Dear readers,
Welcome to the first edition of our monthly newsletter, "On Our Bookshelf."
We started Brown Girl Bookshelf on Instagram in August 2020. What began as a quarantine project blossomed into a platform to share books and digital media by South Asian creators. The response from our community has been overwhelming and wonderful, so here we are, beyond the boundaries of social media. If you've engaged with our material before, thank you. If you are new to the BGB community, welcome! We're so glad you're here.
Each month, we will curate a list of content and activities that brought us joy. We may be turning a corner on COVID-19, but we continue to search for insights and inspiration within our communities to carry us through. In the event that you do too, scroll through.
Until next month,
Mishika and Sri
The Bad Muslim Discount by Syed M. Masood
The children of two families, one from Pakistan and another from Iraq, immigrate to the United States in the 1990s and navigate what it means to be Muslim in modern-day America.
Anvar Faris is a rebellious, witty, sarcastic young man living in the shadow of his perfect Muslim brother. When his family moves from Karachi to San Francisco, he grows into "the bad Muslim" of his family, making choices that support his beliefs but not necessarily his family’s or Allah's. Safwa's story begins in war-torn Baghdad. Enduring trauma, abuse, and other forms of violence, Safwa fights to freely be what she is accused of: a bad Muslim. When Anvar and Safwa’s worlds meet, an unexpected relationship rooted in faith, freedom, individualism, and love will force their families to no longer overlook them.
I found this book to be incredibly engaging and thoughtful in its discussion of faith and labels. South Asian culture places a strong emphasis on the golden child, and to be "golden," one must align his/her/their lifestyle with religion. I related strongly to Anvar, noticing how my experience with my faith often tugged me between being the golden child and the rebellious one. I enjoyed watching how Masood carved a new way for us to understand faith as more than just the rules and values of a book, and instead its connection to our own heart.
I wish Safwa’s character development ran as deep as Anwar's growth. While I appreciate that Masood did not gloss over abuse, domestic violence, and war, I wonder if Safwa’s identity became only about the trauma she endured, rather than the liberation and individualism she fought for.
Still, I loved how Masood was able to create a compelling picture of the Muslim American experience and a new way for us to understand faith. The Bad Muslim Discount points out that challenging traditional religious norms, while seeming like a lack of faith, may actually be a deep-rooted moral compass that guides us closer to God in ways we never could have imagined.
Get your copy of “The Bad Muslim Discount.”
Wisdom from a Humble Jellyfish by Rani Shah
Self-care is a term that is used so much lately, it sounds like a fad. But in this adorable and quirky read, Shah shows us that all species, from the wombat to the avocado has self-care traditions that we can learn from.
Shah is a comedian, which shows in her writing, but you might just as easily believe she is a zoologist and botanist by training. This little collection is packed with factoids about plant and animal life: did you know that a porcupine can impale itself climbing down a tree, so its needles are antibacterial? Or that wombats poop in cubes?
You learn something new on every page, but it is not at all like reading an encyclopedia. As someone who is not a huge fan of self-help books, I very much appreciated Shah’s light, fun, not-preachy approach. This is not the kind of self-help book that will radically change your life. Rather, Shah suggests tips you can incorporate into your daily routine to be more intentional.
I adore all aspects of this book’s design. It makes the perfect coffee table book or present for a friend, partner, or yourself. I even used it as an animal picture book for my nieces and nephew, because cartoonist Gemma Correll's illustrations are so dang cute (the octopus was a hit)! Wisdom from a Humble Jellyfish is an inviting experience to take care of yourself.
Get your copy of “Wisdom from a Humble Jellyfish.”
📚 To view all of the books featured on our page and/or purchase them from independent booksellers:
Stories About My Brother
by Prachi Gupta
Gupta shares how her relationship with her brilliant brother frayed when he began to see feminists as "extremists who were deeply hateful towards men." An unforgettable, heartbreaking story about the loss of a loved one, masculinity, mental health, and body image expectations of South Asian men.
Language Lessons
by Meghana Mysore
One of the first emerging stories featured on Roxane Gay's new magazine, The Audacity, is a rich, touching, first-person essay about Indian mothers and daughters. Mysore writes about her mother and ajji, considering the generational impact of their sacrifices and their escape through craft.
Shifting Gender Roles at Delhi Farmer Protests
by Kaur Life
On how female farmers and laborers are claiming their space on the frontlines of India’s farmers’ protest. In a country rife with gender inequality, the dedicated participation of women at the largest protest in history shows that female activism is here to stay.
Children of Immigrants All Know the Lunchbox Moment. That Doesn’t Mean They Relate.
by Jaya Saxena
A great article on Eater about immigrant kids who were not bullied for their ethnic lunches, but felt pressure to agree with this common trope to make their unique struggles relevant.
For more recommendations, peruse our archives—we add new digital reads every week.
Food & Drink: Kolkata Chai Co. DIY Chai Kit (Masala and Rose flavor)
Movie: Drishyam 2 on Amazon Prime
A Malayalam thriller about the lengths a father goes to protect his daughter. This is a sequel to a 2013 film that was remade in seven languages including Chinese and Korean.
Community:
Sri started virtual yoga at Tejal Yoga
I registered because the studio is South Asian woman-owned and led, focusing on honoring the Sanskrit roots of yoga. But, I stayed because my first workout was during a difficult time for me personally, and the calm I felt after kept me coming back every day. Tejal also runs the popular podcast Yoga is Dead, where she discusses the commodification of yoga in the West.
Mishika attended the virtual Surat Sikh Conference on "Planting the Seed: Building Sangat (Community) and Solidarity Across Distance"
I reflected on how to build and support social movements like The Kisaan Movement, commonly known as the Indian farmers' protest, and Black Lives Matter. The ignorance surrounding The Kisaan Movement amongst my colleagues and friends is disheartening. Speaking with young Sikhs about actionable ways to draw awareness to The Kisaan Movement felt productive and impactful.
Creators:
Sparks Like Stars by Nadia Hashimi
Kololo Hill by Neema Shah
Brown Baby: A Memoir of Race, Family and Home by Nikesh Shukla
Feelings: A Story in Seasons by Manjit Thapp (releasing tomorrow!)
I really like your curation of digital reads. Thank you for them.