Humor and Satire Examine Radicalization and Aid Work Complexities

Key Quotes

"I used to think it was the biggest dump on earth but that was before I came to Iraq. The girl leaned on her forearms, her severe facial expression incongruous with her diamante trimmed headscarf. I too had loved diamante headscarfs back when I was religious, bringing a hint of the 90s wag to my glamorous Islamic life."

This quote establishes the setting and introduces a contrast between the narrator's past perception of a place and her current reality. The description of the "girl" and her headscarf, juxtaposed with the narrator's own past use of similar attire, hints at themes of identity and the complexities of religious and cultural expression. Nussaibah Younis, the author, uses this observation to set a scene that is both personal and indicative of the broader cultural landscape she is exploring.

"Nadia is astounded at how similar they both are: they’re feisty and opinionated, they’re from a Muslim background, and they both love a Dairy Milk and rude pick up lines..."

Nussaibah Younis highlights the unexpected commonalities between two seemingly disparate characters, Nadia and Sarah. This observation underscores the book's central theme that shared human experiences and personality traits can transcend vastly different life circumstances and choices. Younis uses these specific details, like a love for Dairy Milk and rude pick-up lines, to humanize characters often viewed through a more generalized or stereotypical lens.

"If Nick Hornby can write a funny book about suicide, I can write a funny book about ISIS brides. If that's what you want to do and you're setting out to be funny, then I think you can really pull it off. It's just most people aren't trying."

Nussaibah Younis articulates her deliberate choice to use humor in addressing a difficult subject. Younis draws a parallel to Nick Hornby's work to justify her approach, asserting that comedy is a valid and effective tool for exploring even the most somber topics. This quote reveals Younis's belief that humor can be a powerful means of engagement and understanding, suggesting that its absence in similar contexts is often due to a lack of intent rather than an inherent unsuitability.

"I think a lot of people really identify with these characters even if they weren't child Islamists because you I think so many of us are idealists as teenagers we like have a really black and white view of the world and what's right and wrong and how we think we're going to be different and better than our parents and better than the adults around us and then we grow up to be exactly like everybody else."

Nussaibah Younis explains the universal resonance of her characters by focusing on the shared experience of teenage idealism. Younis suggests that the journey from a black-and-white worldview in youth to the compromises of adulthood is a common human trajectory. This insight helps to explain why readers might connect with characters like Sarah, even if their specific life paths are vastly different, by tapping into a shared developmental experience.

"I wanted to write something that was really easy to read and really fun: like I just want to write something that you want to read that you have to stay up too late reading that you're laughing at on public transport and that by the end of it actually without realizing you've thought really deeply about this topic and you understand it in a way that you didn't before."

Nussaibah Younis articulates her authorial intent to create an engaging and accessible reading experience. Younis emphasizes her goal of entertaining the reader while simultaneously fostering deep thought and understanding of complex issues. This quote reveals Younis's strategy of using humor and an enjoyable narrative to educate readers on topics they might otherwise avoid or misunderstand.

"I feel like part of the reason people are not reading so much anymore is because so many books are so boring. I feel like the literary establishment rewards very dense and very poetic language and to the at the expense often of plot of good storytelling of wit of humor and that's not always the case."

Nussaibah Younis expresses a critical view of certain literary trends, suggesting that an overemphasis on dense or poetic language can alienate readers. Younis argues that this focus sometimes comes at the cost of plot, storytelling, wit, and humor, which she believes are essential for an enjoyable reading experience. This statement highlights Younis's commitment to writing books that are both intellectually stimulating and genuinely entertaining.