Don't Call Me a Towelhead, Baby

Reading Towelhead by Alicia Erian (2005) was a totally unexpected journey for me. In 2005, Jeff Giles of The New York Times wrote a lengthy review of this book, including the remark that "The violence that ensues would be considered rape by absolutely anyone, with the possible exception of a 13-year-old girl who confuses any form of contact with affection and even the most terrible knowledge with liberation."

Although the plot is very involved (Young Girl, forced to live with father because mom is jealous of the attention her current beau gives to said Young Girl, father inept at raising Young Girl, puberty ensues, sexual awareness explodes, men and boys go wild, oh, and racism is rampant--the main character is born of a Lebanese immigrant father and a Caucasian American mother, and the setting is 1991 American at the start of the Persian Gulf War (voila: the name Towelhead is one of the nicer things said young girl is called).

Young Girl's name is Jasira (her mother chose the name--her father would have preferred a more Americanized name btw). Jasira is, simply put, confused. The reasons for this confusion go beyond the "normal" teenager experience, yet, as the author's tender writing style sets forth Jasira's story, Jasira is very much the everyday "normal" teenager of the 90's.

While I am sure this book would have ended up in my hands at some point, it was recently recommended to me by a friend who had heard that (1) it was coming out as a movie this summer--the movie is named "Towelhead", but it is also referred to as "Nothing is Private" (see the RottenTomatoes movie review here and a movie trailer via YouTube here); and (2) the screenwriter for American Beauty was directing the movie--his name is Alan Ball, and he also created HBO's Six Feet Under which I ADORE.

The book is very "in your face". The sub-title of the movie, "Nothing is Private" is quite appropriate, and had the setting not been during the Gulf War, perhaps the author would have named this book something like that. Towelhead is about growing up. It's about modern life middle-class suburban America and the hypocrisies of this "dream". It's about racism. It's about sexism. It questions the issue of patriotism. It's about holding onto your sanity in an insane world. It's about love. It's about family. It's about the "village" that raises the children and the individuals that make up that village--and the fact the village can be dangerous or it can be a safe haven.

Towelhead could be a total downer. However, the author's sense of satire and dark humor is "my cup of tea." What took me most by surprise is not just that I could have been Jasira and in many ways I was Jasira, and in many ways I still am Jasira. Towelhead has been highly praised since it was published in 2005. What jarred me the most is the fact that, apparently, this book has moved people just as deeply as it moved me. Other people must feel they are Jasira, or were Jasira, or know a Jasira.

What moved me the most is the reminder is that I AM NOT ALONE (and neither was Jasira!).

(And for anyone who has the luxury of calling the story unbelievable or unconvincing or flat or improbable or over-hyped, I'd like to extend my opinion that you are quite fortunate to have the ability to hold that view. Other people in this world were not lucky enough to live in the world where this story does not hold some very profound truths. However, I can understand where the inability to relate comes from. The brain chemistry changes when a person is traumatized, especially at a young age, likely making the "reality" of life very much tainted by these past experiences.)

For excerpts of Towelhead, check out the Google Book entry located here.