American Dervish

Ayad Akhtar wrote American Dervish, a novel about a boy growing up in America.  Hayat is the boy and his parents are from Pakistan.  His parents are not religious and the arrival of his mother's best friend into his life sets Hayat on course to become a dervish.  A dervish does not necessarily whirl but does study the Muslin faith like a monk or a friar.  So Hayat studies and memorizes the Quran.  He hopes to praise Allah enough so his family can go to heaven, making up for their lack of faith, alcohol use and his father's womanizing.  Hayat is a serious little man and he has the weight of the world on his shoulders.  I found this book fascinating, eye opening and educational.