Tariq Khan, a Norwegian man of Muslim-Pakistani ancestry, is sitting in
jail after coming back from a stint in the Middle East. Thus begins
Tariq's tale of what had driven him, someone who grew up in a
multicultural society in Europe, into becoming a Muslim fanatic,
traveling to Syria, and attempting to become a suicide fighter. And his
story reveals that in the right conditions anyone could become a
terrorist.
From the time his family traveled to Norway, Tariq felt like an outsider
because of his background and appearance. To cope with feeling
aimless in life, Tariq began to grow deeper and deeper into Muslim
faith, leading him to radical Islam. At this point in the novel, I would
have expected a "Hollywood" type of ending to the novel, where all
problems are solved and everyone lived happily ever after. However, THIS LIFE OR THE NEXT by Demian
Vitanza bravely portrays real life where nothing is simple and there are
no Hollywood movie endings.
THIS LIFE OR THE NEXT by Demian
Vitanza was truly an eye-opening read. There are people in my life that
I know would benefit from reading this book. Along with this being a
tale of faith and what happens when there is no middle ground between
too much and too little, THIS LIFE OR
THE NEXT tackles many modern day issues that are difficult to
answer. It also brings up important issues, such as why there is focus
on only negativity, rather than positivity, when it comes to different
faiths? For a reader attempting to understand the vast world of the 21st
century and to see life from a Muslim perspective, THIS LIFE OR THE
NEXT is a captivating read.
From award-winning author Demian Vitanza comes a
groundbreaking novel—his first to be translated into
English—about one man’s alienation, radicalization, and
disillusionment on the violent front lines in Syria.
Tariq Khan is a Pakistani born and raised in Norway. An
outsider in his own country—adrift between two worlds
divided by class, race, and culture—he’s always been
searching for home. Alongside a flock of other streetwise
young men, each looking for direction and each easily
susceptible, Tariq finds his cause in the Muslim revival.
Idealistic, driven by faith, and empowered with purpose,
he’s drawn to radical Islam—his last resort for achieving a
sense of belonging, for embracing and being embraced. It’s
only when he enlists in the war against Assad that Tariq’s
eyes are truly opened. Dispirited with the violence, faced
with the consequences of his choices, and increasingly
distanced by the brutalities of jihad, Tariq contends with
spiritual struggles that are his alone. So are the stories
he will tell to make sense of his life.
In this daring and unprecedented work of literary fiction,
Demian Vitanza explores the power of memory, the lure of
rebellion, the search for meaning amid chaos—and the toll
that such a journey can take before finally finding one’s
way home.
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