The Corpse Washer By Sinan Antoon

Have you ever questioned all of your choices you have made in your life? Let alone have the one person you look up to feel betrayed on the ideas of what you want for you life?

The Corpse Washer by Sinan Antoon is a story of just that. Jawad was born into a traditional family in Baghdad. His father was the town's corpse washer, in which it was expected for Jawad to take over the family profession. However, Jawad had different ideas for his future. With the help of an art teacher, Jawad found his passion in life and decided to take a path less traveled in his culture and town.

But the culture and life that Jawad had struggled against to fight for his own path and passion was soon road blocked by war. The story in which Antoon portrays for the reader is one done beautifully for the reader. The struggles that Jawad faces with the concept of war, family, culture, love and self, intertwine into a coming of age story that lets the reader into the lives of Iraqi civilians.

This book allowed me to start asking more questions about the Muslim faith as there is a general concept in America that those of Muslim faith are all terrorist this book shows the truth on this concept. I have never felt fear of the Muslim faith, misunderstanding yes, but fear no; after 9/11 the panic and misguidance of the Muslim faith became very prevalent in the mainstream media, this book shows that there are truly two sides to this faith that allows the reader to start asking questions.

Overall I found this book hard to finish mainly because I had a hard time understanding the concepts of a few things, but I think the pictures it portrayed into an ill-guided stereotype are worth the struggle.