This Life or the Next

A Novel

By: Demian Vitanza, Tanya Thresher - translator

Narrated by: Assaf Cohen

Length: 8 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's summary

From award-winning author Demian Vitanza comes a groundbreaking novel - his first to be translated into English - about one man’s alienation, radicalization, and disillusionment on the violent front lines in Syria.

Tariq Khan is a Pakistani born and raised in Norway. An outsider in his own country - adrift between two worlds divided by class, race, and culture - he’s always been searching for home. Alongside a flock of other streetwise young men, each looking for direction and each easily susceptible, Tariq finds his cause in the Muslim revival.

Idealistic, driven by faith, and empowered with purpose, he’s drawn to radical Islam - his last resort for achieving a sense of belonging, for embracing and being embraced. It’s only when he enlists in the war against Assad that Tariq’s eyes are truly opened. Dispirited with the violence, faced with the consequences of his choices, and increasingly distanced by the brutalities of jihad, Tariq contends with spiritual struggles that are his alone. So are the stories he will tell to make sense of his life.

In this daring and unprecedented work of literary fiction, Demian Vitanza explores the power of memory, the lure of rebellion, the search for meaning amid chaos - and the toll that such a journey can take before finally finding one’s way home.

©2017 Demian Vitanza (P)2018 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved. Translation © 2018 by Tanya Thresher

a pretty powerful study of a young Muslim male

I wasn't thrilled about the subject matter at first, but I persisted and discovered the main character is much like most of the young OEF/OIF Vets I treat for PTSD. Young, idealistic, and misdirected. this book really helped me see the underlying reasons people seek to be a part of war and terror activities. I wish young men and women from all communities and spiritual/political bases could gain wisdom by reading this rather than going to war.

Radicalization in Scandinavia

We (at least I) often think of the Scandinavian countries as the ones who have things figured out: health care, education, healthy skepticism around religion, etc. But this is an interesting tale of how one Norwegian-Pakistani gets pulled into fighting for ISIS through a combination of disillusionment, disconnectedness, and radicalization, even in one of the "best" countries in the world.

The main character, who is supposedly based on a real person that the author met while leading writing workshops in a Norwegian prison, is maybe not so bright (or at least not good in school), with an ethnicity that makes him stand out and one parent incarcerated. He starts to finally find meaning in religion and ends up fighting for ISIS.

The format of the book is as a kind of monologue, with the addition of some direct addresses to the author/scribe. These direct addresses, rather than having the effect of taking me out of the story, helped me really believe that this was a real person telling his story.

If you are interested in how ISIS managed to lure so many westerners to its cause, or how even in Scandinavia racism and lack of opportunity can impact society, check this out.

Not what I expected or wished

I started to listen it in the hope of having some level of understanding to jihadists from non muslim countries, but it didn't happened. I wanted to feel compassion for them but I couldnt. Also, for me is kind of a boring story. The performing is good though

Very Entertaining Book

This was an entertaining story. It was read effectively and I enjoyed it. There were sections where the book was a page-turner and the excitement kept you listening. The story had a good flow to it and moved along quite well.

Compelling story but feels bogged down at times

The plot is very interesting and provides fascinating insights into the side of the conflicts in the Middle East that many Westerners don't often see. The narrator was pretty good, though the character's voice (way of speaking, standoffish attitude, etc) were grating at times and some chapters were hard to pay attention to.

This life or the next

Troubling but interesting story from totally different mind set and culture. Narrated okay. Not something I would recommend to my circle of friends.

Unrealistic and silly story

The sarcasm in this book is frustrating to listen to, and the story is lacking.