American Dervish

　　一部描寫中東移民家庭在美國生活實況的細膩小說
　　接受西方教育的穆斯林少年，愛不對人的初戀該如何收場？

　　正如同一般的美國青少年，Hayat Shah愛和同伴一起打棒球、玩電動，活力充沛。但是一回到家裡，來自巴基斯坦的移民父母永遠在爭吵他聽不懂的事，吵鬧後的冷戰則往往讓他無所適從。

　　某日，母親的老朋友，剛結束一段婚姻的Mina阿姨從巴基斯坦來訪，自信美麗的Mina一掃家中原本沉悶的氣氛，就連生性多疑的父親也折服於Mina所帶來的快樂與活力。而Hayat也在Mina的帶領下，對可蘭經以及穆斯林信仰有了全新的認識。

　　朝夕相處下，Hayat對Mina產生了不一樣的情愫。當Mina開始去約會、與人交往時，情竇初開的Hayat只覺氣憤難當，彷彿過去他所相信的一切都被狠狠地打落。不甘心的他，決定在Mina找到幸福的時刻採取行動，一項會讓他所摯愛的人都嘗到苦果的行動……。(文/博客來編譯)

　　Hayat Shah is a young American in love for the first time. His normal life of school, baseball, and video games had previously been distinguished only by his Pakistani heritage and by the frequent chill between his parents, who fight over things he is too young to understand. Then Mina arrives, and everything changes.

　　Mina is Hayat’s mother’s oldest friend from Pakistan. She is independent, beautiful and intelligent, and arrives on the Shah’s doorstep when her disastrous marriage in Pakistan disintegrates. Even Hayat’s skeptical father can’t deny the liveliness and happiness that accompanies Mina into their home. Her deep spirituality brings the family’s Muslim faith to life in a way that resonates with Hayat as nothing has before. Studying the Quran by Mina’s side and basking in the glow of her attention, he feels an entirely new purpose mingled with a growing infatuation for his teacher.

　　When Mina meets and begins dating a man, Hayat is confused by his feelings of betrayal. His growing passions, both spiritual and romantic, force him to question all that he has come to believe is true. Just as Mina finds happiness, Hayat is compelled to act -- with devastating consequences for all those he loves most.

　　American Dervish is a brilliantly written, nuanced, and emotionally forceful look inside the interplay of religion and modern life. Ayad Akhtar was raised in the Midwest himself, and through Hayat Shah he shows readers vividly the powerful forces at work on young men and women growing up Muslim in America. This is an intimate, personal first novel that will stay with readers long after they turn the last page.