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Amazing. Incredible. Ground breaking. Philosophically intense. Also, disgusting and crude and explicit and oh so violent. The Taqwacores, as it says on the tin, is a Muslim Punk novel- an intriguing enough premise, because you know, isn’t Islam all legalistic and punk rock, like, not that? Yes, Knight says, gently taking your hand, let’s explore that!

More tangibly: the book had no plot, per se, instead following the various inhabitants of a Muslim Punk house in Buffalo, NY. They get drunk, go to class, pray, put on shows, fight, skateboard- and, between all this, question internally and externally what it means to be a Muslim and a Punk. You will laugh, you will cry, you will shoot your fist through drywall screaming “tear it all down!� and, the next moment, wake up and think “was that really a good idea?� A flurry of emotions, expertly written, in a tone that’s totally unique to the author.

People criticize this book for being inaccessible to non-Muslims, given the number of specific terms and references unique to Islam. While I can’t say this is the best introduction to the religion, I think non-Muslims (like me!) can get a lot out of it. The themes here are engaging and useful to everyone, of all religions or none. Approach with an open mind, a clear head, and a capacity to withstand the most vulgar of punk-bullshiteries. It’s not a light read, but still a unique and important one. Long live Taqwacore!