I have the utmost respect and admiration for Carl Ernst, and I think it’s hilarious that he compares Taqwacores to Catcher in the Rye. One, I would be saddened if Taqwacores became a classic of Muslim American literature. I think MMK is a good writer, I’m really enjoying his book The Five Percenters, but Taqwacores is not great literature. Of course, I don’t like Catcher in the Rye either, so I’m a bit of a philistine.
Anyway, isn’t Catcher the conspiracy nut’s handbook? Exactly what we need, more paranoid conspiracy-focused Muslims. As no one seen Mel Gibson’s Conspiracy Theory? Imagine a Muslim in the role and it’s all about terrorism.
The piece is a nice little fluff about a real emerging movement. May need to give it a look for my next article.