’ite, and
Sunni practices, and the value of a stable,
open government for the citizens of these
particular countries.
His relevant references to the prophet
Muhammad’s “concern for justice and
lifelong security for women,” and to
specific passages within the Qur’an and
the Hadith that support the equality of
women, help provide necessary back-
ground for understanding the role of
Islam in the daily community life of Mus-
lim believers. Friend does not hesitate to
point out the seeming conflict that exists
between egalitarianism and hierarchy
in the Muslim doctrine and modern-day
practices.
The author ends his extensive inves-
tigation with a fascinating discussion
of power, culture, and equality, drawing
the conclusion that the “conditions of
women roughly correlate with the degree
of democracy present” in each nation.
Indonesia and Turkey, he determines, are
most successful, and Saudi Arabia the
least, despite its significant wealth. Paki-
stan and Iran lie somewhere in between,
primarily because of the unpredictable
resurgence of conservative Islam prac-
tices in both countries in modern times.
I agree with Friend when he says that
the “stability of our world as we know it
will likely be determined in this volatile
part of the globe” and that a “new and
greater cohesion is necessary beyond
desert tribalism and between genders” if
this region of the world is to evolve and
flourish.
Only when women become “the social
and legal equals of men,” as the prophet
Muhammad first envisioned, will the re-
gion become enlightened and able to lead
its citizens forward into a more peaceful,
productive 21st-century world.
Must Hatch (CD)
The Incubators, includ-
ing Chris Chappell ’84
Fronted by singer-
songwriters Katie
Freeman (vocals)
and Chris Chappell (vocals, guitar), and
supported by bassist Max Ramey, the
group’s debut release is an eclectic mix
of groove-based roots rock. The music
is song-based, in the rondo form. It
relies on the vocal blend of Freeman
and Chappell, yet shows off the musi-
cianship of all the players.
The Milk of Birds
Sylvia Whitman ’79
This poetic novel of
unlikely sisterhood tells
the story of a friendship
between two girls: one
an American teen, one
a victim of the crisis in Darfur. Fifteen-
year-old Nawra lives in Darfur, Sudan, in
a camp for refugees displaced. She can-
not read or write, but when a nonprofit
organization pairs her with an American
donor, Nawra dictates her thank-you let-
ters. Putting her experiences into words
begins to free her from her devastating
past – and to brighten the path to her
future. Meanwhile, K. C. is an American
teenager from Richmond, Va., who hates
reading and writing – or anything that
smacks of school. But as Nawra pours
grief and joy into her letters, she inspires
K. C. to see beyond her own struggles.
And as K.C. opens her heart in her re-
sponses to Nawra, she becomes both a
dedicated friend and a passionate activist
for Darfur.
On the Shelf . . .
The Girl Who Fished
with a Worm
Harry Groome ’55
In Groome’s novel, a Stieg
Larsson parody that won
the 2012 Indie Reader Dis-
covery Award for Humor,
Swedish billionaire Olaf Gedda is found
dead and his eccentric fishing colleague
Gotilda Salamander is arrested for firing
the fatal shot. Her prints were found on
the bucket of worms beside the body, so
who else could the murderer be? Sala-
mander’s old flame, investigative jour-
nalist Jerker Rhindtwist, discovers that
a few others had motives as well. With
the help of solid research on Rhindtwist’s
part, and well-planted karate kicks on
Salamander’s, the efficient duo finds its
way to justice, Swedish style.
Weber’s New Real
Grilling: The Ultimate
Cookbook for Every
Backyard Griller
Jamie Purviance ’81
Gather around the grill
with Weber, the world’s
leading authority in grilling, and New
York Times best-selling author Jamie
Purviance for an exploration of food
and flavors with 200+ all-new recipes,
retro grilling recipes, and how-tos on
stir-frying, smoking, using a pizza stone,
and more. Packed with plenty of tips,
tricks, and insight to take your grilling
skills to a new level, Weber’s New Real
Grilling is sure to become your ultimate
grill-side companion.