Alif the Unseen--no spoilers!

[asakiyume]

I am really enjoying this book. Right now I'm in a chase scene. It's better than watching a movie. Alif rushes into a mosque, and the sheikh there shields him from the state security men who are pursuing him. The sheikh and the security men then have this conversation:

"W have the authority to search the whole mosque anytime we please." The voice was fat and guttural.

"Whose authority?" the sheikh asked.

"State's, you impudent old man--what other kind is there?"

"God's," he answered serenely. There was a pause.

"Maybe we should clear this with Religious Oversight first," said a second voice in a quieter tone.

"Search the place now if you like," the sheikh's voice continued,"but I must insist you take off your shoes and make ablution first. This is a place of worship. I won't have it polluted with unclean feet or unclean thoughts."

"He didn't mean to insult you, Uncle," said the second voice apologetically.

"Really? Well he must have a natural talent."

Alif the Unseen, p. 184

Zing! I laughed.

And a little earlier, at the university, Alif heard the calls of the chaiwallah interspersed with academic conversations, and that was very fun:

Sweet mild tea, joy for the tongue and health for the body; when you consider that Foucault defined the postmodern discourse, consider also his own experiential bias; sweet milk tea, if it runs out, I can't be blamed; obviously you believe social capital will eventually have a market value; sweet milk tea, a heavenly drink for a worldly price; you suffer from the colonized mind, dude.

Alif the Unseen, p. 178

Yes, enjoying this very much. It's a book I steal time to read.