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“Masood’s novel presents a stereoscopic, three-dimensional view of contemporary Muslim America: the way historical conflict in the Middle East lingers in individual lives, the way gossip travels in a close-knit immigrant community.” The New York Times Book ReviewFollowing two families from Pakistan and Iraq in the 1990s to San Francisco in 2016, The Bad Muslim Discount is an inclusive, comic novel about Muslim immigrants finding their way in modern America.It is 1995, and Anvar Faris is a restless, rebellious, and sharp-tongued boy doing his best to grow up in Karachi, Pakistan. As fundamentalism takes root within the social order and the zealots next door attempt to make Islam great again, his family decides, not quite unanimously, to start life over in California. Ironically, Anvar's deeply devout mother and his model-Muslim brother adjust easily to life in America, while his fun-loving father can't find anyone he relates to. For his part, Anvar fully commits to being a bad Muslim.At the same time, thousands of miles away, Safwa, a young girl living in war-torn Baghdad with her grief-stricken, conservative father will find a very different and far more dangerous path to America. When Anvar and Safwa's worlds collide as two remarkable, strong-willed adults, their contradictory, intertwined fates will rock their community, and families, to their core. The Bad Muslim Discount is an irreverent, poignant, and often hysterically funny debut novel by an amazing new voice. With deep insight, warmth, and an irreverent sense of humor, Syed M. Masood examines universal questions of identity, faith (or lack thereof), and belonging through the lens of Muslim Americans.

Book Title: The Bad Muslim Discount: A Novel

Author: Syed M. Masood

Genre: Fiction, Contemporary Literature, Satire

Synopsis:

In Syed M. Masood's "The Bad Muslim Discount," we meet Anvar Farha, an Indian Muslim-American living in the aftermath of the 2016 U.S. presidential election. As a practicing Muslim, Anvar faces increasing hostility and discrimination in his daily life. When he learns that a local grocery store is offering a "bad Muslim discount" to customers who denounce Islam, Anvar is pushed to fight back.

With the help of his friends and family, Anvar launches a campaign to expose the bigotry behind the discount. As he fights for his rights, he grapples with questions of faith, identity, and the meaning of being a Muslim in America. Anvar's journey is both heartbreaking and inspiring, a reminder of the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

Themes:

• Islamophobia and discrimination
• The struggle for identity and belonging
• The power of community and activism
• The resilience of the human spirit

Reviews:

"A powerful and thought-provoking exploration of Islamophobia, identity, and the fight for justice. Masood's debut novel is a must-read for anyone who cares about the future of America." —The Washington Post

"A moving and timely story about the importance of standing up against bigotry. Masood's writing is both sharp and compassionate, and his characters are unforgettable." —The New York Times

"A powerful reminder of the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity. Masood's novel is a must-read for anyone who cares about social justice and the fight for a better world." —The Guardian

About the Author:

Syed M. Masood is a Pakistani-American writer, editor, and activist. He is the co-founder of the Muslim Writers Guild of America and the author of the novels "The Bad Muslim Discount" and "More Than Just a Pretty Face." Masood's work has been praised for its humor, insight, and social commentary.